Originally Posted by jcarff

one more wire

Ah, you got an APM2.5. I was about to say "use a servo cable," but it's a special connector! Nice guys, I tell you...

Originally Posted by Zedtwitz

Yeah, you should be fine. Stock CG (at back edge of front two finger holes) is a bit too risky in terms of its propensity to stall. Just try an inch (2 cm) in front of the stock, and make each elevon one or two trim clicks above level with the trailing edge of the wing. Any further than that and you'll need a ton more up trim.

thanks Zedwitz will try that

Originally Posted by Zedtwitz

D:

thanks for getting the joke. balance is always what makes the plane fly best through the entire flight envelope not just a spot on the model. i've hovered mine with power off in a light head wind but i'm flying it bare bones right now. i will move my cg forward of stock when i start adding weight from the fpv goodies as the minute or two extra flight time you may or may not pick up from teeter totter balancing just ain't worth the risk.

Originally Posted by Dr.Tom

http://stefan.gofferje.net/projects/.../x8-setup-list




I have HK motor, 1.in list up there,
rest of setup with links to buy is here
http://www.flyfreak.net/fpv-i-ap/nov...3338/#msg83338

Thanks a lot!

Took a bunch of pics during my electronics install and thought i would share them with you.

The components in the install include the Cyclops Storm OSD, DL Rx, 3-way video switch, GoPro Hero 2 and a Pixim Seawolf WDR CCD Camera on the head attached to pan servo.

I've already test flown it LOS but I've since installed the OSD and all video gear. THIS SHOULD BE FUN!!!

Questions encouraged... Thanks

And the rest of the shots. I plan on flying the full rig tomorrow. Im pretty excited.

BTW.... Even though I have 5 posts let me assure you that I am not an amateur. I have 13 years in RC aviation. If it flies i've probably flown it.

Is there any concern about a camera gimbal disrupting the laminar flow over the lifting body? Has anyone experienced buffets or other adverse effects?

Even though the X8 is a BWB (Blended Wing Body) the airfoiled wings provide the majority of the lift as in any aircraft with wings. You will see most FPV aircraft have a camera or some other oddly shaped electronic component on the exterior of the plane. It does not help with lift but it also does not significantly harm it either.

Slap me if this is beating a dead horse but.... What's conventional wisdom after almost 500 pages of posts have to say about the idea of 240gram retractable landing gear on this airframe? Is it worth the weight if your main objective is to prevent injury to yourself or others? Im looking for a solution that involves the least amount of extra equipment to the field as i already feel like im talking half the house when i hit the field (helis, gliders, fpv gear, etc). Im leaning towards just bulding it in but i hate overcomplicating things at the same time... Are those of you who did it happy that you did? Does the weight ever bother you?

After almost 7300 posts I've only seen two or three attemps to mount rectracts, and only one video-documented success so far. It is feasable but in the video (somewhere in this thread) it looked a bit long-legged and did not seem to me very trustworthy. The question is whether the retracts would hold even under hard landings.

This is however just my impression from the video, it I didn't see it in real life.

Ya that pretty much sums it up.
Lots of people think they need em, and we've only seen it demonstrated successfully, once.

Oh just to be clear - my intention would not be to land on them.. I would use them only for take off and make sure they are recessed enough when retracted to be able to belly land the thing. Its just about keeping hands away from the prop at launch (for me at least)

The takeoff roll was wobbly on the only video i saw with landing gear. I think it actually tripped on the first attempt if i remember it correctly.
They had to be exceedingly tall to allow for prop clearance, and it made the cg really high up off of the ground.

Hi all - here some footage of my x8 - low and fast... From on-board, another plane and the ground too...

Enjoy...

AERO 19 - Flat-hatting (9 min 15 sec)

Originally Posted by Jeff Watt

The takeoff roll was wobbly on the only video i saw with landing gear. I think it actually tripped on the first attempt if i remember it correctly.
They had to be exceedingly tall to allow for prop clearance, and it made the cg really high up off of the ground.

ok...seems like its not worth the bother. Plan B then! SAP gloves on the way... should be here this week.. Any stories of wrists of finger tips chopped & slashed while wearing SAP gloves or can i be relatively reckless while kitted up with one of these on my throwing hand?