Helicopter test stand of a newbie

[syamaner]

There are many questions for a newbie trying to fly a kit heli regarding his first crashes. Has the heli kit been build and trimmed appropriately or are there any other problems like personal incapabilities? :roll: All devices like blade balancers, pitch gauges etc are useful to a certain limit. A newbie always needs a means of setting up the new heli without the risk of a crash.
I have built a T-Rex 450 SE V2 and I think I have set it up properly. After a long simulator traininig I tried the real thing and had problems. So I decided to build a test platform. The indications and usefulness of such a device can be discussed. It is true that an experienced RC heli pilot is the best companion for a newbie but it is not always possible to find such a person and arrange a date in daily life.
The explanation of my test stand (by the way it is the Version 3 :lol:) can be downloaded at http://www.sumeryamaner.com/standeng.doc
Comments are welcome...

[jblanch999]

In this case a pic is worth a million words. I know i for one don't like downloading from www sites unless i know what it is.

[Aussie_G]

Cant wait to see a video....

Good ideas - hope it works out

[syamaner]

In this case a pic is worth a million words. I know i for one don't like downloading from www sites unless i know what it is.

You are right. I will post two pics now but the Word document is a complete tutorial for the ones who would like to improve the design.

Ohh I am sorry. I just noticed that I can post a pdf file. Now my Word document is attached as pdf...

[Aussie_G]

I dont know how comfortable I am with the cd's and the cd case lid, but as an overall idea, it looks like a possibility.

[ENDO1]

This is what I did,

[wlfk]

I'm a bit wary of the whole idea, though I'm willing to admit I may be wrong.

I don't quite see how it helps with anything, and I can see some dangers too. I've never had any trouble setting my helicopter up without such a stand. I make certain that the servos are moving the way they should, test the tail whilst the main rotor is still producing some downthrust, hover briefly to check tracking, and that's about it. Obviously I check ball links and all that sort of thing too, but if my helicopter does decide to self-destruct I would rather it's in the air and some distance from me when it does so.

You can test a fair amount without having the motor connected to the ESC. Also, you can set the motor to run backwards or take the blades off so it won't go anywhere.

Although these helicopters are quite small they're powerful and can produce quite a lot of lift/thrust and might be able to tip the stand over, even if it's quite heavy. If that happens prepare for a mess.

I don't think it would be useful for learning to fly - it wouldn't be much like real-life flying conditions at all. More like being stuck in a dynamic rollover probably.

My understanding of ground-resonance is that it probably won't be an issue at that height off the ground. But I would still be wary.

K

[syamaner]

ENDO1, I think your solution is a very effective and clever one. What are the results?

wlfk, this is an ongoing debate, especially between novices and masters. I am a laparoscopic surgeon and during the initial part of my laparoscopic experience I appreciated every means of simulation but now I think almost the same about laparoscopic simulations like you do about helicopter test stands.
You say "hover briefly to check tracking". This may be a simple procedure for you but do not forget that there are always "newbies" who are seeking some "secure" means to improve themselves. For example they can be tired of fliying 5 minutes and fixing 5 weeks! :)
Every new device is based actually on a demand. This one too...
But I didn't have the time to test it in the meantime. I need a couple of days before one more very important congress is over and I will post the videos of the device.
Thanks for the advice and comment...

[ENDO1]

I'm a bit wary of the whole idea, though I'm willing to admit I may be wrong.

I don't quite see how it helps with anything, and I can see some dangers too. I've never had any trouble setting my helicopter up without such a stand.K


I think the idea is to fly while attached, in a manner that keeps the blades from striking anything yet still allows a good, but limited 3d rotation about the cg axis with some ability to climb. A bit of newbie terror (AKA "pucker factor") if you will. Considering one fellow told me he tied his to the ground with a screw in dog tie and 5' of bungy cord, these seem like safer alternatives.

But, after flying with some dowel tied to the skids, I think that I'll leave the test "flying stand" on the bench....

Thanks for noticing saymaner, I'm an engineer, and I love these little puzzels. I'd guess that most of us are here because we love to tinker with complex mechanisms...man, if I could get my hands on some of that lap gear.... :banana

[wlfk]

I completely accept what you're saying about the tracking, but on the other hand, if you can't fly well enough to check it, then it probably doesn't matter if it's out a bit. You can also check it on the ground with a little negative collective.

Have a look at these 3 videos:

XWpeFY53qWM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWpeFY53qWM)

-8lc4IKROvE&feature=related

RihcJR0zvfM&feature=related

The first two show dynamic rollover; the 3rd shows ground resonance. Given the dynamic rollover problem, I'm not certain what, if anything, a newbie would be likely to learn from flying a tethered helicopter.

K

[syamaner]

Now a video...
http://www.sumeryamaner.com/helitest3.mp4

You can see my incompetent control inputs but I think the whole thing is encouraging.
I was able to change some trim settings before this last video and I could better control the helicopter (better!? :) ).

[Aussie_G]

This is my first effort.

Video (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/grude73/RC/?action=view&current=TestStandv10.flv)

[wlfk]

I couldn't see the 1st, but I agree the 2nd is encouraging. I stand corrected.

K

[ENDO1]

I couldn't see the 1st, but I agree the 2nd is encouraging. I stand corrected.

K

run it with windows media plyr

[Aussie_G]

Syamaner's version is more advanced than mine, I basically wanted a way to check gyro setup & tracking.

I only have about 5 degrees of tilt from level, and no vertical.
There is no chance of destroying the heli, and I can concentrate on other things than trying to hold a steady hover and decide which blade is out of tracking.

I know some people dont like the idea.
But its working for me.
I can hover well enough that I dont need a 'Hover Simulator'


If anyone is interested - I will make a small write up on what I used & how/why

[wlfk]

run it with windows media plyr

It complains.

K

[syamaner]

Aussie_G, I think your test stand is fully adequate for the purpose.
(I am trying to compress my video and post it again...)

It is here...
http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/sumeryamaner/helitest/?action=view&current=fa59e4c7.pbr

[aucmax]

Buy a Rotopod and set it up flat. Place your heli on the floor with the pod mounted in sync with COG of Heli and make sure it cannot rotate easily upon spin-up. This will allow you to set up Gyro and tracking. Cyclic should be set up after flight testing. At that time, you will decide whether you will need expo, or just going into swash AFR in the TX and adjusting max pitch on cyclic by lowering the values for aileron and elevator. Forget about all this fancy stuff. It is futile and a waste of your time.

[syamaner]

Dear Brett,
A bit of philosophical view...
I don't think that any effort in a "hobby", even if it is futile, can be seen as a "waste of time".
I am a newbie in RC helis but I am a real pilot holding a PPL. I exactly know that general aviation is not only flying. Most of the time must be allocated to testing and fixing. Just the same as in RC helicopter flying. Fixing a broken skid, replacing the stabilizer bar etc. All of them constitute this hobby. So I do not believe that any of them or building a test stand would be a "waste of time".
:)

[syamaner]

My second attempt. Not bad :)

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/sumeryamaner/?action=view&current=MOV04932.flv