Fastest Backwards Flying Ion Ever!

[Tabbytabb]

Here is a shot of Russ's Ion with holes in the canopy for extremely fast backwards flying. He has the new Pro lites on this thing along with an actro 32-3 and it is a wicked setup. Probably one of the fastest flying models I have ever seen.

http://nwaerialphotography.com/WebPhotos/High_Res/heli/5-20-05_RussIon.jpg

http://nwaerialphotography.com/WebPhotos/High_Res/heli/5-20-05_RussIon2.jpg

This one is of Jeff Kings Fury, which also flew extremely well. Jeff was doing some sick low inverted autos!

http://nwaerialphotography.com/WebPhotos/High_Res/heli/5-20-05_JeffsFury.jpg

[fitenfyr]

Looks like good weather.
Guess you guys had fun. :D

[Russ McC]

I think every body had a great time! There was only one crash (Scott Moor) and he was back in the air by the next morning. The weather was very good!!

The cut out canopy helped the speed in both forward and backward flight and it is going very fast these days, faster than a Fury extreme I think. I have not tacked it but I would guys it holds 1900+ head RPM in fast forward flight at 10 degrees of pitch, this is fast enough to eat up half the county in a big hurry :mrgreen:

[MinAirChris]

Sooooo, your likin' the 32-3 and ProLites then?

[Russ McC]

Hi Chris,

Yes very much! I also think the gearing is good for my style so maybe I don’t need any different gears like we had talked about, I like the high head speed as long as it can maintain it through maneuvers, and it is so I like it. The old TP packs did not do as well in this respect; the new ProLites are definitely not the same animal, more power and 15 to 20 degrees less heat! These also have very good cold performance, additional charges are better but at least now the first charge is very reasonable where the old packs where very weak on a cold/old charge. I am regularly doing 10 minuet flights some times with out even stopping for an auto and the temps are always less than 116 degrees so far, often only just over 100. This has to be easier on the batteries I would think/hope!

[MinAirChris]

That's good to hear Russ and pretty much backs up what Eric and myself have found. I don't know what Charlie did to the ProLites but they are definately another rung up the ladder.

Chris

[rcman]

So whats the setup? I see that you are using a 32-3 what gearing?
I also see that you cut the canopy but what else did you do?
David

[Russ McC]

32-3 Heli version motor installed using Min Air conversion,
4P-10S Thunder Power ProLites,
9.5 to 1,
Standard Rotor Teck 700mm blades,
95 mm Rotor Sport SAB tail blades,
And cut out canopies,
Idle up TH curve is 100-85-100 with throttle to cyclic mixing that fully opens the throttle by half cyclic input.
Collective Pitch is 10 & 10.

The Ion Pictured is the first Kit/customer built Ion to fly, I have tried lots of different stuff on these models and each of the listed products gives the best performance of any similar products I have tried on my Ion’s. It all ads up to a vary healthy performing model by glow or electric standards :glasses:

[rcman]

Thanks Russ for your reply
What do the Rotor Teck 700mm give you over say MAH 700?
I have never, mixed cyclic I may have to give that a try
David

[Russ McC]

I have not tried the MAH double taper but as for the old regular MAH, the Rotor Tecks are smoother, not so grabby and don’t load the power system as much, also a lot more stable in very fast flight :glasses2:

[rcman]

Thanks Russ,
I have tried a lot of blades (sab's, V-blades, NHP's, TG's, MAH's) on my Ions and settled on the the MAH's G2's.
They seem to work very well on the Ion, but I guess I need to get a set of Rotor tecks and see how they work for me
Thanks again for your help
David

[Russ McC]

If you do check them out let us know what you find, if you still prefer the MAH G2 then maybe I will check them out. Chris keeps telling me I need to get some but I don’t think he has tried the Rotor Tecks either so it would be good to hear from someone who just tried them both back to back :glasses2:

[rcman]

I should have a pair by the end of the week and I'll let you know
David

[kevfor]

Rotor techs rock has anyone tried the new duralite 5s3p packs on there ions i know chris has ???

Kevin

[rcman]

No I have not yet. I heard that Chris has maybe he will give us some insite
David

[Russ McC]

I haven’t either. A friend had some last summer, keep in mind that was a long time ago in this game; he said they did not have the power the TP 4P packs have/had at the time.

