From: Doug Barry Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 18:26:03 -0500 Subject: [RCSE] Open letter to DJ Aerotech (Re: Wizard) Joe and Don I finally managed to get out and FLY my Wizard HLG today. Slow building and miserable weather have kept me grounded for the longest time. If I had followed your instructions and used 5 minute epoxy the Wizard would have been built in less then 4 hours of bench time. And this e-mail would have ocurred two weeks ago. I personally can not stand 5 minute epoxy and rarely use anything less then 24 hour. This does indeed slow building times a lot, but it makes me happier about the glue joints. The finished Wizard weighed in at 12.1 ozs. I used JR-341 servos in the wing (recomended HS-60's) so gained 13grams or about .4 oz. I really was not sure that 60's would have the torque to run the ailerons (they are -BIG-). Balance was at the back of the suggested range, so no problems were expected. Not sure -HOW- you guys could make building any simplier. I then waited through lousy weather. Rain, extreme wind, cold, WORK !!! Today, I ran out of patience, it was over cast (ceiling at 2000), raw (by local standards), light breeze and definitely NO sign of sun, BUT it was not raining. We went flying. For our British friends, it was a nice day in May. First hand glide indicated that the plane was setup VERY neutral. I had used the recommended throws. First hard throw went out dead straight, with only a small climb angle. Turns are extremely smooth and almost co-ordinated. I added a throwing program to the Tx and the next toss climbed right out nicely. My flying buddy went crazy, I now out launch him by an obvious amount. Fouth throw I hit the first sign of lift and the Wizard is rolling into it very positively, I screwed up the elevator input, but NOT before I had gained 30-40 feet and had my first over a minute flight with the new bird. Next launch catches the same light area of lift, I tried using a "little" flap, the bloody thing is climbing positively. Five minutes later down wind and high we try reflex to come home, it works better then most unlimited ships. Come over the field at 50 feet, lots of airspeed, pull the nose up and roll. Well, NOT nearly as well as it thermaled. At last something to complain about. So Joe/Don you guys NEED to improve the axial rolling of the Wizard, it has a basic design flaw here. Otherwise this is GREAT. The Wizard flys nicely, quicker then the Monarchs'. The control responses are really clean and althought it responds quickly, it never seems to over respond. "Craving the air" seems to be the disciption I'd use. I'm definitely launching higher then ever before, and ranging far better then before. The flaps seem to allow the Wizard to fly in extrememly small circles while still climbing. The Wizard was the only HLG to thermal out today, everyone else flew 30-40 second flights. It would seem that DJ Aerotech has come up with another winner. And it really is better then the Monarchs. Standard disclaimer: I don't get nothin' for sayin' this. Though I would not mind! Doug Barry Richmond VA || RC Soaring Exchange - list facilities provided by Model Airplane News || || Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to soaring-request@airage.com || ------------------------------