ParkZone T-28 Maiden Flight
Finally a successful maiden flight! Here are some post-maiden photos of my T-28 Trojan from ParkZone.
This tiny dots to the right and left of the cockpit mark the Parkzone recommended center-of-gravity (2.5″ back from leading edge, measured 1″ out from the fuselage). I moved it forward by about 0.5″ and it flew better.
On my first flight, the elevator was trimmed way too far up, leading to a near-death experience. I landed it, fixed the elevator sub-trim, moved the CG forward 0.5″ and it flew beautifully. In your pre-flight checklist, be sure to verify that the elevator is totally level (co-planer, to use geometry terms) with the horizontal stabilizer forward of it.
This shows my battery compartment and where I positioned my 2200mah battery pack to balance properly. I used velcro to secure the battery to the floor of the battery compartment.
To fit my battery as far aft as I did, I needed to remove some foam from the bottom of the cockpit:
This is where I mounted the ParkBEC as an insurance policy against the included speed controller’s crappy BEC. Since this is a switching BEC, it produces a lot of electromagnetic interference, so you want to put it as far away as possible from your receiver and antennae. Even though it creates lots of EMI, it creates virtually no heat, since it is very efficient at stepping voltages down.
My last landing was gorgeous. I even held a 10 degree flare during final approach that really greased it in for a smooth touch down and roll out. However, the left wing must have caught something hard (a particularly hardy blade of grass perhaps) that pulled the left landing gear right off. Nothing a bit of epoxy won’t fix:
What a great flyer. This is truly a bank-and-yank plane and is very easy to fly. The motor provides adequate lift to climb out at 45 degrees all the while showing no sign of slowing. The vertical is limited to about 30 or 40 feet from flat flight, and the roll rate is very very slow and non-axial. It flies just slightly better than a brushless HobbyZone Super Cub with ailerons. I think I need to increase my aileron servo travel to get some really good rolls. I will probably also mix in some differential to make the rolls more axial and pattern-like.
Oh, and I’m fairly certain that in a few months, it’ll be time to upgrade the motor for insane speed and unlimited vertical.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Hi,
I’m one of those many guys who have been keeping an eye on your adventures in the Electric R/C plane universe. I have keept coming back since it seems like we keep getting the same ideas. I have not kept up whit your blog for the last…. 4-6 months (since you got the Striker), but felt like seeing what you were up to. The original reason I found you page was to get inspiration to upgrade a Super Cub for ailerons. I followed your example and cut long slender surfaces and I got a DX6. I got hooked on Hobbycity.com very quicly and got my hands on some BIG outrunners and some 3cell LIPO’s. I had a lot of chrashes since it was just so over powered (mainly looping from take off with a 10-15 foot radius) - finally i found out that 300W is just to much for that plane…. Now I’m down in the 180W range with the new version of the A2409-18 and it is fast, fun and going vertical. Like most other Super Cub guys I was dreaming of a T-28 as a next plane but wasn’t sure is it would be enough a step up since I had a 5 channel cup with a flat and chopped wing going very fast. I ended up with a Stryker and a BIG FAT inrunner (28mm diameter and ~2800kv - pulling close to 300W). It is fun but just fast and I hate that it dosn’t have a landing gear - I like cool landig and fancy take off! I got a hobby-lobby yak 55 to get in to the 3D - but mainly to have something I can fly slow outside my house, lunch break at work - that kind of stuff. The YAK wil maiden when the temp gets under 112F here in Fresno (this weekend). I went to my LHS the other day and the T-28 still pulls me in - but I don’t know if it fun enough… As is mentioned I looked up you blog and you just got a T-28!!!! It even looks like you put it together out of parts (all my plane has been done like that) - so I can’t help ask are you happy with it? Your blog kind of says it is just like the Cub with ailerons? If that is the case I still have and fly my Cub. The Dillema: one more foam plane (T-28) or go balsa. You must be in the same boat - now that you tried the T-28 would you have done it again or tried a Balsa plane?
I have a 53mm fan sitting and waiting for a home - I may just go EDF for my next plane and then wait on your feedback on the T-28 with a upgraded motor! That could also be an excuse to try to build a plane from scratch my self.
I have this motor sitting that I love - it would fit the T-28 just great with a 10×6 and pulling just around 300W/25-28amps
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4654
Anyways - thanks for the blog - keep up the good work and I hope to get some more insperation from you!
Lars