Jon

Had a try at getting the E-Acro in the air for the first time yesterday. My Instructor tested her out on the ground. Pleased to say it passed all the tests no problems.   By the time it was all completed the Rain & Wind just blew up right on "Q"   But the good news was that when the wife saw me pull into the drive I was able to say "Yes, its still in one piece"   Anyway now I can study the weather by following Timbos link (see forum Weather thread) I should be able to prejudge it a little better.    

Thanks for that Timbo I did not know that web page even existed...  Sure it will help many others also when they find your link to it   Really helpful to be able to chose Weather, Temp and Wind etc and at a specific day & time too!.. Great stuff...glad I asked the question now Jon    

  1.Anything that's fairly cheap to build 2.Anything that improves our building skills and know how 3.Anything that can fly both slow & fast    jon

Thanks Bruce I'll give it ago... Jon  

Glad I have found this thread as I have just completed a Acro Wot build myself.   If it helps you my thread on the subject is in the "Electric Flight" section of this forum, just search for "Electric Arco Wot?"   I'm still quite new to the hobby, only just got my "A" ticket.. so will be watching this thread too.   The only problem I have had is working out the best way to fix the cockpit on... any tips from you who have been there and got the tea shirt would be most welcome jon

Hi David... on the old forum you could click on any folder name in the forum path which was shown near the top on the left of every page and be taken back up to that level. I found that very helpful.  

This Forum is hereby awarded     well done guys keep it coming

Was going to fly yesterday.. but far too windy.. anyboudy know a really really,  really large barn?

 its as heavy and also  flys as well as a Seal!  Hi Sweety  Wifes mother Please Lord let me land this in one piece Bring back the old forum for us oldens who just cant be bothered with it anymore Granny Buddy System  Thats it, put them up  Ok Come on then I always shut my eyes when landing!

I have now got  my Acro Wot ready for its first flight ... just waiting for a good day.. I will be testing a pack of 5000mAh 4S2P LiPos    v   a pack of 6S 2300mAh M1s (kindly lent to me by Timbo). Early Bench tests indicate that both will get her off the ground but the M1s should improve her performance but shorten it .... The battery box I have created allows for both packs to be moved about to adjust the CofG. The E-Acro Wot comes in with an AUW of just over 6Ib...  If it all go's to plan I will be sticking with the M1s due to the cost / short life of the LiPos... I'll report back once I have compared them in the air for the first time. Jon

I have been reading things about it most of the day on various forums and web pages... well, yes, I'd love to have one BUT ! I have been unable to find out how I can get one on the National Health so I think I might just make do with a slower charge for now.  Is there not any ex-military stuff about that we could use/tweek for our benefit? I'll have a word with an x-workmate friend of mine who's still working at Astrium Space Ltd.. there may be some ex SAT bits laying around... I know they have at times used large LiPos to store power while going round the dark side! but am unsure of the charging arrangements they used. Jon

No.... They wouldnt do that would they !  now take off the 20% and what have you really!

Oh dear!  but your not likely to smash your plane into your car are you.. or worst still your buddies car!

Hi Danny.. thanks I'll take a look at the 1010B+ Ha ...at my flying site my car is parked just 100m behind  the flying point so dont have that problem  plus walking back to it keeps me fit!   cheers Jon

I have a spare 12v 110Ahc leisure battery which is in pretty good nick, I intend to use this at the field as my car's battery is so well hidden under the engine somewhere that I'm beginning to think it don't have one! All I have at the moment is a IMAX B6 rated at 5A max so will just have to wait a little longer for the battery to charge... but I would like to invest in a better charger which could maybe make better use of the leisure battery and charge at 10A...  I don't mind doing a few mods on a cheapo charger but not if it leaves me with worries about safety, this hobby to me is for pleasure and relaxation, I don't need any more stress thanks chaps! If you have any recommendations they would be gratefully received. Jon

