I figured I would setup the original Alpha6 unit using what I had learned about setting up the replacement that is working so well in the Waco, installing it in the 10cc Sukhoi 26. I pulled the reciever off the center post there and moved it behind the fuel tank, created a stable platform for the gyro and installed it.
The platform finished, light coating of epoxy-alcohol painted on to allow the heavy duty double sided tape to stick well.
Alpha6 gyro in place. tried for an hour to get it to program. Reinstalled the 1.2 update, tried setting it using the software... In trying to program the calibration the servos would skew off center when their channel was selected for gain direction and stay there, no movement to adverse direction, so I couldn't even tell if the gain directions were correct. Didn't matter, I still couldn't gef the past the gain switch calibration, so the unit won't work at all. I think the MEMS are bad or there's a problem with the board. Either way, its a brick.
So I replaced the fancy $129 Spektrum Alpha6 gyro stabilizer with a $19 Hobby King Orange 3 Axis unit. I am not even sure this can work in a gas aircraft vibration environment. Took less than 5 min to set up. Took the airplane out to the garage and started her up to see if the vibration created any problems, and it was rock solid and responded to adverse inputs. I do lose programming individual ailerons, flaperons and differential because even though there is an AUX1 channel, it doesn't act like a seperate channel so the ailerons move in the same direction no matter what you do. I suppose I could rig the servo horsn on the same side so the motions are reversed... I can look into that later. HK notes in comments that you have to Y harness the ailerons. Bummer. There is supoosed to be a way to program a remote on-off switch, but there is no manual, and I am not sure how to set that up. This system works very well on the Sbach, and the Stearman, both electrics.
If the winds permit I hope to fly her tomorrow and see what happens. I think its going to work just fine!
Good thing this happened during pre-flight. I think I mentioned that I didn't like the use of the curved aileron control horns on the connectors between the upper and lower ailerons. The geometry was all wrong so the forces that transfer the lower aileron movment to the upper aileron tended to pry the horns in ways that reallly stress them. As I was warming up the engine I ran the controls through their range of motion and this little shit popped out. My wife kindly hopped in her car for the 2 minute drive from my house and brought some CA (failed to have any in my field box), but it popped out again after 15 min drying. So I packed up and headed home.
Shame... the winds were light, the filed recently mowed, the sun obscured.
When I got home I took some epoxy horns and cut them to fit. I wanted straight alignment so the forces are more linear and not trying to pry the horns loose. I didn't change the upper aileron horns... I suppose I should.
I drilled a few holes in the tab to hold the epoxy, and epoxied them into place with 15 min cure. After a couple of hours they are solidly secured. i painted them black, and in the morning will connect them. i am confident this will solve the prying problem. I will consider changing the upper ones too.
Tomorrow is supposed to be rather windy... it may be a few days before I can fly again.
I took my Phoenix Waco F5C out for her maiden flight this afternoon, and it was stunning. Simply. Stunning. Curiously I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. Somehow I just knew it was going to go well.
This plane is designed to fly with a 15cc engine, but who's got time for that. I found myself in possession of a used RCGF 26cc gas engine, and I had planned on putting a 20cc engine in it, so, what's 6cc more? I don't think its much, but 11cc is a whole other engine, and baby does she have some power.
I have to remove one wing to get her in the car. I made a cardboard jig to hold the unsupported left wing when its not on the aircraft. It makes it so I don't have to remove the pins that secure the N-struts on the outside of the wing and the connector between ailerons.
I love the bullet spinner I got from China. Arrived in a week!
The wheel pants didn't get torn off! The 26cc is a bit big and does come out about 1 cm more than is cosmetically perfect.
The video guy David stopped videoing as he thought the camera had stopped. He actually did a pretty good job!
She flew smooth, clean and well trimmed. A nice breeze had picked up but was steady in direction and force. The first take-off was, well you saw it (video above). That was about 1/2 throttle! Surprised me, to say the least. After that I did some touch and go's at a bit less than half with a nice smooth climb out. I flew most of this flight 1/4-1/2 throttle. She has good control response and I think will be a great sport aerobat. She rolled crisply on high rates, and looped clean. On the second flight I had her full power going vertical, and after a few seconds still going strong, the engine quit. I dead sticked her to a perfect landing. I restarted the engine to make sure there wasn't a problem and she started right up. There are some long fuel lines but I am still not sure why she would have a fuel flow issue in vertical as the 26cc should pull some vacuum. I was very impressed with the Spektrum Alpha6 Stabilization System. I don't think she will need any further adjustment from the default settings. I flew her in RATE and didn't turn the system off, or into HEADING HOLD. I will do that in later flights. I can hardly wait to fly her again!
I had some problems with the Spektrum Alpha6 that weren't problems with the Spektrum Alpha6, but with a bad model in my DX8 that wouldn't let us communicate through the FMODE switch to AUX1. That took me some time to sort out. In the meantime I worked with Spektrum/Horizon Hobby Tech Support (very awesome) and learned a lot about the Alpha6. The Alpha6 is a wonderful device once you get past the poorly written manual.
