Swift NX 550 Flight Videos

[FR4-Pilot]

Finally got her into the air today She's my first heli larger than a 450 so my hands are shaking again and I love how she sounds.

YouTube

YouTube

YouTube

YouTube

• Swift NX Kit (with a few parts from an old Swift 16)
• Century 600+ 1110kV motor with 9T pinion (80-85% throttle curve max)
• Electron 80/100A ESC
• HobbyWing 8A/15A Switching Regulator
• 6S 3330 mAH flight pack
• 2S 2200 mAH flight gear pack
• Hitec HS-625MG cyclic servos
• Futaba S9254 tail servo
• Futaba GY401 (with shortened wires)
• Spektrum AR7100 with satellite
• Stock 520mm wood blades
• Stock tail blades
• Stock heavy paddles
• Metal motor mount

-John

[Grok]

Looks good. FYI, your heli is already showing the chicken dance that all Swifts like to do when landing. It won't be much of a problem while you've got woodies on, but when you switch to FG or CF blades the problem will get worse. You would be wise to read up on it in this forum. Wider landing struts and doing autos when landing will help alleviate the problem.

Good luck and have fun.

[FR4-Pilot]

Thanks for the tip! I put the hub spacer in, tightened the blades, and applied some negative pitch during spool down (which seemed to stop the dance immediately). I agree learning to auto on landing is a good approach (never was able to auto before - 450s too small).

-John

[MotorRotor]

I found that the stock plastic NX tail fin was to flexible and too long, so that when flying from grass, it hooks into the grass and causes the tail to vibrate on landing. This is turn can cause the gyro to over compensate which can result in GIO (gyro induced oscillation) which exasperates any dance. Replacing it with the more rigid and relatively inexpensive CNE536B aluminum vertical fin from the Swift 16RTF or the full carbon CN536A for the Swift 16 made a big difference.

Also, some ESC's will not shut down completely but may always have a dit of braking current applied on shut down. This will also add to any dancing. I discovered this when I had one that did not and one that did. So I hooked up an Eagle Tree reader on them and found that one was still leaking a bit of current through when the stick was all the way down!!

[FR4-Pilot]

Decided to give her a couple of stripes

[Grok]

That will help visibility. BTW, that was a teeny tiny area for a maiden hover.

[FR4-Pilot]

Yea the backyard is kinda small

So I took her to the field today - I swear the field used to be bigger too

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YouTube

[ngin]

As you have discovered, a 550 sized heli can cover a lot of ground quickly. Looks like you are having a lot of fun.

[FR4-Pilot]

Yes, this is a great heli. Took her to work today - tail didn't blow out. I guess 80% gain on the gyro is more appropriate than 50% like on my Mini-Titans.

Still getting somewhat higher RPMs than expected: 2000 normal mode and 2100 idle up. She handles great with these head speeds. Just not sure why they're not lower as calcs suggest ... ?

YouTube

YouTube

[MotorRotor]

Originally Posted by FR4-Pilot

Yes, this is a great heli. Took her to work today - tail didn't blow out. I guess 80% gain on the gyro is more appropriate than 50% like on my Mini-Titans.

Still getting somewhat higher RPMs than expected: 2000 normal mode and 2100 idle up. She handles great with these head speeds. Just not sure why they're not lower as calcs suggest ... ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqe29...er_profilepage

Maybe try a MinAir or Model Avionics video tach instead of the audio tach system you have been using. Might find a different rotor speed reading.

[FR4-Pilot]

Originally Posted by MotorRotor

Maybe try a MinAir or Model Avionics video tach instead of the audio tach system you have been using. Might find a different rotor speed reading.

I was thinking about purchasing an optical tach - the guy who has one hasn't been at the field lately when I've been there ...

[ngin]

I have the Model Avionics unit and fnd it works vry well and is very accurate.

[tutelarRC]

Nice flying!

[Grok]

You can also go with the Turnigy Super Brain ESC. It has logging for rpm and is relatively inexpensive. One of the guys at my field has been using one with great success for several months.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Furious Predator]

a couple of on board videos on my 550

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YouTube

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YouTube

[MotorRotor]

Very stable pictures Shawn, What video gear?

I just picked up one of these DJI450 units and am looking to mound such type of system to it.

http://www.centuryheli.com/products/...?prtnm=DJINAZA

[Aksport]

Originally Posted by FR4-Pilot

Finally got her into the air today She's my first heli larger than a 450 so my hands are shaking again and I love how she sounds.

I just maidened my Century Hawk Pro last week. It's my first big heli too and first nitro. I love the stability and sound as well. Not to mention the longer flight times. Pretty awesome aren't they.

[Furious Predator]

I borrowed a 720p spy pen from my boss, i cant seem to find the same one on ebay though. There seems to be a bunch out there.

[FR4-Pilot]

Flight #7 today, with dual cams

A little shaky, it was windy at times. This thing rolls like a bullet! Oh, and it's fast too! When I carry it back to the table I'm amazed that something this heavy can move through the sky like that - I'm used to feather light 450s

I might put some holes in the canopy to promote air flow around the high power stuff - things came down a little too warm for my liking ....

YouTube

YouTube

-John

[mligosh]

Nice job. I like the seeing the two views.

Mike