Phoenix 1600 - Maiden (Hobbyking/Lanyu/Volantex)

G'day All, I am very impressed with the Phoenix 1600 right out of the box. I ran all the surfaces at 100% and did not add any exponential, although it may benefit from 20%-30% expo on the ailerons.
It did pull up a lot under power, so I may need to add some elevator to the throttle channel to compensate, but it might be better with a couple of washers under the motor mount to adjust the thrust angle.
In the end though, it is basically for the slope anyway, so I won't be using the motor much anyway. While I'm on the motor, it does get super hot after a few (3-5) climbs, so that will definitely need some attention on the cooling.
Anyway, I'll make a few adjustments and have another shakedown flight, then off to the slope!
Cheers
Michael

[@aerofpv2109]

Such a smooth maiden on this powered glider Michael. Floats for days mate.

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Cheers, it really gliders better than I expected. I figured it would be too heavy, but floats along very well.

[@AndrewNewton]

Channeling the Excalibur! Great light

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Not as slippery as the Excalibur, but almost as quick on a dive! Yeah, brilliant time of the day to fly. I was thinking about making a video that was just the reflection off the black canopy.

[@sipplix]

Looking forward to the slope soaring, looks like a floaty.. Perhaps there's a possibility of mounting a mobius cam in the canopy? So I can live vicariously through your slope soaring adventures... hehehe. Cheers matey, The brilliant flying skills you have makes for a really enjoyable experience.👍😎

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Cheers Simon, I am not sure I'm at the brilliant skills level yet, but thanks for the compliment! I did tape my RunCam on to the wing forward facing and rearward too, but I might be too nervous to slope over the ocean with it just taped in place. I will arrange something for capturing some exiting footage though. Cheers Michael

[@blairo15]

G'day again mate. I took my phoenix 1600 for a maiden today and its one of the easiest planes I've ever flown!! The only dramas i had was the motor kept stopping but all i had to do was cut the throttle stick then straight back on it and the motor would fire straight back up! I'm running 2s and it was happening every 20 seconds or so. I pulled it apart tonight and fitted another esc. I'll try it again tomorrow. Any thoughts?

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Only thing I can think of is a setting in the ESC for cut off. Maybe temperature or current draw. I had a Hextronic 25a ESC on my Tek Sumo that would drop to about half power if you ran wide open throttle for a couple of seconds. If you went back to zero throttle it would be fine again. I ended up replacing it with a Plush 30a and has been fine ever since. I didn't have that issue with the Phoenix, but I did have a really hot motor, so hot you could not touch it. The ventilation up front is poor, so that could be contributing to the ESC cutting out. It really is such a good flyer, so I hope your ESC change will fix the issue. Cheers Michael

[@blairo15]

I've just ordered one of these from Hobby king myself mate. Gotta have a new plane for xmas! haha! is it a big job to set the esc brake? I've never done that before, what's involved? cheers Blair

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Good one! It is an awesome plane! Not a big deal to set the ESC brake on, you can do it with your transmitter. I think there is ESC instructions in box with the plane, but if not it is a simple process. Firstly, with the battery in the plane disconnected, switch on your transmitter and take the throttle to 100%. Then plug in the battery to the plane. The ESC will start to beep, firstly: beep beep - beep beep - beep beep, then it will change tone to - dodo dede - dodo dede - dodo dede. While it is beeping with that second tone take the throttle back to 0. The beeping will stop and you may get the regular bind tones or the beeping will just stop. There are other ways to programme your ESC and there are a few different sets of tones that you get from different ESCs. I like this video from Ed at Experimental Airlines that has a bit more in depth explanation of the why you might want to set the brake on and how to do it - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4qre5qdlNupibM But also there are a few guys that have done how to videos for setting the brake on other Volantex/Lanyu gliders like the Phoenix 2000 and ASW28 - I like this one from Paul too - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGS4Yqt6l7SJbM0 Anyway, if you get stuck, feel free to hit me up for some help. Cheers and a Merry Christmas to you.

[@blairo15]

Thanks heaps!! Merry Xmas to you and yours too mate! I'd love to come down for a fly with you guys one day!

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

If you are ever in the Geelong area, definitely let me know. I am flying most weekends, but because I have young kids I do like to restrict it a bit to one day and I'm starting to get into the slope a bit to now, so we move around a little too. Always happy to have new friends to fly with!

[@gregkienle3378]

Just a quick question...why does your voice go up at the end of every statement like you are asking a question every time you speak?

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

It may be a combination of my Stralian accent, the bizarre feeling of talking to myself in a paddock and some nervousness maidening a new plane...? That and I am not really a professional KZbinr/Presenter, just having a go mate.

[@gregkienle3378]

Michael Downie Wow, super quick response...I'm in Oregon (USA). Almost 23:00 here.

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

Yeah it's the afternoon here, so any exuse to avoid working

[@granger3979]

Hahaha is that Darin?

[@xxMADxMICKxx]

HA! yep that is Darren alright.