Thunderstorm on Mt Hudson August 23, 2020

It started out as a beautiful day, no winds but for some brisk occasional gusts. These became more frequent, but the skies were scantily clouded. An hour later that changed rapidly. The storm came from the west, and you could see the first thunderhead forming right overhead. It got dark, then a light rain. I closed up my car, but thought that I could still fly, but by the time I got back to the electric side of our field (the west) I could hear the rain hitting the trees on the west side of the runway and called out to the boys, "HERE IT COMES!". I though maybe just some rain. It rapidly became a storm with wind, hail, thunder and dense hard rain. Being on the downhill side I was soon ankle deep in runoff. A gust shot across the field to the shelter I was under and twisted the Cubby in my hand, cracking the horizontal stabilizer, easily fixed when I got home. Wx radar indicated this wasn't going away for a few hours, so I left, telling the boys what the radar indicated. Slow moving storm. When I left it was still pouring, and at the outer gate to the dump the rain water was over my ankles not 20 min after it started. As I filmed this I was so hoping it wasn't going to turn into a news video of how a bunch of guys got hit by lightning in Hudson!

All set to fly tomorrow!

 

The reciever/ignition pack is charged in the Waco! 

Pulled my old friend off the wall, the Eflite Cubby, from the day when Eflite built quality balsa ARF instead of foamies... with her AR6100 (I think... its an older Spektrim 6 channel in a hard case). 

Several packs charged for the Cubby!

Last, but certainly not least, one of my Siberian cats, Zaphod, 

is all charged and ready to go!

Programming the AS3X using Forward Programming

Each video leads automatically to the next. Most are 3-5 min each.

On the DX8 (I think any non-computer based radio): One thing not addressed in the videos is that the switches used for Flight Mode and Gains MUST be selected BEFORE going into Forward Programming. The video says it can be assigned in Forward Programming, and it can, but only after setting up the model channels. I don't think this is an issue for iX radios.

What I still don't understand and will see when I program mine, is how he has AUX2, AUX3 on a 6 channel receiver, and using a plane that uses all of the 6 channels (Throttle, Aileron, Elevator, Rudder, Gear, AUX1 (Flaps)), how he would have any left. Makes me think the channels are there but only accessible for AS3X.  UPDATE: Users have confirmed that there are 6 channels + 2 internal channels for AS3X/Safe.

Miguel was on the design team, many prefer his series of videos.

Waco RCGF-USA 26cc All Set!

The Phoenix Waco is one of my absolutely favorite planes to fly. For that reason I didn't rush to program her into the Spektrum iX12, which is a good thing considering how it misbehaved recently. It hangs in a special prominent ceiling corner of my basement shop where I can gaze upon it in love and admiration. Since the iX12 is in the shop, and I haven't removed any of the aircraft from my DX8, I decided to go ahead and set up the Waco for the season. Its very late this year... but conditions have not been favorable for flying this summer with remarkably windy days, even for a big girl like the Waco. Today is clam but with frequent gusts to 20-25 mph... typical this year.

Last year

She had an Orange stabilization system that functioned quite well, but since I am moving away from Orange electronics, and have a Hobby Eagle A3-L V2 stabilization system on hand, I decided to replace it and give the A3 a try. Here it is, installed on a platform for it, that also keeps the battery pack and the gas tank in place. The foam covers up a rat's nest of wiring, but the wiring for the A3 is quite simple and basically what it is on all of these. None that I have had do dual ailerons, though the failed Spektrum Alpha6 was supposed to it never did. Now I had planned on using this on the 10cc Spitfire, but the instructions clearly state its not for gas engines. I don't think any of the stabilization are, technically, but they work quite well. She seemed to have no problems during engine run up tests.

The system allows on board button/LED adjustments to all of its settings, and is easy to use. I set up the Flight Mode 3 way switch through AUX1 to allow me to dynamically and remotely switch modes from ON to OFF to 3D (this mode holds the planes last attitude when activated, like a knife edge). I will let you know how it works out, but I have high expectations and plan to put one on the Spitty too.

I pulled the tank to change the clunk line from Tygothane (which was quite supple still) to Vygon, as I am doing with all of my gassers, expecting that to last a few years. The original lines are the yellow Tygon, which if not stiff on the external fuel lines I leave alone. I check them otherwise once a year. The NiMH battery packs for ignition and receiver I replaced with a 2S 2200 mAh LiPO with a dual Futaba plug line off an EC3 on the battery. Nice. I do charge these in the plane, being low voltage and amperage, at 1C, so its kinda buried, alongside the tank, port side under that middle platform. The wheel pants needed a touch up, and I had broken the attachment to the right one when I hung the plane up and almost dropped it last fall. Fixed it, repainted both of the pants, and reinstalled. I peeled all the cote and tape off around the junction of the gear gaiters, redid it much lighter, and painted the exhaust stain area under the fuse.

