I am not confused about how gyros function. I used them over 30 years ago in .30 to .50 size glow powered heliesand a Kalt Wispher (the first electric with CP). I use them in my present electric helis I also use a FMA Co Pilot 2.

Say what you want and if you have a specific need for them they are great but if I could not adjust the gyro's gain and if I could not cut the CO pilot off I would not be using them.

To help stabilize a RPV or a flying camera platfom they are great , to make a heli a lot easier to fly they are great, to make KE ,hovering etc. easier they are great but at times they get in the way.

Charles

Charles,
I also dont like gyros, just fly a plane in the simulator with one.

But as3x, the gains are much lower than normal gyros, little coupling issues are gone, like speed-pitch coupling etc, but the gain is low enough that you have an entirely normal stall(just a bit smoother), you still need rudder and elevator for knife edge and slow rolls, just a less. It doesn't feel like three gyros, it feels normal, it helps where you want it(wind, roll stability, rudder stability, gentler stall, smooth landing and hand launches, etc) and is not as effective when you don't want it(rudder for knife edge, slow rolls, rolling circles, snaps, hammerhead, stalls, zero speed-pitch coupling, no p-factor or gyroscopic effect, etc).

Originally Posted by airpower

Thermal and slope pilots don't need an indicator

You do when you have a lipo in it. Otherwise how are you going to know when you pass the low voltage and kill the pack?

I have a 4cell nimh 800mah in my weasel and I get about 2-2.5 hours out of a pack. In a bigger bird I have a lipo pack but that needs to run a regulator as well as a lipo alarm and a visible pack indicator under the canopy, but its just a 2m histart bird of time, so I never have it up for more than 20min at the most. Otherwise on my unpowered planes they all run regular packs.

Originally Posted by PeteSchug

Way off. Spenser Listenby set a record of 468 the broke it with a flight of over 480. For small stuff at low speed SpeedsterDen does some neat flying on the back side of sand dunes in Denmark. He also has a video or two of DSing the drop off on the side of a road. Most of his slow speed DSing is with the Alula.

Listenby manufactures the Kinetic series but an all out DS plane fully equipped is at least a couple of thou and if you make a mistake the crash gives a new meaning to the word total.

Speeds are measured on the upslope against the wind because it's the only place they can be radared. The estimated airspeed on Listenby's fastest run was around 550 mph.

They also turn at about 50 to 70 g and they make a might roar. You can hear the change in noise as they cross the shear line.

If you're skeptical go check out the DS forum. These guys are for real.

Pete

WOW!!!!!! I stand corrected!!! I had NO idea the DS speeds had gotten up soooo high!!!! Seems like only 3-4yrs ago speeds were in the range of 240-260,, but maybe it's been longer. Havnt kept up lately. I'm gona check it out :-)
So I wonder if this little guy could DS??? :-)

Originally Posted by interplanet

You do when you have a lipo in it. Otherwise how are you going to know when you pass the low voltage and kill the pack?

I have a 4cell nimh 800mah in my weasel and I get about 2-2.5 hours out of a pack. In a bigger bird I have a lipo pack but that needs to run a regulator as well as a lipo alarm and a visible pack indicator under the canopy, but its just a 2m histart bird of time, so I never have it up for more than 20min at the most. Otherwise on my unpowered planes they all run regular packs.

You should be able to work out the consumption rate and set the timer on your Tx.

I should, and am able to on the 9303, but what about the newbie's flying off a dx5e? This is a mass marketed plane, many who are not in the business of timing flights, or working out consumption times, ect, ect. There has got to be something.

Originally Posted by interplanet

I should, and am able to on the 9303, but what about the newbie's flying off a dx5e? This is a mass marketed plane, many who are not in the business of timing flights, or working out consumption times, ect, ect. There has got to be something.

A 4ch scale glider is hardly being aimed at the beginner end of the market and nor will it be bought by any.

You cannot tell me that they are not going to sell it to beginners as well, thats just ludicrous, it Horizon Hobby for god sake, they make it easy . You can bind it to the dx4e and dx5e, which both don't have timers, and there are going to be people who use these to fly them. Heck I'll probably pick up a 4e or 5e to throw in the trunk with the glider so I don't have to leave my radio in there at all times. That and how many people who buy this are going to remember or even set there timer every time

. And unless it is stated in the manual to set a timer there has to be another way to not go below the LVC, I could not believe that they are going to sell it without something like that, otherwise they are going to end up replacing a ton of batteries right off the bat from people not timing there flights or running the pack to low.

Originally Posted by PeteSchug

My guess is that without a motor to run the battery will last a long, long time.

If there's room you can stick the 200 mAh battery in. 200 mAh at 7.2 v is 1440 mW which is a lot of mW's to drive four teeny tiny servos just a little at a time even if you do aerobatics on a ridge all the time.

I am not going to worry about it. I've flown my 1S J3 and Champ for really long periods of time WITH the motor running though not full throttle. The ASK-21 uses a 2S battery and no motor.

If they put an audio low voltage signal in you probably won't hear it anyway!

Edit: practical limits. My longest thermal flights have been around 45 minutes. Maybe I get tired quickly or I don't like getting a stiff neck, but my personal endurance is probably less than the ASK. I may have to get a lounge chair to do some serious testing.

Pete

I think you meant to say 1S battery for the ASK-21, Pete. I had to check the specs just to make sure.

Yeah, I'm guessing the battery capability for a flight is going to exceed my comfortable neck and eye ball capability which is only about 30 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if the instructions mention something about recommended total flight time limits for a battery. Of course, that's only going to help if someone reads the instructions.

When it thermals out of site, did I read the instructions

There you go, if I have the little ASK thermal out of sight, I'll blame the instructions, whether I read them or not.

Originally Posted by interplanet

You cannot tell me that they are not going to sell it to beginners as well, thats just ludicrous, it Horizon Hobby for god sake, they make it easy . You can bind it to the dx4e and dx5e, which both don't have timers, and there are going to be people who use these to fly them. Heck I'll probably pick up a 4e or 5e to throw in the trunk with the glider so I don't have to leave my radio in there at all times. That and how many people who buy this are going to remember or even set there timer every time

. And unless it is stated in the manual to set a timer there has to be another way to not go below the LVC, I could not believe that they are going to sell it without something like that, otherwise they are going to end up replacing a ton of batteries right off the bat from people not timing there flights or running the pack to low.

Can't see beginners getting one of these, not with the other 'sexier' options they have. But even if you're right, it's buyer beware. People need to understands what they are getting into.

Maybe HH will put a paragraph about it in the manual, which no one will read. If people flatten their lipos it will be their own fault.

Might have to install a back up battey! A new E-FLITE 200mAh 1S 3.7V 30C LiPo will help for longer flights!

hmmmm, one possible question (or problem) One would think about is...... BIRDS! this thing is about the size of a small bird and especially since there's no annoying brushed motor or whirr from a park 180 to scare the birds off. I wonder if birds may get really aggressive towards it. I wonder how many eagles or falcons may make dinner out of the glider.

"horizon help line, how may I help you"
"yes a bird ate my glider''
"well do you still have the plane"
"no, Its in the falcon's stomach"
"hmmmm, well can you ship the falcon in the ASK box back to us for a replacement?"
"Sure, I think he'll fit nicely in the box"

Hi Faom and Tape,
Now thats Funny They still chase my Hobie, just keep out of there way! Just send them a box of Feathers!!