Vario for AP [Archive]

terje

11-20-2006, 04:39 PM

Hi all,
Today I ordered a Vario Acrobat with 1780mm rotor diameter to try as an AP heli.
Is there anyone out there with experience on this on this heli or the Trainer as a cam ship?
Any tips or advice on these machines would be greatly apprechiated. -Like load capability? -Or just about anything else....

Thanks

Terje

MLaBoyteaux

11-20-2006, 08:34 PM

I'm using a Vario Benzine Trainer with the RC230 engine swinging 810mm blades. It's my favorite heli to fly. I'm lifing an underslung mount with retracts (the HCS Mark IV prototype). The current mount weighs 10 lbs and the Vario lifts it with no problem. I'm at 600' (about 200 meters) above sea level.

I have flown it at 5000' (about 1540 meters) lifting the same mount with a Canon GL-2 camera. The heli weighs 16 lbs and the mount weighed 12 lbs. At that altitude it was close to it's limit. But that was hauling around a lot of weight.

It's ROCK solid in hover with the underslung mount. With the AP-2000 on board, I have no problem hovering in one spot even at altitudes of 400'.

I like my little electric Raptor, but that thing will skate all over the place, even with the AP-2000. The Vario stays put. The Raptor is better for video because once you get it moving it'll keep on going, but the Vario requires an input to keep it moving. If you center the stick, it will tend to slow to a stop.

It's an awesome photo platform.