ASH-25 with SLS

[veritus]

I have a self launching ASH-25. It's already to go but I have been intimidated by its size and weight; close to 30 pounds, but I hear it flies well! Anybody who has flown the Self launch version, please respond with flight experiences and any first flight suggestions. By the way the largest sailplane I have flown is a 5.2 meter Nimbus 4DM.

[glider guider]

What scale and power do you have?

The only concerns I know of is the model nosing over on power application. One solution has been to use a bungee to get it up to flying speed where you have positive control. I have not seen or tried this yet but I do have one on order so good luck and keep us posted.

Bruce

[veritus]

Hey Bruce, My ASH-25 is the 1/3.75 scale about 6.9 meter wing with a AXi 4130/16 motor which provides 395 RPM per volt. It uses two 3S1P 3700mAh LiPoly batteries connected in series. It uses a JK type sequencer; this provides a slow(80% power which is adjustable up or down) power up to prevent nose overs on initial start and sequences the doors and control tow release or brake, off of one 3 position switch on TX. I got mine from importer Etienne Dorig/Icare Sailplanes in Quebec. He recently flew one with the SLS and did not tell me of any nosing over. Looking at how forward of CG the belly gear is and the length of the tail boom to tail wheel coupled with the weight, I think nose overs will be hard to do; the model will not just zoom up to speed, it's pretty big. Also, the SLS that I got has a shorter folding arm with reduces CG changes between deploy and stowage. He also told me it flew very well.
The only drawback I heard with the model is the use of the HS 75 180degree BB servo for the retract; I guess it fails after a few flights, apparently JR has a 700 series retract servo that is much better and less problematic. I hope to fly soon and will find out for my self. JP

[s2000]

JP, your 25 should fly much smoother and than the Nimbus, I had the same 25 on order from Ettienne but gave up because it took so long to get, a friend also had this 25, flew great, I also had a slightly smaller 25, 6.25 meter, sweet flying. Just make sure you have the recommended control throws and the C.G. is at a safe position, and let er rip! I have a 1/3 scale Windex which does nose over on takeoff but is not a big deal, (check out the long thread here on RCgroups). One more thing, make sure you do a range check with the motor running and with the motor off. Good luck, and post some photos!

[veritus]

I appreciate your reply. I set the CG as recommended and set the throws. I will do the range check as you recommended with the motor on and off when I go for her maiden flight. Yep, mine took a while, too; I ordered it in January and got it in August; I was about to change my order to a DG sailplane but I held out. It is really beautiful and was worth the wait. The box was the biggest I had ever seen and the model fit in it with the rudder removed; I couldn't believe how big it was when I got it! But it fits in my VW Golf with the rudder removed.

[veritus]

Your windex is really nice! Very beautiful and unusual. I can see the high quality from the photos, you do really excellent work installing all the electronics and conrtolls and the motor...very nice. How's it fly??

[veritus]

That windex is really nice!!! Wow! Thanks for the reply and for the advice. I can use all I can get! JP

JP, your 25 should fly much smoother and than the Nimbus, I had the same 25 on order from Ettienne but gave up because it took so long to get, a friend also had this 25, flew great, I also had a slightly smaller 25, 6.25 meter, sweet flying. Just make sure you have the recommended control throws and the C.G. is at a safe position, and let er rip! I have a 1/3 scale Windex which does nose over on takeoff but is not a big deal, (check out the long thread here on RCgroups). One more thing, make sure you do a range check with the motor running and with the motor off. Good luck, and post some photos!

[btiziano]

hello!
in this web there are all my SLS experiences.
I worked in SLS since 5 years.

www.lvlsystem.it

Regards from Italy

[bie]

Hi JP,

The only drawback I heard with the model is the use of the HS 75 180degree BB servo for the retract; I guess it fails after a few flights, apparently JR has a 700 series retract servo that is much better and less problematic.

it ain’t necessarily so: As you can read in the
Discussion on the 1/3-scale L-213A (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=499558) Brian (TFLG) and me had some problems with our retracts and the Hitec-HS75BB – and I already changed the servo and now have a JR-791 in it (but didn’t fly since a changed the servo).

