I have been flying an indoor RC blimp for the local hockey team. It flies good but for one problem. It doesn't turn very well. It turns well to the left, but not to the right. I have a zinger 6-4 prop on a speed 280 motor, The prop produces lift spinning one direction, but not the other.

My question is, Is there a prop that will produce good lift turning both directions.

Try calling Hobby Lobby @615-373-1444 and tell them what you need to do and they should be able to help you. Good luck, Tom

Most of the "commercial" use blimps run an outdated R/C car ESC with reverse. Reversing the prop is a poor solution for turning but it's the most cost effective for the manufacture. As most ESC's do not dump 100% power in reverse flip the prop around so it is spinning in the proper direction when the ESC is reversed then when run forward the prop is actually spinning backward (not efficient) but it is spinning at 100% power (faster than reverse)... This sorta makes the blimp turn equally in both directions. The only real solution to your power woes are larger props and efficient gearing. The solution to your turning woes is a reversing pitch blade (like the tail rotor of a heli).

I fly Mobile Airships blimps exclusively - and have more experience then I care to with Aerostar's products. I have found MA to be the better of the blimp vendors...

The drafts in the arena are pretty killer and most all of MA blimps are way underpowered. The best thing I have found to do is gut the 280 and 400 size motors run a minimum of 7 cells and switch over to a geared speed 300 drive system with a larger blade. I have laser cut some nice motor mounts to accept the gear drive and also have ditched the foam core fins for stronger/lighter laser cut balsa built up fins.

Overall I have hacked well over 8 oz out of the blimp by upgrading to modern micro electronics and gear driven systems.

If you are ever in the need of Fins / Coupon Drops (Spiral and 4-Pin) / Motor mounts / Banners / Envelopes / etc... let me know. I network with a number of blimp opperators through the US over the last few years we have become a pretty tight group. Many of us have found cost effective solutions for most of the day to day supplies and maintenance items.

If you need assistance or would just like to chat contact me through www.arenablimp.com

-Bill
[email protected]
[email protected]

I flew a Flight Brothers 10 or 12 footer that was about 6-1/2 feet high sitting on the gondola for five years for the local pro hockey team. It had two esc's, one for the main thrust fans that ran forward only, and the steering fan in the lower tail fin that was reversible for steering. The setup worked quite well, but it was like flying two airplanes at once. The main thrusters were mounted on either end of an aluminum arrow shaft about 18 inches long that pivoted 360 degrees. Making reverse flight possibility. After a couple of years of occasional crashing, I finally had it (pretty much) figured out. I liked to try flying the length of the ice backwards, then hitting the steering fan and whipping around in a "police spin turnaround", also liked to make it dance in time to music, roll from side to side, trying to avoid the Zamboni (not always successfully). Dropping stuff over the crowd did not always go well, with ventilator down-drafts causing frequent dismemberment of the goody dropping mechanism. Ah the bad old days.