Everytime i launch my X8 it's never any problems. That was until i mounted a bigger propeller. I went from 13x6 to 14x9.5 and my plane "suddenly" went out of my hand much faster than before! The result is a painful hand and a lot of thinking :) Maybe some of you guys should think twice before you hand launch your new X8 or similar...
Now i'm considering several options:
1. Build a catapult
2. Hand launch engine off and throttle up after the wing has left my hand
3. Build a device where i can take off in a 30 deg. angle just by using the propeller power itself?
4. Any other ideas??
Comments
You can't compare a Stryker to an X8.
For a start the winglets prohibit any type of wing launch method.
The there is the weight.
Forget all attempts at hand launching an X8 they are doomed to failure or injury.
Seriously - why not just use a thick glove? Nothing elaborate required.
Hope you're ok mate.
I've been flying the X8 now, and have been all the way up to an 18" prop at 5.6kg, no problems. I am now back down to a 16" which I'm happy with but had the first "prop clipping arm" yesterday. Luckily didn't break the skin.
I do a running launch with the prop only just spinning. When my launch assistant chucks I throttle up before it leaves his hand.
I think the reason it clipped today but not on the previous 40 launches was he threw it upwards and not level.
I found that the lighter X-8s can be easily hand launched with the motor off and then power up. I had enough power to climb at a steep angle after power up with a minimal throw for launch.
Unfortunately, my X-8 succumbed to its poor design at the hands of another pilot (went to fast and it fluttered the winglets off even with reinforced wings.) so I won't be able to do any more launch testing with it. :(
I had a very similar result ONCE. Now I use a shortened version of my high-start bungee to get it airborn, then kick in the motor once the launch link/ring has dropped. It was a 13.6x5 that got me three times. Never again.
If you have ever played airsoft you quickly learn that the "fatty" parts bleed less then skinny ones like hands. The fat helps distribute the impact force over an larger area, making the cut shallower. The skinny parts also have the blood vessels closer to the surface.
Or by the time it got to your arm you ran out of blood ;)
@Morli: No it was just one set of scars. I guess it was my fat arm that prevented it from bleeding :-D
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