Comments on: Flight of the Yak http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/ Your blog is probably better than mine. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:47:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Kevin http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37499 Kevin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:32:27 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37499 Dave, I just got home from my first successful fight with the YAK....man, what a thrill. This was not my first attempt at flying with it, I actually had 3 really bad crashes with it which required me to completely rebuild the nose section. The first mistake I had made was my aileron servo was reversed. So on those 3 failed flights, the plane took up in the air so quick, started to roll left and with a little right input the plane went into the ground with a loud thump! While I was describing my flight to the hobby store, they told me to check the servo...and it was reversed! I guess this causes a great deal of crashes for us noobs. I had the servo freak out after the crash, thinking it was bad...and it turned out that if the servo is not in the correct position, if it is leaning and not making a good 90 degree angle with the push rod it will hum and not return to a good position easily. I also took advice from a guy online, and picked up FS One to practice with. This allowed me to experiment on the sim before trying it on the real deal, which helped me a lot. The whole hand launching thing makes me nervous, as too little throttle will cause the plan to dive, too much and you better have some quick reflexes! I built some landing gear for the YAK, which allowed me to have a smooth take off, and get enough altitude to trim it out. It was crazy cool watching that thing roll and flip around with authority. All was going great until my ESC cut the battery. I pulled back on the elevator and manage to get a descent landing in the dirt with only minor damage. This being my first lipo plane I am curious how the ESC works. When it cuts power, do you cut throttle quickly then give it some juice to return power to the throttle to land? I checked the battery and it was at 10.38V, seems like a high cut-off since you are supposed to be able to run down to 9V. The flight lasted about 10 min before the throttle cut-off. Hobby-Lobby charges the same amount if you buy 1 or 2 YAKs. So I bought 2, so once I got good I could fly the second one. The first one has been glued together in 2 or 3 parts and I had to completely rebuild the nose...but that is the great thing about foam, it is easily repairable! My landing gear did not survive the quick landing, so need to find some good gear for foamies. I am getting ready to place a 2nd order from HobbyCity, so good to know about the servos...I was going to order a bunch to have on hand for future planes. I flew the cub after the YAK and it was like everything was moving in slow motion, what a difference. -Kevin Dave,

I just got home from my first successful fight with the YAK….man, what a thrill. This was not my first attempt at flying with it, I actually had 3 really bad crashes with it which required me to completely rebuild the nose section. The first mistake I had made was my aileron servo was reversed. So on those 3 failed flights, the plane took up in the air so quick, started to roll left and with a little right input the plane went into the ground with a loud thump! While I was describing my flight to the hobby store, they told me to check the servo…and it was reversed! I guess this causes a great deal of crashes for us noobs. I had the servo freak out after the crash, thinking it was bad…and it turned out that if the servo is not in the correct position, if it is leaning and not making a good 90 degree angle with the push rod it will hum and not return to a good position easily.

I also took advice from a guy online, and picked up FS One to practice with. This allowed me to experiment on the sim before trying it on the real deal, which helped me a lot. The whole hand launching thing makes me nervous, as too little throttle will cause the plan to dive, too much and you better have some quick reflexes! I built some landing gear for the YAK, which allowed me to have a smooth take off, and get enough altitude to trim it out. It was crazy cool watching that thing roll and flip around with authority.

All was going great until my ESC cut the battery. I pulled back on the elevator and manage to get a descent landing in the dirt with only minor damage. This being my first lipo plane I am curious how the ESC works. When it cuts power, do you cut throttle quickly then give it some juice to return power to the throttle to land? I checked the battery and it was at 10.38V, seems like a high cut-off since you are supposed to be able to run down to 9V. The flight lasted about 10 min before the throttle cut-off.

Hobby-Lobby charges the same amount if you buy 1 or 2 YAKs. So I bought 2, so once I got good I could fly the second one. The first one has been glued together in 2 or 3 parts and I had to completely rebuild the nose…but that is the great thing about foam, it is easily repairable! My landing gear did not survive the quick landing, so need to find some good gear for foamies.

I am getting ready to place a 2nd order from HobbyCity, so good to know about the servos…I was going to order a bunch to have on hand for future planes. I flew the cub after the YAK and it was like everything was moving in slow motion, what a difference.

