Airwilf Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Yep, the classic error. Took of into a light wind with my EPP Eagle, did my usual, climbed up till it was a spot in the sky & then did my best to impersonate a bird of prey looking for prey & thermals. Think I had it up to a record (for me) 2000ft twice, with long climb outs to altitude. I then had the dumb idea of flying downwind a few fields to bring the eagle home via a neighbours house to give then a flypast. Yep, the wind picked up a bit & my battery was a lot more tired than I realized (long max power climb outs), turning into the wind now with little altitude to spare I found the model did not have enough power to fly upwind back to me, or even climb. The best I could manage was to hold position, before it got blown off track & had to turn back to face me. All the while getting further & further away & harder to see. Battery power fading & now losing height over houses, decided only option was to turn down wind, clear houses & hope to ditch where I would be able to find it. Then followed 3/4hr of wandering around fields, climbing hedges (one I discovered had a 10ft drop on the other side!) all while waggling my tx sticks hoping I would hear the servo`s. Searched 2 fields down from where I thought it might be & went 3 fields downwind further than I thought it could go. About to backtrack when I spotted the wandering downed bird, yet further away down wind sitting next to a hedge. It had gone in nose first, cracked the fuselage around the nose, broken the prop & broken a feather off the port wing. Not bad, had a spare prop, 1/2 hr of glue & all good. Best bit, the little mini video camera on it had recorded everything, so I have some interesting footage. The next morn I found a thorn stuck in, losing a model can be a pain in the butt, literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 What size lipo do you use in yours airwilf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airwilf Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share Posted July 27, 2011 Here`s some of the vid stills.Then it flew away, this is what I found (eventually). Oops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airwilf Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share Posted July 27, 2011 Hi Tim I use a 30c 2600mh 3 cell battery in mine. Often get flights of 30 mins or longer if I can find some lift. That`s why this is the only model I don`t set a battery timer for. What do you use?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 2000 - 2200 3s. Obviously a lot depends on conditions, but in good warm weather I have managed over an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airwilf Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share Posted July 28, 2011 Hi Tim I do most of my flying after work in the evening, so most of the thermal lift has gone. There is a possibly good site for slope soaring nearby, but the local buzzard is VERY aggressive & territorial (has hit my eagle & punctured the wing!). I have managed 45 mins, but full credit to you for exceeding an hour, nice one. You`ll be needing a comfy deck chair to fly for longer ;o) I have fast planes, aerobats, warbirds & scale planes but still enjoy flying the eagle more than the others. Feels more `natural` despite it`s many limitations. Mine of course has been modded & it now pees on command (only water, & it STILL didn`t put off the local angry bird). Test flown tonight after repairs, all good, had to dive back to terra firma when a very low cloud bank floated over. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hi Airwilf, does the Eagle have a smaller brother/sister, or am I mixing them up. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airwilf Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hi Fly boy 3 No only have the 1 EPP Eagle (at mo ;o) ), the other bird in some pics is a friendly wild buzzard. Unlike the unfriendly one that poked 3 holes in my Eagle recently Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.