[kevfor]

I have a few flights on them so far and am quite impressed much lighter and get 8-10 mins no problem ill keep you posted on the progress with them, still liking the rotortechs eh Russ im glad they are my favourite blade you need a bed this year for the wingding?

Boomer

[BobbySmith]

hI BOOMER

The DURALITES 5S3Pstuff is the same cells as the Tanics there is 5s3p 6450, ,5s3p 7500 these packs i have flown and work great in the ION

RUSS you need to bolt a set of the G2mahs on i think you will be shocked @ the performance

The hot packs for the ION right now is the 5s4p 8000'sProlites TP and the Tanic 5s4p's8880's
Bobby

[kevfor]

I like the balancing technology that is available for the duralites, after puffing Tp packs and dealing with there new warranty procedures im gonna stick with the duralites they work great so far for me i use on avearge 5-5500 mahs per flight so i dont need the extra weight of the 8880s or 8000s

just my opinnion it works for me

Boomer

[Russ McC]

Hi Kev,

You where the one that said they did not have the same punch, but to be fair you only had a few flights on them and we are comparing 3P to 4P witch isn’t fair.

No I probably can’t make it this year, not 100% but I don’t think so, sorry :arggg:

Hay check my gallery to see what kind of crazy stuff I have been up to lately :glasses2:

[BobbySmith]

Boomer

nothing wrong wiht that as i still fly a set of 5s3p6450

I might add the Tanics use Taps so u can balance the cells i usually check mine every 10to 15 flights
Bobby

[kevfor]

those were the old 5000 mah packs and they were not great these are the new 5s3p packs and are working great,they may not have the same punch as the prolites but im not carrying as much weight iether so less punch could yield the same results as the prolites but higher weight. I know Chris has tried them it was be nice to hear what he has to say about them

Kevin

[BobbySmith]

[quote="kevfor"]those were the old 5000 mah packs and they were not great these are the new 5s3p packs and are working great,

What are you talking about old 5000 mah packs? Y ou must be talking about the old Duralite 5s2p stuff

The new duralite 5s3p 6450 is the same packs as the Tanics 5s3p6450


Bobby

[WillJames]

I hope to get some video of you spanking your Ion in Ft. Lauderdale Bobby. From what I have heard, you are running a super hot setup!!

[ChrisS]

Sorry guys, it has been a really busy week and I haven't had time to go through much on here lately.

Yes I do have a pair of the Duralite 5S3P packs that I have tested and reported on. I like them, they are of very good quality. I'll just list off the highlights:

Physical dimensions:
11 1/8" length X 2 1/4" tall X 7/8" thick
25.55 oz
White shrink wrap

Electrical dimensions:
6450 mAHr capacity
18.5 volt nominal
10C/14C
Cost per watt/hour is $3.40 at price of $405 per pack

Physically the packs are just about the same size and weight as the TP 8000's, so they fit right in without issue. They are wrapped in white shrink tubing (mine do not have carbon plates) which in my book is a plus as batteries have a tendency to lay out in the sun at events and I have always wondered about the long term effects of the extra heating.

When I first received the batteries, I cycled them several times on my CBA. Very notable was the matching between the two packs...the lines overlapped perfectly all the way down and the capacity was just a squeak better than advertized.

Duralite also provided me with a "Stay Balance Module" which is a neat little balancer that works by discharging each paralleled cell block in the battery down to the same level. A good thing to have and use every dozen cycles or so to bring all 10 paralleled blocks back level to each other. The process takes an hour or so per pack and the unit can actually be left on the batteries indefinately without concern.

I have flown them in Ion's with an Actro 24-4, a 32-3 and a Neu 1515-2Y. In the 32-3 setup, I was getting peaks of 70 amps for 2244 watts (as measured with an FDR) and flying for 5 to 8 minutes. The packs land right at 120 degrees and take back in 4 to 5 amp/hours.

One thing that the packs are reported to be capable of is flying the helicopter down to the point where it will not fly any more without damaging them. While I cannot bring myself to conduct this particular test, I have run them to the 30 volt LVC cutoff point of my speed controls several times and they always come out fine (never over heated).

Chris