SkySeeker GT RTF Glider-Trainer
MOVIE FILES
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The SkySeeker GT is yet another great product from “Ready To Fly Fun”. The company specializes in offering high-quality aircraft at affordable prices since 2001. All of their aircraft can be flown in school yards, parks and, of course, at RC flying fields.
The SkySeeker GT is a true Ready-To-Fly (RTF) aircraft. It can be ready to fly in just over an hour or as long as it takes to charge the two supplied 600 MHz NIMH batteries.
The SkySeeker GT, like its buddy box equipped brother, Ready To Fly Fun’s T-Hawk, meets all the aircraft requirements of the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ (AMA) Park Pilot Program. The aircraft weighs less than 2 pounds (the Program’s upper weight limit) and has a level top speed under 60 mph (the Program’s upper speed limit). For complete Park Pilot aircraft details, follow this link.
The AMA Park Pilot Program offers non-AMA members the opportunity to become AMA members at a much reduced cost. Park Pilot membership includes a great magazine “Park Pilot”, $500,000 personal liability insurance, $2.5 million liability insurance for the flying field owner (see insurance details) and membership in the world’s largest sport aviation association – the AMA. For complete information and details about Park Pilot membership, just click here.
Photo 1 Photo 2
The SkySeeker GT arrived in a plain white box, nothing special but oh, what was inside was spectacular. In photo 1, you can see that the kit is packed in foam to avoid any damage and it certainly held true in my case. The SkySeeker GT was delivered in a raging rain storm and the box was pretty wet. When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised that nothing was broken, or even wet. Kudos goes to the packaging company!
In photo 2 you can see the SkySeeker GT Extreme Value Pack contains a one piece full length molded polypropylene fuselage with an installed tail, motor, propeller, receiver, servos and speed controller. Also included are:
Ø One “FlyRite RC” 3-channel, Single Stick, 27MHz FM Radio Transmitter.
Ø Two KAN 7.2V, 600 mAh NI-MH flight battery packs.
Ø One AC/DC Peak charger for home & field fast charging. An extra horizontal and vertical fin assembly.
Ø A couple of extra props.
Ø Two wings plus a complete instruction manual to get you flying in a hurry.
While other companies make replacement parts available by ordering, the SkySeeker GT supplies them with the airplane to avoid lost flying time in case gravity takes over unexpectedly.
Another great feature is the one-piece, full length molded polypropylene fuselage that will be able to absorb nose first impacts while the propeller and motor remain safely behind the wing. This minimizes damage while protecting the motor and propeller. This separates the SkySeeker GT from many other trainers that have their motor and propeller mounted on the front.
(Ed. Note: Just yesterday evening, I watched a very similar airplane, with about the same molded polypropylene fuselage, lose half a wing while flying above 800 feet. The airplane came down like a lawn dart, only faster. It hit nose first into some fairly hard dirt. Not even the nose was broken and both motor and electronics remained intact. The airplane had been converted to use an outrunner and Lithium Polymer battery, which was damaged just from the impact force even though the fuselage was not (Newton strikes again). Ni-MH batteries are far more rugged than are Li-Po batteries and probably would not have been damaged by the sudden stop. A quick wing and battery change and the airplane will be back in the air almost immediately. This was a good lesson to always reinforce the wing when upgrading to a more powerful motor.)
Assembly
Photo 3 Photo 4
In photo 3 you can see the assembled fuselage containing the 3-Channel receiver, the 15 amp micro-speed controller and the “improved” 370 series motor. Notice the motor is vectored (tilted) to offset propulsion torque reaction. In photo 4 you can see two servos and the battery plug.
Photo 5 Photo 6
Photo 5 shows you the charger which is equipped with a 110 Volt wall plug and a 12V accessory plug so it may be used either at home or at the field. Photo 6 shows the batteries being charged. The battery has a one-way plug meaning that it can only be plugged in one way to the charger receptacle. This prevents cross charging or shorting out the battery. The total time to charge the KAN 7.2 600 MAh battery turned out to be just over a half hour after a full run.
Photo 7 Photo 8
Now to the transmitter! The SkySeeker GT has a FlyRite RC 3-channel, single stick transmitter, (photo 7), with the speed controller on the back as a lever (photo 8). The motor will not start until the lever is pushed fully forward than pulled fully back towards your hand. This is a safety feature so you don’t get bitten by the propeller. Keep your hands away from the propeller at all times.
Photo 9 Photo 10
Remove the cover from the back of the transmitter and Insert eight AA batteries into the transmitter (photo 9). The FlyRite RC transmitters will accept either standard AA alkaline NI-MH or Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. The transmitter has a charging jack on the side if rechargeable batteries are used. No radio charger is provided but the polarity appears to be of the center positive, outside negative type. This equates to all charger types except JR. We used standard AA alkaline batteries in all flight tests. Replace the cover on the transmitter. Turn on the transmitter and you should see a green light lit (photo 10). This indicates you have sufficient power to fly your model.
Photo 11 Photo 12
Now it’s time to check the control surfaces. Check the front of the transmitter to make sure the trim tabs are centered. Turn on the transmitter and attach the battery to the receiver via the lift up canopy (photo 11). Check that the rudder and elevator alignments are flat before we put on the wing so we can make any adjustments that are necessary inside the aircraft (photo 12). Move the control stick on the transmitter and check that there is control surface binding inside or outside the aircraft. When completed, disconnect the battery from the receiver then turn off the transmitter.
