I am looking for an electronic gadget to help keep my wings level while I take-off-from-grass, by level I mean perpendicular to gravity.

Currently I have a HobbyKing Bixler (3rd gen EasyStar clone) (mono-hull without landing gear) and landing on its monohull is easy, however take-off-from-grass is much more challenging, if a wingtip dips into the grass then the plane pivots and tries to take-off in a new random direction. The desired magic device would provide input to a mixer going to ailerons/flaperons to help keep the wings level and to help prevent/recover-from wingtip dipping into the grass. A Heading¬Hold Gyro tied to the rudder might be helpful but the wingtip dipping into the grass is still the root cause of this takeoff challenge.

I am sure that other applications can be found for this magic device.

Does such a device already exist?
If any vendors need a beta tester, then I would happily volunteer.

Thanks
John

Hi,

Maybe the Feytech FY 30-a Flight Stabilizer ? Or the EagleTree Guardian ?
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65527

-Paul

Have you tried hand-launching? I'd suggest adding landing gear before a gyro.

*this* is the link I was looking for last night. Long day...

www.servocity.com/html/how_do_servos_work_.html
..a

I bet it was
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1623087
I think that's the thread you were responding to with that info
Pete

Originally Posted by JohnDickey

I am looking for an electronic gadget to help keep my wings level while I take-off-from-grass, by level I mean perpendicular to gravity.

Currently I have a HobbyKing Bixler (3rd gen EasyStar clone) (mono-hull without landing gear) and landing on its monohull is easy, however take-off-from-grass is much more challenging, if a wingtip dips into the grass then the plane pivots and tries to take-off in a new random direction. The desired magic device would provide input to a mixer going to ailerons/flaperons to help keep the wings level and to help prevent/recover-from wingtip dipping into the grass. A Heading¬Hold Gyro tied to the rudder might be helpful but the wingtip dipping into the grass is still the root cause of this takeoff challenge.

I am sure that other applications can be found for this magic device.

Does such a device already exist?
If any vendors need a beta tester, then I would happily volunteer.

Thanks
John

I've used aileron gyros for a Bixler taking off on grass. It was only marginally successful at best -- an only if the grass was very short. Gyros just can not counteract the force of anything with greater friction that air -- ie -- grass or water.

Hand launching is far more successful - and once you get the hang of it, not difficult at all. The key is don't THROW the bixler. If the prop is spinning the correct direction and facing the correct direction -- with a 3 cell battery it will fly right out of your hand with a moderate throwing motion. We have 5 of them in our family -- We fly the heck out of the Bixer.

Paul_BB
Thanks for the pointer to the Feytech FY 30-a Flight Stabilizer and the EagleTree Guardian

SkySailor And Scott Page
Hand launching might still be the best answer,
I will have to give it another serious try,
(my first few attempts made for hard crashes).

Thanks for the input

Originally Posted by pilotpete2

I bet it was
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1623087
I think that's the thread you were responding to with that info
Pete

Ah, crap. Thx!
..a

Originally Posted by JohnDickey

Paul_BB
Thanks for the pointer to the Feytech FY 30-a Flight Stabilizer and the EagleTree Guardian

SkySailor And Scott Page
Hand launching might still be the best answer,
I will have to give it another serious try,
(my first few attempts made for hard crashes).

Thanks for the input

When you crashed from hand launching -- was it due to not enough power or did you seriously botch the throw and torque it.

I ask because IF you have the prop set up right -- it will nearly fly right out of your hand. But -- you would not believe the number of people that install the prop backwards on the Bixler/Sky Surfer and think it's a gutless wonder -- because it will still fly -- just not very well.

So if the prop has the numbers facing the tail -- it's on backwards and you would have to really throw hard to get it to go -- but throwing hard causes problems with adding roll or yaw during the release.

When hand launching DON'T throw upward. Look at the horizon and throw at the horizon. #1 mistake hand launching is throwing up upwards causing a stall. #2 mistake is throwing too hard and inducing yaw or roll.

When hand launching you should have the transmitter on a lanyard or better yet, a transmitter tray. If using a lanyard a balance like this http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=12991 helps too.. and I throw with my right hand and have my left on the right stick.. just for a second. Not sure if putting the left fingers on the right stick is good advice, it's just what I do.