Buffalo FX-79 Build - maiden/re-maiden crash, 3rd time lucky

[CurryKitten]

I'm ready to fly it... but I haven't yet because I'm too scared a need a few buddies to help me.  I made a video detailing what I've done, and so I could rant about how crap HobbyKing was, but how good other people/companies were

WARNING: Video contains lengthy footage of my big fat face, and thus may be unsuitable for small children to watch

FX 79 Build: HobbyKing Bad, Zeta/MFD/Bignose/Forums good

[iPeel]

Wow, that thing's huge!

I think a binbag's not going to cut it Wayne so I'll volunteer to push the wheelbarrow after the maiden if you want.

Neil.

[highlander]

I was and I am still tempted with Buffalo but I don't even get enough time to fly the stuff I have in stock now. If anything I have a kitten similar to that one with a list of crimes deserving launch into space in Buffalo. (biting my foot, destroying some of my FPV gear etc)

Anyway enjoy it and report back how it handles.

[Billy_boy_2010]

Looks great and really tidy

I'm sure you're a better pilot than me, but a few thoughts

Is the MFD facing backwards? The arrow on the top is pointing towards the motor in your video :s

A different buffalo build I saw had the little pouches covering the Rx and video Tx cable had a slot mechanism to them. A strip of credit card glued into the removeable bit and then a groove cut into the wing to slide them in. Seemed to work well.

Tape on the bottom of the fusealage to keep it clean and scratch free? Maybe a bit on the leading edge too?

I have never failed a launch by a proper javelins throw. I have failed lots by wing tip launching. And I always launch with full throttle. Why wouldn't you on a wing? I understand why not on the bixler style pushers. The maiden will be fine, get your mate to wear a glove. Maybe throw it slightly downhill to give yourself a bit more time. And a bit of wind to make landing slower :)

Program dual rates so you can easily switch down if it's too twitchy.

Looks like a very clean build to me. I would love one but I have too many other planes tbh!

I'm fairly new to MFD too but love the idea of auto launch with it. Will come in handy with that huge wing. You will be able to wing tip launch it yourself!

[CurryKitten]

Is the MFD facing backwards? The arrow on the top is pointing towards the motor in your video :s

It is, the wiring worked better that way, in the setup you can tell it the orientation of the AP

Tape on the bottom of the fusealage to keep it clean and scratch free? Maybe a bit on the leading edge too?

Yep - I've done the underneath, I may do the leading edge as well.

I have never failed a launch by a proper javelins throw. I have failed lots by wing tip launching. And I always launch with full throttle. Why wouldn't you on a wing? I understand why not on the bixler style pushers. The maiden will be fine, get your mate to wear a glove. Maybe throw it slightly downhill to give yourself a bit more time. And a bit of wind to make landing slower :)

Program dual rates so you can easily switch down if it's too twitchy.

Looks like a very clean build to me. I would love one but I have too many other planes tbh!

I'm fairly new to MFD too but love the idea of auto launch with it. Will come in handy with that huge wing. You will be able to wing tip launch it yourself!

I've always tip launched my wings, but there's going to be too much weight in the fuse for this.  Part of the reason for looking at the launch mode is so I can put the radio down and give it a decent throw with my right hand.  But it's got a lot of wing area, so hopefully with a bit of head wind it won't be as scary as I'm thinking.  I'll have some rates in.  The flitetest boys seemed to think it flies best at 50% - I can use this as my default and be able to switch up to higher if I need it

[Coyote]

That is a beast Wayne :) Really like it form, vtx position is brilliant ;)

[scalematt]

Love it. I fancy getting a fx61 to start with. There is just something about wings i like.

[Billy_boy_2010]

Sounds like you have got it all covered :)

My 60" wing needs a launch mode for sure!

[Jake Bullit]

Yes get Richard to stand on a hill to launch first time, a good headwind will help too. Then a good hard throw about ten to fifteen degrees above horizontal, and plenty of throttle as soon as she's clear of his pinkies.

[bignose13]

Hi Wayne
Any news, I saw from your last YT vid that you said it (FX79)was in bits  :wtf:

[CurryKitten]

I'm afraid the maiden took a turn for the worse Simon, the plane hit the deck and literally all came to pieces.  Video just processing at the moment.  I'm not sure what the problem was, so input is welcome in the diagnosis

[CurryKitten]

So here's the crash video - please let me know what you think the issue was

FPV Crashing: FX-79 Buffalo maiden disaster

[FPVSteve]

Looked like a simple old stall to me :(


It had just enough to keep flying intially, but when you gave it some "up", that increased drag and because it was nose-heavy it simply went in.

I'm guessing that if you'd let it settle for maybe 10 metres more or so, and lost a metre or two of altitude, the airspeed would have been enough for it to recover.

[CurryKitten]

Looked like a simple old tipstall to me :(

I thought it would roll on a tip stall Steve - hence the slight confusion ?

[FPVSteve]

Looked like a simple old tipstall to me :(

I thought it would roll on a tip stall Steve - hence the slight confusion ?

Yea corrected it (and edited my post) ... I meant a stall, simply loss of lift. Both wings would have lost lift at the same time if you gave up elevator and were already on the edge - if it was balanced nicely then it would have just sunk.

I'm probably wrong though but that's what it looks like to me. No lift, nose heavy.... nose goes down .. blam :(