Real Flight 8 and my DX7S

I don't know... I think I still prefer the ease of working with Phoenix RC Flight Sim, but I can't get it to work right on my new PC, so I am stuck with RF8. RF8 isn't bad, by any means, but I am confused by a few things. I liked the huge selection of phot airfields, the huge variation of aircraft including helis, I mean everything was there. I would expect RF8 to at least have all the Horizon Products, like Hangar 9, and why not encourage more helis. But most of all, I don't understand whynit doesn't just work or have really good instructions for working with Spektrum products.

My DX7S doesn't work perfectly with the Spektrum WS1000 dongle. I had to play around for days with switches as it doesn't see all 7 ch, and they aren't apparently mapped the same. Why RF8 and the dongle don't just recognize the DX7S like a receiver would, I don't know. I get there is some give and take with using one model (ACRO) to control both planks and helis. Some smart programmer should be able to figure that out.

Right now I figure out how to get Flight Modes (2 allowed on the DX7S), and the Hold switch done. I am still not quite sure how. I don't have flaps or gear on planks.

1. Start with the stock simple ACRO model in the Spektrum Tx, in this case the one I use on my sims is my old DX7S.
2. While pressing the ROLLER, turn on the transmitter, taking you to the SYSTEM SETUP and scrol down to SWITCH SELECT. Make it look like this:

F Mode: AUX1

Mix:Gear

This gave me Flight modes and Hold on helis, did nothing to planks.

3. Go back the the ACRO, change its name if you wish, turn off the TX, then bind it to the Dongle by holding the button on the WS1000 while installing in (Really? It's not easy if your dongle in going in the back of the computer, heck, its not easy no matter how you do it. May take a couple of tries to get the strobing orange light).

4. Turn on RF8 and voila.

I fly the Ultra Stick 30cc around with the flaps down... no way around that I can find. Maybe there is a keyboard setting. I'll get back to you on that. I tried setting different WING TYPE like flaps, flaperons... nada changed it. I tried variations as one is limited to in calibration in RF8, no effect.

You can see the flaps down half way here.

Sometimes the flaps move with the ailerons. I saw it do this when I had WING TYPE set to single aileron and single flap servo, but I changed it back to single aileron, the stock setting, and it's still doing it. 

New shoes for the Twinstar

The Twinstar has plain wire landing gear. Not much fun. I have toyed with the idea of putting oleos on her.

And so I did. I cut the gear struts down long enough to accept the oleo gears and leave a small space to allow them to flex a bit without striking the wing. Making them retracts isn't really reasonable as the wing isn't built for them, but who knows...

The nose gear I initially cut a straight rod for, but it came up a little short, and I didn't include the coiled spring. I regret that now, so I ordered another steerable DuBro wire gear set. I will trim it down but longer and include the spring. Right now the nose points a bit down and the props are only about 2 cm above the ground. It's been shipped and once I install it I'll update this post with new pics!

Beautiful day, same problems...

Such a beautiful day, and only 4 people out at the field all day!

The Twinstar flew marvelously with her new Master Airscrew 8x6x3 props. Her nose fear has always been wonky in the grass, and the beating made it come loose from its turn control arm, ending its flight day after two batteries. I have toyed with the idea of putting ole gear on her... Fund flights!

I didn't take any pics of the Sbach, but she made an appearance.  Despite running great here at the house, and when I started and ran her up, then flew her, she suddenly dead stocked again on approach. I got her down, and in an hour of trying could not get a nice clean reliable idle.i tried super lean, super rich an everything in between.

She threw a lot of oil a fresh gallon today I put 3.2oz in a gallon for a 40:1and she was still covered with a ton of oil, thickly. 

The MX-Bach did what the Sbach did. Despite running awesome at home, at the field she would idle for a minute or two then suddenly stop. No slowing  just suddenly stop.  Though she often did slow her RPms in two steps then stop. I had to set the end point for a rather fast idle. 

Even with a slower landing idle she was too fast, even with full flaps. I went to hit the kill a foot above the ground and when I did I accidentally pulled back on the elevator and she floated to there feet and stalled. Only damage was the gear snapped off just above the wheel.

I mentioned the fuel mix above at 40:1. I threw another 1/3 gallon of 93 octane in the can, and will see how a more dilute mix works out. There is something I am doing that is not letting these engines idle well. There is something I am doing wrong,

New Props for the Great Planes Twinstar

Planes always look better with multi blade props. There is also more thrust, with irrelevant loss of efficiency. Case in point. With twin 8x8 two blade APC props her static thrust was 2.6 lbs (3S). With twin Master Airscrew 8x6x3 three blade props she produced 3.6 lbs of static thrust. Already a speed demon she is going to rip the air! Hope to see tomorrow!

I should have gone flying...

That feeling when you napped instead of going flying on the one good weather day for several days before and after today like you had planned, and now you have to discharge all those batteries.

SNHRCC Wagner Field

John Bieran took this great photo of our flying field, Wagner Field, on the top of what I call Mt. Hudson, the closed landfill, in Hudson, New Hampshire. Southern NH RC Club.

Du Bro RC Products

Du Bro RC makes a wide variety of amazing RC parts and solutions. I asked for stickers with my spinners, and they don't disappoint!