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Fast Lad Performance . Ace Hobby . Esprit Model

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Aerial Photography and Video > Winter or cold weather flying
 
 
daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

Couldnt find a descent thread about this, only one with, dont freeze, keep warm, or dont fly suggestions...

I know we had this going on last winter, but couldnt find it, (i know noobs participated in that one)

Anyway, lets freshen this up, what to do or not to do, or what to look out for.

First question, will links get tighter or loser during low temperatures?
Would it be smart to have a set of links for winter use and a set for summer use, or doesnt it matter?

By the way, the first 5 inches of snow came last night over here, and i have an assignment this weekend

Chris

Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
10-29-2008 06:45 PM
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aambrose
Elite Veteran
Location: Pana, IL

Some info/pics about grounding belt driven tails might be useful too.

Thanks!


Tony
10-29-2008 07:37 PM
 
 
daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

Tony, does that make any difference during low temps?

Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
10-29-2008 08:03 PM
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Envision
Senior Heliman
Location: MI

I have wondered the same thing an have considered changing to HD links. http://servocity.com/html/ball_linkages.html

Also, suggestions on the best way to keep your hands and radio warm.

Troy
10-29-2008 08:24 PM
 
 
daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

I bought myself a pair of wool gloves, and plan to slit a tiny hole on the finger tip, just to feel the stick.
Ive also bought a pack of handwarmers that im planing to stick inside the gloves on the top of my hands so im isolated at the most freezy part of the hands, other than that, it often helps to keep the body and legs warm, that way you wont freeze that easily...

Im not very fund of the mits, as im afraid of that i might accidentally flip over a switch i dont want to, besides, how am i gonna access the camera shutter and autotrim swith with that?

I also believe in keeping the hands nice and warm until youre going to fly, then maybe take of the gloves for those 7-8 minutes...

Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
10-29-2008 08:44 PM
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trackhead
Key Veteran
Location: utah

I flew nearly every day last winter in the mountains in Utah. I was often out for more than 8 hours.

Here's my take on it.

-Use a mitt, bare hands inside, your hands won't get cold.
-When using a mitt, it will fog up.
-Use an external flight timer so you can hear it.
-Pay attention to static, it's much worse in the dry winter air.
-Helicommand doesn't like static in the winter, ground your boom.
-Ball links, forget about them, they are fine. (on my Trex 600)
-Keep your lipos near your body if you're out for long periods.
-Otherwise keep lipos in case and use handwarmers to keep them a bit warmer.
-Helis work fine in light snowfall.
-Blade icing is an issue in fog.
-Launch off platform to avoid snow on lens at launch.
-Don't worry about it, it's pretty much the same as flying in the summer.

10-29-2008 09:08 PM
 
 
aambrose
Elite Veteran
Location: Pana, IL

Quote 
Tony, does that make any difference during low temps?
It has more to do with humidity. The dryer the air, the less effective conductor it is, therefore electrons will build up to a higher potential before discharging (you know those cold winter days and you get zapped when reaching for the door handle ). So you could have low temps and high humidity (snow) but it's the cold dry days that are the worst. I think a simple wire from the tail box to the frame would work but pics are always nice to see how others have done it.

Nice rundown Derek!


Tony
10-29-2008 09:09 PM
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

U.S. Air Force pilots gloves
http://www.omahas.com/product_info....sCsid=58c8bb796

these are great, best I've ever used as far as being able to keep the dexterity and sensitivity of touch. Thin leather bottom that extends from the wrist out to the fingers and NOMEX fabric make up the rest of the glove. What's nice is that they are thin like a second skin almost so your fingers are an easy fit in between the switches.
As for the cold, better then bare fingers at least, but you will feel the cold like any other after a while. You just cannot pump enough blood into the fingers fast enough and any blood in the fingers gets chilled lowering your body heat. You will stay warm with them, but there not the miracle glove I've yet to see designed.
Wool is the best for snow, because when wool gets wet it does not lose it's heat, it stays warm. 10 zillion sheep can't be wrong!

