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e-E-Sky Honey Bee- Lama- Belt CP- E-Smart > Did you fly today?

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

Quote
I think my biggest problem is transitioning from the garage where there is no wind and I'm use to having the heli do everything I ask it to and nothing more. The wind is a new element that will take time to adjust to.

Tell me about it flying in front of me on the sidewalk then going to the ballfield big sky usually takes me a whole pack just to get comfortable. Dont know what you did with your pitch to get 85% throttle midstick? But get into idleup and tradeoff some of that pitch for headspeed. Iam sure you know 85% throttle at 1 degree positive pitch is more stable than 50% throttle and 4 degrees positive.

Of course I think everyone knows my feelings about idleup.
Normal mode is for setting up the gyro only.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-02-2008 08:00 PM

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Gregor99
Elite Veteran
Location: Western Wa

Attached is what I'm using for curves. These are current.

Above midstick, there's very little difference between normal mode and idle-up. 5% difference at midstick, but closer to 2% during flight. I just ran a pack in idle-up and it didn't really make much difference in the turbulance. Going to flat 100% (stunt2) seemed to make some difference, but I need more time to play with it to see how much.

I've been putting off idle-up practice because I know t.hold is not instictive for me. I just spent the last pack doing autos from 1ft to get more comfortble with t.hold. Its very rough at this point but it does feel good to be practicing something different for change.

Canton MO backyard flying club
West Coast Chapter

07-02-2008 09:02 PM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

Quote
Above midstick, there's very little difference between normal mode and idle-up. 5% difference at midstick, but closer to 2% during flight.

Seems to me your feeding more positive pitch in normal than idleup? I would think it would be lifting off faster in Normal than idle 1.

All I can say is after learning idleup I felt so much smoother yet quicker with the controls. The king was like flying a kite in Normal bobbing up and down with sluggish cyclic. But Idleup solved all the problems. Unfortunately it all came back when I put the fuse on.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-02-2008 10:11 PM

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Gregor99
Elite Veteran
Location: Western Wa

Above midstick, the pitch curves are the same and throttle curves are close. For me there's really no difference between between normal and idle up as long as I don't go below midstick. I set it up this way so I could get the same "upright" benefits as idle-up while in normal mode.

Regardless, I need to learn use the t.hold, autos and be comfortable with idle up. So I'll be adding that to the practice regimen.

Canton MO backyard flying club
West Coast Chapter

07-02-2008 10:23 PM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

Quote
Regardless, I need to learn use the t.hold,

Me too for as much as I fly idleup. last crash I had I watched it on the ground till the main gear stripped all the while my finger was on the TH but didnt use it.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-02-2008 10:36 PM

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Gregor99
Elite Veteran
Location: Western Wa

Here's my process (as of this afternoon) in case this is helpful. I've been a little freaked about hitting t.hold, worried that I'd bump the cyclic at same time sending the heli nose in or causing a tip over. So I put the TG back on, hovered about an inch off the ground and hit t.hold. Not as shocking as I expected. I did it a few more times, grandually working my way higher and feeding more collective as the heli got close the ground. I did this for 2 packs, then took the TG off. It floats much better without TG and the whole afair seems less violent.

Next step: at the end of each flight, now I'm hovering above the landing area and hitting t.hold. Its still a little bit of a rough landing. I figure eventually it will become more natural.

Canton MO backyard flying club
West Coast Chapter

07-02-2008 10:54 PM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

I need to start that also greg. What surface are you landing on? Ill probably have to move off the concrete.

We will all be like slider finishing each flight with an auto.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-02-2008 11:10 PM

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Gregor99
Elite Veteran
Location: Western Wa

I'm landing on smooth concrete. Cardboard would better but I didn't think if it until now.

There's a little bounce and I'm sure if I don't get better at it, I'll need new landing gear soon

Canton MO backyard flying club
West Coast Chapter

07-02-2008 11:17 PM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

Thats what I was thinking but That dang align gear are a little more expensive.

