Thunder Tiger Trainer 60 Electric Conversion - maiden flight

My first real ("real" meaning flown successfully without crashing) RC airplane was a Thunder Tiger Trainer 60 back in 2000. I had bought it as a complete package with a Thunder Tiger GP-61 Sport engine with a 4-channel Hitec radio and standard servos. I was getting trained on it with the help of the club instructors at the Marymoor Radio Control Club (MAR/C) in Redmond WA, and I was having a blast... that is until I clipped the wing on a tree branch and the gravity took over. I ordered an ARF package of the same plane in order to build it again, but then I got cold feet and put all RC stuff into storage. Eight years went by, and I fell in love with RC airplanes again last year, this time with electric ones exclusively (my wife had never approved of the smell of the glow fuel at home). After owning and flying (and occasionally crashing) over twenty odd electric airplanes, I now consider myself an advanced-beginner RC pilot. With this newfound confidence, I finally took my Thunder Tiger Trainer 60 ARF box out of the storage about a month ago and decided to try to build it as an electric airplane. I used the original Hitec servos but bought a Turnigy Aerodrive SK5065-380Kv brushless motor ($39.95), a Turnigy Plush 80A brushless ESC ($49.99), a Turnigy 5000mAh 6S 20C Lipo Pack ($79.99 when I ordered it, now only $59.99), and an HXT Universal Alloy Firewall Mount ($3.86) from Hobby King. As the radio, I used my Tower Hobbies System 3000 (a 6-channel rebranded Futaba FM radio). I finally finished the building, tinkering and assembling at around 4:00am this morning, and I was itching so hard to get the plane to the field and give it a try. This video shows the maiden flight of this relatively large (73" wingspan) electric airplane. The location is the club field of the Burlington RC Flyers in Burlington MA. After nine years of waiting in the storage, the plane did an excellent job of a very stable and satisfying first flight. I should give credit to my friends Artie and Derek for all their help this morning. Derek was the cameraman, and Artie was my co-pilot giving me suggestions and helping me with the pre-flight checks. The flight was 8 minutes long mostly at 50%-60% throttle except the approaches and climbs. When I got home I charged the 5000mAh battery, and it only took 1234mAh of charge. This means with this flying style it should easily fly for 25-30 minutes!!!
By the way, I should mention that I only used a 14x8 propeller instead of the recommended 16x10 one, because the 16-inch prop was touching the ground (it would have made a powerful lawnmover). Even with this smaller prop the plane did not feel underpowered at all at any time during the flight. With a 16x10 equivalent three-blade prop the plane should be able to do vertical take offs! I am very happy and proud. Thanks for watching. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Thunder
• Tiger
• Trainer
• 60
• Electric
• Conversion
• Burlington
• RC
• Flyers
• Club
• Field
• electric
• brushless
• radio
• control
• r/c
• rc
• trainer
• airplane
• plane

[mitropoulosilias]

i love you my friend!! i have a cessna with os 46la motor and i want to convert it like you did. where did you find the motor base (holder???)???

[fettah68]

@mitropoulosilias Hello friend. Sorry about my delayed response. I ordered the motor mount from Hobby King: an HXT Universal Alloy Firewall Mount (150/110mm). It was a couple years ago. I checked Hobby King website, but could not find the same mount, so it may be discountinued. Best of luck and success with your conversion.

[eastcoast78]

Nice Flight. Seems tail heavy .at beginning Sitting on her tail on the ground.Then in the air. Is there a Cowling for her?

[fettah68]

@eastcoast78 Thanks. The reason it is dragging its tail is the flimsy main landing gear, which is spreading out under the weight of the plane. It serves well though, since the prop I am using is almost touching the ground. I have a cowling for her, but the fit of the motor and the motor mount was going to be tricky, so I did not install it. However, I may do it in the near future to give her a nicer look.

[1Filmproducer]

what motor was is it again sorry? nice flying btw

[fettah68]

@1Filmproducer Sorry, I have not been checking the comments on my older videos. Just in case you still need this info: the motor was a Turnigy Aerodrive SK5065-380Kv brushless motor from Hobby King. However, it has been almost 3 years, so it may very well be discontinued. Thank you!

[fettah68]

@MrLovertoever Thank you!

[MrLovertoever]

Nice and you have good job on it

[Voidchaser]

nerd boys

[RubenCraninx]

@fettah68 It shows how real a RC plane can look when there is no comparison to the ground ;)