The Rig Flies
 

We did the second round of test flights today
with a total of 3 flights each lasting ~3 min each.
The AT280 was replaced with a new AT450 (thank you AMT)
and had more than enough power to hold it up.

On the first round of flights (5) a few weeks ago
it was clear the roll fan was just not strong enough
so I put a bigger tail rotor, new gear box and added
2nd tail rotor just to be sure. Now after the second
round of flights I have more than enough control.

In the link below there are some large videos
that show a 8 sec flight, without grabbing it out
of the air.

The videos also show me putting in the wrong
input in the roll direction....oh well

During the 3rd flight, it was fairly dark, but the camera
did a good job, but it picked up the heat from the turbine
as very bright, where really it was just glowing red.

Eddie Weeks

http://www.corpcomp.com/weeks1/Rig/Rig.html

The Rig Flies
 

Very cool! Cant wait to see a full flight out of that thing!! Looked like the people driving by didnt know what to think!

The Rig Flies
 

Hey Eddie,

Great videos.

Do the neighbors ever send you death threats or are they already deaf and don't notice the noise any more?

I ran my new turbine up again on the bench after work todat but shut it down after a couple of minutes because I felt guilty about making such a racket on a Friday evening. I wast surprised how much louder they are without the ear plugs in. Mind you, it was still music to my ears!

Garrett

Florida Jets
 

Hey Eddie,
are you going to have the "RIG" at Florida Jets?
Chris Zonio

I will be there
 

Yes I plan on going to FL Jets 2002
and I hope the Rig is still in one piece.
I am packing up for JOD
this weekend and hope to fly the Rig
foward like a real plane.

Yeah... the neighbors have no idea what
all that racket is. It only last for
3 min so its not that bad.

Eddie Weeks
http://www.corpcomp.com/weeks1/Rig/Rig.html

The Rig Flies
 

Today, we got 15 seconds of free flight, more than once. Rocketman was at the controls and we flew 3 times. It was rather windy so with out the wind we feel we can do 30 seconds, maybe. Rocketman says the roll problem has been solved, in fact roll has far more control than both other axes.

Eddie Weeks and Rocketman

http://www.corpcomp.com/weeks1/Rig/Rig.html
http://www.corpcomp.com/weeks1/Rig/Rig.html

The Rig Flies
 

Very cool, now put 3 heading hold gyro's on it and some.........


Awesome job!!

The Rig Flies
 

Eddie,

Can you tell me where to get a Jet Team Liebetrau antenna? Been looking everywhere for one like that and cant find them??

Thanks,
Todd

BTW, Did you get the CD I sent you?

The Rig Flies
 

Impressions from a Rig (VertiMOE) pilot. I have been in & out of R/C helis for 25 years or so, I guess that's why Eddie trusted me to fly the Rig yesterday. Thanks Eddie. Back in '77 (I think), my first heli was an American Revolution (???) .40 size fixed pitch heli that was basically a rip off of the Heli Baby. Flying the Rig (using the Olympus's thrust as the height control, obviously with no collective pitch), reminded me VERY much of that very early R/C heli, altitude wise. The control of height is sluggish. I do not think that this will prevent Eddie from accomplishing his goals, the pilot just has to be well aware of these limitations as we were way back when with that Revolution 40. There is definitely no lightning fast altitude corrections as R/C heli guys are used to with today's well designed collective pitch set ups. As Eddie stated on the web site, I felt 100% in control of the roll axis. If you will remember, Eddie started out with but one rotor for roll control,

Eddie definitely deserves a huge round of Jet-Dude applause for consistently pushing back the envelope of what can be accomplished in this most awesome of all sports. I thank him for letting me be a part of it. Stand up and take a bow Eddie, you deserve it!!!

http://www.corpcomp.com/weeks1/Rig/Rig.html

BTW, the Jet Team Liebetrau antenna can be purchased (I think) from JetCat USA. It is really quite nice.