Not bad though at $8 Id rather not use the skid stops.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-02-2008 11:31 PM

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MMike
Elite Veteran
Location: Holland,Mi-USA

Didn't fly today.

Weather bites.

07-03-2008 02:11 AM

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2old2fly
Veteran
Location: Mill Creek, Wa.

Couple of observations:

Greg, your throttle/pitch curves are almost identical to mine.
From mid-stick up, my normal, and idle up are the same. The only thing idle up does is add the lower half for 3D.
So they look like this:

Norm
Throttle: 0 52.5 85 95 100
Pitch: 35 40 50 75 100

Idle up
Throttle: 100 95 85 95 100
Pitch: 0 25 50 75 100

This way, for regular flying, there's no need to go into idle up. But if I did hit the switch while at half stick or more, there would be no difference until I flipped the heli inverted. Then I've have negative pitch available.

I'm also running a fairly high head speed (I need to pick up my tach the next time I'm in North Bend... ). But I'm running a 150t main with an 11t pinion. So it's some fair head speed. I needed to add some expo to mellow it down some.

Autos:

I've continued playing with Autos too, just for the practice.
Although, after working out the throttle/pitch curves above, I've not needed to fly in Idle up.
However...
What I've found with my 450:

From about 10' or so (landing on pavement):
Hit the T.H., and let her glide down (she comes down at a speed just below that of a falling brick). Hold off on the positive pitch until it's fairly low to conserve head speed. To much to soon, and you lose head speed, and you'll hit harder.
Then right before touch down, give her the positive pitch & come back on the right stick some to give it some flair right before she touches down. If I time it right, she'll come nearly to stop right above the gound, and touch down fairly light all things considered.
NOTE: I'm still flying with my TG on, so that helps cushion the landing some too. The manuver still has a fair amount of pucker factor to it for me. Especially since I'm landing it on pavement!

Lesson #2.
The above absolutely will not work with a CX2.
and I'm not sayin' how I know that....
It did however happen over a bush, so the landing was cushioned, and no damage was done.
NOTE: It was not done on purpose...

No flying today...

Perfect weather. Just too darned busy.

Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission.

07-03-2008 03:22 AM

2old2fly
Veteran
Location: Mill Creek, Wa.

On Second Thought

Come to think of it, I actually did get a couple of flights in today.
I was trying to get my mind off work for a few minutes (been a very intense couple of weeks..). So I grabbed my CX2 and was hovering it in my office.

Tight quarters! But it will make you focus! (I really do miss my Walkera 4#3). I was able to hold it in the middle of the room without hitting anything. I even landed it on the other office chair (yes, the high backed ones like you get from Staples.. with the arms & all).

Two flights was all I got, but after flying the 450, that little CX2 looks & feels a whole lot smaller than it used to! Funny about that. When I first got it, it felt HUGE! Now it feels miniature.

Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission.

07-03-2008 03:29 AM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

I gotta start the auto's just for the sake of it.

Quote
But I'm running a 150t main with an 11t pinion. So it's some fair head speed. I needed to add some expo to mellow it down some.

I believe greg is flying a 3800rpm on a 10t in the king thats screamin I know its what I fly also. You thought the REXI was quick the king with that setup is quicker than the REX at least it feels it because of its small size and quirkiness.

Canton MO backyard flying club
Club President
Team No funds left.

07-03-2008 04:05 AM

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TJinGuy
Elite Veteran
Location: Socorro, NM - USA

Just watch Burlys recent video if you think a Rex could ever be as quick as a King!

I had 5 flights today. The first 4 were to get some temps for FMA. My batteries are getting so hot these days that I think i am hurting them. Today it was in the low 90s and I was flying the Mini. I ran the first 2100 18C for 7min and afterwards it was 140F! Howard at FMA says that is too hot. He says damage can occur at 140F+ and to keep the temps below 130F. Well that just doesn't work for me. I mean I live in the desert where daily temps are above 85F for over a third of the year. So now I am thinking about using their "60 Day No Questions Asked" policy and sending the recent 2 packs back for a refund. I am starting to think about the Outrage 2200 packs because they are only $10 more and everyone seems to be having a good time with them.

