Just wanted to comment how fortunate we are at Fayette Flyers here in Georgia, to have Adam as not just a member, but as a mentor. His knowledge of our hobby and aviation as a whole, coupled with his skills, are invaluable.
@ 7:20 - I only cringe when I see arms in the way of a prop - even though it's highly unlikely, there's so many newbies that could get cut. I bet you say something about it in 3 seconds now that I'm making the comment ;) LOL - Nice work Adam!
Brian. Hey, good to see you commenting here buddy. Adam did add a disclaimer around 8:16 about Throttle cut being previously set up and set before the radio was powered on. But you make a good point my friend. Never can be complacent about personal safety with any plane. Hope you and family are doing well. 😉
I actually have this P51. All of my electric aircraft have motor safe switches programmed into the transmitter. On models like this one the navigation lights only come on when the motor is armed. Lights on stay out of the propeller arc.
It must be an honour that people put their trust in you to test fly their planes, you are very methodical in your preflight preparation!! And this reflects in your skill as a pilot 🤓👍
Great video Adam, great for anyone, especially people that are new to the hobby. I always calibrate the ESC first flight, I have been caught out with this before, now embedded in my little brain 😀. Really enjoyed the masterclass 🫡
Just got asked to maiden someone’s new plane. He hasn’t flown in a long time and I have never maidened a plane of its size before so this came out at the right time. Plane is a larger 80”+ wingspan airplane with a nitro engine. Been years since I have flown nitro but an airplane is an airplane so we will see how it goes. Definitely going to be thorough with it
Great video. It obvious that years of this hobby has given you insight and knowledge to foresee issues many of us might not imagine. New electronics are great and it's easy to have a lot of confidence in them, but my days way back when brushed motors and controllers were not as good, taught me not to trust too much. I watch a lot of videos, and still cringe when the battery is connected while there is flesh in the propeller arc. While admittedly unlikely, a full throttle prop on connection or after initialization is not impossible. Even with known and proven speed controllers, I'm out of the way when I connect the battery. Better overkill than real kill.
Thanks very much. Yep, very unlikely that will happen, and we use throttle cut, but that said you're right...the only way to guarantee you never get nipped is to be out of the way.
Great info Adam. Funny thing.. This am I was doing this for my friends FMS Ranger... He was surprised at all the details you gotta check before that first flight...
Very educational and I love the sound that Mustang makes, even if it is a couple of cells down on the newer ones. I was wincing a bit as you were playing with the prop just after power up. I treat the front of the aircraft as something lethal once it's plugged in - even with my very safe multi stage throttle lock (throttle has to be at zero and the lock off for 1.5 secs before power is available). I don't want test my faith in the ESC or whatever with my fingers... I'd love to have seen your other processes but realise the video would have been mega long. For example, I assume a range check was done? I once maidened an old skool aircraft for a friend (Ben Buckle I think). I was fairly thorough as it was a kit built plane and I maxed out the throw on the teeny weeny flight surfaces. Took off and it started rolling left. Full rates and full right stick (3 channel but I put the rudder on both sticks as I am not a 3 channel flyer!) and it was still turning left. So, over the pits (ignoring the shouts lol), over the trees, same again a couple more times then ease it down for a one wheel, turning landing. Hands shaking a lot as it wasn't my plane. What was wrong if I had checked 'everything'? One wing had a slight twist where the covering film had distorted it under shrinkage. I hadn't thought to check for this and it was enough that the tiny rudder could not really cope. Lesson learnt!
Yep, we had the throttle cut on. As a general rule I am clear on plug up, but was more concerned with getting the shots and getting it done before it got busy there. Being clear is always best though, and heck if it's my plane and I'm checking everything at home the prop isn't even on. That said I've never seen an ESC just takeoff all by itself. Almost 100% of the time a catastrophic failure of an ESC means it stops running, lol. The RX was a proven RX used in other planes. We did do a range check though. With covered planes I check for warps as well. They can sure make a plane fly like crap.
Adam. Very good tutorial about what to look for flying a friend’s plane. I’ve always admired that plane from Freewing and kinda wished I had picked one up back in the day when they offered it with a sound system. Hope you and Heidi are doing well. Take care my friend.
Thanks Brad! Man I tell you, cool plane but not my fav P-51. If I had one it would be the 1.5. Got a vid of that one flying too...and funny enough it is Carl's as well! Lol.
First Heidi great video on the close up in flight of the plane 😊and Adam we just had this discussion at my field I do everything you do with checking the setup for first maiden great job good info😊😊😊😊👍👍👍👍
1 more important tip is to always have 1 full trotte test on the ground to see if the power system is working properly. This is done by gas planes but also important with Ep planes
@Arrontheman I think it's more of an initial test. Once you know the prop is balanced and everything is tight, there's no need to check it that way every time.
@@ModelAV8RChannel oh. I’m sorry I did not read it right, for I thought it meant to check it by full throttle every time you check before flight not just one time checking.
Have you tried as3x+ yet? Put it on my sig tclips and i almost feel like im cheating lol. It will knife-edge easier than my pa addiction and eflite ultimate. I had to fight it before.
Played with it today as a matter of fact. I put it in my 48" Extreme Flight Edge. There is quite a bit to tune, but dammit man...its so good when you get it right. That little 48 flies as good as my 75 now...which is saying something.
I have a cox .020 engine, a 4 channel radio, #52 channel, with 4 servo.s, and I have no physical abilities to use. I am now 79+ and disabilities but would love to donate said empty. Anyone know of a place to donate this empty? Thanx in return!
Great video, excellent advice, however I think the single most important thing to do on a maiden flight is to do a range check as this is the only reason I have lost an aircraft on a maiden, Just saying 😢
