View Full Version : Blade lengths 500 vs. 550?
Zac_Attack
10-02-2007, 01:41 PM
What different performance comes from changing the length of the main blades?
I am a new and when I crashed my Hurricane others suggested I choose a different blade length.
The Manual states 500mm to 550mm.
As I am new I want the size that make the heli as stable as possible.
I assume the shorter blade makes the blade speed higher thus better for 3D and the longer blade more stable??
Thanks
What different performance comes from changing the length of the main blades?
I am a new and when I crashed my Hurricane others suggested I choose a different blade length.
The Manual states 500mm to 550mm.
As I am new I want the size that make the heli as stable as possible.
I assume the shorter blade makes the blade speed higher thus better for 3D and the longer blade more stable??
Thanks
If you are learning, 550 mm is the way to go. I also suggest that you are using wood blades since they tend to absorb energy better when you crash. They are also very inexpensive.
GL,
Dan, KE6D
Zac_Attack
10-03-2007, 07:34 AM
Thanks ke6d,
I am using wood blades until I am ready for 3D. Could be a long while.
Why 550mm? Any reason?
kgfly
10-03-2007, 08:07 AM
Longer blades at a lower headspeed will be more stable (greater gyroscopic stability and slower cyclic response) however it will reduce the disk loading (weight per unit area of the rotor disk) which makes it balloon more in the wind and increase load on the motor, requiring more torque and hence leading to more bogging.
I don't have an H550 but from what I have read, the stock motor is not all that happy with 550mm blades. Probably OK for hovering and learning though. For those looking for better performance with the stock motor, going down to 475mm blades and the shorter tail boom/belt is proving a good move.
If you stick with woodies they are cheap so you can try a pair of 550s and see how you like them. If you don't, no great loss, go back to the 500s.
If you switch to 550's reduce your flight time and check how much of a charge the battery takes - keep it under 80% of the pack's capacity