so i have flown the new A-10 3 times and 2 of them ended with almost catastrophe. actually if you count the first failed launch, it would be 3 times.
plane flies awesome when working, super presence in the sky, but i kinda question their 35A ESC running that motor @ that voltage, with that prop, with that weight and drag, times x2.
first attempt i did not have near enough elevator and it just nosed in, totally my fault. 2nd flight i increased elevator to 100% rates and it flew great but cut out almost immediatly. i was able to use altitude and short distance to do a u-turn and land opposite take off direction. this thing is not a glider. on landing all looked good and it seemed to be willing so sent it right back up. flew without issues this time, almost 4 mins.
next day first flight and all was good to begin with. then it started cutting out. i was able to keep calm and cycled the throttle and was able to get it to come back to life. i was not loosing control surfaces, just motors. after the 3rd time and attempts to save the plane, it was getting pretty far and the sky was very grey and not helping. thankfully i was able to get it to start again and was actually heading back towards us this time. i nursed the throttle and brought it back to the field with a sigh of relief.
my immediate thought are ESC overheating and cutting out. with this design, as with many master series, once you instal the electronics you may not be bale to access them again once the final build is done. no way to "check" temps or make repairs w/o cutting into plane. there is also no airflow into the fuse from the front so the esc is basically stuck in a closed container. no bueno for heat dissipation. normally, if i was running a similar motor size/prop/battery combo i would be @ 60A for the esc, not the 35A provided.
i will have to put the meter on it and run a few test to try and figure out what's up. really like the plane and want it to live, it makes the most soulful scream when in the air.
laters,
me