09.29
When I read the review in Backyard Flier for this new release, I didn’t waste any time getting one on order.
Hobbytown USA in Petaluma got two in stock yesterday, I’m not sure if this was a lucky allocation or not, but Horizon’s website still shows them as due in mid-October.
Like all Parkzone BNF models, this was incredibly easy to assemble from the box. Everything is pre-installed, and the task basically consists of installing the wing, the tail feathers, and the propeller/spinner. I peaked the battery off/bound the reciever to my TX while having coffee this morning, and headed to the field.
The manual recommends 3/8″ throw on the ailerons and the elevator. This seemed awfully conservative to me, so I left the elevator at 5/8″, put the ailerons at 1/2″, and dialed in 30% expo on both channels in my DX6i.
The rest of the preflight was routine. Everything range-checked OK, I tested to make sure that it would taxi straight, and did one final ‘rattle & tug’ before takeoff.
Interesting note: The steerable tailwheel is a new, molded design that looks very durable. There is also an easy adjustment for the tailwheel, which came properly adjusted from the factory.
There was a slight crosswind at the field, despite this the model still needed a fair amoount of right rudder to roll out straight. It rotated in about 20 feet at 70% throttle, and climbed out with authority. Two right clicks of aileron trim were required to get it to fly straight & level, and then I was off to explore the perfomance envelope.
In the air, the BF-109G feels very light. The wind kicked up a few minutes into my flight, making this more apparent. Also, it was cloudy today, and the beautiful camoflage paint job on this model blends right into grey skies. I’ll bet it looks great against blue skies.
The stall characteristics are forgiving for a warbird, although I did notice a slight tendency to get tippy at low speeds. Also, I intend to dial up the rudder as muich as I can for my next flight – the tail feathers are very small, and the rudder in particular does not have a lot of authority. The included powertrain/3 bladed prop setup is adequate for aerobatic flight, but there is a lot of room for improvement in this arena. I’d say it is about as fast as a stock T-28.
The manual quotes 7-10 minutes of flight time with the included 1800mAh 3S Lipo, so when my down timer approached 5 minutes I started shooting a few approaches.
This model lands fast, with a predictable glide path. I had the best luck with coming in with the throttle chopped, pulsing in about 10% to facilitate a smooth flare. The crosswind was faster now, and as the manual states the model does have a propensity to drag a wingtip on landing. I got away with only a tiny nick in the foam.
I will probably fly the model as is for a week or so before setting up the flap option, and tonight I’m going to ditch the hateful EC3 connector and convert it to Dean’s.
In closing, I am very pleased with the scale appearance and mellow handling of the BF-109G. It will definitely benefit from some tuning of the control throws, and it’s only a matter of time before the aftermarket community starts doing some interesting hop-ups.
See you at the field!
The BF-109G after a successful first flight
