Radio Control: Helicopters

RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS TFI r1III LMV4IU r-u P -- SINCE MY LAST column Ive chance fly Ergo Sport 60 several times continue impressed its flight characteristics design Whether hover upstairs doing aerobatics helicopter solid machine flies well its easy see its large canopy fin set However stick-on decals stay very well fuel residue gets plastic looks like Ill have paint soon Jett Engineering 65 engine has also proven top performer Its similar Sport 40 engine have wntten about Ergo 40 tremendous amount power combined good idle transition make 65 pleasure use However continue have little trouble starting engine times because its tight AAC fit piston stops Top Dead Center its difficult turn engine over tried taking wrench starter shaft came up better technique using screwdriver rotate fan place screwdriver base fan fins hit palm hand sudden impact breaks piston free can continue start engine normally hand detracts using engine other hand speaks highly close tolerances engine talked Dub Jett about problem advised send him engine could loosen slightly also said would make sure future engines helicopters will tight order prevent problem Seeker receiver Aristo-Craft has non-event does nothing sit quietly work receiver will tune itself FM transmitter moments additional crystals have used several transmitters works receivers expected workwith good range rock-solid performance received nice letter Bob Harold West Salem Wisconsin contained article Mechanical Engineering describes smallest flying helicopter world researchers Institute Microtechnology-Mainz Mainz Germany have developed helicopter 24 millimeters long 8 millimeters high weighs 400 milligrams has two yes two electric motors drive dual 13-millimeter rotors altitudes high 130 millimeters small electric motors run 40000 rpm 100000 rpm possible No name given tiny helicopter developed demonstrate capabilities microfabrication process called LIGA based combination lithography electroforming special molding techniques technique promising flexible technologies mass fabrication three-dimentional micro products will useful medical applications tiny magnetic disk drives displacement drives use communications Terry Pindey Columbus Nebraska called nice conversation about pushrods lengths presented instruction manual vs what uses flight Terry built new JR Ergo Gas first helicopter wanted make sure everything just right have best-performing helicopter possible leams fly However after adjusting pushrods lengths specified instructions helicopter did seem flying right moreexperienced flier looked made some adjustments pushrods made helicopter fly better Terry concerned because pushrods specified instructions called get opinion what doreadjust recommended lengths leave pushrods Its hard get full picture Teny s helicopter talking telephone told him seemed concerned about wrong thing pushrod lengths instructions provide basic setup given servo flight performance Terrys helicopter set up differently expect pushrod lengths slightly different real issue pushrod length whether helicopter set up properly Are servo arms 900 pushrods neutral position Are bellcranks square swashplate level near its midpoint vertical movement criteria met pushrods proper lengthat least starting point Terry tried have best both worlds adjusting pushrods factory lengths used computer radio make adjustments helicopter would fly better told him dont like see because its important get basic mechanical setup correct use radio adjustments make minor corrections needed As example Terry used ATV cut down collective pitch servo throw reduce amount collective pitch range told him would leave ATV set 100% move pushrod closer center servo would reduce amount collective throw reducing amount pushrod movement servo would move through its 900 arc designed increasing torque accuracy servo Once got squared away asked Terry think about swashplate its movement vs pushrod length Most though certainly swashplates ride up-and-down main shaft adjust collective pitch maintaining ability tilt right-and-left foreand-aft bank pitch helicopter three movements require coordinated effort three servos connected swashplate via pushrods bellcranks Ive seen fliers concerued pushrods using TeflonTM oil lubricate moving parts completely overlook movement swasliplate Some things might check 1 Collective collective stick moved full low full high collective does swashplate move smoothly precisely tilting its own should coordinated movement throttle throttle opens first engine can supply power needed rotor disk 2 Cyclic controls As aileron elevator commands given does swasliplate move smoothly proper direction should no binding swashplate should move equally both directions bellcranks square swashplate its proper position moves correctly basic mechanical setup should ballpark pitch gauge can used rotor blades make fine adjustments necessary get helicopter perform way like Thats great things about helicopters adjustments can made will fly way want vs some factory standard may care Model Aviation os must centered belicranks square swashplate its proper position before pushrods can correctly adjusted