X-Dart Quadcopter Auto-Flip

...very cool maneuver

The X-Dart comes preloaded with a cool automatic feature, the auto-flip. Simply pushing a button on the controller will have the little X-Dart executing a perfect flip in flight.

So, in addition to its inherent nimbleness, you can keep the X-Dart doing this highly entertaining maneuver until the battery finally goes flat...

X-Dart Awesome Flight

...better in the open

On a calm afternoon we took the X-Dart Quadcopter to the local field to get it a try in the open space, where there are fewer things to crash into.

The freedom immediately translated into a better flight, with no risk of the little quad hitting the ceiling if you took off with too much power!

Again, the capability of the X-Dart impressed, even though the piloting skills were still being developed. You can see how the popularity of multirotors in growing so fast...

Spektrum DX6i. Rates & Expo.

...how to set up rates & expo

The DX6i has programmable Dual Rates as well as Expo, features not found on the DX5e and other basic transmitters.

D/R Expo is on the Adjust List, just under model select. Clicking on this takes you to the D/R Rxpo setup page, where the middle column is the Rates i.e. the servo travel percentage, and the right hand column is the Expo, which is set to INH (inhibit) by default. 

Clicking on one of the INH values and then scrolling will change this to a percentage value; the higher the more damping around the centre of the stick.

Dual rates allows you to set the travel of each control individually, and there is a switch for each as well to enable you to selectively change control travel e.g. setting elevator to "high" while leaving aileron and rudder on "low".

Clicking on a percentage in the first column will allow you to adjust the Rates, or servo travel, individually for each control. The actual amount will depend of how much response you require or how sensitive you plane is.

It's worth researching this before your first flight, as super-sensitive controls (aileron especially and also elevator) can be disastrous...

Dynam DC-3 Instability

...but no damage

The hot air balloons were out again this morning, their rotund forms dark in the distance as I crested the hill, the occasional bust of light from the burners illuminating what was otherwise a fairly dull and cloudy morning.

At the field things had brightened up a little, and I had the DC-3 lifting off easily and buzzing around the field. Towards the end of the flight I was playing around with it a bit more, with high-speed passes (or rather, full-power passes, as the Dak is fairly pedestrian) and some steep climbs, trying to get it hanging off the props.

During one of the latter attempts, the DC-3 went into an alarmingly severe spin, the first time its even done this. As usual, I let it drop to gather airspeed and it corrected itself almost immediately without requiring any correction from my side.

So, a little alarming but nevertheless good to discover that the instability exists, but equally that it's only evident in extremis and easily corrected, as long as you have a little height to spare...

Raptor Glider in the Cool

...beautiful tranquil morning

Hot air balloons suspended in the sky bode well for a good morning's flying, their presence indicating millpond conditions. The cloud cover was also breaking up, bringing with it the possibility of a lovely sunrise.

It was overcast at the field but, after a few minutes flying, the sun broke through the clouds and flooded the paddocks with gorgeous morning light. Bringing the Raptor in, I got the Mobius running and sent the Raptor off again, capturing the gorgeous sunrise on video.

It was an opportunity to fly the Raptor glider, now on its third outing with its new Turnigy powerplant, and get a feeling for its capabilities in calm conditions. Launching the Raptor is very easy, especially into cool morning air, as it gets up to flying speed almost as soon as it leaves your hand and, if you launch it with a little extra power, it will start climbing steeply.

This can be a little off-putting and could be countered by moving the battery forward a little, however I'm quite happy with the way it's flying so I'm going to leave it as-is. The Raptor is, as you'd expect, very stable and capable of being flown and turned at very low speeds without even a hint of stall.

This is, of course, handy as landing gliders without air brakes can be a protracted exercise, and more often than not the Raptor comfortably overshoots the designated spot and I'm turning it around for final approach part two...

Between Sunrise and Rain

...changeable and ephemeral

This morning I was treated to a beautiful sunrise en-route to the field, however by the time I arrived the beautiful morning show of pastels had faded. Nevertheless, the light was good and I have the Canadair sweeping into the sky in no time.

L

It's flight was cut a little short, however, by the arrival of a shower so, landing it quickly, I hurriedly powered up the Rarebear and let it rip for a quick blast, hopefully before things got too damp.

With tubby exercised and gliding in for a beautiful touchdown, I headed back to the car to dry off my radio, which I don't think appreciated the rain...

Dynam DC-3 And The Battery At The Back

...it's finally finished its migration

This afternoon I finally moved the DC-3's battery right back against the stop and gave it a fly. The only other change was that I flipped the battery around so that the leads were facing forward, so that I can connect the plug without having to remove the battery.

With the leads now facing forward the final move hasn't made much difference, with the centre of gravity at 75mm. The main bonus is that no care is required installing the battery; just slide it right back and you're done.

At 75mm CoG the DC-3 takes off very easily; it basically floats off the ground within a few metres, and it will cruise steadily at a fraction over half throttle. It's glide is also improved, although with power off you need significant elevator input to offset the effect of the wheels, but this would even be the case if you were coming in to land with retracts.

With the elevator now on on 100% travel, the Dak is fully controllable on landing, the final mass shift now allowing it to be floated onto the ground in a most pleasing manner, and provides a margin of safety for correction if you misjudge the sink rate a little.

The only drawback is that the Dak becomes light in the nose at low speeds, mainly evident when cruising into the wind. Here the extra airspeed gets it climbing and, without correction, the climb gets steeper as the negative moment from the undercarriage diminishes with reducing speed.

Left unchecked, the Dak will go into a spectacular vertical stall and then wing-over into a dive. Apart from that it is completely stable; all the aerobatic and stall maneuvers I've tried have not managed to induce any sort of spin or other unstable characteristic.

This seems a small price to pay for much improved behaviour of the Dak by having the battery at the back...