Are there really planes liket his? I'm thinking of the 4d foamys in AFPD with the pps props. Man... if there r I want one Eventually
-John

While technically there is no such thing as a "4D" plane, (the 4th dimension would be time, and there are no time traveling planes that I'm aware of! ), the reverse prop systems do allow equipped foamies to fly backwards for some time. The electric motor has a hollow shaft that permits a pushrod (actuated by a separate servo) to pass through to control the prop pitch. Not exactly for beginners, but not a very difficult goal to reach for either, as these planes are not too difficult to get the hang of.

Lol, wouldn't that be fun. A true 4D model Well actually, all models are 4d I suppose. Faster u go slower u move through time Hehe, may not be correct term, but seems to be the adopted one for the pps props. Not sure if it's where I want to go, but damn if the things aren't a blast to play with. That is if the real ones fly like the shocky pps and slow-flyer pps fly in afpd. Just a ton of fun. Hover (badly) into a hammer head (due to bad hover) into a nose down hover till it wobbles itself out of control then into a ascending flat spin. Hehe. A blast. How much would a pps foamy run btw?
Thanks
-ohn

What you need is a flux capacitor and you model must be capable of doing 88mph

If you're talking about the variable pitch prop that actually let's you fly backwards & forwards, yes they are available.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXLXB1&P=0

LOL..... 'flux capacitor'....Damn I'm getting old. Isn't Michael J. Fox like 50 now?

Thanks minn.

Hmmm.... I may have to do some looking to find a flux capacitor

Ok, one other thing... I know a heli radio would be ideal for this, but would a hitec flash 5 work. Program the throttle onto the 3 way switch. Idle, mid-range- full blast. I Relize not ideal and flight time would be cut shorter, but would that work?
thanks
-John

Well, you would not want to put your throttle on a switch of any kind. You could put the prop servo on the flaps channel or a retract channel. better to put the prop servo on the 3-position switch if that is your last channel. Forward neutral and reverse is better than zero, midrange and full open, IMHO.

Good luck. I am not qualified to fly 3-D yet, but I fly every day so, maybe someday.

Oh..... and I will sell you a 'flux capacitor' cheap.

agexpert,
I believe you may not know quite how the variable pitch props work. The pitch of the prop determines ur thrust. It's like a helicopters collective. Therefor if u run the motor at full blast, but have the props neutral, u won't be puttin out thrust. But u'll be eating away at ur battery pack. Ideally, I think, would be to mix the throttle with the pitch so as the pitch increases in either direction, the motor speeds up too to push the air through, while not killing the battery. This is y I believe the throttle being switched is a better compromize. U can still control ur airspeed but if ur taking it easy, u can throttle the motor down to save battery life. However, I'm not sure, hence the question. In afpd (where i learned about these little critters ) the simulated planes are just stuck at full throttle. The throttle stick controls pitch. No battery to be concern'd about there though Do u have experience with variable pitch props? As for the flaps or retractor channel, that's what the switch is on the hitec flash 5x. It's a trinary channel, not proportional. So 4 proportional channes, and 1 3 way. Hence no proportional for the throttle.
Ooo, I'm always looking for a deal. Does it come with the garbage disposel fuel thing?
-John

I think you would find it touch to throttle the motor if it is on a switch. You can put it on a rotary like the flap and use the computer to mix it. All that I have seen just let it run wide open and use the throttle stick to change prop pitch.

Man, these little electrics have come a long way. Never figured I would want one, and now I have 4.

The kid I watched fly one looked to me as if the VPP is just on a seperate servo like the flap or gear swtch as mentioned above. Now picture this, he would fly straight down to the ground & just as you thought he was gonna plant it, he flpped the switch & shot straight back up 3 ft backwards flipped the switch again & proceeded to fly forward doing Harrier type torque rolls. The kid was awesome by the way. but think about this, switching with throtlle as suggested above is more like a transmition going from drive thru neutral to reverse. Planes drops like a rock. He has to keep the throttle on & the pitch change on a seperate switch to make the prop change pitch allmost instantaneoulsy in order for it to keep flying or like I said it will just drop like a rock. I watched him do this several times from as close to 3 to 6 inches of the deck. The prop speed cannot change, just the pitch of the prop to reverse the thrust fast enough for it to keep flying.

Thanks to everyone for ur input. It's gonna be awhile so I have time to mull it over.
-John

the vpp setups i've flown are setup like helies with throttle and pitch curves...

Where neutral would be at mid throttle...50% or so throttle, then when you go up its x degress positive pitch and full throttle, and all the way down would be 100% throttle and x degrees neagative pitch...

You would have multiple curves, a linear one for landing (0 pitch + 0 throttle to 100 throttle and full positive pitch...) and you would have that on a switch, so when its time to land (or takeoff if you roll out) you switch to the linear curve...