Winter build project: Wolfgang Matt’s ATLAS

Congrats Chris.

This evening was practically windless, and almost perfect, apart from having to have several cups of coffee while the guy in the tractor cut the grass for us.



I had the field to myself which was great as I was trying to build a bit of confidence in my flying again and getting used to the Atlas, which seems quite different to anything else I've flow. Mike I think is keen for me to test the retracts so I ensured the first two landing were in the long grass, okay I admit it, I'm struggling to get the speed down on my landings, it comes in looking okay and then whistle past like a bullet :whistle: Luckily so far the retracts have held up to my landings, but time will tell.

I'm probably going to need a little help with the trimming and knife edge mixing. I think the side thrust is a bit out too, but the down thrust I think is okay. Part of the reason for needing a little help is that I'm fairly sure I'm throwing in a little personal mixing on the sticks without realising it :pinch:

I don't have experience of a flying many planes or expertise in piloting to say how well the plane flies, I can say I think it is a more capable plane than I am pilot, but then again most planes are. It is certainly fun, it's also a nice size and feels like it has mass, but also enough power to loop and roll gracefully. I also love the clean look of the plane with the undercarriage up.

Anyway, I just thought I'd post my feeling on it having flown it half a dozen times.

Glad you are pleased with it Chris, I always struggle with the landing speed of a new model, but just keep at it and you will soon get the hang of it. As for the mixing if you are around at the weekend I am sure we can help with that

Probably nerves kick in here a bit Chris. Because I have a wide choice of models with different flying characteristics I have to keep reminding myself what I am flying. Stick inputs to what the plane does varies greatly. Personally, on my first lonely flight with the Curare it was more than I expected, really smooth. I still come in too fast too but getting better, although anything less than a "greaser" of a landing on the airstrip causes at least one of the retracts to bend slightly so that on the next gear up they stick and cycle back down.

Mind you coming from a WOT4 makes for some BIG changes....... :lol: :evil:

H Chris

Good to hear you have got a few flights on her now, be good to see you back at the field regularly again!

I will be there tomorrow if you need any set up help.

Good to hear that it went up and back down a few more times. I'll be out tomorrow and it would be good to have them both flying together. All three Altas's have needed rudder trim to counter the lack of side thrust, so either there is not enough shown on the plan or the electric motors need more side thrust than the glow version of 40-years ago. and the knife edge mix should be simple enough to program at the field.