BATTLEAXE
Legendary member
Back when I was looking at building planes as a trainer to cut my teeth on in this hobby I will say that I did pass by the FT Explorer a couple of times. I was originally interested just because of the name and then checked it out, and to tell you the truth I didn't like the look of it. It didn't look like anything scale so I kept searching. I build other planes with no success on the flight side time after time. At one point, even though I really like building planes the fact was that I wasn't progressing on being a pilot of these airframes. Needless to say I started getting frustrated and searched for a plane that had one purpose, to train me, regardless of how cool or scale it looked. I had the F Pack so I naturally gravitated to the TT.
I tried to fly the TT after 2 separate builds, one completely stock design and build, as per FT, the next was a slightly modified version for function, just ease of battery changes and ability to withstand impacts. Neither of which I was able to fly for some reason. The Mini Scout was my salvation as a pilot and kept me going in my desperate times of need. I got brave enough to take out my Spitfire and found It to be an easy plane to fly as a 3 channel AET and helped me build confidence in the standard size planes. Flying with @Headbang out at his local airfield helped a lot with piloting even though at this point in time I was able to keep a plane in the air for a full battery, being there helped me step up my game. After a small electronics malfunction I was grounded for the majority of the afternoon, and watching others fly, I was getting itchy to get back up. @Headbang said if I wanted to fly he had a Explorer just sitting in his trailer i could take up, eager as I am to get flight time i jumped at the opportunity.
I didn't know what to expect but one thing for sure I didn't want to crash his plane. He set it up and took it off and trimmed it out then handed me the sticks. The wind was up a bit but it looked like he was keeping it stable so how hard could this be. Well HOLY S%$T, it was the plane and not the pilot, or maybe a combination of the both lol. Flew it in an easy circuit into the wind and back, figure 8's, loops and rolls a little, trying out some low passes, (not s low as most but working on it). Actually it wasn't intimidating at all, easy to orientate due to the paint work, simple to level, and as a pusher there was no fear of breaking the prop. All said and done it was a great flight experience, so impressed. Got back to the trailer and he said he doesn't fly it anymore, it's just laying around, "Here, it's yours now." Really, you are kidding right? Yea he gave me the plane. You don't have to tell me twice.
Now I can't lie, once I got it home, I did look at the plane and think of what else I could do with the components but that really would be seriously disrespectful to trash a perfectly good airframe, that I flew, and was just given to me when I didn't expect it. I gotta do this plane and my new friend justice, so today I brought it into the living room while the little woman was at work to program it into my Tx, get this thing flying on my gear. There was a little bit of head scratching and a few texts back and forth to Headbang about some confusing parts but I finally got it to work, simplified style, that's how I roll. Even though it was a decent wind i headed off to my flying grounds and took it up. Again, HOLY S#%T I flew the hell out of this thing, easy wind handling, climbs, rolls and loops of coarse, and an apprehensive but a more successful inverted stretch, (the wind was flipping it back upright).
I sit here and stick my stubborn foot in my mouth for not going with this plane to begin with. I could be so much further along now as a pilot if I would have just built this great airframe and not passed it up. I am ecstatically humbled by my choice of wasted planes in the beginning. This a great trainer plane, and dare I say better as a trainer then the TT. And I'll explain why. First this design has size to penetrate the weather, and the wingspan to float like a feather. Second there is no dihedral, it forces you to level the plane yourself, trains you to pay attention to its flight line, and if you get into trouble in a rolling dive, just pull back on the elevator and she ends up at a reasonable level flight. Third it's a pusher prop above the airframe, no more replacing props or power pods, and if you do nose in, the whole front section can be easily rebuilt. Fourth it's a 4 channel right off the bat, set your throws and expos to however soft or responsive you want and the plane grows with you. Five it's a high wing low center of mass plane that stays stable in weather not limiting you to calm weather only flights and gives you the experience and confidence in less then favourable weather. One plane, one set of plans, multiple customization possibilities, flaps, FPV platform it, twin boom and A-tail the thing, it begs for it. So many reasons why I should have gone with it and I will be recommending this plane to anyone who wants to get into the hobby. Post what you like or don't like about it here, but I am excited about this plane and I am grateful to have met someone who introduced me to it. Now just have to find a way to pay it forward.
