E-Tsotsi Mk2 maiden flight

Saturday, August the 15th happened to be one of those cloudless winter day's with very light and variable winds (coming from the SSW) and more of a hassle for the winch pilots, but for me and myE-Tsotsi I could not asked for a better day to fly it's maiden flights.



(photo on the right) Piet and the E-Tsotsi -Mk2


After finishing the radio installation an charging the Tx and flight pack lipo batteries, I arrived at the BERG field at around 2 PM. Zimmy, Wolfgang and Boris were already unpacked and enjoying the fair weather.

I don't know who was the glades to great each
other but Zimmy said that he already had the Mafia lined up to come and get me out of my
winter bunker after no flying for the last 3 months or so.

Unfortunately I got bogged down with work and to the boot my left eye acquired a moving black dot that meant that I have to compensate for two Tsosi's while flying. Anyway I assembled the Tsotsi and with the folding prop held close with a rubber band, hand launched it straight into the slight breeze for its first trim glide.

(photo on the right) Wolfgang and Trevor discussing the big Thermal( fish?) that got away!!

True to the Tsotsi tradition it went straight as a die but nosed up a bit and required some down elevator to compensate for this.

I programed in a few clicks down trim, remove rubber band over the prop, opened the throttle stick to 2/3 full throttle and again launched the E-Tsotsi into the breeze and it effortlessly climbed away for its first flight. at about 3 times winch height I cut the motor and had to add a few more clicks of down trim in. The extra wight did not make much difference and it stay up in the very light lift conditions with no problem and the maiden flight lasted for 32 min. (I had to restart the motor a few times) and on recharging the lipo's I used 1340 mah of the 2100 mah battery capacity.

While recharging the flight pack had a chat to Trevor, Wolfgang, Stefan and Boris and not to forget Zimmy. Zimmy and Boris flew a ARF EPP foam DG 1000 electric gliders with unique retractable brush less motor system. the lipo batteries might be on the light side but on a good thermal day they will be more than adequate. It will also be ideal on the slope when the conditions are light.

Now you see me

and now you don't

Zimm and Boris with the EPP electric DG1000

Stefan converted his Tx to 2.4 Gh and look happy with his conversion reporting solid operation a fair distance.

(Below) Stefan (having fun with DHG glider)

(Above) Trevor hunting the Thermals after a winch launch

My second flight with my E-Tsotsi mk2 lasted 1hour 3min 45 sec in almost perfect late afternoon weather and on arriving home recharge the flight liop pack to 1649 mah.

E-Tsotsi mk2 recharging.

I know it's not always the case that a maiden flight works out well but there is not much that can beat the feeling when it do and even more so when you clock 1hour and 35min in your first two flights.

3 New Members for the BERG club

Last Saturday 3 new members joined the BERG Club and with the wind coming moderately strong from the west they had to wait until late before the wind calmed down a bit so they could get some flying in. The photo above shows André getting his electric J3 cub away in late afternoon sun. A big welcome to Chris, André and his father, I wish you many happy flights on the BERG field.

Chris overlooking André's J3Cub

On Tuesday (21 April) I had to go to Silverton for my work to have some engraving done. After I was done and as I was about to leave there he was, Craig Baker hard at work building gliders in the factory next door. I only had my cell phone with me but I was not going to miss this opportunity to take some pictures for the BERG blog. It is indeed a small world we live in.

Business as usual (BERG field at home)

Len Thomas Launches his electric glider.

With the December holidays now beginning the numbers of BERG members turning out on Sunday has dropped somewhat. It could also be due to the overcast skys that we had, but in the end we had 5 members, and one visitor on Sunday.


However we had a great days flying with high humidity and a light to moderate wind that made the air good for thermal activity and reasonable lift to be found during the course of the day.
Tony and his 2 meter Tsotsi on the left.

Later in the day Johan and Lorain joined us and both had a good few flights.
I managed to repair my Makulu and trim it out for next Sunday’s HTL at Heidelberg and last thermal competition for the year on The RSA calendar.

I hope to post a report and some pictures on this event next Sunday.

Your Pel
Piet Prepetation

The versatile BERG team.

The BERG cricket team in action

Another ball gets dispatched to the boundary.

Once again we had a good thermal day on the BERG field on Sunday. The day started of slightly overcastted and damp after Saturday night’s good rain. So the morning lift was slow to build up but the fresh breeze that we had soon blew away the clouds and by midday we were experiencing good lift.

Like last Sunday we had a good turn out of BERG members. My 4 year old Tsotsi (No 1) is now working overtime to help training the new members. With the condition improving as the afternoon went by, I stayed longer than I normally do and it was just amazing to see the late afternoon activities happening on the field.

Tsotsi no 1, now working over time, this time Lorain is hanging on for dear life.

Gordon arrived at around 3.45 PM and showed us his new lightweight winch that he purchased from Ricky Mitchell in Welkom.(Under 10 Kg). Also of interest was the 2 Meter Fling that Gordon flew.

Gordon's new 2 Meter fling and new wlightwight winch.

The Para-gliders men turned up and as soon as they were air born and disappeared over the horizon, their kids promptly started a local cricket game. Gordon entertained Zimmy and Wolfgang (with his J3 electric Cub), sitting in their chairs, smoking cigars passing on comments. By the time I had everything packed up and ready to go home it was 6 PM.

The Zimmy pose
only to be seen and heard
after a good landing)