I've loved the FT Retro Rocket design ever since it was released. I bought a kit, the EDF Power Pack and a set of decals in January. I also purchased the Aura 5 controller board and the Lemon satellite to use with my Spektrum DX8 transmitter. I got around to building the kit in April and started flying it in May. The first problem I had was trying to takeoff of our paved runway. As soon as I got up any speed the plane would veer sharply off the runway. I was unable to ever get enough speed to takeoff. After a half dozen tries I got a club member to hand launch it for me. I made a half dozen circuits of the field and was setting up to land when it rolled violently and dove into the ground. I repaired the plane with lots of hot glue. To solve the takeoff issue I found a steerable nose gear on the forum that I got 3D printed at our local Do Space. Then I had my best day with the plane. I was able to takeoff and land 3 times successfully without damaging the plane (much). I was having a problem where my EDF would cut out, I'd lose control for a few seconds and then I would regain control. Eventually I had the same old problem where the plane rolled violently while flying level and diving into the ground. I repaired the plane once again but I decided to remove the landing gear because I was breaking the steerable nose gear every time I flew. I mad a bungee launcher using this thread on the forum (https://www.flitetest.com/articles/bungee-launcher) and I was able to fly the plane and belly land it 2 more times. I've put it on the shelf for now.
At Flite Fest this year I bought another plane kit and Power Pack kit for the prop version. I figured it would be lighter and easier to get in the air.
I have to say I have loved building this kit. Josh designed it in such a way that it's fun to build and easily gives good looking results.
The prop version of the kit came out very well. I even applied the Thunderbird decals and it was looking really cool. Problem is that flying the plane has been extremely frustrating EVERY time. My maiden flight I took off easily and did a couple circuits of the field. Then the plane did an uncommanded hard roll and dove into the ground. I hot glued the plane to where I could fly it again. I was able to get a couple of good flights but the plane would still occasionally roll and dive but I was able to recover. Two days ago I had the plane repaired, I went out to fly. I took off and did a couple of circuits when the plane did a hard roll and smashed into our asphalt runway. I was ready to hang it up but I spent 2 days tracing out some new parts from the scraps left from the kit. I got the plane ready to fly today. I had one successful flight. I was feeling good. I flew it a second time. After a couple of minutes the plane once again rolled and dove into the ground.
I've also had problems with the motor that Flite Test provides in the Power Pack for this kit (FT Radial 2207 1750kv). The first one burned out after 3 flights. The kit did not come with the motor mount screws and the ones I used were about 1 mm too long and shorted out the windings. I bought 2 more motors. The first one I made sure to use shorter screws. It burned out anyway after 1.5 minutes. The ESC and battery are fine. (I wrote to customer service and they are sending me 2 replacement motors)
I thought maybe I was having radio issues. I had been using the Lemon satellite and Aura 5 board with my Spektrum DX8. Today I used the Spektrum AR620-6 receiver.
I think I'm done with this plane. It seems that there are some weird aerodynamics going on that I don't understand. I'm able to fly other Flite Test planes with no problems. It doesn't feel like it's stalling because I haven't been dropping my speed.
I'm stumped. How has your experience been with this plane?
At Flite Fest this year I bought another plane kit and Power Pack kit for the prop version. I figured it would be lighter and easier to get in the air.
I have to say I have loved building this kit. Josh designed it in such a way that it's fun to build and easily gives good looking results.
The prop version of the kit came out very well. I even applied the Thunderbird decals and it was looking really cool. Problem is that flying the plane has been extremely frustrating EVERY time. My maiden flight I took off easily and did a couple circuits of the field. Then the plane did an uncommanded hard roll and dove into the ground. I hot glued the plane to where I could fly it again. I was able to get a couple of good flights but the plane would still occasionally roll and dive but I was able to recover. Two days ago I had the plane repaired, I went out to fly. I took off and did a couple of circuits when the plane did a hard roll and smashed into our asphalt runway. I was ready to hang it up but I spent 2 days tracing out some new parts from the scraps left from the kit. I got the plane ready to fly today. I had one successful flight. I was feeling good. I flew it a second time. After a couple of minutes the plane once again rolled and dove into the ground.
I've also had problems with the motor that Flite Test provides in the Power Pack for this kit (FT Radial 2207 1750kv). The first one burned out after 3 flights. The kit did not come with the motor mount screws and the ones I used were about 1 mm too long and shorted out the windings. I bought 2 more motors. The first one I made sure to use shorter screws. It burned out anyway after 1.5 minutes. The ESC and battery are fine. (I wrote to customer service and they are sending me 2 replacement motors)
I thought maybe I was having radio issues. I had been using the Lemon satellite and Aura 5 board with my Spektrum DX8. Today I used the Spektrum AR620-6 receiver.
I think I'm done with this plane. It seems that there are some weird aerodynamics going on that I don't understand. I'm able to fly other Flite Test planes with no problems. It doesn't feel like it's stalling because I haven't been dropping my speed.
I'm stumped. How has your experience been with this plane?
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