Dragonus II First Flight

[mpetrich]

I have the adrenaline going right now so I have to make a quick post. I have been racing rc cars and trucks for a lot of years and have built some pretty complicated vehicles. As much as I like my cars (and even a few boats), I have never got so much of a feeling of accomplishment when the Dragonus flew for the first time. And if you have been considering building a heli instead of buying an ARF or RTF, you have to do it. Besides learning a TON about how a rc helicopter acutally works, learning and completing the correct setup process alone will make you a better heli pilot. I am a slow but particular builder and you get a much different feeling flying a heli that just a couple of weeks ago was in a bunch of bags of small parts as compared to flying a heli that comes already assembled.
Matt

[moosemanty]

congrats on the dragonus!!!!!! :) and i know that feeling..... the first flight, the adrenaline, and just the fact of knowing that you built the thing :D

[antennahead]

Hey Matt, it's a great feeling isn't it? how do you like the dragonus? I really like my dragonus, I'm alot like you, I really took my time building it and adding all of the quality components that I wanted. took me 8 months but it sure was worth it, I've finnaly started flying it....well, not really flying it, extended hops is more like it.It's been to cold here, so I move the cars out of the garage to practice. Are you using a simulator for learning ?

[mpetrich]

That's pretty funny. I live in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago and I have a heated garage. I move the cars out and do the same thing! This is the first heli that I have built and the first with a HH gyro. What a difference that makes. And yes, I have the FS One simulator and put a lot of practice in on it. I was really surprised on how nice the Dragonus hovers. I have a Blade 400 pre-ordered from Al's in Elmhurst so I will see how that compares but I really like the Dragonus. I just ordered some of the metal head parts from Hobby Lobby. There is a great flying field on LaGrange Road not too far from my house. Can't wait for spring.....
Thanks,
Matt

[Finless]

Cool Matt.... My dragonus is one of my better helis too!

Congrats on the successful build and maiden!

Bob

[mpetrich]

Thanks Bob. I know I have said it already, but your videos are EXCELLLENT!
Thanks for the help.
Matt

[istandalone]

we'd all be lost without the bob!

[antennahead]

mpetrich, I go past that field on LaGrange every couple of months or so when I go to my Doctors office and was thinkin of flying a few packs when I'm in the area when it's nice out, is it AMA membership only, or do you also have to purchase a forest preserve permit to fly there ? do you know about the one field/ club that is strictly heli's ? I'm not exactly sure where it's at, maybe around elkgrove I was thinking about joining them next spring. they usually have some flyers at Al's with the location of the field.

[Aberdeen]

A few things I did not like with the Dragonus, was the battery and ESC placement,.
It was too low and forward making the heli way off balance.., Another thing I did not like you could not use 4 cell lipos...

The Heli is a Trex killer. Tail section and head assembly blows trex out the water.
Plus they way they enginered the belt drive, and the 1/2 inch boom, is icing on the cake.

But that Battery/ESC issue drove me nuts. How can such a great heli, have such a crappy setup for the battery?

So I went back to the drawing boards.. came up with a soulution that took the Dragonus performance through the roof, by raising the center of gravity, and setting the battery rearward for perfect balance, plus it gave me 4 cell capabilities. Then I contacted Mark at www.mjpcarbon.com (http://www.mjpcarbon.com), and the rest is history..

what do you think??

Anthony

[moosemanty]

yeah, anybody that hasn't done that mod already, i suggest doing it :) you can make a battery tray out of almost anything (even a broken cf blade) or you can buy the upgrade mount.
but the horizontal mount is needed for most lipos.

and Aberdeen, that mount looks nice!

[mpetrich]

Aberdeen, I didn't see the Dragonus battery mount on the mjpcarbon website. Can we just email the guy for the part? What is the cost? I did a battery mount mod similar to how Bob did it in his video.
Thanks.

[mpetrich]

Hello,
Good question, I don't know if it is AMA only. I don't think so but I am not 100% sure. I got the following information from the Cook County Forest Preserve website.
Hope it helps.


Some areas in the FPDCC have been designated as “Model Airplane Flying Fields”. These areas are posted by the District. Each area is available for the flying of all types of model aircraft by any and all individuals on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications for organizations/clubs or single occasion exclusive use may be obtained from the Department of Recreation. Such requests will be granted only in the case of a contest or similar demonstration.
Model Airplane Flying Fields are maintained by the District on a par with picnic and similar use areas. Refined mowing by individuals or groups is permitted.

Location of Designated Flying Fields
Miller Meadow
Salt Creek Division
(708) 447-0090 or 0091

East side of 1st Avenue, 1/2 mile north of Cermak road, adjacent to I.C. tracks, Maywood

Kickapoo Woods
Calumet Division
(773) 233-3766 or 3767

West side of Halsted Street at 144th Street, Riverdale

Ned Brown Meadow
Northwest Division
(847) 437-8330 or 8331

South side of golf Road, east of Interstate 290, Elk Grove Village

Morrill Meadow
Palos Division
(708) 839-5617

West side of Mannheim Road (Rt. 45), south of 107th Street, Palos Hills

Schiller Woods
Indian Boundary Division
(773) 625-0606 or 0607

South side of Irving Park Road, west of Cumberland Avenue, Chicago

Tinley Creek Division
(708) 385-7650

North side of Flossmoor Road, west of Central Avenue, Country Club Hills

Poplar Creek Division
(847) 798-4668

South side of Shoe Factory Road, 1 mile east of Bartlett Road, Streamwood

Thorn Creek Division
(708) 474-1221

East side of Volbrecht Road, south of 183rd Street, Lansing

Deer Grove East
Northwest Division
(847) 437-8330 or 8331

North side of Dundee Road, between Hicks and Smith Roads, Palatine

[Aberdeen]

Aberdeen, I didn't see the Dragonus battery mount on the mjpcarbon website. Can we just email the guy for the part? What is the cost? I did a battery mount mod similar to how Bob did it in his video.
Thanks.

Mpetrich,
I just called Mark regarding pricing, and at the moment he is working up one.
He will be posting the battery mount on his site tonight.
I sure it will be a bargain like Marks other products.

When I first contact Mark, with this "custom project", I was prepared to pay $60++
mainly because of the cnc programing..
But since he will mass produce it, I figure about $20 bucks give or take a few..,

Anthony