RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Perhaps putting a link to a post containing the text in the sticky "Beginner's resources" might be the thing to do....

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Well, it's a topic that keeps coming up, that's for sure. But a link would also require a sticky to lock it to the front page.

I'll talk with Ken about perhaps removing one of the current sticky's that may not be getting a lot of activity in favor of something like that.

CGr.

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Thanks for the help everyone, even though I went against your guys advise in my other post I made about getting a slow stick, I have managed to learn to fly. Well atleast fly the slow stick without crashing. I have had three successful flights but havent been able to fly since the forth of july. I crashed it probably three or four times before getting the hang of it. But I think that the first few crashes could have been avoided but I was too excited about trying to fly that I thought I could handle the wind but with the stock power on the slow stick I couldnt. But I got a calm day and I flew the slow stick for a full ten minutes without crashing!!! well almost I wouldnt call my landing graceful but it stayed on the wheel... and wing. I cant believe how relaxing this is to fly and I am hooked!! After the first two flights I started to get a little confidence in my flying and started going close over head and doing some flips.. which werent so graceful either. but as landing kept being my problem I did only touch and goes on the fourth flight and thats when I realized I needed a brushless motor because I couldnt quite get the plane to go into a headwind with out applying a lot of throttle. I ordered a brushless motor yesterday so I cant wait to post pics, and cant wait for the wind to die down but Thanks everyone and I am now an addict!!

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Let me offer some advice, and this is based on my experiences when in my fledgling days of RC flight (not all that long ago..)

First, do a thorough inspection and pre-flight before going airborne for the first time that day. And, do that every time for the first time that day. You can do something while in transit to or from the field, or when unloading or loading the plane to your vehicle. Check everything, linkages for tightness, battery charge level (I rely on Voltwatch II for my NiMh, NiCd, or LiFEPO4 receiver packs but initially, use a loaded voltmeter to quickly check that the battery is fully charged). Then assemble your plane.

Next, do a complete flight check, including making sure the control surfaces move correctly and in the right direction (stand behind the plane and move the aileron to the right.. the right wing aileron should go up and the left wing aileron should go down. Pull back on the elevator and the elevator should go up, and of course, the rudder should follow your stick.. right for right and left for left.

Make sure your throttle moves all the way open and closed without binding.

Fill your tank, if you have not already, and start your engine followed by a quick tune check.

Once airborne, do a couple of simple orbits to get rid of the butterflys, and get comfortable.

Then do several approaches without landing. Do square turns to final, meaning purposeful straight downwind leg, followed by a 90 degree turn to base, followed by a 90 degree turn to final. On the turn to final, point the plane directly toward you. Don't worry, you won't hit yourself. This will get you closer to the runway centerline. Reduce throttle as you would for landing, then, when about 10 feet high, slowly but purposely add throttle to full and go around, abort the landing.

Do a couple of orbits, then do it again.

Do this several times, then on the last one, land the plane, but after a short roll, add throttle and get back in the air and do a couple of orbits then do it again.

Then, after about 10 minutes of this, land the plane, come to a full stop, and decide if you have enough fuel to take off and do it again (fly around then land to a complete stop). If not, well, shut down and bring it to the bench or to the staging area.

Do another cursory inspection, before shutting down, check your battery (if using Voltwatch II, that is easy to do, just look at it) then shut down. Do a mechanical inspection of things to make sure the vibration of flight didn't loosten things, refuel, and get back in the air.

On your second flight, do whatever you want. Reserve the first flight of the day to get rid of the butterflys in your stomach, and to practice some landings.

On the second flight, I climb way high at some point in the sky, and then bring the throttle to idle and simulate a dead-stick landing. I do this several times. Even though it's practice and learning, it is also fun to do. Pick a point in the sky, not necessarily in a favorable part of the sky, like downwind somewhere.. but somewhere that it will be purposefully difficult to safely land. You don't have to get into a dangerous point, but it is good practice to learn what your limitations are when getting a dead stick situation. After all, you never know when that engine will die on you.

Once you are satisfied with your "training" session flights, hey knock yourself out and play. But try to make flights both fun and relaxing, but add some level of training to flights to become proficient.

I've done this so many times, that even the pros at the field say my landings are the smoothest they've seen. It comes from practice and eventually just comes naturally to you.

Enjoy RC Flight!!!

CGr.

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Thanks cgr!!! By the way, are there other formulas to figure out flight time and such. And I made sure to do preflight checks everytime I go to fly. I am starting to wonder why I would even bother with my nitro trucks right now, even though ill be saying different when it isnt in the 90s everyday. Flying is so relaxing and fulfilling.

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

The ESC is, in actuality, a small,3 phase, variable frequency drive. We have a papermill full of them. That is the whine/whistle you here from some ESCs. Too much load(prop) will cause the amps to go up but will also cause the voltage to go down, because the battery cannot increase its voltage. Eventually(sometimes suddenly ;-) ) with enough load that turns into all amps and no volts, which is a stalled/short type condition. Then the factory smoke will be seen. Better to over rate the drive in case the prop gets on the ground or gets jammed in a hard landing and can't turn. Can't trust the ESC to shut itself off or you can't shut the throttle off quick enough to stop the overload.

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Is that how all that smoke gets out of those little cans!! [:@]

I often wondered about that. :D

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Yeah, that's the ticket!! :D The factory puts those in the circuit as overload indicators. Kind of like a CO2 fire control system works. When the fire starts they go off and out it out!!

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTRIC FLIGHT
</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31071</font>
<font size="2" face="Times New Roman">http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7100376/tm.htm</font>

A free e-book on the subject.</p>

RE: Understanding Electronics Better...
 

Excellent resource for beginners!