That's my 2 cents, (insert mic drop here)
I tried to fly the TT after 2 separate builds, one completely stock design and build, as per FT, the next was a slightly modified version for function, just ease of battery changes and ability to withstand impacts. Neither of which I was able to fly for some reason. The Mini Scout was my salvation as a pilot and kept me going in my desperate times of need. I got brave enough to take out my Spitfire and found It to be an easy plane to fly as a 3 channel AET and helped me build confidence in the standard size planes. Flying with @Headbang out at his local airfield helped a lot with piloting even though at this point in time I was able to keep a plane in the air for a full battery, being there helped me step up my game. After a small electronics malfunction I was grounded for the majority of the afternoon, and watching others fly, I was getting itchy to get back up. @Headbang said if I wanted to fly he had a Explorer just sitting in his trailer i could take up, eager as I am to get flight time i jumped at the opportunity.
I didn't know what to expect but one thing for sure I didn't want to crash his plane. He set it up and took it off and trimmed it out then handed me the sticks. The wind was up a bit but it looked like he was keeping it stable so how hard could this be. Well HOLY S%$T, it was the plane and not the pilot, or maybe a combination of the both lol. Flew it in an easy circuit into the wind and back, figure 8's, loops and rolls a little, trying out some low passes, (not s low as most but working on it). Actually it wasn't intimidating at all, easy to orientate due to the paint work, simple to level, and as a pusher there was no fear of breaking the prop. All said and done it was a great flight experience, so impressed. Got back to the trailer and he said he doesn't fly it anymore, it's just laying around, "Here, it's yours now." Really, you are kidding right? Yea he gave me the plane. You don't have to tell me twice.
Now I can't lie, once I got it home, I did look at the plane and think of what else I could do with the components but that really would be seriously disrespectful to trash a perfectly good airframe, that I flew, and was just given to me when I didn't expect it. I gotta do this plane and my new friend justice, so today I brought it into the living room while the little woman was at work to program it into my Tx, get this thing flying on my gear. There was a little bit of head scratching and a few texts back and forth to Headbang about some confusing parts but I finally got it to work, simplified style, that's how I roll. Even though it was a decent wind i headed off to my flying grounds and took it up. Again, HOLY S#%T I flew the hell out of this thing, easy wind handling, climbs, rolls and loops of coarse, and an apprehensive but a more successful inverted stretch, (the wind was flipping it back upright).
I sit here and stick my stubborn foot in my mouth for not going with this plane to begin with. I could be so much further along now as a pilot if I would have just built this great airframe and not passed it up. I am ecstatically humbled by my choice of wasted planes in the beginning. This a great trainer plane, and dare I say better as a trainer then the TT. And I'll explain why. First this design has size to penetrate the weather, and the wingspan to float like a feather. Second there is no dihedral, it forces you to level the plane yourself, trains you to pay attention to its flight line, and if you get into trouble in a rolling dive, just pull back on the elevator and she ends up at a reasonable level flight. Third it's a pusher prop above the airframe, no more replacing props or power pods, and if you do nose in, the whole front section can be easily rebuilt. Fourth it's a 4 channel right off the bat, set your throws and expos to however soft or responsive you want and the plane grows with you. Five it's a high wing low center of mass plane that stays stable in weather not limiting you to calm weather only flights and gives you the experience and confidence in less then favourable weather. One plane, one set of plans, multiple customization possibilities, flaps, FPV platform it, twin boom and A-tail the thing, it begs for it. So many reasons why I should have gone with it and I will be recommending this plane to anyone who wants to get into the hobby. Post what you like or don't like about it here, but I am excited about this plane and I am grateful to have met someone who introduced me to it. Now just have to find a way to pay it forward.
That's my 2 cents, (insert mic drop here)
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