BUT: In the first place the failure of (at least) my Hitec-HS75BB had nothing to do with it’s quality but with some unpredictable behaviour of my RX (that caused the servo to move just a little and the gear then had to give in because it couldn’t hold the weight of the plane while the retract was deployed) and the way the retract is built into the plane.

So if everything is properly built in and you don’t get that short pulse on the servo during switching your RX on while your retract is deployed - everything should be fine.

Regards,

Andy

[s2000]

JP. the Windex flys like any othe scale sailplane (or better) very light, easy thermal ability, plenty of power, I might still get the 25, by the time he had them in I since had spent the money saved and then some on other models

[Francesco Grandi]

Hey Bruce, My ASH-25 is the 1/3.75 scale about 6.9 meter wing with a AXi 4130/16 motor which provides 395 RPM per volt. It uses two 3S1P 3700mAh LiPoly batteries connected in series. It uses a JK type sequencer; this provides a slow(80% power which is adjustable up or down) power up to prevent nose overs on initial start and sequences the doors and control tow release or brake, off of one 3 position switch on TX. I got mine from importer Etienne Dorig/Icare Sailplanes in Quebec. He recently flew one with the SLS and did not tell me of any nosing over. Looking at how forward of CG the belly gear is and the length of the tail boom to tail wheel coupled with the weight, I think nose overs will be hard to do; the model will not just zoom up to speed, it's pretty big. Also, the SLS that I got has a shorter folding arm with reduces CG changes between deploy and stowage. He also told me it flew very well.
The only drawback I heard with the model is the use of the HS 75 180degree BB servo for the retract; I guess it fails after a few flights, apparently JR has a 700 series retract servo that is much better and less problematic. I hope to fly soon and will find out for my self. JP


I have a AXI 4130/16, too. May ask you what kind of propeller are you using with 2*3s1p lipos? Many thanks in advance.

[veritus]

The prop I have on the motor is a 4 blade Aeronaut Cam carbon folding prop, the type similar to those used on JK folding system. The prop is spring loaded closed and at power up all 4 blades pop open. If you go to www.icare-rc.com and go to the videos. There is a stock video of the ASH-25 with the unit that I use. Also if you go to the sls part of the site, you will find more specific videos.

Jim P

[veritus]

Thanks for the reply, I will check it out. I have deployed and extended the gear a bunch of times and it locks in the up and down positions. I made sure that the servo rotates so the arm actuates the gear to a solid lock. I also found that two 5 cell batteries( 6 volts a piece.) give the servo more strength than two 4 cell batteries.
Hi JP,



it ain’t necessarily so: As you can read in the
Discussion on the 1/3-scale L-213A (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=499558) Brian (TFLG) and me had some problems with our retracts and the Hitec-HS75BB – and I already changed the servo and now have a JR-791 in it (but didn’t fly since a changed the servo).

BUT: In the first place the failure of (at least) my Hitec-HS75BB had nothing to do with it’s quality but with some unpredictable behaviour of my RX (that caused the servo to move just a little and the gear then had to give in because it couldn’t hold the weight of the plane while the retract was deployed) and the way the retract is built into the plane.

So if everything is properly built in and you don’t get that short pulse on the servo during switching your RX on while your retract is deployed - everything should be fine.

Regards,

Andy

[veritus]

I hope that you do get it as I think you will really enjoy it!

JP. the Windex flys like any othe scale sailplane (or better) very light, easy thermal ability, plenty of power, I might still get the 25, by the time he had them in I since had spent the money saved and then some on other models

[veritus]

You definitely do have alot of experience, thanks for the imfo!

Jim P

hello!
in this web there are all my SLS experiences.
I worked in SLS since 5 years.

www.lvlsystem.it

Regards from Italy