Flight 1

14.05.2018
About 1700 o Clock
ca. 12°C
Light Wind
Rainy

The conditions for my first flight where not perfect. It was a bit too rainy and a bit too windy. Still I was motivated and took the Tram to go where I knew there was a field which was recently cut. It’s about a hundret meters long and some thirty wide.
As I was standing more or less in the middle I had a footpath and a hedge behind me, some open fields in front, on my left a street with no traffic and on my right the tramline. It’s not perfect, especially because of the tramline but there are no better spots around so it has to do.
I put the battery pack in both sender and plane, adjusted the center of gravity by moving the battery pack back and forth and then closed the plane. At first I wanted to start it from the ground. It has wheels so there should not be problems but the ground was by far not even enough and the grass still too high.
I held the plane by it’s tail, gave full throttle to the engine and then threw it gently forward. As the throttle was way too high, the plane flew a fast looping. As it was rising for an other looping i reduced the trottle. The plane stopped midair standing upright, turned upside down and crashed straight in to the ground.
I have to admitt, these planes are built to last.  After some adjustments on the spot it was all ready to fly again. I started it the same way. As I reduced the throttle immediately, the plane flew a turn and landed in a tree in the hedge behind me. Only with climbing and shaking branches it was possible to get it back. I found it with some traces in the wings and a broken nose. Now it was not possible anymore to fly it so I took it back for reparations.

Things to remember:
- Increasing throttle causes the plane to go faster but also to rise.
- Take a roll of duct tape with you.
- Having the propeller in front is not recommendet for beginners. I did not believe it, now I know.
- The battery pack is quickly out of power.

Picture: Damaged plane after the first flights