Mt Mee Sunday 11/08

[portfox]

Hi Guys
Paul (slopefun) and myself popped up to Mt Mee for a Sunday afternoon fly. I was really surprised that there was no one else up there. So, we had the slope to ourself's, What a shame.
Paul had his Dart, a little swept wing design from Canterbury Sailplanes and his Comet.
I have to say, the little dart was so much fun to fly really close to the edge of the slope, top little model if i say so myself.

I loaded up the Miraj and my Giant SteppUp to try and trim it out, i was having a few drama's with the flap elevator mix while under landing conditions on flat field. So, the Stepp was first up, big plane for such a small slope, but it was fun. The drag flaps reallt slow things up, both on landing and just 'hovering'

Time for the Miraj, I hadn't had a really good fly with this plane and was as nervous as a cat in a yard full of dogs, but it was make or break time for it, it had been sitting in the garage with a big fat comment over it saying "To Sell or Not to Sell"
Let me say, you will now have rip it out of my cold dead fingers before i part with it now.
Winds started at about 15 knots and came up to about 25 by the end of the day. The Miraj carved up the sky, what an AWESOME! machine. Slippery and smooth was the first word that popped into my head while flying it.
I'll get some pics of Paul Dart when i get home. enjoy!



www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_2NRKfigDs

SteppUp with flaps fully extended

[callun]

How big is the SteppUp?

[portfox]

3.5m wing span, its mainly a thermaller, but i needed to get the flap/elevator mix working right and the slope is good for trimming things out.

[callun]

Is that it pictured? or is that the Miraj?

[portfox]

Miraj is in the air, you can just see the stepp's tail on the ground. I'll post up some more pics tonight of the stepp for ya's

[atmosteve]

Nice vid! Lift looked really smooth up there, I really must get down to Mt Mee for a fly with you guys I have heard so much about it, all good other than the greenery.

[thevon]

Haha Steve ... I knew when you finally got that thing dialled in with no bugs happening, you'd love it! Seriously, no-ones' ever said a nasty thing about a Miraj. People who have them get VERY excited about them. I just had an RCG message from a guy yesterday (I was asking him what he knew about Prodij/ Scorpion comparison) and he basically launched into telling me how amazing his Miraj was! This is what he said:

"Sorry, don't know the Scorpion well. And I personally don't have a PJ but admire all Aeromod planes. I have built/flown a Voltij and have a Miraj now and luv it (I blew it up in DS, new wing on the bench as I type). I will one day get a ProdiJ with a one-piece wing, that is once the MB and Desi die once and for all!

Let me sum it all up this way: I smoked the Miraj and bought a new $300 wing for it the next day. It is THAT nice. The PJ is along the same lines and a good bit less than the Scorp. If I were considering spending $450 for 60"er, a lot of dosh, I would go another $100 and get the 2 meter Terminator carbon. And if I had another $100 or so, I'd get the MiraJ DS layup and skip the small toys. It simply rocks."

[portfox]

Andrew, so true, there is only one thing i'd change on it and that would be the servos in the wings and ele/rud. But its no real big issue until i start pushing the speed on it, the nylon geared servos wouldnt stand up against fast/hard speed turns. Or maybe they would but dont think i'd take th gable.
The DS wing would be awesome, although this little black duck wont be DSing it. lol not enough courage there my friend, i leave that up to you guys.

Let me know when you are flying at MtMee again and you will have to get behind the sticks.

Steve

[Slopefun]

yes it was a great afternoon and it was good to see the Miraj getting some air time.
The Dart was great easy to fly and heaps of fun.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT9N7uEE4i0

Thanks Paul

[portfox]

Sweet, i didnt get around to placing that one online. I agree that little dart is a blast to fly, really agile and rolls quick.
Steve