Radio Control: Helicopters

S Helicopters El Walt Schoonard HELl-BABY Tail-Rotor-Drive Mod Heli-Baby first developed trail-rotor drive accomplished through V-belt drive did require much tension However use belt proved inadequate changed flat belt required substantial tension tension caused great deal wear tail-rotor shaft running needle bearings also caused wear clutch-gear shaft clutch-needle bearing 1976 series Heli-Baby has improved clutch bearing has tailrotor ball bearings greatly improve wear factor However clutch-gear shaft still supported ball bearing belt tension produces considerable drag robs power head have made several suggestions powers correct problem noth ing being done decided self solution make longer gear shaft support two ball bear ings nothing great about until tried get some gear stock match nylon gear gear tried American stock promptly ate teeth off nylon gear After exhaust ing possible source except Germany about give up However machinist friend found could have gear machined match nylon gear After months testing dif ferent gear stock answer right hand kit has now developed will fit Heli-Baby Super-Baby kit consists new longer gear shaft bearing block ball bearing two bolts lock nuts drill template locate two holes must drilled side frames instructions give step step disassembly old clutch shaft installation new installation simple anyone will able no special tool needed real surprise flying Heli-Baby normally lifts off half power now lifts off one-third power control improvement apparent aspects flight Takeoffs quicker climb-outs much rapid Stops descents also quicker precise mods available Miniature Aircraft Supply 2563 Diversified Way Orlando FL 32804 Heli-Baby Crashes Since introduction fly-bars cans tubes some prefer call have crashes no apparent reason Usually heli copter badly mangled has difficult determine what caused crash So has written off pos sibility interference radio failure pilot error None blame cause has now traced pushrod swashplate fly-bar control arms crashes have occurred during hard aerobatics severe mechanical load has exerted pushrod breaks threads As odd may seem plastic ball joint stronger steel push rod happened machine twice before determined what caused crash After examining remains second crash control mechanism broken pushrod dug up remains first crash sure enough pushrod broken also Considering pushrod taking such load its failure can result bad crash some way found either strengthen reduce load solve problem drilled swashplate additional arm 180 degrees across original arm adjusted identical length An additional control arm installed fly-bar opposite side rotor head control arm takes place retainer collar pushrod ball joints adjusted identical length original pushrod now installed hard flights have now made no failure has also solved another prob lem cans dancing swashplate hard cyclic com mands have yet experienced problems using cans highly recommend mod prevent very costly crash Kavan Jet Ranger Next months column will first series articles cover ing building flying Jet Ran ger Since kits have sale several months have sold will timely series articles improvements have made fine helicopter great number people Some drastic improvements have made rotor head improves flying machine almost beyond belief youre flying youre trying Walt Schoonard 2080 Sharon Rd Winter Park FL 32789 20 Model Aviation Contributing editor Walt Schoonard man talents apt see him running helicopter meet shown micro phone piloting birds controls float-equipped L. b problems may show clearly smoke pouring dorard rotor wash