G3P0 airframe pictures,Thanks Mickey

[dougmontgomery]

Well I started my first build of Mickeys G3P0 and will hopefully get it going soon. I built the airframe in one night with some slight modifications. I will be going to the tailless autogyro thread for the rest of the build. Doug Here is t he thread too build.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/How_to_build_G3PO/m_2380064/tm.htm

[mnowell129]

Great job on the construction, I assume that its all carbon fiber tube?

[gyronuts]

Hi,
I note that you use GWS dragonfly head bits. Do you think Picollo Fun head bits would work. The reason I ask is that it is cheaper in the UK to buy a basic Fun than to buy the head bits seperately. A quick reply would be appreciated as I type this there is one even cheaper on Ebay. Many thanks. Bill

[dougmontgomery]

Great job on the construction, I assume that its all carbon fiber tube? Thanks it is coming together nicely. I hope to have it up by x-mas. There were a few flaws in my anchoring blocks but I will know for next time. D

[dougmontgomery]

Hi,
I note that you use GWS dragonfly head bits. Do you think Picollo Fun head bits would work. The reason I ask is that it is cheaper in the UK to buy a basic Fun than to buy the head bits seperately. A quick reply would be appreciated as I type this there is one even cheaper on Ebay. Many thanks. Bill I'm sure there are a number of combinations that would work, but sice I didn't design this, I am sticking with The original parts. D

[mnowell129]

I'm maintaining a how to build it thread on G3PO at:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/How_to_build_G3PO/m_2380064/tm.htm

I don't have any allegiance to one or the other of these boards, but two
is too much work. Browsers point easily to another page...

[chrisrosenkrans]

D,
Are you going to use the GWS motor on top to turn the blades?

[dougmontgomery]

D,
Are you going to use the GWS motor on top to turn the blades?
Chris, I am going to attach the dragonfly rotor head assy with auto gyroblades made from aerobalsa to the gws gearbox.

[dougmontgomery]

well after making my vertical stab/rudder from about 4 10-1/4 styrofoam plates strength was rather good. D

[mnowell129]

This is starting to look really good. I'm anxious to see it.
If we can't buy blades i'll send yours with the ones i've got, they are
beat up but they'll fly. Hows that?

[mnowell129]

well after making my vertical stab/rudder from about 4 10-1/4 styrofoam plates strength was rather good. D
BTW are you getting ANY sleep?

[dougmontgomery]

Who is btw? Doug

[mnowell129]

Who is btw? Doug

(B)y (T)he (W)ay, sorry, my kids IM (instant message) me
and they use lots of shorthand.

[umrk]

Looking good doug!
~~~

http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm

mike

[dougmontgomery]

Looking good doug!
~~~

http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm

mike guess I am a big internet dummy, rather be making something then be on this computer, but........ I guess that is the balance of life -learn as you go program, and boy I have learned a lot from the forums. D

[dougmontgomery]

Waiting on parts for the rotor assy.

[mnowell129]

Very nice, and the gyrocopter is cool too.
I like the green.

[dougmontgomery]

Had to show them off Mickey, Great work, Thats a big thumbs up to you. Sure wish I had your knowledge.D
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/upfiles/94/Yt60751.jpg

[mnowell129]

Had to show them off Mickey, Great work, Thats a big thumbs up to you. Sure wish I had your knowledge.D
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/upfiles/94/Yt60751.jpg

Wisdom is more important than knowledge.
Definitions:
Experience : The result of poor decision making.
Knowledge : Information gained from experience.
Wisdom : Knowledge gained by watching someone else having an experience.

It's easier to stand on the shoulders of giants than rebuild all the failed ladders they had to build to get to the same level.

BTW, Jim took those pictures when I wasn't looking... I hate seeing my mug in a picture...

[dougmontgomery]

Well here is the tested green g3po, please follow Mickeys plans precisely, I didn't and it will cost you a lot of time in the end. D

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/upfiles/119861/Wu62180.jpg

[mnowell129]

Doug's mean green machine.
Video of it flying at
http://www.mickeynowell.com/id9.html
One more test flight this morning in better conditions.
Was able to fly up and down the street with
no trouble.

