Derek_s Radian

[Derek_S]

Really just posting here for reference/pic storage.

540 OSD Cam w/ pan-tilt
LM 1280 1W Vtx
TLRS NR Rx
DOSD
EFlight Park 480 Motor

[Coyote]

Thats a lot of gear in there. I loved my Radian, what a great floater.

How are you cooling the ESC ? How`s the intereference ?

[Derek_S]

As far as cooling, I'm hoping all the vents do the job. I will test today. If not the esc will probably be moved to the outside, which I may do anyways.. Interference on the bench looks fine but I still have to maiden it to see what it does, really, so we will see.

[SENTRY]

Always beating me to the punch - that's alright, I got somethin' for you.

[Derek_S]

Well, I put a good bit of flight time on her this weekend, over an hour and a half. She took some getting use to since I am a Trojan/Stryker pilot usually. My Easy Star was the same way. It is difficult to get out of sport plane mode and let the plane fly itself, somewhat.

Anyways, she did really well. I have no clue how to really fly a glider so it will take some time to learn how to thermal and get the most out of her, but I can say that with a best time so far of 35 minutes or so on a 2200 mah battery, I think I am doing ok. 2nd place in the RCGroups Radian duration contest only made it like 37 minutes or so (1st place was over an hour). I felt like I could make 40-45 but I was afraid it might puff my battery (DOSD read 2300 mah discharged, but still had just under 10.5V)

Anyways, Coyote and FPV Japan inadvertently (and for the better) scared me into using a BEC and moving the ESC to the outside. It all stays cool now and I think with acceptable aerodynamic loss.


View this video on YouTube

[Coyote]

Nice flight Derek, good to see you happy, good flight time too

[Derek_S]

Thanks. Now if I had a video recorder that captured the quality better..

Any tips on where to find info on how to fly a radian? I would say I am a new glider pilot. Its there a good how-to out there?

BTW the Cularis looks really sharp, i like how it has so much less dihedral, i am sure it performs in the wind better~! Maybe that is next for me.

[Crash]

Did you do anything to beef up the tail? I'm about to hack mine up for FPV and the tail strength always concerned me and after watching this vid, it confirms my suspicions of in flight flex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqHah...eature=related

skip to 40 sec in

[SENTRY]

A tight wrap in shipping tape should fix this IMO. Parts that flex just means that they aren't breaking.

[Coyote]

Flying the Radians as easy as it gets, shes not quick, but floats for ever and a day. The stock CG is ok, add a bit of downthrust to the motor to stop it pitching under throttle and she`l fly well.

Then its a case of get her up high, kill the motor and start playing with thermals. A vario of some sort helps, your using a Dosd so you can use the vario on there. The nack with mine was trim it so its slightly aiming down, just a tiny bit, then it will float for ages without stalling. Once you have the trim in the sweet spot go hunting for lift. If your wing rolls or it pitches up, thats lift, try circling in it to find its size. Keep it in the thermal and she will climb like no tomorrow

Watch it in high winds though, it can get blown a mile away in seconds if it catches you out