The manual's problems:
1. It leaves out critical steps like assigning a 3 position switch like FMODE to the AUX1 channel on the receiver, and plugging that into the G6 channel
2. It doesn't explain why one would chose Rate Mode or Heading Hold Mode
3. It doesn't explain what the 3 positions are. They are RATE MODE(green)-OFF(white)-HEADING HOLD (purple). The colors on the unit indication these are also not explained but they change with the 3 position switch. There is some confusion in the community who think that the positions are On-Off-Panic Recovery Mode. The box it comes in says there is a Panic Recovery Mode, but there isn't one according to Spektrum.
4. It doesn't explain that to change the gain of each surface of the Alpha6 you must use the software connected to a PC, and you have to buy the cable separately. There's supposedly a way to use an Android or iPhone, but its not clear how or what cable to use. (I may try my USB cable with a micoUSB adapter).
5. It doesn't explain the software at all, what each adjustment does and when you would change them.
The box says there is a Panic Recovery Mode, but there isn't one.
Spektrum let me keep the original Alpha6, so I will be putting that unit in the 10cc Sukhoi. I had though about putting it on the 30cc MXS-R, and still may, but she flies very stable being so big. If I don't put it in the MXS-R, I will likely get one for it. I will be staying with the Spektrum unit, now that the deficiencies in the manual are overcome.
It has been a very goof flight day! I didn't want to screw it up b taking a heli out...
I have flown with stabilization systems before today, but never really appreciated what they do for RC flight. This morning I took the Hobby King Orange stabilization system equipped HK SBach 1200mm EPP and the Eflite Stearman out for flights. Both fly 3S 2200 mAh batteries.
The SBach is equipped with the HK Orange 3D-stabilized DSM2 compatible receiver that was on its predecessor, the ill fated HK Edge 540. (These have been NIS except in their Russian Warehouse for some time now). I flew her today and was just awed and amazed. I did have to tone down the ailerons a bit, but wow, what an amazing flier. She is light so inertia is low, making her amazingly responsive. I impressed myself with my skills as I waterfalled, torque rolled, blundered, like I have never before. Mostly because I really have never before. I had such confidence in her response I realized I was performing these stunts crazily low. And on landings, the stabilization shines, as she comes in on rails. Two packs, after that I was exhausted from holding my breath. I have to be careful watching her speed; she will fly ultra slow, but at some point I have not yet found, will likely suddenly stop flying. The stabilization system keeps her stable even in these stall edge conditions. LOVE this plane.
Its doomed.
The Eflite Stearman and I have a love-hate relationship. She is my second one, and is one beautiful simple and well designed model. But she tip stalls like a mo-fo, abrupt, deadly, fast, irrecoverably. Today I couldn't tip stall her if I wanted to. She is equipped with a Spektrum 6 channel receiver into a HK Orange 3D Stabilization system. She flies so rail smooth now, even on approaches she behaves herself for sweet landings. She would not dip a wing in stall, and simply kept adjusting herself out of stall if I stopped the motor flight level, she would start to dip one way or another and just adjust. I am pretty sure she will stall if I let her, but she slowed WAAAAY down today into speeds she wold have committed suicide at before.
Conditions were good. Soft, gentle if any breeze, cool but not cold.
I am charging up up the receiver and ignition packs on the Waco and plan to maiden her wth her Spektrum Alpha6 stabilization system this afternoon. More to come!
The HK Sbach 1200mm in EPP is Done! It took no time to build. I installed a Hobby King 3D Stabilization Orange Receiver, and a HeadsUpRC PowerUp 25 Speed motor. She'll be flying a 3S 2200 mAh. This model addresses the flaws in the design of the other smaller Hobby King EPP model I had, the Extra. It has a complete wood frame fore to aft. The wing has a carbon fiber spar. I think she is going to fly just fine!
I had set up the HK Stabilizer Gyro using dual ailerons, and it burned out two right aileron servos before I decided to Y harness them into one channel. I have a Solar D654 on that side now, and EXI 9 gm servos everywhere else. I also had to swap out the rudder servo as it chattered like a gossip.
Cody at Spektrum/Horizon sent me a new unit and I installed it today. At first it had all the same problems. I could not get through the Gain range of motion stage. Nothing I tried again, worked. I called tech support, and a new guy tried, but quickly set me up to talk to Cody, who was out for the day.
I was annoyed... why is this so hard?
For some reason I thought, what if the MODEL in the DX8 was somehow corrupted? I decided on this whim to set up a whole new MODEL in another slot. I went thought the program steps and was stunned when I flicked the FMODE switch, and got a SOLID BLUE LIGHT! It had accepted the switch!
It looks like the surfaces are all moving in the right directions as I programmed in. I am tired, so will recheck them again later.
I sent Cody an email about this success and asked what the GREEN-WHITE-PURPLE mean as I move the FMODE switch through 0-1-2. Are they RATE MODE-OFF-HOLD MODE? Or is it ON-OFF-PANIC RECOVERY? There is supposed to be a PANIC RECOVERY mode. If so, is that how the PANIC MODE accessed? What exactly does the PANIC MODE do? You would think these sorts of things would be in the manual, but no....
I am pretty psyched. I will maiden her the first good weather I get!
