eric_b
Key Veteran
Location: Denver, CO, USA
| flight modesI guess I'm a programming freak - I use 5 flight modes.
Here is how I setup my radio (Airtronics Stylus):
Normal Mode - Hovering and take off
>> Gyro in rate mode.
>> Pitch from -4 to +10.
>> Expo on cyclic controls.
Idle up 1 - I use this mode for mild forward flight, sometimes if flying backwards circuits in strong wind.
>> Same pitch curve as normal mode (-4 to +10).
>> Raised throttle at the lower two points to keep blade rpm in descents.
>> Gyro in HH mode.
>> Expo on cyclic controls.
Idle up 2 - Aerobatic mode, inverted flight, 3D, etc.
>> Pitch from -10 to +10.
>> V shaped throttle curve - higher head speed than normal, or idle-up 1 modes.
>> Gyro in HH mode.
>> Expo on cyclic controls.
Idle up 3 - This is my 'piroflip' mode. I set up a separate idle-up for piroflips so I can set the tail rotation rate independently of my other modes.
>> Pitch from -10 to +10.
>> V shaped throttle curve - higher head speed than normal, or idle-up 1 modes.
>> Gyro in HH mode.
>> Linear travel on cyclic controls.
>> Tail rotor travel rate cut to about 65%.
Idle up 4 - Throttle hold - autorotation mode.
>> Pitch from -4 to +10.
>> Gyro in rate mode.
>> Expo on cyclic controls.
Notice that I have at least enough negative pitch in all modes to autorotate. I don't have to worry about which mode I'm in should the engine quit unexpectedly. My high and low pitch may vary a bit - I set it for as much pitch as possible without the engine bogging down.
All of these mode changes are ganged to my idle up switches. I don't have additional switches to flip to change gyro modes, travel rate or endpoint changes, or time delays functions. I just remember which switches activate which mode, and all of the other changes -in addition to the throttle and pitch changes- automatically switch too.
The pitch difference between the idle up 1 and 2 modes will normally make the helicopter jump when you switch modes. However, the Stylus has time delay functions which allow you to specify time delay movements between MODE changes. I set this to about 10 seconds, which means that it makes the move from the current servo mode/pitch position, to the new mode/pitch position (the pitch difference), over the time period specified (10 sec). I can switch between modes, at any time, and the heli never jumps. In a hover, the heli will >very< slowly start to descend when switching into idle-up 2 if you hold the sticks still. These time delay functions make the transition between modes seamless.
I also have lockouts on certain modes - i.e.: I can't accidentally enable throttle hold (idle-up 4) if I'm in idle-up 2 or 3(and inverted, for example). I have to be out of idle-up 2 to enable the throttle hold mode. Also, idle-up 3 cannot be switched ON unless idle-up 2 is also ON.
I use linear rate travel on cyclic controls in my piroflip mode, idle-up 3, because otherwise the expo will make the cyclic movements uneven when using my cyclic limiter ring. |
