""""""""""""""
""""""""""""""
#$%$ @#$%^ #$%&^W#. Not a good day for flying the plane. Got it all fixed up really nice and headed out to the field. On the first flight it only flew for about 10 seconds and crashed. On the second flight it went right into a bush. I was having a hard time controlling it and thought about adding some more weight to the nose as it seemed to be stalling out a lot.
But I decided to give it another try. And it went way back in the trees where no man has gone before again. This time I really had an ordeal retrieving it. I fought my way back into the bushes and I finally saw it, stuck in the branches hanging about 5 feet above the creek. Turns out the creek widens out at this point where it is covered by tree branches and fallen logs. I managed to make my way out to where the plane was by walking and climbing on the branches and logs.
Then for some reason after I got hold of the plane and removed it from the branches I smelled something burning. Then after fumbling around tying to regain my balance and get a good footing, I noticed smoke coming from the fuselage. I think that when I grabbed the plane the throttle servo must of came lose and fell on the micro switch in such a way as to engage the motor. And I had a 30-amp fuse in place. So at this point I just pulled the batteries and pondered how I was going to get out of there, with the plane. I was just hoping it wasn't the receiver that burnt up again.
I didn't think I could manage to get out the way I came in with the plane because I had to swing on some branches on my way in. And for all I knew the water was 10 feet deep and I could just see myself falling in and getting tangled on some branches and drowning back there where no one would ever find me. So I found a fallen log leading out the other way which led to some solid ground.
But then it was a good 50 yards thorough the thick unexplored branches. It was quite an adventure, no ordeal is the correct word. I think I found where the wild foxes I see around here live. There were many places where the grass was smashed down like an animal had been sleeping there. Since foxes are nocturnal I probably disturb it in the middle of its slumber. At one point I was able to follow a path that must have been blazed by the fox comings and goings.
At last I came to the end of the thick branches and weeds, where I had to throw the plane across another section of the creek and then jump over myself. Then I walked back around to where I had left the transmitter and found the receiver in working order. But after a couple more attempts at flight I found the motor no longer has enough power, the brushes must have been burnt up. I even tried the second battery I brought along to no avail.
At this point I think I'll order a new engine and have it delivered via snail mail to give myself a break from this before I get too fed up with the mishaps and forget the whole hobby. What I said before about getting to the point where it's more fun than frustration, FORGET IT!!!
1. If the plane doesn't fly right on the first flight fix it before trying again.
2. Don't run an over rated fuse. If the fuse had blown when it should have I wouldn't have to buy a new motor.
3. I think I need to find a new place to fly it, I didn't know that area back there was so bad. I'm lucky the plane didn't end up in the water and that I made it back alive.
