Helitronix
Senior Heliman
Location: Marlborough, MA - USA
| I built a custom set of tandem rotor mechanics using Vario SkyFox parts and pieces, other Vario items, and some aluminum C and L channel. It's electric powered, using an Actro 32-4 and 16 tooth pinion, plus a 10S LiPo. My eventual goal is to build a proper set of mechanics for use in the Vario Chinook fuselage. In order to make that project a reality, I decided to build a Tandem Rotor mixer first and worry about the mechanics, later. I built this test bed to test the mixer and to provide a proof of concept for techniques that I might use in the actual mechanics that will go into the fuselage.
As it turned out, I had the help of Richard Addington to test out my mixer in his custom Chinook before I managed to finish my test bed. So going into this experiment, I already knew the mixing electronics were ok. Still, I wanted to try the mechanics out for myself because I still need to make a set for the Chinook fuse. Plus, flying a tandem has to be fun, right?
Finally, all the pieces came together, and I had my first successful test flight of my tandem rotor test bed yesterday! Here's a video so you can take a look. It captures the first minute or two of flight. It was quite a treat to finally get this into the air. It's quite stable in the roll and yaw axis, but somewhat unstable in the pitch axis. I have to tune the elevator gyro to smooth that out.
http://www.helitronix.com/Tandem/Ta...FirstFlight.wmv
Joel- |
