When you talk about setting high rates and low rates how do you do it im trying to figure out my spectrum radio and all the settings and its kinda over my head and frustrating but i figure i have all winter to figure it out do you switch from one to the other while flying or do you switch between flights ? This is probably a dumb question but you dont know until you ask! Also is there a good site anywhere to learn the ins and outs of digital radios and all the settings without having to worry you guys on here all the time!!!! The instructions seemed to be written for more expierenced pilots instead of rookies like myself!

Your dual rates are used while in flight. You would set them up so that low rate is a smaller surface deflection. I usually set my planes up with high rates being what the plane maker has recomended and low rates at about 60 percent of what is called for. If you are going into 3D flying you will need to know how to use your dual rates and when. Good Luck, Dave

joco1,

Here is a place where you can find all kinds of good information for your Spektrum radio.

http://www.rcaerobats.net/Spektrum/dx_7_main_page.htm

If you are a novice, still learning (like anything within a year of solo is still somewhat novice), then you need not worry about dual rates yet. A good negative exponent is much more effective than playing around with dual rates.

Set the plane up for no more than what the manufacturer recommends for soft action.. usually what they want for maiden flights. Then add about 30 % negative exponent and fly it. It will seem soft for minor inputs, but responsive for harder inputs.

If you are more experienced, well, keep the exponent and just dial in a bit more throw in the control surfaces. Once you master the elements with this sort of setting, then consider adding some of the dual rates recommended, but be careful not to add to much at first. It will scare the heck ouit of you. Those .5 second rolls will drive you nuts!!!

CGr

Low/high rates are used for various reasons. Usually though, most people use low rates for normal, mild flight and high rates for aerobatics. I also like to set some planes up with high rates just for take off's and landings. In those cases I may just increase the elevator and/or rudder throws. If you saw me land though you'd swear it doesn't help. Of course, that's pilot error not plane or radio set up.

What kind of plane are you flying? If it is a typical trainer, there may be no need to mess with dual rates at all right now.

At doing what making the plane twitchy at center stick?

until he comes back with a reply i beleive he ment to advise you to add POSITIVE

Steven

Steven, negitive is correct. Positive gives more movement near the center which would give you your twitch sticks.

Don

Page 47 of the manual (and no i don't have a dx7 ...)

Steven

ive been flying a nexstar trainer but i recently purchased a mach 1 sky raider and a pulse xt i really love flying but im really new to it and just kinda learning on my own gonna keep flying the nexstar till im a little more comfortable but im determined to figure it all out!!

You'll love that Sky Raider. Put the CG and throws right where the manual says and it'll be a great flyer. More agile than a typical trainer but still able to land at a crawl. I've been flying for a few years but I just recently bought one for a "relaxing" plane. It may actually be my favorite now. Go figure.

this is my first plane that i built myself chuck, i really liked building it and now that i got it together i really want to be sure ive got everything where its supposed to be before i maiden it do you think there will be a great big difference between it and the nexstar as far as the way they fly ? ive put the evo.52 motor in it and got the throws and cg about right i think........hope!

On a new aircraft you could put in 20~30% positive expo if you find it mushy you can reduce it afterwards it just helps if you get the plane up and find its too touchy...

Steve, the Futaba is the reverse. I based my comment on that and I'm sure CGr was refering to the Futaba also. It's good to know that all radios don't use the same references. I could have caused someone quite a bit of trouble by assuming that they were all the same.

Live and learn.

Don

I'm not arguing with the fact that futaba is oposit just this guy stated he had a spectrum radio in his opening post and telling him to put an expo percentage that would make things touchier i think we can both agree would NOT be a good thing..

-Just if nothing else i think we should use this as a wake up call to be slightly more careful even more so in the beginner forum because it could have had a bad outcome... i m guilty of it also and im happy i have been corrected in the past because bad advice (not intentional of course..) in this forum could be devastating to a new commer.
Steven

Ones thing is for sure... you'll have plenty of engine. That's why they make throttle sticks though; better a little extra power than not enough. The sky raider will probably fly faster than your Nexstar and it won't float quite so much on landing. It will still land slow & gentle though. It'll also be a little more aerobatic when you want it to be or it can fly smooth and stable hands-off.

The landing gear might not be quite as durable as the Nexstar though. Another tendency I've noticed with the Sky Raider is that it is easy to lean it over and drag a wing or hit the prop if you turn it too sharply. Make sure you have the nose wheel push rod on the outermost hole at the wheel and innermost hole at the servo in order to make it less twitchy on the ground.

Fly the Nexstar until you can take off and land over and over with no mishaps or concerns on a consistent basis then give your Sky Raider a shot. It should be a very easy transition.