High Sky Thermal Navigator...anyone ?

[xterra]

I purchased a Sky High Thremal Navigator from someone here on the zone. It was unopened. Looks like it senses a change in direction ( caused by lift or sink) and signals by forcing a rudder servo output, the rudder moves right for lift and left for sink. I have not tested it yet but curious if any has heard of it ...looks like it released many years ago.

Thanks

XT

[Ollie]

I never saw one but, I remember reading about them. The idea was to use the behavior of the model instead of a telemetry link to signal the pilot with the variometer results. It was still up to the pilot to deside what to do with the information.

[Mchone, Jake]

How much was it!?
Can I get one as well? :D
Sounds pritty neat...to say the least!

[John Walter]

I used one back in the late 80's. It senses the change in air pressure as altitude increases and then sends a signal to the rudder to cause the plane to turn. Turning one direction indicates lift, the other direction is sink. A switched channel is used to turn off the sensor during launch and landing when you don't want unexpected yaw.

I might have the original instrictions somewhere in my basement, but I think the servo leads are well marked.

Be sure to turn off the function during launch! ;-)

[xtc]

i had one of those yrs ago ,the instructions should read ; leave in box!:(

the devise sounds good on paper but its not what i would call an asset,in fact i took it with me for a ride in a full size glider and found that while we flew threw sink on the outside of a thermal it would turn away ,then as it hit zero sink it would change its mind and turn toward the lift ,very confuzing.

its like ollie says,it will give you info but its up to you to decide what to do with it but if we couldnt figure it out while being inside a thermal,i cant see how you would use it in r/c but thats just my findings,yours may differ

:) xtc

[xterra]

I am not sure I like the idea of the rudder moving as an indication of lift as I assume you no longer have control of your glider. I guess I will have to hook it up and give it a try. First question I guess is did it sense the conditions of lift and sink? I think if I have it on a seperate channel so that I can shut it off except when I am in a search pattern, I could find a way to use the information to use the lift or avoid the sink. I was hoping that if it was sensative to the conditions it would act as an aid to thermal seeking.
To those that have owned it, do you feel as if the technology worked? In other words was it able to sense the chage atmospheric conditions that it claims it will? I agree that it will be up to the pilot to decide what to do with the info, in fact I think I will have it shut off most of the time while in the air.
Jawalter, could you elaborate on how you used it? Did you shut it off except when searching? Does it maintain control of the rudder after the original signal or do you have to use the stick to overcome it? Did you find that it functioned well to sense changes?

BTW: I have the original instructions but I am not clear on the above points.

Thanks

XT

[John Walter]

While it's no Skymelody, I think that it was a good concept for its time. The faster the rate of climb (or sink) the greater the rudder deflection. One can over-ride the the effect of the rudder using the sticks and turn it off with an extra channel at any other time one chooses. It MUST be off for launch and can be turned off If one leaves it on durring launch. The rapid increase in altitude will cause considerable rudder deflection. Not what you want during launch!

Try hooking up the rig in a plane and lift it up to watch the deflection effect.