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Compass Knight 50 > Flight Performance Improvement, Knight Pro

SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

When I got the Knight Pro, my first Compass model, I felt it flew really well. As a matter of fact, I thought it flew so well that I went out and bought both a Knight Sport, and a Knight 3D.

Well, after flying the 3D, I was then dissatisfied with the roll maneuvers of the Pro...it sort of cork screwed the rolls. It sort of rolled like the CG was too low, and the CG of the Pro is lower than that of the 3D. So, what to do? I knew there was no way to raise the CG, but I figured out a way to lower the Center of Lift. I cut the main shaft off 1 CM, and lowered the rotor head. Immediately into the first flight after the mod, I could tell it was flying better.

What I had to do to lower the rotor head, in addition to cutting the main shaft, was shorten the link on the elevator A arm, shorten the links from the bellcranks to the swash, and shorten the links from the washout to the flybar.

Here's the "after" pictures:

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186

04-28-2007 09:32 PM

Rbush
Key Veteran
Location: The sheep factory, Wales

If you wanted the Pro to fly like the 3D, why did you not simply sell the Pro and buy another 3D?? Compass make three types of model for 3 types of flying/flyers. I can't quite see why you want the other two types to fly more like the 3D??

If you want smooth flying go with the pro.
If you want a good fling hack, go with the plastic sport.
If you want 3D, go with the 3D.

Just my thought.

That was a silly place to put the ground !

04-29-2007 12:38 AM

SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

Or, and this must be some revolutionary type idea, why not improve each one until you get it to fly as good as possible?

I do have one of each, and I will continue to improve them if I see an area that can be improved. It's just the way I am.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186

04-29-2007 12:50 AM

deiniolpook
Senior Heliman
Location: West Wales, UK

Well SteveH, you're certainly the first person that I've personally heard have a bit of a dig at the Knights flying performance.

I can't say that I've noticed this corkscrewing during rolls that you've mentioned

Like Rbush said if you want 3D performance then buy the 3D, but the pro does tend to be more of a smooth flyer. With that said when used with the right servos, dampners, gov, pipe etc the pro can still be a fire breathing dragon.
Mechanically there are a few improvements which could be done on the Knights but flying wise I can't see many ways that they can be improved upon.

But please do let us know how your next test flight goes with the lowered head.

Am I still in control?......................OH!

04-29-2007 10:04 AM

SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

deiniolpook,

I have several flights on the Pro with the shortened shaft, and I like it. It specifically rolls better. Can't say it does anything else significantly better, and the mod did not degrade any of the other flight attributes. It still is a smooth flyer...just rolls better.

I do own a 3D, and the flight performance is really outstanding. Like I said in my first post, the performance of the 3D is what made me start thinking about improving the Pro.

Frankly, I'm a little surprised at the comments from you British about the fact that I modified it. Have you never experimented with improving things over there? Do you just take things the way they are and never question if there is better performance to be obtained?

I have done other mods as well, that did not do so much for improving anything, so I did not stay with them, and did not report them here. I started this post because I honestly thought flyers might be interested in my findings, and even thought some might be interested in doing the mod as well. In the future if I figure out an improvement, should I just keep it to myself? I think maybe so.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186

04-29-2007 01:49 PM

beavis1
Veteran
Location: New York state

Cool info

Thats real great ! I love to get info like this. It is a wonderfull service for a guy whom bought a pro but wants a little more 3D action out of it.

Like said the models seem to have a little flavor of thier own and the Pro is a little more tame and the buyer has a choice to match his style. but info like this give guys options ! I love it !

Steve as always you da man !

Holo foil power !!! Magnum fuel Century Rep

04-29-2007 03:03 PM

HOMEPAGE

automan
Heliman
Location: Topeka, Ks - USA

Quote
In the future if I figure out an improvement, should I just keep it to myself? I think maybe so.

SteveH - Please don't do that! It's the spirit of creativity, trying new things, and sharing them with your fellow flyers that make this hobby fun.

I plan on spending a lot of time here in the Knight forum in the future and hope to learn lots of new "heli" stuff that will help make owning a Knight a great experience.

Dan

04-29-2007 05:17 PM

deiniolpook
Senior Heliman
Location: West Wales, UK

Us British people will play around with and modify things but usually only if the need arises.
The Knight is slowly starting to become a popular choice of 50 here in the UK and has been praised on many occasions for it's flying capability and as previously mentioned you're the first (that I've heared) to report any 'corkscrewing' during rolling.
My Pro rolls like it's on rails.
It would appear that you are trying to match the performance of the Pro to that of the 3D and I can't help but think that your time could be better spent doing other things.
As the saying goes - "if it aint broke, don't fix it"

Quote
In the future if I figure out an improvement, should I just keep it to myself? I think maybe so

Interesting comment that... as at the end of my first post I warmly invited you to report on your observations of your Knight with the mod you have just done

Am I still in control?......................OH!

