[Skidz]

(I was doing the flying so not sure if there were flight photos or videos...)

The report for the FMS Trojan goes like this:

Pre-flight set-up checks seemed to suggest all was well with aile, ele, and rudder throws/expo looking the goods. Flaps and retracts tested fine. There were various views on how much current the stock set-up should pull so we tested with SteveB's power analyser and connected a 4S 3000mAh Nanotech. After Steve got the wiring correct we tested 33A at full throttle (note: two batteries connected to each other directly is bound to cause sparks! - there is an explanation for this mishap but this post is not the place. Steve had a "D'oh, what was I doing??!!!" moment).

George (Raptorfly) reckoned there was some cornflakes missing at full throttle as the propeller wasn't growling like it should. He was convinced there should have been more power.

We decided all was good enough for the maiden so maiden we did.

After deciding the direction of the prevailing wind (Area 51 is quite shifty in that way) I throttled up and lifted in to the air under 3/4 power only to observe the plane rolling left (slow) and pitching up quite dramatically. Despite the calm exterior, I was really doing some fancy stick work to keep the plane straight and level with enough speed and also fly the circuit pattern. I decided the pitching up was the more pressing issue and offset with down elevator. The down trim took a lot of adjusting as I wasn't really happy until -45 was on the display. That is about the limit for 'down" trim. A couple or so circuits wrestling with the trims nearing their limits was actually quite distracting. Per Gbanger recommendation, flying was done with the gear extended.

With the roll adjusted and battery nearing full-time, I put 50% flaps and made for a landing approach. Too high and too fast required a go-around with SteveB in my ear with his Quanum telemetry telling me the batteries were going flat. One more approach and it had to count..

Long approach, cut the throttle to 0%, 50% flaps and eased it down for a nice smooth landing. The plane felt quite solid on the landing. I guess 3kg AUW will create that effect. 100% flaps would be best but the ballooning effect was not known and I wasn't going to switch that in with the trim issues and the near exhausted battery. Just one more issue to deal with so I didn't do it.

Once on the ground post maiden, I adjusted the elevator neutral setting by re-doing the links and abolishing the -45 trim. The second flight suggested this was a bit too much so some more trimming to do. The second flight was gear retracted. At full power it didn't seem to have the required 'sparkle' so I blamed SteveB's battery and he blamed my ESC timing setting. A much easier flight (no trim wrestling) followed by another smooth landing.

Three thumbs up for the FMS Trojan. It does look very impressive. I now have to root around with the ESC timing to get the required amount of cornflakes from the motor.

Edit: the Nanotech only took 835mA to recharge so my throttle settings (or ESC) has to be the issue. Once sorted, I shoud have the required amount of cornflakes to make the plane hoot. It didn't occur to me on engine run-up tests that 33A was no where near the ESC limit at 50A. Hopefully I can get close to 40A and get some sparkle happening.

[Very nice looking plane in Red/White US Navy trim. Easy to see].



Dave