Quote 
-Use a mitt, bare hands inside, your hands won't get cold.
trackhead, when you say "mitt" are you referring to the radio cover/glove or the traditional mitt for each hand?

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 09:37 PM
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

greases and oils

trackhead. how did your grease in your bearings do in the cold. Did they congeal to where you noticed any problem with them?

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 09:41 PM
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

Quote 
-Don't worry about it, it's pretty much the same as flying in the summer.

except for that white paint job!

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 09:52 PM
 
 
daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

Quote 
10 zillion sheep can't be wrong!

Sea, have you asked them? How do you know they dont freeze theire but of every winter?

Great info here now, keep it coming...

Both my Profi and a separate part on the boom is grounded with two separate ground wires, i also have a static wick on the horis stabil fin grounded with a wire to the boom, shouldnt that be good enough?




Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
10-29-2008 09:58 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

Quote 
I bought myself a pair of wool gloves, and plan to slit a tiny hole on the finger tip, just to feel the stick.

They also make wool gloves with the fingertips cut off.
Also look into what cyclists are using for winter gloves. It's been years since I've gone through my psycho-cyclist stage but I'll bet technology has improved in cyclist clothing.

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 10:02 PM
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

Quote 
I bought myself a pair of wool gloves, and plan to slit a tiny hole on the finger tip, just to feel the stick.

Well...there are ways to keep warm with sheep...but I'm not saying!
Baaa...

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 10:05 PM
 
 
nooobs
Key Veteran
Location: Toronto, Canada

^^^^^^^^^^^Ditto on everything Track said.

Just to add... I also wrapped my lipos with some sort of material to help keep the cold out.

I believe Track was referring to the radio-mitts. I use one as well.

Flew the Trex600 as well almost everyday last winter. Flew as cold as -24° C (-11°F). HC and other electronics were fine. Anything below -20°C I wore thin gloves inside the radio-mitt.
10-29-2008 10:09 PM
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daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

Glad im using a123s and not lipos

Ros, never an issue with switches in the mitt?
Are they completely reachable inside that?

Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
10-29-2008 10:15 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
nooobs
Key Veteran
Location: Toronto, Canada

Yes the switches are reachable. That's the first thing I tested.
10-29-2008 10:17 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
trackhead
Key Veteran
Location: utah

If you cut finger tips off and don't use a mitt, your fingers will still get cold.

I also keep my radio inside my big puffy down right before flying, then rip it out and fly. This keeps the metal controls a little warmer. Or you can use hand warmers on them.

No issues with switches, but caution is still warranted to not bump anything.
10-29-2008 10:36 PM
 
 
rroback
Elite Veteran
Location: Irvine (UCI), Ca

Most important thing is to be safe with your body. Helicopters can handle the cold, but your fingers might not be able to. Even if you don't get frostbite, you can have nerve damage from cold.

Rhett... I can't fly, luckily the HC Profi Can!
10-29-2008 10:37 PM
 
 
Seablade
Key Veteran
Location: floating around

daytonabeach
I think that there may be a better location for the g-force static wick.

I put mine right at the end of the boom where the belt and tail shaft drive pulley are so it is where the most conductivity from the belt is.
I had to file away some of the G-Force to fit over the bearing so it sits flat on the end plate.

I'm also running a single grounding wire from the bottom side of the motor mount plate to the main gear mount to the tail drive gear mount and running a wire from the boom to the same bolt(not done yet),and mounting a second G-Force on this bolt.
This looks like major over-kill, but there is a static in the area behind the motor where the Rx has a place to mount. I think it may be the combination of the motor and the belt from the motor to the main gear.
(...I also have twenty feet of this yellow/green wire I was looking for a reason to use.



"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
10-29-2008 10:55 PM
 
 
nooobs
Key Veteran
Location: Toronto, Canada

Steve the regular static wire placement as shown on the manual is enough for the tail boom belt. You don't need the static wick there at the end. I've tested this.

After placing the ground wires around the gear did you test for static?

Static is produced from the main gear. Use a voltage detector.

I no longer place the RX on the RX tray.
10-29-2008 11:08 PM
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Aerial Photography and Video > Winter or cold weather flying
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