Gyros 4 AirPlanes

[-Rick-]

Thanks guys, I'll probably drive you both nuts with questions when I get to this project. First I want to finish rearranging the shop - that's a bit like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. It would help if I wasn't trying to store twice as much stuff as I have space for. God help my kids if I croak before I have to move, 45 plus years of collecting GOOD stuff. LOL

Hey, I know a guy with two deck chairs from the Titanic!!

When you have time download the Aura program, not that scary...

[JimBrown]

Having installed gyros in several planes (including jets), here are my tips:

Assign a switch to turn it on or off. If, dog forbid, it comes loose in the plane you will really, really, really want to be able to turn it off!

Verify, and verify again, the correction direction of the gyro. VERY important that you get this right. I've see the result of a gyro with reversed correction. It was not pretty. In fact, it resulted in the loss of the airframe, there was not enough time to turn off the gyro.

For dialing in the gyro, use a knob. Start with zero gain and go fly. During the flight, slowly add gain until it feels comfortable. Do this at maximum speed. If one of the axis starts to oscillate, back off the gain until it stops. Once you've found the gain you like, transfer that to a switch or flight mode. Do the same again for slow speed flight (landing set up.) You should be able to increase the gain for slow flight. Once again, when your happy with the gain setting, transfer it to a switch or flight mode.

If for some reason your plane starts to oscillate wildly as you gain speed (gain setting too high) the first thing you want to do is cut power and climb. This will scrub speed off so that you then have time to fumble for the switch to turn it off, land and figure out what the issue is. This actually happened to me with my first gyro on a jet. I inadvertently screwed up a mix and took off with 100% gain. Got the jet back and landed.

Understand the difference between rate mode and heading hold mode. They do very different things. I have not used heading hold mode, as I fly fast movers, but I understand that it can be quite useful in aerobatic planes. Most gyros allow you to switch between the two in flight (and with the help of a computer, some gyros can be configured to use a combination of both.)

Once you have the gyro gain figured out, you'll probably be able to reduce any exponential you may be using. Gyros tend to soften things at stick center on their own, reducing the need for exponential. You'll have to feel this out over several flights.

Have fun!
...jim

[-Rick-]

Excellent advice Jim! All the points you bring up make a lot of sense, thank you!

The only gyro experience I have is with the gyros in helicopters. So I do understand how important the "gain" is.

[RC_MAN]

I have a question for the experts. My new jet has five monster torque Bluebird servos. I understand that I need to run 20 gage wire to get the servos to stop hunting around neutral. Can the I gyro or Cortex handle the current?
What does your set up look like?

Thanks

Peter D.

[tbrum]

Peter... I have used an iGyro3e on my 180cc Vertigo that had 10 515oz-in servos on it. My F104 also has an iGyro3e with flawless results so far. For high current draw, I like the iGyro3e because it has 6 power inputs.

[Flyin High]

I have a question for the experts. My new jet has five monster torque Bluebird servos. I understand that I need to run 20 gage wire to get the servos to stop hunting around neutral. Can the I gyro or Cortex handle the current?
What does your set up look like?

Thanks

Peter D.

Hi Peter. Not sure if you've done any research on the Powerbox Mercury, but I think if I were in Jets, thats the unit that would be going into mine. It's a power distribution system, with the Igyro built in, with optional GPS. I bought one for a 3D Plane, but the features it has for you Jet guys is very cool!

[-Rick-]

Flew with Aura today for the first time time, I like it. It does all everyone said it would. It still need s a bit more work on the gains but nice to fly with in the wind.

[JoeT]

Congrats!!!

[-Rick-]

Thanks Joe! More questions coming about gains.

[-Rick-]

Three more flights today. Flying with this gyro is amazing! Very gusty at the field but could not tell by the way the plane was flying!! Still tuning the gyro but it gets better with every flight.