Anyhow onto other things ... the 5th pack was flown tonight after dark with the Align night gear on the Mini. I am going to a night fly on Friday and wanted to try it out. Man I wish I had a set of blades but alas, all I have is some glow tape that is pretty dim. In the dead of night I think I could see it but with the street light outside it was merely a ghostly streak. I guess it is time to cough up $75 for a set of night blades. Anyhow the added weight of the night gear is noticeable on the Mini. I haven't weighed it but I would guess it added 150g or more onto the heli. Here is a pic

- Chris

Variety+spice+life+supporting_paper_towel_industry=
King2+Rex450+Protos+Concept30

07-03-2008 04:23 AM

Gregor99
Elite Veteran
Location: Western Wa

Chris, nice night setup. Can't wait for the video once you get the blades.

The Outrage packs in my setup run pretty cool. Highest was 104f with ambient temp of 90 for 80% consumed. My FMA packs are smaller and lower C (15c and 25c for 1300) but all of them are typically 15-20 degrees warmer for 80% consumed.

I did fly today despite the wind. In fact I decided work on flying in the wind even when it got pretty rough. I had a number of close calls and there were at least 2 occassions I thought the blades were goners. A big downdrift dropped me close to the grass. I tried to fly out of it but some how ended up going sideways at a high rate of speed with the leading edge tipped down. Sort of sideways fast forward flight right on the deck. The knats were scared!

I did manage to get it straighted and pull out, but need a break after that.

Some wind observations. If the turbulance isn't too strong, it only changes your altitude. As it gets stronger, the altitude impact is greater and depending on your attitude at the time of the gust may send you off course alot.

When gusts get really strong, I tend to move to a tail in hover and ride it out. Today I found that its acually a little easier to keep some forward motion. As long as you aren't in a banked turn at that time a gust hits, the ride seems a little smoother.

I did switch to the heavier battery and that reduced the wind affect some.

Canton MO backyard flying club
West Coast Chapter

07-03-2008 04:51 AM

TJinGuy
Elite Veteran
Location: Socorro, NM - USA

In my experience, flying in the wind is all about keeping the leading edge of the main blades in a neutral angle to the wind. Sometimes this requires leaning the heli into the wind quite severely. I have seen my king lean 15-20 degrees over in a mostly stable over just to keep a roughly fixed altitude. The worst wind I have flown in is probably 10mph with 15-20mph constant gusts. Ask mfcrash about the time I flew mine the night of his build. That was crazy. The King was flying good and I was feeling cocky those days. No TG and really bad winds but I held it in the air for about 2 minutes before the wind helped me set the heli down 6ft with intention. It was like the wind was saying "You SHOULD NOT fly right now ... here let me put your heli on the ground for you". I just killed the throttle and called myself lucky.

- Chris

Variety+spice+life+supporting_paper_towel_industry=
King2+Rex450+Protos+Concept30

07-03-2008 06:05 AM

Griffin
Senior Heliman
Location: On your Screen

Rain, storms, and well crappy weather so no flying today.

I did have time to mount all the electronics in my beam, so the bad weather wasn't a complete bust. It's finally starting to look like a helicopter. Unfortantly I messed up one of the linkages so I have to wait for parts before I can even think about final setup. 2 fairly solid nights of building, and tons still to do.

07-03-2008 07:09 AM

shizack
Key Veteran
Location: Augusta, GA USA

Since getting the 'Rex, I finish almost all my flights with a little auto. It's really getting me familiarized with the location of and method for hitting the TH. Plus, it's kinda cool to see the heli float down a foot or two with no power.

The way I do it is to hit TH, keep the stick a the same point it was at hover, and wait 'til it's almost on the ground and give it a smooth flare. It usually does a soft tap on the ground followed by a slow-motion bounce. Really cool.

New challenge...? 2-foot autos into a 1-foot box?

The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.

07-03-2008 08:17 AM

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2old2fly
Veteran
Location: Mill Creek, Wa.