My First Delta

So, my significant other gave me a new Windrider Elebee for Christmas, which after spending a few hours on yesterday, and the day before, was ready for its first flight this morning. I was suprised at the amount of weight it required to balance it, but after having read a review on the web where 3 ounces (about 85 grams) was required, I visited the hardware shop and returned with a stack of washers and other steel objects to try and move the CoG.

The Red/Green colour scheme has meant the nick names "Santa's little helper" or "The Polar Express" are likely to stick. It is worth me noting that I didn't get much choice on tape colours.

First launch was a bit of a disaster. I threw her up, opened the throttle. It squirreled around for a while before ending up in the ground. I didn't get the throttle closed early enough and snapped a prop as a result. Fortunatley, there was a spare (although I had to drive home to get it - grrr).

Put her up with the new prop - she was trying to put her noise in the air. I dialed in some down elevon (I had her trimmed for some up elevon based on advice, but I probably had too much). Once I got her trimmed she was flying quite nicely.

It really was too windy, and she was getting blown about a bit by the wind (which was gusty as well as strong). However, I was able to flying the length of the field a few times. On the runs before the wind I reckon she was doing 80km/hr at least (on brushed 400 and 8.4v NiMH).

I tried a landing on the first flight - killed the throttle and pushed her towards the ground, pulled up when I realised she was too steep - pulled up too much, then she stalled and had a moderate nose in - no harm done - indestructible.

On the second battery (a 7 cell NiMH) I was once again struggling to control her in the wind, but got up and down the field work before coming in for a moderately good landing. Thinking the battery still had enough poke I put her up again and flew too more laps before detecting the battery starting to fag out. I knew I was going to struggle to turn her around to land with 1. No Battery to speak of, and 2. No altitude to speak of. Sure enough, when I tried to turn her back to me the lower wing stalled and she spiralled into the ground.

So, what can I say - Deltas are fun, twitchy, but fun.

More news next time I guess.