-Kevin

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37015 Dave Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:18:30 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37015 Daniel, I'm sorry to hear about your poor little Yak! I know how you feel. It's frustrating that one small mechanical failure can totally destroy a plane. I imagine that was your servo's fault. It probably has a stripped gear (or several), and as a result, the gears jumped teeth and re-centered in a new position. I've heard several people tell me that those servos are cheap. I've actually had one fail in exactly the same way you describe, but with my Stryker, doing about 50mph. It ran right into a tree. I threw away that servo. I have found that the 9g servos from Hobby City are fine, and they don't tend to fail in such a harsh way. Rather, they start clicking first and that'll be your warning. Also, I had my Yak-55 aileron servo fail, and I was still able to land it on rudder/elevator. It was nerve racking, but I did it without damage. Good luck! --Dave Daniel,

I’m sorry to hear about your poor little Yak! I know how you feel. It’s frustrating that one small mechanical failure can totally destroy a plane.

I imagine that was your servo’s fault. It probably has a stripped gear (or several), and as a result, the gears jumped teeth and re-centered in a new position. I’ve heard several people tell me that those servos are cheap. I’ve actually had one fail in exactly the same way you describe, but with my Stryker, doing about 50mph. It ran right into a tree. I threw away that servo. I have found that the 9g servos from Hobby City are fine, and they don’t tend to fail in such a harsh way. Rather, they start clicking first and that’ll be your warning.

Also, I had my Yak-55 aileron servo fail, and I was still able to land it on rudder/elevator. It was nerve racking, but I did it without damage.

Good luck!

–Dave

]]> By: Daniel http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37008 Daniel Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:01:43 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-37008 Hey Dave, Ive been reading this blog for a while, ever since I found it researching the O'l Super Cub. So, like Kevin, I decided to try out a YAK-55 as well. Let me tell you, this plane has been a curse! haha. After most the error being attributed to ME ( un balanced prop ripping the front of the plane off, prop saver snapping and sending prop flying 200mph at my head etc. ) there is one last problem that is killing me. Since I'm using the same hardware as you, maybe you have an idea as to what it could be. My biggest problem is that the ailerons have a "spasm" and lose their center position and will suddenly think they are in neutral with one flap up and the other down, and then my plane goes into a spiral of death. I'm using the servos that came with the DX6. I am new to the DX6, maybe the servos are no good but my YAK-55 is now in a dozen pieces. Its a silly problem because the plane flew GREAT when the servos worked properly. I simply did one roll and the ailerons would not go back to neutral, it was a short trip to the ground from there. I'm going to order a new Yak-55 and try it again. I just dont know if it is the servos ( most likely ) the transmitter or receiver. Thanks for the blog! Hey Dave, Ive been reading this blog for a while, ever since I found it researching the O’l Super Cub. So, like Kevin, I decided to try out a YAK-55 as well.

Let me tell you, this plane has been a curse! haha. After most the error being attributed to ME ( un balanced prop ripping the front of the plane off, prop saver snapping and sending prop flying 200mph at my head etc. ) there is one last problem that is killing me. Since I’m using the same hardware as you, maybe you have an idea as to what it could be.

My biggest problem is that the ailerons have a “spasm” and lose their center position and will suddenly think they are in neutral with one flap up and the other down, and then my plane goes into a spiral of death. I’m using the servos that came with the DX6.

I am new to the DX6, maybe the servos are no good but my YAK-55 is now in a dozen pieces. Its a silly problem because the plane flew GREAT when the servos worked properly. I simply did one roll and the ailerons would not go back to neutral, it was a short trip to the ground from there.

I’m going to order a new Yak-55 and try it again. I just dont know if it is the servos ( most likely ) the transmitter or receiver.

Thanks for the blog!

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36101 Dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:41:01 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36101 Kevin, I glued the Yak fuselage and wings together with CA. Be sure to practice on a few pieces first because it's tricky. I used packing tape and the 3M Blenderm tape for the ailerons and rudder. It works great and is very easy to work with. Be sure to set your control throws to *very* low on your first flight, like less than 25% of what they say to do in the manual. The Yak is a tough plane to fly, and it was my 5th. I'm convinced that the ParkZone Stryker is the perfect second plane. Happy landings! --Dave Kevin,

I glued the Yak fuselage and wings together with CA. Be sure to practice on a few pieces first because it’s tricky.

I used packing tape and the 3M Blenderm tape for the ailerons and rudder. It works great and is very easy to work with.

