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Check out the new companion to the great little Parkzone Cessna 210 we've been having a blast with. I've flown one and it seems to fly a little slower than the Cessna. We've got them in stock now with your choice of Red, Yellow or Blue color schemes.
Etomic Ember Check out the newest micro flyer from the same guys that brought you the micro Cessna and the micro Citabria. The Ember is slower and more aerobatic. We are doing loops over our RC track. What a blast! Why don't you have a micro plane? Once you see how much fun front yard flying can be you'll never want to be without one.
Vapor
Even slower than the Ember for flying in smaller spaces. Most importantly this one will bind to your existing Spektrum DSM2 radio! It can be purchased with a basic radio for $129.99 or as a Bind-N-Fly for $99.99 Yes we have looked and the electronics package is available separately in case you wanted to design your own micro flyer. |
NEW - Summer Trophy Dash Schedule
We now have our summer schedule set. We will be racing 10 times between April and August. Each class will be a trophy dash where the awards are handed out after the A-main. A class must have at least 5 entries to qualify for awards although we will run a class with only 3 participants. Check racing information for class details. We'll be adding some wrinkles to the various classes as we progress through the summer. I expect to update the track configuration as well. SCHEDULE Trophy Race 1 - Friday, April 18 -6PM Trophy Race 2 - Saturday, May 10 - 5PM SPEEDERS 500 - Saturday/Sunday, May 17-18 Trophy Race 3 - Friday, June 6 - 6PM Trophy Race 4 - Saturday, June 28 - 5PM Trophy Race 5 - Saturday, July 12 - 5PM Trophy Race 6 - Saturday, July 25 - 5PM Roadcourse Event (TBA) - Saturday/Sunday, August 16-17 FALL SERIES STARTS Saturday September 20, 2008
Race Fees Practice $5.00 Hour Practice Pack $40.00 Race Fee (First Entry) $7.00 Race Fee (Second Entry+) $3.00 Transponder Rental $5.00 per night Transponder Purchase $40.00 Series Pass w/Transponder (1 class) $100.00 Series Pass w/Transponder (2 classes) $120.00 Series Pass No Transponder $70 Transponder Guarantee See the menu bar or click here for our racing page |
Check out what's next!! Due Late June
Speeders Corner
Shaking Off The Rust
By Keith Hollifield
Winter is breathing its last gasp. Spring rain is just around the corner. Are you ready to get those airplanes and helicopters out again?
Many of you have new projects that will need to be maidened. Almost all of us have had a major reduction in our flying hours over the last few months. These are a few tips that can make the return to regular flying successful.
1) Check your batteries - All batteries that have been out of regular use need to be checked. The best way to do this is cycle them (Charge then Discharge) on a good charger with a digital readout for capacity. The capacity should be at least 80% of the rated capacity at a 2C discharge. If you don't have a charger capable of this ask around. There are plenty of us that have them. If you would like to get one for yourself I recommend the Hyperion line of chargers. They range from $64.99 to $169.99 and the basic one will handle most flyers' needs.
2) Tune her up - If you have a nitro engine hopefully you put after-run oil in the engine when you put it away. If not, make sure the engine is not gummed up from sitting. I have successfully loosened engines by working nitro fuel into the crankcase and around the piston. Once the engine is turning freely check the glow plug. Is it blackened? If so, put in a new plug and pick up a couple of spares. If you have a four-stroke engine now is the time to check valve clearance. Your instruction manual should outline this process. Give the engine a good visual inspection looking for any cracks or other areas that could cause an air leak.
3) Control is key - Check all of your control surfaces. These tend to get knocked around in the shop and during transport. Make sure all of your hinges are secure. Control horns should be firmly attached with minimal slop. Replace any part that does not look right. CA Hinges can be replaced if necessary by cutting the old ones and installing new ones slightly to the side of the old position. Helicopter pilots should check all ball links for excessive play. Replace any that have noticeable slop.
4) Radio system check - Do a good range check on your radio. Have a helper change the position of the model so that your receiver and radio are tested from every angle. Check all servos for damaged gears by applying a little pressure on the servo horn and moving the servo through its range of travel. If you feel any notchiness or if the motor spins freely at any point you have a bad gear. Replace it before you fly. Check the slop in your servos by moving the servo horn back and forth. A well designed new servo has virtually no slop.
5) Connections - Check all wire connections for servos, batteries and switches. EVerything should be free of corrosion and securly connected. Make sure any servos connected through an extension have some sort of mechanical lock that keeps them from separating. You can use fishing line tied to either side of the connector for a cheap solution. If you want something a little easier get the safety clip from Parsons Products. Check your swtiches for positive on-off action. If the switch slides easily with little to no locking action then it is time for a new one.
6) Airframe - Check the overall condition of your airframe. Are the wheels / Gear worn? Is the engine securely fastened to the mount. Do the wings/rotors have excessive movement? Is everything inside still where it is supposed to be? Are the servo mounts secure? Reglue anything questionable.
7) Fuel system - Check your fuel tank for any abnormalities and signs of leaking. Make sure all the fuel tubing is in good condition. Now is a good time to replace your fuel filters.
8) Field box - You won't get much flying done if your support equipment fails. Check your field box battery. Make sure your glow ignitor has plenty of juice. Do you have plenty of spare props/rotors? Does your fuel pump still work?
9) Sim Time - One of the best ways to get your mind ready to fly again is using a simulator. Just a little bit of time on the sim can reacquaint your hands and eyes with the controls. It is a lot cheaper and quicker to work out the bugs with a virtual aircraft. My favorite sim is Realflight G4 from Great Planes. If you haven't flown a sim come by the shop and check out our demo.
10) Have a plan - Whether it is your first flight ever or just another entry for the log book the best way to have a successful flight is to plan for one. Think of or even write out some goals for the flight. For a maiden flight I often have a very short plan of takeoff, trim, left turns, right turns, slow pass, land. Keeping the first flight simple and short allows me to set up the plane for further testing, change any control movements that I didn't like and inspect the plane for any vibration induced failure before putting it at risk during a high performance maneuver. For successive flights I will begin to test vertical climb ability, aerobatic maneuvers, top speed and any extra controls such as landing gear.
Good luck and fly safely.
'til next time...