An expensive hobby...
Discussion
I wonder what the life expectancy of one of these complicated and expensive RC planes is? I got a cheap beginners plane for Christmas and crashed it repeatedly. Luckily it bounces pretty well, but I still broke it eventually after about 20 minutes! Spare parts are cheap fortunately 
I imagine half the thrill of flying these expensive planes is the risks involved in stacking them, and I expect (re)building them is enjoyable too!
I imagine half the thrill of flying these expensive planes is the risks involved in stacking them, and I expect (re)building them is enjoyable too!
I think you'll find that the life expectancy of one of those complicated and expensive planes is actually pretty good, as they are usually flown by someone who knows what they are doing.
The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
Shame about the Gloster Javelin (if that's what it was). Had some funny characteristics in the stall. Noticed it just bounced when it hit the ground...! Proper engineering...! Just walk over, pull the grass off the nose, fire it up and fly again...! 
Was that a Rammstein track...? Awesome
Was that a Rammstein track...? Awesome
This is awesome. Big harmonic flutter on the wing and boom...!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z6EctoAcXs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z6EctoAcXs
This guy seemingly ran outta rudder for his knife-edge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55MGBXOTm2I&fea...
Gorgeous copter flames out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Wy5uiOcKA&fea...
How much stick did this take before it broke up...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PigvZg8bcE&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55MGBXOTm2I&fea...
Gorgeous copter flames out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Wy5uiOcKA&fea...
How much stick did this take before it broke up...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PigvZg8bcE&fea...
AJLintern said:
DIW35 said:
they are usually flown by someone who knows what they are doing...
Yeah, that must help 
Yep, he knows what he's doing
Edited by Le TVR on Wednesday 26th March 11:27
Vesuvius 996 said:
Oh my God that is so firking cool! DIW35 said:
I think you'll find that the life expectancy of one of those complicated and expensive planes is actually pretty good, as they are usually flown by someone who knows what they are doing.
The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
so true!The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
been flying more than 20 years with glow power and gas turbine for fixed wing and in the last few years electric helis.
if the pilot does the correct preflight checks and makes sure nothing is loose or the batteries are gona go flat then the only thing left is fatigue or something out of this control.
Paul
heres one of my expensive toys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aud8n3ykWkM
and here's my very first jet flight with that engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZd0cYQeY0
Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aud8n3ykWkM
and here's my very first jet flight with that engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZd0cYQeY0
Paul
slartibartfast said:
DIW35 said:
I think you'll find that the life expectancy of one of those complicated and expensive planes is actually pretty good, as they are usually flown by someone who knows what they are doing.
The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
so true!The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
been flying more than 20 years with glow power and gas turbine for fixed wing and in the last few years electric helis.
if the pilot does the correct preflight checks and makes sure nothing is loose or the batteries are gona go flat then the only thing left is fatigue or something out of this control.
Paul
In all the years I flew (including loads of trade shows) my equipment never let me down........
I was just pushing it too far and that only leads to one conclusion
slartibartfast said:
DIW35 said:
I think you'll find that the life expectancy of one of those complicated and expensive planes is actually pretty good, as they are usually flown by someone who knows what they are doing.
The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
so true!The odd equipment failure may rear it's ugly head once in a blue moon, and pilot error can never be ruled out completely, but I've still got an aircraft that I was flying more than 10 years ago. It's had a few dings along the way, but has always been repairable.
been flying more than 20 years with glow power and gas turbine for fixed wing and in the last few years electric helis.
if the pilot does the correct preflight checks and makes sure nothing is loose or the batteries are gona go flat then the only thing left is fatigue or something out of this control.
Paul
For example, I have been flying helis for many years now. I have binned two helicopters, one accident which was preventable (sort of) and one that wasn't. In the case of the latter, the pitch servo which was not that old, had always worked faultlessly and worked fine at pre-flight had a potentionmeter failure in flight. Result was the servo oscillated between FSD either way. Frankly, I had no chance of recovering the bird and the fact I got away with such little damage was a godsend (Mains and tails, mast, servo tray, boom and torque tube - oh, and pitch servo of course).
Helis, whirlybirds, hydraulic palmtrees or whatever you want to call them are thousands of tiny pieces trying to repel the earth while simultaneously vibrating themselves to bits - generally a recipe for disaster. Not only that but when you crash a plank it stotts into the ground and stops. Drop a heli and it not only crashes, but continues to beat itself to death...!!!
You are quite right about pre-flight though - it can prevent a lot of problems. To this, I would add life-ing of parts. I lost a heli about 6 weeks ago because a tail blade fractured at the root. I had stripped the heli and it showed no signs of problems with the tail blades (no nicks, scratches, nothing), but it had just got brittle with age and failed under load. I will chuck them every season from this point on...
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