First Flights with FT Delta

by DDDGamer | August 3, 2013 | (0) Posted in Projects

Bought the 3 planes kit but decided only to use the kits as a guide.
I laser cut the poster board pieces myself and assembled the plane using my own materials.

The video above shows my first ever RC flights with this plane. It was tail heavy and the throws were too much, esp for a first timer - mistakes well learned.
I had a some hours on a flight simulator, but I had no idea how to control the Delta.
The first ever flight was not in the video; I thought a hand launch would be better than a runway take off, but I had no idea what to expect and the plane ended up doing a back flip on me, crashing hard into the ground and immediately breaking my first propeller. I was quite shocked but I had spare propellers that I was able to use and to test flights 2 - 6 shown in the video. On the last flight the plane ended up doing a cart wheel and breaking yet another prop.

Scratch build like this, was really tough to control for a straight beginner pilot.
I decided to build the FT Flyer next, and that was a much better experience. Getting a whole lot better at flying!!!


I must say for anyone who is thinking of getting into this hobby, is to start off with the cheapest electronics gear. I was not slightly worried about breaking the plane at all, as  knew I could rebuild it the next day for a dollar! The only thing that worries me now is the broken props which cost a bit more, but still better that wreaking a 200 dollar plane!!!

Thanks to Flite Test for getting me started!

COMMENTS

rcspaceflight on August 12, 2013
Personally I had better luck with 4channel planes. I've heard other people say the same thing.
To this day I am unable to fly a rudder and elevator plane. I think I have too much throws on my planes so I get in trouble too quickly.
Bank and Yank isn't so bad, especially since I rarely use the rudder on a 4ch.

I have yet to try the F-22 Raptor, but that looks like a great first plane because of how hard it would be to break a prop. I thought the X-Wing I made (I have an article about it) would work well as a first plane, but it stalls rather easily. But when the X-Wing stalls, it kind of just falls belly first.
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NoUsername on August 12, 2013
You may want to check and see if your plane is correctly balanced also.

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Arend on August 12, 2013
hard to tell, but your plane looks a tad bit tail heavy, or you just pulled up too much. What helped me with the delta is a hand launch that is aimed high, that way you get more altitude, the motor is strong enough to pull you even higher. The height gives you more time to deal with errors. BTW. my first ~20 flights were direct nose dives, keep it up! Cheers Arend
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DDDGamer on August 12, 2013
Thanks mate, yeah, I think it was tail heavy, but then I was really having no idea of how to fly the thing at the time.
I did try again after a learned on the FT-Flyer and that was a bit better, but it is still a harder plane to fly than the Flyer.
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Da99er on August 12, 2013
Looks really tail heavy... and I'd recommend dialing down the throws too... and don't forget about expo...
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DDDGamer on December 11, 2013
And yes i thought the Flyer was way better then the delta to fly with, I built multiple versions and made some of my own modifications, ill post an article on that later when i get a chance.
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DDDGamer on December 11, 2013
Sorry mate, I disassembled that plane a long time ago :) cant give ya the weight unfortunately. But the motor is a blue wonder from http://www.lazertoyz.com/2712-12-24g-standard-or-multicopter_p_10.html
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Nate on December 11, 2013
I had exactly same problem and yes my first ever plane. I thought my plane was too heavy, but maybe its just the pilot. Will go to the flyer and see if any better.
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Nate on December 11, 2013
DddGamer, any chance you can share the weight of the plane and also the motor spec?
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First Flights with FT Delta