[dougmontgomery]

Well It worked, two circuits at 100-150 feet. 4 minutes worth of shakey hands. First landing, brought it in and rolled out, second one good too. 3rd one I was so relieved it flew, on landing I was exhausted.( What adrenalin.) flopped over on me. Not enough forward motion. This excellent piece of work is quite the challenge I've been looking for, thanks Mickey for all your hard work. (What a rush)
D.

[AustinTatious]

WOW.. its amazing how constant your headspeed wss holding! awesome job man!

[dougmontgomery]

WOW.. its amazing how constant your headspeed wss holding! awesome job man!

Well actually, What you seen was Mickey(designer) Test flying mine.
Then Once back in Arizona I had to re-trim and maiden my first auto gyro,
Since I test fly all of my own FFF airplane designs it wasn't terrible. It take s quite the understanding of whats going on with the whole autogyro, but I'm slowly learning what it takes.

I will soon video Dougs Green machine g3p0(Designed by Mickey)at an Phoenix, Arizona park.(soon as I get confident with flight.)

[dougmontgomery]

Well everybody liked the piloted G3P0 pilot today. I flew 3) 3 minute circuits today with a couple of touch in goes. got it to far away from me and lost level flight and couldn't overcome my fingers to brain stimulus...Broke a rotor blade. All in all everybody was enthused with the rotor sounds and the stability of forward flight.Doug

[dougmontgomery]

Well this last saturday I flew g3p0 once again. Keeping it a lot closer this time I flew 2) 5 minute flights. The second ending up flopping over because I liked the way it was coming down and I forgot to accelerate at the last minute before touchdown. After gentle rotor strikes I have found retrimming is necessary. The g3p0 needs to be gently raised off the ground on take-off and keep some forward momentum on landings. Soon as I master my turns I will do some close video. All the guys at my field are amazed the G3p0 just floats around and sounds so good with the rotor sounds.Doug

[JWarren]

Very nice job Doug!

The young lady seems to think so too! Great photo man!

Your pilot looks really cool. I like the green as well!

John

[Don Sims]

That is a great job on the pilot Doug! The flight report is impressive.
Don

[dougmontgomery]

That is a great job on the pilot Doug! The flight report is impressive.
Don
Don, Thanks..... I really owe Mickey for all his knowledge. He has introduced to me an extraordinary piece of work that not just anybody can figure out. The pilot Idea came from another hobbyist I.G Henderson with the Gyroraptor kite@ http://www.ezdenver.com/gyroraptor/
it gave me some orientation of the airframe because where I fly, if I even blink with it to close to the ground I don't know which way it is rolling. I'm still flying with some aileron rudder mix for coordinated turns and keeping the rotor semi level in the air. I really look forward to flying it every weekend and my broken rotor blade fix turned out fairly well too. I did draw this guy up myself and I used 3m spray adhesive to some FFF. D

[chrisrosenkrans]

D,
I am glad you got the G3P0 back in the air again. That day the rotor blade broke you seemed pretty upset. Good job on the fix.

[mnowell129]

Hey Doug,
When do I get to see video of YOU flying?

[dougmontgomery]

Hey Doug,
When do I get to see video of YOU flying?
Well Mickey, I was going to shoot for tommorrow so I was doing some trimming out again tonight trying to get the most lift in the shortest run-up.

I found if you put too much negative in the rotor blades that it almost starts trying to turn the fuse around the blades. Back off equally to that sweet spot trying to alleviate any shakes and shimmies from untrimmed blade.

I am still experimenting with turns, should I turn the aileron/rudder mix off, When I want to do short full left rudder/right aileron, or vice versa?

[mnowell129]

Well Mickey, I was going to shoot for tommorrow so I was doing some trimming out again tonight trying to get the most lift in the shortest run-up.

I found if you put too much negative in the rotor blades that it almost starts trying to turn the fuse around the blades. Back off equally to that sweet spot trying to alleviate any shakes and shimmies from untrimmed blade.

I am still experimenting with turns, should I turn the aileron/rudder mix off, When I want to do short full left rudder/right aileron, or vice versa?
I put the mixing on switch and leave if off most of the time. I only turn it
on when I let someone else fly up high, and faster. At low speed I do lots of cross control. It really turns much better with rudder and a blast of motor. Aileron is just used to keep it from rolling in too far.

