I want to start using gyros for DS, to survive turbulence and spend less time fixing broken airframes. Which gyros work for you?

(Previous threads are quite old and don't reference some of the new products available)
Note I'm not asking for a discussion on whether gyros are cheating

Of course, the intended airframe will influence what gyros work or not.
I'm intending to put gyros in both a 4-servo-wing crunchie (the mighty Scratcho) and foamie planks.
Planks need elevon mixing in the gyro (or the use of a separate in-plane mixer).
Full-house wings really deserve dual aileron input/outputs, so you can use crow, camber, and snap flap. I've heard of shortcuts like post-mixing a flap channel, or maybe using the gyro on just one aileron.

Question is, which devices have been tried and proven in practice? Do you like rate gyros or full AVCS/"heading-hold"?

futaba gya 351. it is an aileron giro with 2 in 2 out, so you mix as you normally would.
dont use servo offsetts, it confuses the gyro.

futaba gya 352 elavon gyro. not used one, but my mate graham has. He has one in a m60 working very well.

There are others that should work, but these I know have been proven.

Will
who has a gya 351 in a light d60.

Your going to want to use Alan Cocconi's system. It's far more advanced than anything else currently available.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=75

Originally Posted by joe manor

Your going to want to use Alan Cocconi's system. It's far more advanced than anything else currently available.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=75

It is a really impressive system, but only available for the hitec arrora.

Good point Will. Forgot to mention that.

I thought Alan's stability system worked with any tx/rx, that its just the telemetry system that depends on the Hitec radio. I think even the onboard airspeed and acceleration data logger will record data for download later, you just don't get to hear it realtime. I think Joe's right though, it would be hard to find a system that will perform at the wide range of DS conditions better than Alan's.

GYA351 is well proven. I use an ACT Fuzzy Pro (replaced with ACT Fuzzy SMM). It was
expensive, but I don't have to touch the gains at all from launch to 270 mph to landing in my beater D60.
I've flown it in some unbelievably nasty air. Often use it to test out a groove before throwing
out non-gyro planes.

I haven't had an opportunity to try it in a DS plane yet, but might want to take a look
at the Eagletree Guardian 2D/3D stabilizer. I wouldn't bother with the 2D mode
(wing leveller) as it's likely to get confused after a lot of laps but the 3D mode is simply
HH gyros on roll and pitch axes, with remote adjustable gain. Works with two ail/flaperon/spoileron wings and elevons.

ian

oops

Originally Posted by sll914

I thought Alan's stability system worked with any tx/rx, that its just the telemetry system that depends on the Hitec radio. I think even the onboard airspeed and acceleration data logger will record data for download later, you just don't get to hear it realtime. I think Joe's right though, it would be hard to find a system that will perform at the wide range of DS conditions better than Alan's.

Another good point! lol. Guess I figure that everyone would want to hear their airspeed and I assume most would love an Aurora if they had one. One thing I can say is that if Alan is doing R&D on something is is likely far superior to anything else on the market. Doesn't matter what it is. Gyros, servos, motors, etc. My hero!

Alan's system sounds good Pete, also the Eagletree Guardian 2D/3D stabilizer is worth a look from what I have seen online

http://www.parkflyers.org.nz/modules...forumpost59651

Bit of local discussion there

Originally Posted by joe manor

AOne thing I can say is that if Alan is doing R&D on something is is likely far superior to anything else on the market. Doesn't matter what it is. Gyros, servos, motors, etc. My hero!

Couldn't agree more! Alan is the Man... I hear he's been keeping up with Bruce's speeds sometimes beating him when the air is rough. If you don't know Bruce, matching his speeds is not an easy thing to do. Especially, consider that Alan's PB is roughly 150mph lower than Bruce's. A true testament to Alan's system...

It's pretty much a no-brainer once you see it and have a spin.
I'm glad the big dogs are embracing it.
I've got a Guardian I'm going to test out in a combat wing but the plan is to put Alan's system in my D80.

kk,

so i got the gya351 all hooked up on the ailerons and got the remote set up so i can adjust gain on a side slider on my xp9303 rx. what i have found in HH is that if i turn the fuse from side then bring it back to level the ailerons are not at zero trim they are a little banking left. if i repeat this they get worse and i repeat they just keep getting worse..

what problem do i have here?

Originally Posted by 57sailplane

kk,

so i got the gya351 all hooked up on the ailerons and got the remote set up so i can adjust gain on a side slider on my xp9303 rx. what i have found in HH is that if i turn the fuse from side then bring it back to level the ailerons are not at zero trim they are a little banking left. if i repeat this they get worse and i repeat they just keep getting worse..

what problem do i have here?

Make sure your aileron trim is centered, and that you power everything up
with the plane not moving (should be on the ground, held motionless).
One thing about almost all HH gyros is that they get between your inputs and
the ailerons in such a way that any control deviation from "center" is interpreted
as a request for continuous roll. That includes trim.
However, there is a procedure on the GYA351 to reset the "center" position.
You have to switch between rate and HH modes very quickly like 3 times
inside of a second. It's easy if you've got gain presets it on a 3 way switch.
Bit trickier if you're using a knob or slider, because have to swing it
both ways really fast, and it has a huge dead zone in the middle that
you have to clear. So it's basically all the way from one side to the other
and back, 3 times (I think) inside of a second. Then whatever trim position
you set with the gyro off (or in rate mode) is recorded as the center position for
HH mode.

*Or*, it could be you're just pushing it too far off axis in your
ground tests. If you're rotating the plane 90 degrees or more,
you may not see it return to center. In the air, it generally won't
ever do that. Also, don't ever flip HH mode on while the plane is
on the ground and then carry out to the edge and launch without
switching HH mode off and back on. A single axis HH gyro can't
account for rotation that occurs in other axes, so if you pick
the plane up tilt it vertically, spin it around 180 degrees etc,
it could end up thinking that upside down, is right side up..
If I'm going to launch with HH on (great for really rough conditions),
I always rest the wing on my head or shoulder with the plane
level, switch to Rate and back to HH to reset the level
position, and then launch.

On a side note, HH gyros need a stable temperature. Especially in cold
conditions, it's a good idea to power up the plane a couple minutes before
flight just to get the gyro at it's normal operating temp relative to
the ambient temp, during which time you may see it drift off axis, then
power-cycle it just before you go to fly and it will not drift.

ian