heartnspirit
03-27-2008, 01:07 PM
The long awaited .90 sized Align T-Rex 700 nitro helicopter was unveiled on Saturday by designer Jason Krause at the Fabulous Las Vegas Funfly. At first glance it appears to be a scaled up T-Rex 600N but Jason was quick to point out the many refinements he has designed into it. One of the first things you’ll notice is the number of nicely finished CNC parts throughout the entire helicopter. There won't be much left to upgrade as everything is already metal including the sleek main grips, mixing arms, main bearing blocks and the tail pitch slider. The main shaft is supported with only two bearing blocks and uses a Sprague type autorotation unit. Jason said to keep the rotor loading in line he's using a 8.2:1 gear ratio with 690mm blades in mind.
The main side frames are made of 2mm carbon fiber while the bottom plate is a stronger 2.5mm and offers a cutout large enough to remove the engine and fan assembly intact. A single control rod passes through the frame sides placing all cyclic linkage pivot points at the same distance from the swash plate. The elevator swash link features an “A” type design which offers a super strong link while eliminating the need for an anti-rotation bracket. The frame also offers a bracket for mounting a governor sensor as well as captured nuts to make servo mounting an easy matter. Mixture servo and receiver switch mounting plates are also included as well as a convenient front gyro mounting location.
The head assembly features a huge 10mm feathering shaft which actually uses the main shaft bearings from the T-Rex 600. While we weren’t able to see the damper system Jason did note one of the interesting ideas he’s trying out in the new head block/feathering shaft assembly. The feathering shaft is limited in movement to teeter up and down, (side to side) but not front to rear. He admits he doesn’t know how well it will work in flight but is anxious to try the idea.
The prototype boom while appearing to be carbon fiber is actually an aluminum boom wrapped in carbon fiber. Jason said he's trying out this “hybrid” style of boom because he’s experienced flexing with typical carbon fiber tube booms and hopes this will offer the best of both materials. Jason has created a unique solution for solving the problem of the tail pitch slider unscrewing in flight by using a clamping system to retain the forks to the tail pitch slider. The boom is the same diameter as the 600 boom and uses a similar torque tube design. The tail box assembly is all metal and features a compact box and large diameter and short shaft to help reduce any possible vibration problems. The prototype on display actually had a T-Rex 600 tail hub and grip assembly but Jason said the final 700 tail assembly would probably be larger. The landing skids are one of the few parts directly used from the T-Rex 600. While the prototype was not completed he said he has added up all the remaining parts and estimates that even with larger 2.2oz servos the final weight should be about 9.8 lbs. Retail price will be $799.99.
A canopy was with the kit he received but he wasn’t showing it because after seeing it in person he had already decided to make changes. He described it as being similar to the T-Rex 500 in style.
Flight testing begins next week at the Align factory site in Taiwan to determine the final flybar and mixing arm ratios. Alan Szabo Jr, Lucas Riva and Bert Kammerer will be there with Jason for their advice and input into developing the final flight characteristics of the heli to find the right blend of stability and agility.
With a hint towards what lies ahead Jason said a flybarless head is currently in the works as well as an Align developed Flybarless control system which he estimates will be in the $300 range.
Jason also said the first public flying is planned to be at the Huntsville, AL. funfly April 18-20th.
The main side frames are made of 2mm carbon fiber while the bottom plate is a stronger 2.5mm and offers a cutout large enough to remove the engine and fan assembly intact. A single control rod passes through the frame sides placing all cyclic linkage pivot points at the same distance from the swash plate. The elevator swash link features an “A” type design which offers a super strong link while eliminating the need for an anti-rotation bracket. The frame also offers a bracket for mounting a governor sensor as well as captured nuts to make servo mounting an easy matter. Mixture servo and receiver switch mounting plates are also included as well as a convenient front gyro mounting location.
The head assembly features a huge 10mm feathering shaft which actually uses the main shaft bearings from the T-Rex 600. While we weren’t able to see the damper system Jason did note one of the interesting ideas he’s trying out in the new head block/feathering shaft assembly. The feathering shaft is limited in movement to teeter up and down, (side to side) but not front to rear. He admits he doesn’t know how well it will work in flight but is anxious to try the idea.
The prototype boom while appearing to be carbon fiber is actually an aluminum boom wrapped in carbon fiber. Jason said he's trying out this “hybrid” style of boom because he’s experienced flexing with typical carbon fiber tube booms and hopes this will offer the best of both materials. Jason has created a unique solution for solving the problem of the tail pitch slider unscrewing in flight by using a clamping system to retain the forks to the tail pitch slider. The boom is the same diameter as the 600 boom and uses a similar torque tube design. The tail box assembly is all metal and features a compact box and large diameter and short shaft to help reduce any possible vibration problems. The prototype on display actually had a T-Rex 600 tail hub and grip assembly but Jason said the final 700 tail assembly would probably be larger. The landing skids are one of the few parts directly used from the T-Rex 600. While the prototype was not completed he said he has added up all the remaining parts and estimates that even with larger 2.2oz servos the final weight should be about 9.8 lbs. Retail price will be $799.99.
A canopy was with the kit he received but he wasn’t showing it because after seeing it in person he had already decided to make changes. He described it as being similar to the T-Rex 500 in style.
Flight testing begins next week at the Align factory site in Taiwan to determine the final flybar and mixing arm ratios. Alan Szabo Jr, Lucas Riva and Bert Kammerer will be there with Jason for their advice and input into developing the final flight characteristics of the heli to find the right blend of stability and agility.
With a hint towards what lies ahead Jason said a flybarless head is currently in the works as well as an Align developed Flybarless control system which he estimates will be in the $300 range.
Jason also said the first public flying is planned to be at the Huntsville, AL. funfly April 18-20th.