Look for bearing drag if the blades are trying to turn the fuse. The GWS bearings wear out fairly quickly, especially if you have had a few crashes. I've found that the main shaft bearings for a piccolo fit the shaft and a GWS 400 (the black one) gearbox. You can swap things out for the little beefier bearings.....

[dougmontgomery]

well I got some video today in some 2-5 mph winds. It Flew really well and they cut the grass at my field so it stopped pulling itself over forward causing me to have to re-trim. The video is OK, it is hard to fly and Have somebody else run the video, and stay close enough when doing circuits. A helmet cam would be Ideal. D

Mick, I am currently trying to email the video but it is like 6550kb and it will probably take 4 hours to send. If you get it by tomorrow morning let me know. If not I will send it out Tuesday since tomorrow is a holiday.D

[mnowell129]

Got the video.
Will try to post it on the web site today.
Looks good. Nice field.
Looks like you are getting the hang of the low
passes.
I put bigger wheels on mine, waiting to see if
I can fly off grass with them.
mick

[mnowell129]

doug's video is up for all to see.
http://www.mickeynowell.com/id9.html

[dougmontgomery]

Mickey, I should share this statement..... with the others.

If you are flying off a field with grass, make sure it is smooth and cut.
If not one of two things.
The bouncy field will knock your rotor incidence off and kill the auto gyros lift.
The grassy field will tend to bog down the wheels turning before the gyro can get enough lift tipping it over forward and constituting re-trim of rotor blades.
Everybody at my field loves to see it fly. I am actually starting to be able to follow it now.
I hope this helps, Doug

[mnowell129]

Mickey, I should share this statement..... with the others.

If you are flying off a field with grass, make sure it is smooth and cut.
If not one of two things.
The bouncy field will knock your rotor incidence off and kill the auto gyros lift.
The grassy field will tend to bog down the wheels turning before the gyro can get enough lift tipping it over forward and constituting re-trim of rotor blades.
Everybody at my field loves to see it fly. I am actually starting to be able to follow it now.
I hope this helps, Doug
I agree with you completely. Grass takeoffs are tough, especially on
uneven grass. My best luck is on the street or a smooth dirt road or
a sidewalk. Hand launches are usually easier in grass, especially after the
trim is set. In my park I takeoff from the basketball court. I can touch
and go and land in the grass.
It is a small model with small wheels after all. The 2.5" mpi wheels help some,
and a headwind is really helpful for grass takeoffs.
The problem is that when you jiggle the fuselage you are jiggling the main shaft and then in effect putting cyclic pitch in, and because of precession you get the bounces transfered out of phase and the head begins to wobble and slow down.. I think this is just going to be a factor with all gyros based on physics.
Once you get it trimmed by flying off a smooth surface the hand launches are pretty easy, just hold it nose high in the wind, wait for flight rotor speed to develop which may require a slight walk forward, then lower the nose to
just above level, add power and give a straight ahead toss. Make sure
you wear a transmitter strap. It is very embarrassing to toss your model and drop the transmitter on the ground at the same time.
Thanks for the post. Please go ahead and report anything you find, you are likely to discover something I haven't.
Glad you can follow it. Mentally I fly rotorcraft by keeping up with where I told it to go rather than trying to watch what it did. Basically you have to stay way ahead of it rather than behind it. Over time you'll be able to fly it without looking so hard because you will know what you told it to do and how it is going to react. This really helps your combat flying skills when you go back to flying airplanes, you can fly your plane out of the corner of your eye while watching your "target"....
My experience is that once your concentration level increases by flying a rotorcraft, airplane flying becomes much easier... Is this happening to you or have you abandoned all airplane flying since G3PO came into your life?
Did you see that your video is up on my website?
mickey

[TMorita]

Here's a little Piccolo mod which may help the G3PO.

The Piccolo has a floating swashplate, same as the Dragonfly, I believe. The swashplate tends to bob up and down as you apply cyclic which reduces control. So, we put a length of fuel tubing above and below the swashplate ball to "trap" it and prevent it from bobbing up and down. This improves control significantly on the Piccolo.

Might be useful for G3PO as well.

Toshi