Sunday, 24 November 2024

Storm flying blast

 You know that you really do have an aviation problem when you're driving to the slope around fallen trees and water logged roads.  Slope dog decided to hide behind the car to shelter from the 60mph winds.

  The smaller span of the wyvern and falcons make ground handling and launching much easier than the 3 Saker.  Screaming around the sky was made more of a buzz as I struggled to stand up against the conditions.

 That forgiving platform that the Falcon and Wyverns have are really put to the test in these conditions.  Carrying your speed and energy through the flight at these speeds is different to the usual challenges of flying, but so much fun.  Knowing and trusting your toy is essential and so much fun!

Monday, 18 November 2024

Enjoying the new model and snapflap

   It’s been a few weeks since I started flying the new lighter Wyvern.  It’s taken me this long to get a few winter sessions in with the new model giving me the time to understand what effect the changes have had.  Flying on inland slopes and the variability of conditions that this gives, it’s easy for any changes to be over whelmed by variability in the conditions.

  I’ve flown the new Wyvern back to back with my ‘stock’ version that I have just about settled on a set-up.  It’s taken a good while for me to understand the model and get closer to best performance from it- this is more to do with my failings than the model. The Wyvern is the first model I have flown that I have set up to have the snapflap coming in and maxing out so early in the elevator stick.  Effectively flying the Wyvern with 2 sections for the turn and the straights. 

  The lighter layup has been a nice step forward I lighter air- not surprisingly.  The new tail has delivered a much crisper elevator response that makes me feel like I have better feedback.  Whilst some of this is because of the overall weight, I have test the new version, ballasted up the old weight and there is a noticeable development in performance.

  This is very much as you’d expect from loosing weight at the tips.  Quite nice to see that it works in practise though.  Both models have responded really well to the new snapflap set up- again nice to have proof that the aerodynamic theory seems to be working in practise.