Z3 .... launch trauma (part 5)

[MarkLloyd]

Hi Guys & Ladies

Sorry for the delay, but here's the doomed Z3 maiden Vid.   I filmed the launch on the runcam 2 but the crash is out of shot.   I'd cut a small hole on the underside to get a finger tip in for extra grip, launched in non-abm mode.  The plane seemed to have plenty of push and heads up but just twists sharply left and noses in. The launch to crash took maybe a 3 or 4 seconds but I've slo-mo'd the agony for your entertainment    :D  and dissection  :(

I am annoyed by it but  I've never got it launched, so I'm no worse off than I was :+    It's just that there's a lot of gear tied up in the plane that I should be getting use of.  There's a MFD Ap in there that I bought just over a year ago that hasn't been airborne either yet  :D

I'm disappointed with the plane but I really want it to be a success.   You've only got to look at Mutley's lauch vid  (thanks David) that the Z3 can be very simple to launch.   

I think the design is great, it packs down small which was a winning feature in a house where my toys compete for space with the 3 kids' toys.

Quality, as with all Ritewing planes is excellent and for those that can get an easy launch time after time, it's a beautiful flyer.  I had a Z2 that was fantastic and I'd love a Drak but couldn't contemplate that until I'd worked out the problem here.

I think I'll put it back together if poss, but maybe with less tlc. Being stubborn (my wife's description),  I'm half tempted to buy another and start again. I really wan't this plane, it would be just the cost of the airframe, all the gear's there, but that would probably be daft.  I also have an X6 (yes I got one too!) in the loft, maybe I should dismember the Z3, cut my losses and shove the gear in that. 

I have a Venturi Evo and had five launches on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, all straight off out of my hand, no trauma.  Pound for pound (£) in terms of enjoyment, the venturi has been a complete bargain & success.   If it had detachable wings it would be perfect for me.

Anyway, here it is....   I've cut out the bad language and tagged my Venturi launch at the end, as a ray of sunshine on what would have been a blighted day!   :D   

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[Coyote]

That is a familiar sight for me, once the Z3 is up I really do like it, it flies like it's on rails, but all the bad launches has basically wrecked mine.

I too will be moving to a Venturi Evo 2 because I just don't want to waste days smashing planes up when they have no issue launching, don't weigh half as much and can cover the same ground I want.

[mutley2]

Hey Mark, looking at 42seconds it looks like it's just left your hand and is going into a tip stall because of the nose up pitch, either to much up elevator pulled or too much reflex has pitched the nose up as soon as it leaves your hand and stalled the left tip.
The Z3 does torque and drop a left wing tip anyway on take off, but if that tip drops too much there is no lift and it's game over, I will take some pic's of the reflex and compare it to your own.
Your Z3 is pulling like a steam train so there is loads of power so take-offs are going to be fast so they should be straight 101% in to wind.
This plane needs to fly Mark and I'm sure it will with great success, stick with it matey.

[BigT]

I know the MFD set up procedure says you need to do the man trim and cal joystick before using stab mode but I do know folks that have had to do solo maidens and used stab or launch mode for the maiden. I agree it loo,s like a stall on launch though. If it was mine I would try for a bungee launch for thematises or get your pal to chuck it so you had 2 hands on the sticks.
Tough experience though.


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[Andy Sayle]

Whereabouts is the CG on your Z3?  It looks like it is going straight from your hand into a stall.

Also, if you hold the nose up vertical, and give it full throttle, how far off 1:1 thrust to weight is it?  If it is fairly close, you might be better doing and underarm chuck up at about 60 degrees or so, and then levelling out to build up airspeed.  That only works with a decent amount of thrust though (doesn't have to be 1:1, but the closer the better)...

Andy

[Brucey]

Yeah as above really, check for too much up trim or cg to tail heavy.

[foamster]

Heavier the plane, the higher the flying airspeed, simple as that really

im working on a launcher for bigger planes 2-4kg ish, still needs more testing

Basically a bungee powered rail gun, folds in half, quite light and triggered electrically by foot pedal or key fob rc.

Cheers Rob

[dogzilla]

Never had a problem launching my Z3 but I launch like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ovNuXBGHQU


You do need enough thrust though. If it's under powered it's never gonna get up like that.

[MarkLloyd]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I'll do my best to get it back together. 

I'm pretty sure the cg was spot on, maybe it was too much up elevator / reflex right from the start and as suggested it was straight into a stall.

I superglued, gorilla glued and  fillered it back last time.  Is plain old hot glue good enough for getting this foam back together ?  Probably a good bit of fibreglass tape too.


Rob, I love the look of that launcher.  Do you have any more info and when might it be available ? 

Thanks again

Mark

[English Turbines]

Id try the vertical launch technique, it has loads of thrust, and because of that, loads of torque roll too....thats a big prop, big torque....:(....

:vulture:

[iwan_canobi]

I don't think mine has enough power to launch like that, but the overhead launch has worked ok for me -

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Persevere with it though, it's worth it once its in the air!

[FPVSteve]

In the first video you can see immediately it pitches up after launch .. maybe it just wasn't thrown hard enough and then tipstalled due to that. Maybe try throwing it straight instead of 45 degrees?

[elmattbo]

I'm not hugely experienced in these things but that does look like a lot of reflex. I also found this video when I was building my wing and just chucked it overhand in the same way. Maybe worth a try? Gotta say, it helps being a lefty as well! 😄

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FxlA2RQOeGQ


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[Loopdreams]

I'd have stood on that bank to try it, the just thrown it level.