Mike Blandford

So you fly using a similar device. When someone 'hijacks' your model, you just 'hijack' it back! Mike.

I frequently use a hacksaw to cut a slot into the front of the threaded part of the prop adapter. This allows me to use a screwdriver in the slot to prevent the prop adapter rotating while I tighten the prop nut. Mike.

I did offer it to RCM&E first, but it was declined! Mike.

My solution to having slow retracts involves using a standard, Hi-torque servo. I used a Towerpro SG5010. This has the same torque rating as a Hitec HS-75BB Retract Servo. I then use a "Servo Pulse Stretcher" I made using a small processor. This extends the range of the servo pulse so I get this servo to rotate 180 degrees end to end. As it happens, I also have the slow operation built in to this, but it would work just as well using a slow setting in an openTx or er9x/ersky9x mix. If there is interest I can make the details of the "Servo Pulse Stretcher" available. I re-used the same hardware I designed some years ago for a glow plug driver that was published in (another) magazine. Mike.

I have had problems with quite a few programs in the past when installing them in the "Program Files" directory as Windows has protection on this. Now, I always use a directory called "Progs", and do all my installs in there, no more problems! There is a directory called "Program Data". I think programs are supposed to use this for data, and not part of their installation directory, but if you are writing for multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac), it is more difficult to use. Mike.

When calibrating the sticks I would also recommend just moving each stick in one direction at a time, e.g. either up/down or left/right. Sometimes, if you move a stick to a corner, one direction moves a bit further than you get just moving it up/down or left/right. Mike.

Suppose you want some rudder coupled with the ailerons, but don't know how much. You set the rudder channel up like: +20% AIL *50% LS offset 50% (the MULTIPLY multiplex) +100% RUD With the left slider (LS) at one end you get 0% of aileron mixed to the rudder channel and with the LS at the other end you get 20% mixed. Now, while flying, you may adjust LS to get the required amount you need. The LS mix line provides a value from 0% to 100%. You don't want this going negative or you will get opposite rudder applied ! Mike.

Ted: I thought from your earlier posts you didn't think the 747 would take off, hence my question. Mike.

Ted: What do you understand by "the speed of the wheels"? (You might look up the term "cycloid" before you answer). Mike.

Posted by ted hughes on 16/10/2016 20:08:55: No matter how fast the man on the treadmill runs he will always stand still (because the treadmill always matches his speed). But if he will "always stand still" then his speed is zero, so the treadmill is also stationary if it matches his speed! Mike.

Back to the physics! What is the "speed of the wheels"? It seems to me there is a misconception by many to this question. The only meaningful answer to this is "the speed of the axle" (equals the average speed of all parts of the wheel and tyre). Many seem to be assuming the conveyor belt is moving at the speed of the tyre where they contact each other. It is a fact that, for a wheel rolling along a stationary surface without slipping, the point of contact of the wheel to that surface is also stationary. So, for those that are assuming the "speed of the wheels" is "the speed of the tyre where it contacts the belt", then the conveyor belt will be stationary whatever the speed of the 747! Mike.

The 747 can take off. If there is no friction (wheels/conveyor belt), then there is no force to oppose the thrust from the engines, so the the 747 MUST accelerate (Newtons first law). If there is friction, then the top surface of the conveyor belt will drag the air above it along (opposite of wind sheer!). The resulting airflow over the 747 will then provide drag on the 747 to provide the force to oppose the engine thrust keeping the 747 in the same place (Newtons third law). This airflow will then also provide the lift to get the 747 airborne. Mike.

BEB: The SBUS decoder using an Arduino I referenced outputs servo pulses at 18mS intervals, so is fine for analog servos. Tom: If you have a wing with many servos, then, as Bob says, it is much easier if you only have a single connection to make. Martin: You might try doing a 4 servo wing setup yourself, you will learn quite quickly doing that. Probably the main thing to 'get your head round' is to look at each channel, choose what you need to control it, then add a mix or mixes on the channel to provide that control. Mike.

Posted by trebor on 11/10/2016 16:25:05: If you purchased one of these transmitters and didn't get on with open tx could you re - install the original fry sky program ? You also have the option of installing ersky9x on the Taranis. Ersky9x is another open source firmware that runs on a variety transmitters, and also has a PC program that makes programming the radio easier. Mike.

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 10/10/2016 23:21:52: The decoders cost £10.79 each, and the channel changer costs £13.49. So the all up cost of all the kit used in this post was just £35.07 and bear in mind only the decoders will go in the model, the channel changer is a one-off cost as it can be reused again on subsequent models. This FrSky kit is not expensive for the power it gives us I am sure you will agree. If you are in to SBUS, and don't mind a bit of DIY, you might be interested in using an Arduino Pro Mini as a SBUS to PPM decoder. I've done one and the firmware is here: **LINK**. This provides all 16 channels in one go, but you will need to aqdd the wires and connectors. Mike.

But he still needs to get the hang of short and long menu key presses in case something needs changing at the field. Perhaps openTx needs one of the features I have on ersky9x. On ersky9x, if you hold the MENU key down while editing a value, the value changes in larger steps (typically 20) than 1. Mike.

The default channel order is used when you create a new model, if you changed the default setting AFTER you created your first model, then that model will be using whatever the default was set to when it was created. On the radio, to get to the MIXER menu, press MENU for a short time, then PAGE about 5 times. Mike.

Posted by Pitts Special on 29/09/2016 13:08:10: It does say dsm2 though. So not sure if it does dsmx? Yes, it does DSMX as well as DSM2. It is a 4-in-1 module as it actually has the 4 common RF chips used for radio control on it, so it does a great many of the protocols in use including FrSky (V, D and X) DSM (2 and X) and Flysky. It enables you to use your 'proper' transmitter for many of the 'toys' that come with their own tiny Tx, as well. Mike.

You might consider one of these: **LINK** , available ready made, see: **LINK**. Mike.

If you are in the UK, then you may be better off going to T9HobbySport as they are a main UK FrSky dealer so you will get good dealer backup if there are any problems. Mike.

Because the X8R supports 16 channels (directly on SBUS) I would advise using a channel above 16 as the 'virtual' channel, you might as well start at channel 32 for this. Mike.

I'm not sure what you mean by "the usual way". Dual rates are best set on the inputs, not the mixes (channels). So, you apply the dual rate to the aileron input (stick), then it is automatically used in any mix that uses that input. Make sure you do use the input (and not the raw stick) in the mixes. Mike.

1200mAh ! You were lucky then. I remember using an Astro25 on 16 1.0Ah GE cells, pre 1980! Mike.

I suggest having a good look over the parts and see if it may be repaired. I had a 46 inch aerobatic model suffer a mid-air. The wing was sliced in two and the fuselage badly damaged back to the leading edge of the wing, and split aft of that. It's now back flying again! Mike.

I would go for slightly lower capacity, but using cells capable of high current. I madeup a 4-cell pack of 25 Amp rated AA cells (from Component Shop) I use for the radio/servo supply in my Black Horse Mosquito. This handles 2 aileron servos, 2 flap servos, elevator and rudder servos and 2 retract servos. They are not low discharge, so do need to be charged properly before going flying, but easily handle large currents. The specific cells I have are not listed anymore, but there are some others with the same rating: **LINK** Mike.