Tail Blade setup Q

[CP Newbie]

Trying to mechanically setup my tail.

When centering the tail slider, why do the blades sometimes end up coplanar, and on other helis the blades are not?

If the tail blades aren't lined up, would'nt the tail spin out when in a hover and in rate mode? (no gyro gain)

[peteski]

Some helis are designed with a little tail blade pitch (typically a couple of degrees) at the centre travel point to provide the tail thrust required to prevent the tail from spinning due to the torque on the mainshaft. Some are designed to have zero tail pitch at centre travel as modern FBL systems compensate automatically in heading lock mode anyway.

[CP Newbie]

Ah! Ok. That makes sense.

So if it depends on the model, I should mechanically center for zero pitch and then check it out in a hover with the gyro gain set to zero?

This is for a Curtis Youngblood Rave 700 ENV

[peteski]

Originally Posted by CP Newbie

Ah! Ok. That makes sense.

So if it depends on the model, I should mechanically center for zero pitch and then check it out in a hover with the gyro gain set to zero?

This is for a Curtis Youngblood Rave 700 ENV

You generally set up the servo centre with equal pitch slider travel in each direction, which may or may not be zero tail blade pitch depending on the heli design. For example my OXY 3 actually has 2.5 deg tail pitch with the pitch slider at the centre of its travel. You don't set gyro gain to zero either. Typically you set it to a fairly low setting, maybe 30%, and tune up from there. If you set zero gain on the gyro you will have little or no tail control.

[CP Newbie]

Ok that makes sense. thanks for the help


When I said set gyro to zero, I meant in a hover, not flying around.

That way I can see if my tail is centered correctly

rate mode setting has gyro from -30% to 0% If you had the gyro setting too high, you would never know if your tail was sound and centered because the gain would be compensating for the flaw.

[peteski]

Originally Posted by CP Newbie

Ok that makes sense. thanks for the help


When I said set gyro to zero, I meant in a hover, not flying around.

That way I can see if my tail is centered correctly

rate mode setting has gyro from -30% to 0% If you had the gyro setting too high, you would never know if your tail was sound and centered because the gain would be compensating for the flaw.

Very few people use rate mode these days, nearly everyone uses heading hold. For sure you need a better mechanical setup in rate mode to stop the heli from yawing in a hover, but I'm not sure that implies setting the gyro to zero gain. Maybe someone who actually uses rate mode could confirm?

[newbheliusr]

I haven't seen anyone do a rate mode setup in a very long time.

[CP Newbie]

The only purpose of rate mode for myself, would be to check to see if my tail is in good shape. Not sure what others use it for. It gives me peace of mind that's all. I never use it for flight. Just for setup and check while in a hover.

[newbheliusr]

I realize the purpose. I have been flying for a while and have done a rate mode setup. If it gives you piece of mind, then by all means do it.

[Wargamer]

An interesting thread: To Rate Mode or Not

[CP Newbie]

Wow. true debate in that thread.

I find it makes sense. Once its locked in, I will probably get rid of it as well as lock in my gyro gain setting to my flight mode switch.

I keep mode and gyro gain separate until I know for sure I am happy with the two different gyro gain values.

[peteski]

I'm still not convinced you should be using a zero gyro setting for adjusting drift in a rate mode setup. It sounds like a recipe for an uncontrolled spin to me! Personally I've never bothered with rate mode setups and never had a tail problem. I just set up the bell crank at 90 deg (with designed counter-pitch or not), set the end points and let HH mode go about its business with appropriate gain tuning.

[CP Newbie]

I have it on a switch, so going to zero gyro gain at a hover with enough height, is easily recoverable

[sud76]

I currently fly an Electric ENV.