Be sure to set your control throws to *very* low on your first flight, like less than 25% of what they say to do in the manual. The Yak is a tough plane to fly, and it was my 5th. I’m convinced that the ParkZone Stryker is the perfect second plane.

Happy landings!

–Dave

]]> By: Kevin http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36100 Kevin Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:50:12 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36100 I went around to a few hobby shops here in phoenix, none of them carried a prop balancer. So I just used a long drill bit to hold the prop, and what do you know, it is slightly off balance. I have 3 props, so I checked another one and it was balanced (unaltered) and gave it a go on the prop saver. It worked great even at high RPM's. I will test it in flight tonight when I go out. The 3D yaks arrived today, unfortunately hobbycity hasn't shipped my electronics order. They are holding $150 worth of stuff because the 45 cent prop saver isn’t in stock ;( I have tried emailing and calling with no luck to just have the prop saver removed from the order. I was actually coming to your site now looking for those famous build pictures and instructions you provide....but I am not seeing them for the YAK. I was just curious if you used the CA glue, or epoxy, and what you used to attach the ailerons. -Kevin I went around to a few hobby shops here in phoenix, none of them carried a prop balancer. So I just used a long drill bit to hold the prop, and what do you know, it is slightly off balance. I have 3 props, so I checked another one and it was balanced (unaltered) and gave it a go on the prop saver. It worked great even at high RPM’s. I will test it in flight tonight when I go out.

The 3D yaks arrived today, unfortunately hobbycity hasn’t shipped my electronics order. They are holding $150 worth of stuff because the 45 cent prop saver isn’t in stock ;( I have tried emailing and calling with no luck to just have the prop saver removed from the order.

I was actually coming to your site now looking for those famous build pictures and instructions you provide….but I am not seeing them for the YAK. I was just curious if you used the CA glue, or epoxy, and what you used to attach the ailerons.

-Kevin

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36055 Dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:14:22 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36055 Also make sure your prop is balanced. Also make sure your prop is balanced.

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36054 Dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:14:04 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36054 I wonder if the conical part of the prop saver is not quite deep enough for the depth of your prop shaft? --Dave I wonder if the conical part of the prop saver is not quite deep enough for the depth of your prop shaft?

–Dave

]]> By: Kevin http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36047 Kevin Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:16:04 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-36047 Dave, I installed a prop saver on the cub, with an upgraded o ring. I am using the 1500mah battery upgrade. When I go full throttle, the prop shifts off the saver. Wondering if you have run into this, and what the work around might be. I have even tried using 2 o-rings, yet it still happens. I am using the style you suggested from hobbycity although I purchased it from a local hobby store. Any ideas? -Kevin Dave,

I installed a prop saver on the cub, with an upgraded o ring. I am using the 1500mah battery upgrade. When I go full throttle, the prop shifts off the saver. Wondering if you have run into this, and what the work around might be. I have even tried using 2 o-rings, yet it still happens.

I am using the style you suggested from hobbycity although I purchased it from a local hobby store.

Any ideas?

-Kevin

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-35765 Dave Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:35:58 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-35765 Oh, and be sure to buy the wobbly adapter that is more "conical" in shape (like the link I posted above). Do *not* buy this kind: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4323 This kind doesn't let the prop wobble very much at all. Oh, and be sure to buy the wobbly adapter that is more “conical” in shape (like the link I posted above). Do *not* buy this kind:

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4323

This kind doesn’t let the prop wobble very much at all.

]]> By: Dave http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-35764 Dave Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:35:02 +0000 http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2007/11/17/flight-of-the-yak/#comment-35764 I bought the prop adapter at HC. You have to match the prop's shaft width with the prop adapter. You definitely want a wobbly adapter for the Yak. Otherwise, you run the risk of breaking the prop on every landing. The prop is so big that it hangs down below the front of the fuselage. This is what they look like: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4507 I would buy several of different sizes (at only $0.52 each, why not?). :) I've never balanced a prop, so can't help you there. Happy Yaking! --Dave I bought the prop adapter at HC. You have to match the prop’s shaft width with the prop adapter. You definitely want a wobbly adapter for the Yak. Otherwise, you run the risk of breaking the prop on every landing. The prop is so big that it hangs down below the front of the fuselage. This is what they look like:

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4507

I would buy several of different sizes (at only $0.52 each, why not?). :)

I’ve never balanced a prop, so can’t help you there. Happy Yaking!

–Dave

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