FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK
| Hi kima,
My tests with an X-Cell running an OS 61WC suggest that you can expect to lift up to 4.5KG without major issues - so at 1.8KG and an OS 70 you should be well within limits. A lot of the guys on this site focus on the overall weight of the heli and camera+mount combined - trying to keep the whole thing within 20 or 21 pounds for safe flyability i.e. under 9.5Kg (Note if NZ is like the UK, anything over 7KG is classed differently wrt air regs).
I found with a Nitro engine, one of the most important factors besides general reliability concerns is over-heating, because the engine is under constant additional load. Ensure the fan is functioning well and the engine cooling fins are unobstructed by dirt etc and that the clutch is in good condition. It may be worth getting a temperature monitoring device - or at least checking that the engine is not baking during your first test flights with payload.
Also with nitro, take advantage of its speed, run it at high head speed instead of trying to lift using torque (heavy pitch). The higher speed has the advantages of increasing the airflow over the engine via the fan, moving smaller fuel/oil charges quickly throgh the engine and increasing the frequency of vibrations. High frequency vibrations are easier to eliminate than slower large amplitude vibrations or wobbles - this is probably the main, perhaps only advantage that Nitros have over gas powered models. Size power, torque and reliability are often promoted as overwhelming advantages of gas (petrol) power for this application - but certainly not a show stopper if nitro is what you've got. Wether or not it's is representative of the big picture, it's a fact that the majority of photos on this forum including most of the best ones come from Nitro and electric helis. It's also interesting to note that the grandfather of this industry, www.hovercam.com uses nitro engines - they overcome reliability and power issues by using two of them - with the ability to land safely on one.
Regards the downlink, here's one that looks very nice from roughly your part of the world: http://www.hicam.com.au/pro100.htm - if you get one of these please post about how it performs!!!! Also check in with Flyboy topic starter of "it's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood" - he obviuosly has an excellent set up in this regard (as with many other aspects of what he is doing up there).
Good luck and keep us posted!
Cheers,
Julian
Julian |