The dulcet tones of the RCGF-USA 26cc gas engine. This plane is planned for a 15cc, but the 26cc fits nicely and gives her a lot of power. There is a lot of room under that cowl, a 30cc would fit, but would be a lot for this plane.

To fit her in my car, let alone get her out of the basement, I detach the left wing. The plane does not come with supports for the wings, an idea I got from my Eflite Stearman (original). I never take the wings of the Stearman. The supports for it are too small for the Waco. I just made one out of a Amazon box.

Cleaned up, ran up, and coated with an "Armor All" knock-off, ready to go!

Objective Comparison of Orange, Lemon and Spektrum Receivers

The question of how Orange, Lemon and Spektrum receivers function was objectively addressed by information provided by Kurt Heintz to my query on the Facebook Spektrum Support Group. He used software to record Fades (packet losses), Frame Loss (consecutive series of fades), and Holds (consecutive frame losses = signal loss). As of this writing I am not aware of Kurt's background, the software, or the method used other than same distance measured by GPS, but will get back to you if he provides it, so take what I write with a grain of salt. I don't really understand the graphs either, so keep that in mind.

Note that the range on the Y axis vary so visual height of the peaks is not comparable. I don't know what the height or length of the peaks mean (in the Spektrum graph the fade lines don't always zero). Visually you can see a marked difference in density of fades.

My take away is this:

Orange:  Good results. Tons of packet losses, few fades and no holds.

Lemon:  Initially good, but with time rapidly increasing fades, frame loss, and one hold. Frame losses exceeded 100 but a little. Functioned well, with one hold (not acceptable). 

Spektrum: Best. Very low fades, low frame losses, no holds.

Key:  L are the antenna fades (packet losses). F is frame loss (consecutive series of fades; can have around 100 in flight as acceptable) H is hold (complete loss of signal). 

Orange Receiver

Lemon Receiver

Spektrum Receiver

RCGF-USA is the sole legal proprietor of RCGF products

This comes up from time to time, so I share it from time to time. RCGF-USA is the sole legal proprietor of RCGF-USA, and is the only one legally able to designate sellers. Valley View RC is NOT a legal proprietor of RCGF engines, and is committing trademark infringement. Here's the digest of the story.

Joe Nelson and Zhejiang RCGF Model & Engine Co., Ltd., created RCGF about 12-15 years ago now. They made affordable, fairly good quality engines. As the years and their experience grew they learned of flaws in design, materials and manufacturing, and worked to make these changes.They own those designs, molds and the trademark RCGF. Many of these changes were refused by their contracted factory, so after a time they took their designs and molds and changed factories. The original factory stole the original molds, and continued to manufacture them under the name RCGF, to which they were not entitled. Joe et al updated their designs, corrected the material and manufacturing flaws and made better engines, under the name RCGF which they own.

Tom the owner at Valley View RC had been a drop shipper for Joe, and knew this whole turn of events. Instead of following the legitimate RCGF team, Tom decided to sell the engines from the stolen molds and to use the trademark RCGF, acting as a seller for the factory that stole the designs and molds. Joe et al had to sue and won an injunction against the use of the trademark. (I am not sure if they won an injunction against the theft of their designs and molds, just never asked). Tom continued to sell the engines under RCGF, later changing the name of his engines to VVRC-RCGF. He represents himself as the sole legal proprietor of RCGF, when he is actually quite not. The failures of these engines were damaging Joe and RCGF's reputation...

Joe had to undergo expense to change the name of his company and engines to RCGF-USA, and added the moniker Stinger to separate his engines from the those sold by Tom. Joe, being an upstanding guy, repairs the old RCGF engines, and I have a few he has helped me with, AND he will repair VVRC-RCGF engines that get sent to him all the time, with the same old flaws. He doesn't tell you that he didn't make it, he just takes the hit and fixes them.

So, yeah, Tom may be a nice guy, and run a great RC shop, but he's selling engines he doesn't own under a name he doesn't own, despite being legally challenged and told to stop.

You decide. I will stand up for Joe at every turn. I confess I am a fanboy, has he makes great products at great prices and stands behind them without question. Tom, not so much when it comes to these engines.Stick with genuine RCGF-USA engines. Stick with Joe.

iX12 is on its way back to Horizon/Spektrum for a checkup

Sent it Priority Mail for insurance and tracking, should be there in 2-3 days, unless it gets "Dejoyed". Turn-around is advertised as 4-5 days. I hope to have it back in a week to 10 days. I am holding off transferring anything to the DX8, but the Waco is still on it and needs setting up and flying, so that will keep me from the withdrawals!