04-29-2007 05:37 PM

Awol_46
Heliman
Location: Sidney, MT USA

I think its great your trying new things. The comment was made if you want more performance buy a 3d. Well some of us can't afford to just go buy another heli, so people like SteveH, are making it possible to get a little more out of something w/out having to go spend $500 on another heli. Keep it up and let us know as you go along.

AIN'T GRAVITY A *BEEP*

04-29-2007 06:26 PM

ez2bgman
Elite Veteran
Location: N'awlins, LA

Steve,

Good job on the Knight Pro. Keep up the good work and report any further improvements to us here.

Quote
It would appear that you are trying to match the performance of the Pro to that of the 3D and I can't help but think that your time could be better spent doing other things.

So because he wants to improve the roll rate to suit his need, he is trying to turn the Pro into a 3D.

Why must people be so negative.

Just because you Brits think that it flies well for you, doesn't mean that everyone else likes all the flight characteristics of the Pro. Reporting small improvements here on RR and other forums only helps other modelers who may be experiencing a similar problem. If you do not agree with what has been done, than be courteous and keep your comments to yourself. Let the pilots that can benefit from Steve's, and other pilot's, improvements enjoy their reports w/o the negativity that you are showing.

Gary
RJX of USA
Magnum Fuels
SwitchGlo
>Hot Girlz in da gallery<

04-29-2007 07:18 PM

HOMEPAGE

deiniolpook
Senior Heliman
Location: West Wales, UK

Well if your going to start hacking bits off of a perfectly good helicopter then feel free!!!!
Like I said a comment was made about corkscrewing during roll manouevers and a possible solution to this was suggested.
Seeing that this is an open discssion I posted my opinions on it and mentioned the fact that I have not heared of this or indeed observed this in the past.
Now I'm not saying that reporting small improvements here on RR dosen't help people out but I wonder how many flyers out there would be prepared to take on board the advice given and start chopping things down on their machines. I can almost guarantee that nobody is going to reduce their rotor height.
For all the world knows this 'corkscrewing'/roll issues reported by SteveH could be down to spending too many hours typing away on RR and not at the field actually getting decent stick time in.
Remember this - the Knight Pro is the oldest out of the Compass stable and nothing remotely like this has been reported in the past.

But anyway I can see exactly where this thread is going to end up and I do not intend to be part of THAT bumpy ride.

Am I still in control?......................OH!

04-29-2007 07:48 PM

SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

deiniolpook,

First, yes you did invite me to report my obsrvations, and I did, but you asked me to do that only after making statements like:

Quote
Well SteveH, you're certainly the first person that I've personally heard have a bit of a dig at the Knights flying performance.

and

Quote
Like Rbush said if you want 3D performance then buy the 3D, but the pro does tend to be more of a smooth flyer.

And then there's:

Quote
Us British people will play around with and modify things but usually only if the need arises.

As I said, there was a need because my Pro did not roll well.

And then:

Quote
It would appear that you are trying to match the performance of the Pro to that of the 3D and I can't help but think that your time could be better spent doing other things.

Let me say at this time, I'll spend my time flying my helis, working on my helis, and improving them as I see fit. If you are happy with the way your heli rolls, it just tickles the s#!t out of me, but please do not tell me what not to do to mine.

And then there's:

Quote
As the saying goes - "if it aint broke, don't fix it"

Never said it was broke, or even that it did not work well, just said I was "dissatisfied" with the rolling maneuvers and wanted to improve them.

And you got one more in:

Quote
For all the world knows this 'corkscrewing'/roll issues reported by SteveH could be down to spending too many hours typing away on RR and not at the field actually getting decent stick time in.

For your information, I just returned from the flying field this afternoon where I burned a gallon of fuel thru my Knights. And I might add, that is the second gallon this week. How much fuel have you burned this week?

And finally, the last one:

Quote
But anyway I can see exactly where this thread is going to end up and I do not intend to be part of THAT bumpy ride.

If you really don't like the way the thread has gone, and I might add, I don't like it either, you might look in the mirror and see the person that has taken it in the direction it has gone.

Have a good evening, I'm out of here.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186

04-29-2007 08:53 PM

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Compass Knight 50 > Flight Performance Improvement, Knight Pro

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