Losing ones virginity

[callun]

Well, it finally happened today. Steve and I lost our DS virginity at Sid's Ridge out Dayboro way.

Andrew met us at the "car park" and we traipsed up the hill to an amazing view out over a grand valley. Lift seemed strong with a good wind slightly across the ridge, with the sun directly behind it. It wasn't long and we were trying our hand at the elusive art.

Diving down the backside seemed... frankly, daft at first. It took a few tries to find an apparent groove, with a few experiments of where to stand and where to fly. It wasn't long and we were finding a groove.

We all fluked a fast run every so often, but I think I was first to swing into it, overtaking Steve's skua and Andrew's Ozprey, much to their amazement - they witnessed possibly the world's fastest air warrior ;D ;D I'd officially lost my DS virginity - NEVER could I imagine a warrior overtaking a skua - especially in a climb.

Andrew lost his sense of perspective with the Drongo for a split second and absolutely smashed into a gum tree, only to fall 30 metres to the ground and land wih a thud. Fortunately there was no damage - yet.

They both found a groove every now and then, but Steve started to consistently track a good path and pick up some serious speed. After a short while, all 3 of us were roaring around loops. Steve continually impressed, doing pass after pass, mere inches off the ground and at impressive impressive speed.

While all three of us were roaring around, I experienced for the first time, violent flutter. At first it was only elevon flutter, but after another pass and another, it was pretty clear the whole plane was twisting and warping violently before washing off 75% of the speed I'd gained in the loop.

Steve dipped too far down the backside and got his tip covered in poo. Hilarious.

All in all, a very successful, fun and addictive afternoon. Sid was a kindly bloke, and very happy to have us along. I'm keen to DS again, but not really until I get a quicker, more rigid plane. Had I continued, I would've flapped it without much effort at all I reckon. For now, the warrior is restricted to Shornecliffe.

Thanks again Andrew and Steve.

[thevon]

Yes it was a really top afternoon, thanks for coming along Callun and Steve, it was such a great time. I got out there and with Sid's permission and his chainsaw, removed that small gnarly tree that was in the way on the back of the ridge and dragged it all away. Then got the Ozprey out and found that it was really working and with the tree gone, the circuits over the backside were absolutely excellent! I really got the Ozprey sizzling, giving myself a fair fright but armed with my recent experiences watching Ezza and Sean, I got the circles tighter and they started to get that tight flickover - man, that was fast. I could only do it for a short bit and I needed a mental rest! I rang Gerard to 1) make him feel bad that he wasn't there and 2) to tell him I wished I could get a radar gun onto the Ozprey because it was going so well!

Soon Steve and Callun turned up. Steve threw his Skua off and no kidding, almost immediately dived over the back, asking "so is this the idea Andrew?" and with no delay, started pulling wobbly backside loops! To cut a long story short, Steve and Callun took to DS like ducks to water. I didn't think Callun could really get his Warrior DS'ing well, but he really did! There was lots of laughs as planes nearly wiped out ... and grief when they did wipe out! Apart from crashing straight into the top of the gum tree during a dive-in, I also had a major smash with the Drongo when it was wound up and didn't pull up hard enough in a bottom turn. Huge rip into the wing. You could hide half the hill in there. Taped it up, kept flying and then had another random lose-it and broke a servo horn.

I don't think I ever got back to the style and speed I managed early in the day (coffee wore off, I think) and for me, the modified Ozprey was the best DS-er of my fleet. Drongo's too cumbersome for me - needs bigger airspace. The Scorpian tended to be a bit too flippy but as Callun pointed out when he flew it, it has far too much control throw.

By late arvo, Steve was getting really good control over his circuits and had the Skua singing - he also pulled off some great sessions with the Skua on its side circling tightly just a foot or so above the ridge. I was pretty pinged off that these 2 DS virgins turned up and got far better than me in an hour or so. In Steve's case I can put it down to his extensive experience, but Callun's just a natural. Well done guys, it was awesome.

We were really blessed to get such great conditions up there this arvo. The wind was just excellent really - great direction and speed. Ezza, you need to have a go there! Sean, you're gonna love it!

[callun]

I think when I get back from Perth I'll look into a rig more capable of DSing, but for now, because I don't think I'll be able to get out to DS much, it's not a priority.

Did you check the actual throws of the scorpian Andrew? Were they actually set up too large or was it more endemic of the plane? Because it felt similar to the drongo in that its reactions to inputs were quite unpredictable. Like when I was coming out of the bottom in the drongo and just a hint of aileron had it coming out flat, but with the scorpion, pulling out of the bottom had it hooking back in way too fast.

[ding]

Well what an afternoon. Thanks Andrew and Callun.. I had a hoot. In all my 17 years of flying slope I've never really seen anything like it. If you'd told me 15 years ago that the best lift if actually in the sink at the back of the hill I would have looked at you strangely.

Anyway the early attempts were amazing. Even though I couldn't keep it going you could immediately see the speed. As the afternoon wore on and I kept crashing I realised that the skua needs a fair bit of entry speed so that it can stay stable enough though the turbulence over the back. It really does need a external fin to control the yaw stability.

Anyway I'm not sure if the conditions changed or it all came good for me but towards the end I was popping it in the grove and keeping it there for ages. I was getting lower too. On one pass I crashed after whacking a cow pat and on the next attempt I hit one of those thorns but managed to keep going.

Anyway, it was a hoot and Callun and I were definitely buzzing from the experience. It's a great little ridge and one that I think also offers tremendous opportunity in a ENE in summer. Good DS'ing to be had then... maybe easier too.

[thevon]

Callun, I don't know re: the Scorpian. I think I'll need to make some minor adjustments then take it back to the field laboratory for some more testing!I'm contemplating chopping the Drongo wings a bit shorter and putting a fuse on like the Ozprey, to put weight further forward and reduce overall weight.

[callun]

I wouldn't change the drongo that seriously yet. As you know, it flies very well and I found it easier to fly than Steve's Skua - better behaved at lower speed, and regains speed in a flash - which could be due to a number of factors.

Try it with varying length of elevons, various radio settings, all that jazz before hackin' it up. With the ozprey you were managing to get it in the groove, but I think your controls were too sensitive for the way I fly - I'm used to the resistance of my gimbals and yours were muuuch softer. That being said, you're used to your controls, so maybe they just need to be toned down - have you got expo set on that Tx?

[sean]

That's awesome guys, glad you're getting into it! Has the addiction caught on yet? I see you're already at the "how can I make my plane DS better?" stage

I soooo wish I'd come along now, Carla and I went to Bald Knob yesterday arvo and as usual in an SW the lift was rubbish. Despite a decent amount of wind I had to retrieve my plane from the bottom of the hill twice after getting caught in massive sink We only stayed for about 1/2 hour.

[callun]

We stayed for about 2.5 hours; at least 2 of which were spent airborne. It was great.

[ding]

callun said:

We stayed for about 2.5 hours; at least 2 of which were spent airborne. It was great.

That's 2 hours between all three of us... about 45 minutes each LOL.

[st]

Sounds like you fellas have been having some fun

I'm going to have to get some more flying in, try DS'ing, and get that oversized thorn done - been too busy with other stuff!

[swoopdown]

Great to hear!!
Im keen to come flying with you guys. Tell me when your up for your next round.

[jase]

where r u from swoop