Thanks Timbo.... re "hanging on to the M1s" I'll let you know once we see the results of the flight.... I'll be in touch just as soon as I can get her in the air. Thanks also for the tips re the care of the M1s..  Re the Capacity of the batteries... so if I have understood this correctly, the capacity remains unchanged  as far as the charge rate calculations go but its probably worthwhile to assume the usable capacity is some 20% less.. ie: not fully charging or discharging...  jon

Thanks Danny Wot Charger do you use in the field? Jon

A big thanks for this thread chaps I have read it with great interest as my pennies come from a limited source ! With Lipo cycles being estimated at just 50 times but as little as 10 times as mentioned earlier... Not fully charging or discharging to prolong its life ... Over charging due to the variations of our wonderful British weather. How can we ever be sure of the so called "capacity" of any LiPos we have used once or twice!  Obviously we can only estimate its capacity once used a few times ...thus charging rates will effectively be incorrect the older and more abused the battery becomes. Maybe a rule of thumb for charging the older or abused batteries could be suggested based on the number of cycles completed and the battery owners own estimate of abuse? also Would I be correct in assuming that the A123System M1 batteries (which are said to be more robust) will also be effected in the same way as the now  well loved but may be ill treated common LiPo? Jon

thats a good question Ben.. I'll have to ask the wife!

Sorry had to amend a minor point in my last but one post...jon

Yep... but more landings means more chance of a poor landing but if we were all thinking like that we'd never get of the ground would we. I was hoping to give her a maiden yesterday but other things got in the way! think your right A.B.  but I also want to learn more about the A123s v LiPos ....reading reading...& more reading

Well its been 10 or so long days without the Laptop, I could have got soar thumbs from twiddling them but thanks to Timbo I have been busy testing a 6s pack of A123s. The results are quite pleasing but like most things there's always a down side.... I was impressed with the wattage readings but as predicted am a little concerned with the shorter flight times and especially with what I call the "sudden death effect". When this pack starts to run out of power its almost the same moment that the voltage drops to the minimum...No warning like the sluggishness type of flight that I was getting with my LiPos which was a signal to land. Its more like an almost sudden switch off! Easy to be caught out with no power left. For direct comparison (if that's possible) I'll repeat the Lipo readings before the A123 readings. The LiPo set up was...... 12x8 prop with 2 x matched Flightpower 4S EVO 2500 mAh  20C 50Amp Cont 30C 75Amp max bursts  ie: (5000mAh @ 14.8v) 1/2 throttle for 30 sec I measured 12.7A @ 19.2v  240w0w & 55mA consumed 3/4 throttle for 30 sec I measured 28.3A at 15.2v 430w & 230mA consumed Full throttle for a further 9&1/2 Min's I measured a peak of 39.9A at 14.8v 590w at 1300mA consumed That's almost 100w per 1Lb !The A123 set up was the same apart from the battery which is a 6s A123s pack ie (2300mAh @ 22.3v) Watt meter at start showed the voltage was 22.3v   1/2 throttle for 15 sec I measured 12.7A @ 19.2v  240w & 80mA consumed 3/4 throttle for 15 sec I measured 28.3A at 17v 490w & 250mA consumed Full throttle (on and off) for a further 4 Min's I measured a peak of 55A at 17v 900w (most times it read 800w @ 48A)  at 1233mA consumed...   RPM were 9200     That's almost 150w per 1Lb on the peak! So..... 50 cycles of a 5s 5000mAh LiPo with approx 10Min's flight time and a very long recharge time or 1000 cycles of a 6s 2300mAh A123  with a lot less flight time but a much shorter recharge time Am I also right to say that If I compare/consider the cost .....I would need the multiply the cost of the LiPos by some 200 times to equal the life of a A123 .... What do you think?

My PC is being sent back under warranty.. so will be off the forum for a week or so... but I'll be back! Jon

Is there any little birdy out there that could tell us when we will be able to buy some 6s 5000mAp A123s with an all up max weight of say 500g. Jon PS. I wrote and asked santa for some but I think they must have got lost in the post!

Hi nasa yes I know ... just wanted to know when any more posts were made.... what name to you fly under on the sim? I use "jon" or "wizy"