Photo 13 Photo 14
Now to the wing! The wing is attached to the fuselage with six rubber bands (Photo 13). It is very important that the arrows on the wing line up with the centerline on the fuselage (Photo 14). The wing is made of one piece press-molded, PVC laminated foam stiffened with a wooden spar. This makes the wing very strong yet flexible.
Photo 15
OK now, a couple of tests then “off we go”! As per the instruction manual, I put the SkySeeker GT on my wooden floor, turned on the transmitter and plugged in the receiver battery. I then pushed the throttle switch on the back up a bit to see what type of power the motor had. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, at around half throttle, the airplane started to move across the floor. Now I really wanted to see what kind of power it has on the field.
Photo 16 Photo 17
Second test is the battery heat and time test. The purpose of the test is to see how long the motor will run at full throttle and if it, along with the battery, will overheat. It is very important to know how much flying time you will have and also if the motor and batteries are properly ventilated.
I placed the SkySeeker GT into a holder in the yard, turned on the transmitter then plugged in the battery (photo 16). Then, I throttled the motor to full speed and set the timer. The SkySeeker GT ran for over four minutes before it slowed down and then stopped (Photo 17. I immediately took out the battery and felt it for heat; it was warm but not hot. I also felt the motor and again, warm but not hot. This tells me that the electronics were calculated properly to get the most out of the power supply. I tried the test three times with the same results. In my opinion, the SkySeeker GT should have around 10 to 15 minutes of flight time when the speed is varied.
Flying the SkySeeker GT
Photo 18
The two flight batteries were fully charged. We did a range check with the transmitter antenna collapsed. I was able to walk straight out for over 100 feet and still had full control. We checked that all the controls moved in the correct direction and faced the reality that it was finally time to fly.
The April day was sunny, warm, and windy. Winds were steady around 12mph gusting to 23 mph. The manufacturer advertises that the plane can handle breezy days so Len and I were about to call their bluff. Len Cacciatore is a good friend of mine and has a good camera eye for pictures so I left the in-flight pictures and video in his hands.
Photo 19 Photo 20
Len steadied the camera while I took a deep breath, turned on the motor to high and launched the airplane (photo 19). The SkySeeker GT left my hand and had no trouble penetrating the gusty, high winds (photo 20). I held about a 20 degree climb and the SkySeeker GT had no problem climbing to altitude. At about 175ft, I just added a click of right trim and a little up trim and it pretty much flew itself.
Photo 21 Photo 22
Once airborne and comfortable at about 175 ft. altitude, photo 21, we tried some turns. The SkySeeker GT responded briskly and always stayed under control. It kept it’s altitude through the turn. I was very impressed with the rock steady flying in that gusty wind (photo 22).
Photo 23 Photo 24
At full speed the SkySeeker GT had no bad tendencies, flying straight and true (Photo 23). Full speed turns were a thrill, we could bank the plane to the limit and it would respond flawlessly (Photo 24). We then tried some loops and stall turns and again, they were no problem for the 370 motor and the 600 MAh batteries.
Photo 25 Photo 26
At reduced power settings, the SkySeeker GT was a dream to fly. Cruising airspeed was around 15 mph. Turns were stable and well coordinated. The airplane has no bad tendencies even in very low speed turns, photo 25. We then tried some stalls, pointing the nose up until it ran out of flying speed. The SkySeeker stalled gently, just pointing its nose down and gaining flying speed until it leveled itself out. Needless to say, a stall is a non-event.
Photo 27 Photo 28
We then tried to fly the SkySeeker GT as a glider. With the 40.25” wing and the light wing loading, it flew like a true glider. We were lucky that day, at the far corner of the field we noticed some birds gliding around. That is where I headed the SkySeeker GT and sure enough there was an amazing thermal, (warm air rising from the ground) and the SkySeeker GT did what all good gliders do in thermals; it climbed (photo 27). With airspeed in the 6 mph range, this airplane stayed airborne for about another15 minutes.
I felt that, after about a 25 minute flight, it was time to bring the SkySeeker GT in for a landing (photo 28). Most electric airplanes have a safety feature that cuts off the motor if the flight battery gets too low. This saves battery power to keep the radio system operating. I figured we shouldn’t push the envelope so let’s land while we still have power.
Photo 29 Photo 30
I blipped the motor and we still had power so I gently descended and lined the SkySeeker GT up for a landing approach (photo 29). The SkySeeker GT came in like it was on a wire and made a perfect landing about 10 feet from Len and myself (photo 30).
Photo 31 Photo 32
To tell you how impressed I am at how well the SkySeeker GT handles would be an understatement. The airplane is capable of very gentle flight along with just letting her rip through the sky.
Photo 33 Photo 34
I highly recommend the SkySeeker GT to experienced fliers that just want to have a hoot, along with beginners who want a real slow, stable and controllable first airplane with some basic aerobatic potential. The SkySeeker GT will fly in either setting and give both the beginner and experienced flier what they want out of a Ready-To-Fly (RTF) aircraft. I can’t wait to take it out again and let my grandson have a go at it.
Photo 35 Photo 36
The SkySeeker GT is available as the complete package described here. The standard extreme value pack is only $149.95. That is a great deal for the amount of fun you will have. The airplane is also available without the radio system and/or charger. Check out the “Ready To Fly Fun” website, www.readytoflyfun.com for complete details.
Photo 37 Photo 38
Photo 39 Photo 40
As with any RC aircraft, the student pilot should have an instructor when learning to fly with the SkySeeker.
Q
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Specifications Wing Style: Polyhedral High-Wing |
Short URL: http://masportaviator.com/?p=1042
Posted by Tony Rossi
on Filed under Park Pilot Airplanes.
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