Mountain Glide

by Gree | September 13, 2013 | (18) Posted in Just Fun

Driving through the country on a long road trip, and I spotted an intriguing mountain range in the distance. I found a park about 2.5km from the cliffs and quickly pulled my Easy Glider out of the car for a quick early morning run in unfamiliar territory.

My aim was to fly as close to the cliffs as possible, but the turbulence against the cliff face was too strong, and I didn't risk getting closer than you see here. Otherwise the air was dead calm - no lift at that hour but with a 13 to 1 glide ratio, I managed to sail all the way home without power.

A great flight. No music, just the air rushing over the wings as I experienced it with goggles and headphones... But man I hate that cheap Hobby King 180 degree pan servo... :(

 


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COMMENTS

tbone on September 19, 2013
Nice video! Really great without music!
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Gree on September 19, 2013
Yeah I thought it was best that way too. It was a great morning. :D
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28th St. Air on September 19, 2013
well done. it's great that you edited the footage. It makes it ten times more watchable. where is this location? it's incredibly beautiful
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Gree on September 23, 2013
It is near a town called Stroud in rural NSW, Australia. Yes it was irresistible that morning. Especially with the calm air. There was masses of sink and turbulence at the cliff face however making things a bit challenging, but I am defiantly stopping there again next time I travel that way?
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Cooley on September 21, 2013
Absolutely loved the video. Im really aching to get into FPV. but its hard to do on a college budget. Could we get a little more info on your setup? 2.5 km seems fairly impressive, how was your signal when you got there?
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Gree on September 23, 2013
Thanks. 2.5km is not a long distance with my set up. I have been over 18km with the same vtx set up. The video was crystal clear at that close range. I use a range video 800mw 1.3GHz vtx with a custom clover leaf antenna. The most important part of this though is the receiver antennas on the ground station. I have a tuned cross hair antenna that is absolutely amazing. Crystal clear reception up to 16km out. Interestingly I also get great reception with my standard $30 patch antenna as well! I run both on diversity through a range video ground station. However when I started I went about the same distance on a single receiver with standard whip antennas! Not as good a video signal but very doable on a budget.
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RoyBro on September 23, 2013
Great video. I love the serenity of the wind though the wings. Beautiful.

Hobby King is now selling selling brushless gimbal motors at a reasonable price. It might be a good replacement for the servo.
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__42249__Quanum_4008_Precision_Brushless_Gimbal_Motor_Nex5_size_400_800g_.html?strSearch=brushless%20gimb
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Gree on September 24, 2013
Thanks very much! I have a better servo already, which is a true 180 degrees and not this stretched rubbish. Unfortunately the current servo is embedded in the foam of the fuselage, and I don't feel like performing major surgery just yet... :) I'll swap it out one day after the glider gets a bit of wear...
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HUGOPEREIRA on September 24, 2013
Beautiful landing! Do you use some sort of headtracking for the pan/tilt or you do it with your transmitter?
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Gree on September 24, 2013
I use the rudder stick for pan and a 3 position switch for tilt. The rudder on the glider is is spliced into the aileron wiring so it moves in sync...
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HUGOPEREIRA on September 26, 2013
Oh, okay... So you wired the ailerons and rudder to the same channel?
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Gree on September 26, 2013
Yes. I split the servo wire and reduced the rudder throw mechanically so it is quite subtle.
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Skyhighflight on September 25, 2013
Really great video. The landing under the power lines!!!!!Fantastic!
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TomThePom on September 27, 2013
5 stars for the landing alone :)

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Gree on September 27, 2013
Ha. Thanks :D
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Mountain Glide

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