FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Hi all, this post is for the 3 channel product that silverlit has and spinmaster/airhogs might import. The initial post will consist of pic's, flyability will come next as I figure out the plane. I will say that silverlit wired the elevator actuator backwards. Up is up not down. Ok, here are som pics.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

some more pic's,

calvinlo

where did you get the Acrobat? Is it out already? [X(]

Neurotex

So how does it fly?
Looks like a common actuator in the tail.
How much throw is there in the elevator?
And, yes, where did you get it?

H8SUVS

Yes, gimmie gimmie!

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

OK, I got it from a friend in the UK. I believe that he bought it from flyingtoys.com. My understanding is that there is no US distributer at this time.

There is about 45 degrees pitch in the elevator. The control is inverted so up is up, so I've pulled up causing a dive[][X(]. I'm having to relearn to fly an ace.[:-][:-], I haven't flown an ace without the turn with out throttle mod. It's as fast as the classic trainer/power hawk and seems like it wants to fly to be pretty steady, but the wind has been tricky. I'll try to get to the park this weekend.

Tim

Neurotex

No US distribution at this time?
They need to get a clue!

Pulling back on the stick and she goes down?
They need to get a clue #2!
Can't you rewire the TX to get it right?

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Nuero, what is my best fix? inverting the actuator wires in the plane, or try to hack the tx? I may try to get hold of Tony. I know I need to a. make the controls more responsive. Right now I have to really bear down to make the plane turn, and I have to think about it, I'm not able to think about what is going to happen next. Playing with this plane it is not ready for mass market, but is being sold that way in Europe. Tim

Neuro, I think spinmaster has the right of first refusal. And after the Gyrotor performed so poorly, other outlets would want to see the plane fly. With upside down cotrols, no one is going to want to import it. We'll see what happens.

Tim

GantryG

Ferndale,
I have been waiting for this for months!

Do the rudder and the elevator controls have proportional steps or bang-bang? If they have steps, how many?

Is the throttle 8 steps like the Aces?

Your pictures have the acrobat with no front wheels- where do they attach? Can you show a pic with them on?
Do the wheels work well with takeoffs and landings like Aces with landing gear mods?

Is it designed with no "porpoising" since it has an elevator?

I guess that that is enough questions for now...

Neurotex

Switching actuator wires would work if you don't mind cutting
into the plane to get to them. They're hair thin and if they're like
the SingleWing probably glued in pretty good near the actuator.
I would look for them about two inches back from the actuator.
Also, they need to be stripped and cleaned really good to get
them to take a solder.
The TX might be easier to get to and just reverse the wires there
at the toggle switch.
Any other sites yet where someone has hacked into the plane and
TX? I'd like to see what the RX looks like. I hope the RX is beefed
up a bit to take on the actuator and not just a modified AA RX.

I wonder why you're having problems turning? It should turn like an
AA. Are you giving it up elevator in the turns to bring the plane up?
You think maybe the actuator is interfering with motor commands?

GantryG, by the looks of it it's a bang/bang elevator.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Gantry, one at a time, The lg slide into a spot in the front of the rx housing. I have not tried a rog yet, i don't want to lose the gear, and thats a possibility if I fly at my house.

It is proportional steering, like the ace, the ele is either neutral, up or down, no in between. I have not been able to fly it enough to tell if it porpoises. The controls take more effort that I'm used to to engage. When I feel like I should stop pushing I have to push a touch more to get the connection. While I'm in the tx I will see about what fixes I can make. Oh and I'll shoot some pics. I too am curious about the board so I'll have to see about that as well.

Tim

Neuro, I've been flying with a mod'd tx for better than a year, that is going to be one of my flight problems. I think Saturday is going to be a big flying day. I plan on going into town tomorrow to do my saturday errands leaving saturday clear for flying. I'm going to check out rcg and see if they have any info. I'm also considering a ribbon to slow it down some.

Gantry, here is a pic of the plane with lg. Not one of my pics, but a pic none the less. I'll be taking a camera with me on Saturday and will have more pics afterwards.

Did I mention that will working with it the other day I got a really nice loop?[X(] Tim

Dave ESPI

I'll pass on this for now.

Neurotex

[link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycKeQmRrJk]Acrobat Promo Video[/link]

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Nuero, I want to be able to emulate those trcks. I will have to hack the tx to do that. The video shows turns and ele action at the same time. That is not possible with my plane/tx. Tim

Neurotex

yeah, that video shows some pretty wild antics.
Why is that not possible with your set up? Can't the stick
on the TX be moved right or left while at the same time
being in the up or down possition?

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

It will not engage the turn contact and the ele contact at the same time. I'm hoping they are just push pads like the ace.
Tim

Neurotex

huh? Then how are they managing those stunts in the video? Wind?

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

OK, more info gleaned. 7 step throttle. Moch more power than even the power ahwk. rpm? 21,000 is the peak, but that was after flying, I'll recheck after charging. I got it to do a harrier for 30'[X(]. It has wide sweeping turns, and needs more space than either of the bipes. When I get more comfortable with it I should be able to fly in the yard, but for now it is a park flyer. AUW is 26.8g. Right now my biggest problem is having to turn with the throttle. Lots of fun though, to be able to get a nice 20' loop out of the plane helps make up for other defiencies. It also causes me a bit of wonder and a couple of near wrecks.

A couple of other things, it will rog[X(] but I need to put is some toe so it tracks better. With ele rog is 10' without about 15', on asphalt. I'll try a smooth surface next time. and the infield is no go for a rog.

Gantry here is a pick with the gear installed. Neuro, when I get the throttle spring reinstalled more of the stunts in the vid will be more likely.

Tim

Neurotex

Glad to hear flights are getting better!
Wish I had a couple.... oh, and your picnic table needs some stain.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Neuro, that was at the park. With average rainfall at 36" and most of it coming in a couple of months, it's tough on the park stuff. I think the table is only a year or 2 old. OK, to more pressing issues, I took the tx apart. All I accomplished was pic's and reinstalling the throttle spring. This is a completely different board, I doubt the same developer was used, although it is closer to the new boards coming out with the acrojet forward. They seem to be saving weight in the tx. Or making it harder to hack. Dumb move I think, but then I just buy the planes. I think I'll have a silverlit jet in a week or so, and I'll check that tx out as well. Onward, here are pics of the tx innards. Tim

also I was saying I did harriers, now I wonder if I should have said hover. Full power down ele sort of floating nose up acroos the ball field. release the ele and flight recommenced as did a need to fly on turn mode only.

Tim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

another flight, this time with the throttle spring in place, much better, I still want the turn mod, but I have no clue as to how to do it and to fix the ele control might have to happen at the rx. Tim

GantryG

Dang, that thing looks fast in the promo video.

Regarding changing the upside-down elevator controls, it looks like it would be relatively easy to cut the traces on the board and solder on wrapping wire bypasses...

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

I tried to post some in flight pics, I'll try again tomorrow. Tim

Neurotex

Looking at the TX you might be right. It looks like it's part of the board
but I'm sure someone will find a way to do it.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Ok, this took longer to post than expected. I took the plane to Sac to show my brother and my Dad, who was visiting from Tx. I flew a couple of planes then brought out the acrobat, saying that I would just do a take off for them and the drop the plane. Can you guess how well that went? So I flew it around a bit, while my brother is firing away with his camera. The plane is starting to get comfortable. Oh, and the lg is solid when installed. I just leave it on now.

Tim
We were flying at sundown, which is why the the plane appears to bo orange. Tim