Flybar control arm settings on FAI Head

[Zilly]

Guys what do the three settings do on the FAI Head? I currently have standoffs screwed into the middle setting as recommended in the instructions, however I am interested in understanding how the different positions effect the flight charactersitics.

Z

[DavidH]

http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/support/setups/tempest_fai_head_setup.asp

That is Cliff's thoughts on the FAI setup. Cliff designed the head. Setting up the FAI head comes to personal preference mostly. I followed Cliff's setup for the head in the instructions and I only tweaked it a little from what he suggested.

David

[Zilly]

Thanks David I have already looked at this, however it does not answer my question. I am keen to understand what the different positions will do to the flight characteristics of the model...

z

[Dr.Ben]

Zilly,

The middle holes works pretty well for most flying and provides a reasonable amount of paddle authority. If you move to the inner holes, you can expect an increase in cyclic authority. Cliff is currently using the inner holes on the hiller arms, and he has also switched out the flybar carrier pivot bolts to ones with a flat head to avoid having the hiller control rod hit the head of the bolt with extremes of throw. Watch for this interference on your model. I'll likely be using this same set up, as the new FAI schedule is quite demanding of cyclic authority.

Many of us have now deviated greatly from Cliff's initial set up instructions. We're using a lot more delta, different damper combos, and, in my case, a different set of modified pitch arms to increase the feedback ratio while preserving cyclic throw measured in the blades. It's killer in hover nad good upstairs, too.

Ben Minor

[Zilly]

Dr Ben if Cliff is running the inner holes on the hiller arms does that mean he is running the 1:0.65 ratio then?

If you move the flybar control arm from the middle hole to the inner hole what effect does this have to the ratio? if any?

What modified pitch arm are you running now is it an MA part or a homebrew part?
any chance of a photo? :wink:


z

[Dr.Ben]

Zilly,

I'll see if I can send you a pic. You need to make sure you're talking about the right parts. The hiller arms have three adjustment positions and have nothing to do with the bell/hiller ratio, which is determined by the ball positions on the bell mixers on the flybar carrier. We're all running either the .85 or .90 mix ratio. My arms end up allowing me to get right at 1.0 or 1:1.

Ben

[Zilly]

Sorry Ben I see what you mean when you say hiller arm you mean the flybar control arms part no. 122-03. So when you move onto the inner holes here you get more cyclic authority does this then mean the hover is a little less precise?

z

[Dr.Ben]

Probably not significantly less precise. You could dial back the AFR's to keep the hover soft while opening them back up for the aeros. The inner holes on the hiller arms are all about achieving the greatest amount of pure hiller steering for your application.

Ben