I have been flying an Aero Bird for a while. I also have a Slow Stick with a Laser 4 channel transmitter. I would like to convert the Aero Bird with the same receiver, servos and speed control so I can use the same Laser transmitter for both plans. The question is . . . has anyone out there done this conversion?

Or any suggestions how it can be done.

Bach:

You will probably have to do major surgery on the fuselage of your Aerobird, but it can be done. A flight pak with a feather RX, battery and 2 HS55 servos is available from Hitec for a little over $60. Check with Hitec, Tower Hobbies or Hobby People on their websites. This is a park flyer type pak but works well. I have two and they are good equipment that will match your Laser Xmitter. You can then use your Laser for as many models as you have flight paks.

this guy posts the same message on different threads

I'm new to the forums and I was just trying to get coverage.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you know how it works out.

Bach

I don't know what your normal flight range is on the Aerobird, but I often fly it 200-300 feet up and over 1000 feet out. The feather receiver mentioned above only has a 1000 foot range. Your Aerobird receiver has a 2500 foot range.

Unless you are having problems with the Aerobird radio system, why convert? You are talking a bunch of money to gain nothing in range or performance. And the single stick controller on the Aerobird is very good.

I would not encourage the change.

Well, I took on the challenge and made the receiver, etc. conversion so I can fly my Aerobird with my Hitec Laser 4. I replaced the receiver/control system that comes with the Aerobird with a Hitec Super Slim receiver, 2 Hitec HS-55 Servos and a 10 Amp speed control. It took most of the weekend to figure out and install the new components. I haven?t calculated the difference in weight, but I took it out to the field and gave it a try. All went well except it did seem a little heavy on take off, but it did great after that.

The only leaning curve is, the elevons or what ever they are called on a v-tail, work like a real v-tail were in a turn, one elevon is up and the other is down. This makes a new challenge because it is much more sensitive to turn. In order to make the elevons to work, I used the elevon mixing feature on the laser 4.

The Hitec Super Slim has a range of 1+Mile. I know this whole thing is a bit of an over kill, but it was fun and a good challenge that worked out fine.

bach

Outstanding Job. I would LOVE to see pictures of what you did to do the conversion.

Where did you set the center of ravity? On the basic Aerobird it is about 1/3 back from the leading edge of the wing.

I hope you can post some pictures. Or send me some shots. I have cable so photo size is no issue.

I agree that this is overkill for the Aerobird, but It sounds like fun. Who knows, I might try it.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

With the tail being more responsive now, it may put more stress on the tail boom. Better reinforce it!

If you want to take this to the extreme and spend the $$:

Hitec has a new receiver, the electron6 which is less than half an ounce if you take the case off. If that is a Hitec Slim 7 channel, it is about .8 ounces. Saving about .3 ounces.

GWS has Pico servos at .19 ounces compared to .28 for the HS 55s. Savings .1 ozs X2

That sheds about half an ounce at a cost of about $80. A little extreme, but......

LiIon batteries could probably shed a couple of ounces. Now we are talking bucks for batteries and a charger.

I am not suggesting you should spend the money to do ANY of this, but you have my brain running. It would be cool to put my Aerobird on my Hitec Prism 7X radio. I probably won't do it because if flys fine as it is, but you have really caught my imagination.

Post some pictures man! This is very cool!

OK . . . the next time I have the assembly out, I'll take some picts and e-mail them to you. Yea, it's an over kill, but it was/is a lot of fun. I'm going to look into your ideas as well . . . thanks.

My next retro is converting the motor on my/Grandson's slow stick to the Graupner motor with folding prop. Over all it will be cheaper than new props (well maybe). He's getting close to flying and landing rather than flying and crashing, but until then, the retro would be another fun challenge.

Thanks for your imput!

Bach

Bach,

Get your grandson an Aerobird. I have it on good authority that they can take a lot of punishment if you do the right reinforcement. Ha Ha !

Happy flying![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]