Do you guys think this is a good plane for a 5 year old to start learning to fly on? Would the mini arrow be a better choice for a first plane? I had my dad learn on a simple soarer with the motor and that worked well but this thing(or the mini arrow) looks way easier to build and more crashproof.
FT Sparrow Builders'/Owners' Thread
- Thread starter The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
- Start date
TooJung2Die
Master member
I've been building and flying DTFB airplanes since last summer and I don't think I'm ready for a wing like the Mini Arrow yet.
The Tiny Trainer is the ideal airplane for beginners. It was for me. I was astonished when my first Tiny Trainer took off, flew, landed and was still able to fly again. It's easy to build, very durable (crashproof), and has an upgrade path from chuck glider to sport aerobatic four channel. It'll fly with a wide variety of motors depending on how fast you want it to go.Jon
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
They probably removed the ailerons to make this more of a "trainer". It would probably be easy to add them, or to make a second wing altogether with less dihedral and ailerons, kind of like what Flite Test does with the Tiny Trainer and the Explorer.
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
+1.
Just add foam
Junior Member
Hey Jimmy P. That is to funny. I live about 2 min from the Race track. I'll save your email. Lets connect soon. My email is ssdarkey@gmail.com.
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
I want to experiment with putting a small motor on this; maybe an 1806 with a Gemfan 5030 on 2 cells? Would be interesting to see what it flies like with a very light setup.
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
I would put a 3-blade 5" over a 2-blade 6" on this one for sure -- the torque incurred from the latter will kill the flight experience.
Zap brannigan
Member
Here is my build, waiting for the motor in the Mail
Used 6mm depron,
View attachment 64757 View attachment 64757 View attachment 64757
I like the southpark "Jimbo"!!
This is the setup I'm trying. Ready for flight just waiting on weather. I have a F pack motor and a 3 blade 4.5 pitch. Going to fly with 800mah 3 cell. Should be interesting.
Ok, finally got some nice weather to try out my new mini Sparrow. I built from Localfiend's plans (which amounts to a longer fuselage nose section) I'm using the 'F' pack motor, 12A ESC, 5x4.5 3 blade prop and 800x3C batteries. With the small 3 blade prop you can keep the motor all the way in tight against the rear of the fuselage without cutting the tail. With the longer nose it balanced with the 800 all the way forward in the nose. No additional weight was needed. The CG I flew at was the one Josh showed in the video (Centered on the wing spar, slightly nose down when holding it there).
I launched at half throttle and it flew straight out from my hand. With the small prop you can normally launch it if you're careful as the prop is just about the size of the rear skid. I found that high rates were too much and flew on low rates much of the time. It does not take much control to make this thing fly. I'm quite surprised how well it works with just the ruddervators for control.
The 'F' pack motor is seriously over powering this little bird. I'm sure it would fly just great on the 'A' pack setup as called for on the plans. But WOW when you throttle up it screams. Funny that it wiggles around due to the very short coupled fuselage.
Here's a video of the maiden flight!
I launched at half throttle and it flew straight out from my hand. With the small prop you can normally launch it if you're careful as the prop is just about the size of the rear skid. I found that high rates were too much and flew on low rates much of the time. It does not take much control to make this thing fly. I'm quite surprised how well it works with just the ruddervators for control.
The 'F' pack motor is seriously over powering this little bird. I'm sure it would fly just great on the 'A' pack setup as called for on the plans. But WOW when you throttle up it screams. Funny that it wiggles around due to the very short coupled fuselage.
Here's a video of the maiden flight!
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
Looks lovely, akarmy!
Are you using Ross foam? Nice flying!
Are you using Ross foam? Nice flying!
Yes this is built with Ross. I didn't paint it yet as I was not sure how it would turn out with all the varied feedback we've seen. have to get it finished up now.
I may try the aileron version next. Also may try the smaller motor. It goes REALLY fast with the F pack.
Fidget
Active member
Thanks! I'll try that. Appreciate your help!
Fidget
Active member
FT Sparrow Build
Finished the FT Sparrow I made for my wife. Tried to fly last weekend, but had controls set up wrong. Thanks to advice from French, they seem to work better now.
Made with firewall from Copterholics on Thingiverse, primed grey and painted with glitter spraypaint from Testors. With glitter foam nose (Foamies type) and adhesive glitter paper from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Butterfly stickers and woodgrain vinyl shelf liner from Dollar Tree. http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=505_506_749&products_id=4845RMRC Black 1806 motor.
ATTACH=CONFIG]65972[/ATTACH]
Finished the FT Sparrow I made for my wife. Tried to fly last weekend, but had controls set up wrong. Thanks to advice from French, they seem to work better now.
Made with firewall from Copterholics on Thingiverse, primed grey and painted with glitter spraypaint from Testors. With glitter foam nose (Foamies type) and adhesive glitter paper from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Butterfly stickers and woodgrain vinyl shelf liner from Dollar Tree. http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=505_506_749&products_id=4845RMRC Black 1806 motor.
ATTACH=CONFIG]65972[/ATTACH]
Attachments
My failed attempt so far
Failed attempt so far
Here is my attempt to build the Sparrow under 250 grams...
It came in at 249 but alas is not airworthy. As you can probably guess, when power is applied it pitches down uncontrollably. I thought about cutting down the prop and then lowering the pod, but the plane is so short that I doubt that will do enough. If I angle the motor any more forward it will be practically pushing the plane down as much as forward.
If it could be made functional it looks like it could be a seaplane
any ideas?
I did angle the motor with about 1/8" shim between the top of the motor and the mount after I took these pics, but still no luck.
Failed attempt so far
Here is my attempt to build the Sparrow under 250 grams...
It came in at 249 but alas is not airworthy. As you can probably guess, when power is applied it pitches down uncontrollably. I thought about cutting down the prop and then lowering the pod, but the plane is so short that I doubt that will do enough. If I angle the motor any more forward it will be practically pushing the plane down as much as forward.
If it could be made functional it looks like it could be a seaplane
any ideas?
I did angle the motor with about 1/8" shim between the top of the motor and the mount after I took these pics, but still no luck.
The-One-Who-Never-Crashes
TOWN-C Aviation
Have you tried adding more up-thrust? I had the same problem with a Retro RC e-Sinbad 36:
Similar threads
