First FPV Test Flight With Bixler (5 min 36 sec)

Not perfect, but not bad! More details to come soon!

Just same basic flying around, practicing for FPV. Tomorrow I am going to try to get out and do some range tests and maybe fly with all of the FPV stuff running and record a video if range test goes well.

Bixler Flight 1/28/12 (14 min 51 sec)

Well my range testing today didn't go very well. It started off with my computer wanting to crash, I think I went through 5 crashes before it became stable.

On the first crash I prepared the plane by plugging everything in, and doing a quick ground taxi to test motor thrust with the weight, the motor sounded a little odd but I didn't think much of it.

I went back to getting the computer working, finally got it working and did a quick video check before my buddy started walking down the road with it. I went to do an aileron check, and NOTHING.

I proceeded to look under the hood to realize neither the ESC or RX where getting power... I was stumped. I tried 3 different batteries and neither would take any juice. I guess somehow my ESC fried up during the taxi!

Well with no radio control I wasn't going to just let it be for naught, so I decided to do a video range test at least.

So my friend proceeded to walk down the street, now bear in mind I did range test in town surrounded by power lines, buildings, cars, etc etc. He walked across the street from where I was, so far so fine, he dipped behind a vehicle and there went the signal. A moment later I could see him and video came back... for about 2 seconds, then went away, at about 80 meters.

As he continued to walk now outside talking range, I watched the static dance with the faintest sign of a video signal out there for about a minute, then just fuzz.

On his way back I started to get signs again that there was a signal out there, and at about 100 meters video came back.

Once I have a new ESC (maybe tomorrow), I will do another range check, this time in a more suitable location to do one.

Everything is installed and ready for range and flight testing! All that was left was to get the vTX installed.

I didn't really want to use pink but it was the only other color besides black they had for the shrink wrapping, so I used it for better visibility and better heat management then straight black.




Here is a close up of the vTX mounted.


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Did a full benchmark test of my FPV setup mounted in my Bixler. First video test.

Bixler FPV Bench Test (1 min 1 sec)

Look what the post man had for me today!

Now I have a silly question...

how do people keep their antennas of this type from 'bending' around in air? The joint of the antenna is pretty stiff but I don't think it is stiff enough to not fold in air...

I managed to get 3 good flights in to test my landing gear mod.

re-Maiden of Bixler with Landing Gear Flight #1 (8 min 18 sec)

re-Maiden of Bixler with Landing Gear Flight #2 (12 min 34 sec)

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I managed to get to the hardware store today and get what I needed to finish this mod.

First I created my main landing gear into a single unit. Basically both struts are embedded into a wooden casing which I drilled 4 holes into.

Then I attached some wood to the outside and inside of the fuse for support, and also drilled matching holes through.

I chose 4 1 1/4 inch bolts that fit the holes I drilled, and 4 small wing nuts for easy hands only attachment and detachment.

I also took the liberty of calculating the wing load under various setups, and I am pretty confident that despite the descent amount of extra weight this LG setup provides, she should still fly quite well.

Now I just have to wait for the weather to clear up so I can give her a new maiden and see how she flies!...Continue Reading

I waited patiently for 3 weeks for my HobbyKing order to come in and it finally came in today! What it contained was a full set a landing gear to attach to my Bixler, as well as a 2200mAh Zippy 3S.

I spent much time pondering what gear to get as I have never worked on RC planes before (This is my first plane after all!), though I managed to do some measurements and come up with an approximate idea of what would work for my plane. Ultimately I chose the following,

Struts
2" Scale Rubber Wheels
Tail Wheel Assembly
4mm Collars
Axles (Note, these aren't the one's I actually got but are the same type)

Upon receiving all said goods, I came to the conclusions that #1, either I miss understood the specs or they are labeled wrong, as I believed the wheels where mentioned in spec as 4mm holes, however I realized quickly they where more like 2mm holes. So for both wheels step one was to drill out the hubs to fit my 4mm axles.

Step 2 I realized that the threaded ends of the axles where larger then 4mm, so I used my dremel to chop them off.

Step 3 I fitted together the struts, wheels, axles, and collars to put both strut sets together. I do plan to cut off the extra length of axle to save on weight and make it look better.

Step 4 I installed the tail wheel. It took me some thinking but I figured it out. To actually support it I decided to just ram the tail wheel brace right into the rear of my fuse, it just happens to be very structurally sound for the purpose, has a...Continue Reading

I decided to put a pic on the HK contest to try to win a $150 HK Gift card, so everyone go to HobbyKing at this link and vote for my pic! (Same one posted below).

Bixler Flight 1/16/12 #1 (11 min 25 sec)

Bixler Flight 1/16/12 #2 (11 min 1 sec)

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Ok got a quick benchmark video of my new FPV cam, it's a very quick, I will do some more extensive testing later tonight, as well as mess with settings to get the best view possible.

FPV Camera Benchmark Test (Sony 540VTL) (0 min 27 sec)

I used the following image for the benchmark:

I've been meaning to record some flight video of my Genius CP, so I recorded 3 flights in a row, all went well except for one crash, but no damage .

Genius CP - 3 Flights (12 min 58 sec)

Finally got a chance to upload my weekend videos. A lot of cloudyness in the videos, sorry for that my 808 cam sucks in the high moisture air where I live, though there are some good spots in flight with clarity .

Bixler Flight 1-7-2012 Flight #1 (10 min 39 sec)

Bixler Flight 1-7-2012 Flight #2 (12 min 28 sec)

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Well the first piece of my FPV gear has arrived today, the EasyCAP USB capture device. I don't have anything with composite output at the moment to do any tests, but once I get my camera in I will do some bench tests and post videos .

Also a video of my flight today:

Flying my Bixler at the local RC Field (7 min 41 sec)

Bixler Flight 01-03-12 #1 (10 min 38 sec)

Bixler Flight 01-03-12 #2 (10 min 41 sec)

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Had my first 5 flights of the New Year this morning! First flight saw my highest altitude yet, I do not know the exact altitude as I did not GPS log these flights, but I was high enough that I kept loosing orientation!

Both flights have lots of aerobatics and some inverted flight too!

First Bixler Flight of the Year + Personal Highest Altitude + Lots of Aerobatics! (11 min 13 sec)

Second Bixler Flight of the Year (10 min 34 sec)

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happy new year everyone!