Stryker with Gyros - Files great in any wind

[Spencer J]

My next project will be a F-27 Stryker with a pair of gyros for the servos. Do you think it will be easier to fly in wind with this? I know gyros take the fun out of flying, but it might be just as easy (Or hard....) to fly in heavy wind with gyros than with calm wind and no gyros.....

Thanks!

Spencer

[spitace]

Gyros should make that fly alot better in high winds, but if i were you i would take them out in light winds, all the more fun
Is it a 27-b or a 27-c?
i assume you have your own electronics, not the rtf stuff, i dout you could do that with the cheapo electrics

Let us know how it works out

Good luck,
Spit

[redgiki]

A gyro really tamed down the rudder channel of my Parkzone Typhoon and my Modeltech Magic. I would not say that it "takes the fun out of flying"... it just dampens movement of a particular axis. Rudder is a big one for me, because I have several birds which had really nasty ground-loop or takeoff-tracking problems prior to installing a gyro... and the gyro got rid of them entirely after some setup and adjustment.

The problem with a Stryker is that you need to do some sort of mixing because the elevons control two directions (pitch and roll). So you'd need an on-board "delta mixer" (Great Planes makes one for the Slinger called "flaperon mixer" which works really well and is only about $6 or so). Connect your two gyros to your aileron and elevator channels. Connect the delta mixer to the two gyros, then the elevons to the delta mixer.

You'll lose some of the advanced features of your radio here, like aileron differential, but it will do the job. Let me know how it works out for you... I'm a HUGE fan of picking up little rate gyros for cheap and using them in airplanes. While it complicates setup a little bit, you gain an enormous amount of motion damping to help smooth your flight and ease certain maneuvers. They take some getting used to, but they are sure fun to play with!

I don't understand the attitude of some flyers that gyros are "cheating". Yeah, if I were using them in a competition where it created an unfair advantage over another flyer, sure, that would be cheating. But where I'm just a sport flyer having a good time, any advantage I can give myself to enjoy flight with fewer problems gets a thumbs-up from me!

I've even been thinking of picking up a few more gyros to play around with more than just the rudder channel. Perhaps I could transform some of my tip-stalling monster warbirds into easy-to-land nose-mushers instead. Where some birds have a terrible problem with bouncy landings, maybe a gyro on the elevator channel would allow me to just let go of the elevator stick to stop the bounces. I don't know if it will work, but it will be fun trying!

My only concern on a Stryker would be "location". Where are you going to put the gyros? Most of the cheap ones require adjustment with a screwdriver to accomodate temperature changes, because a shift of just a few degrees results in more piezo voltage changes than even the largest roll or pitch.

[Spencer J]

My Stryker uses a UH KDA (FIN) inrunner with 30A heat sink ESC and 5S 1300mah 15C Lipo (Weight saving)- radio is a optic 6 with Supreme 8 and a pair of HS-55s.

I forgot about the elevon mixing....... Darn. I just want to be able to fly my fast bird in wind, so I can fly it more often.

[redgiki]

With that big heavy battery, it should be able to handle wind just fine. I fly my stock C-series Stryker in 15MPH winds all the time, and it handles it OK with just a bit of wing-waggle to remind me that it's pretty gusty up there

[wjmoore]

Talk aboutt wind. I started flying a Firebird Freedom (what a waste of time and money) and got tired of the wind issue so by the time I started flying the Stryker, I wasn't going to let any wind stop me.

I don't know how fast the wind was blowing, but my pants and t-shirt were blowing in the wind, hitting my body. So the wind was pretty hard.

Well here's where being stubburn helped.

I launched the Stryker almost straight up into the wind, hit the throwtle and at full power started pulling my Stryker C forward. I made a big swooping bank, headed down wind, turned around, killed the power and glided into the wind back twards the feild and landed with ease.

I kept launching and landing because you can't do much else in wind like that but was able to learn to land almost vertically.

The Styrker is great in the wind.....

[icema]

i have a stryker with 4 gyros and i love it. iwill never fly a plane without a gyro. it makes any plane fly great

[dkrhardy]

I thought that too. I bought 10 gyros to place on ailerons or rudders for some of my planes. They "worked" but I just didn't feel good with them. I now have 9 gyros sitting in a bag. I gave one to a friend. Anyone want 9 gyros? BTW - I now fly in wind, even gusty wind, with a lot more confidence.
Don

[Nitro Blast]

Originally Posted by icema

i have a stryker with 4 gyros and i love it. iwill never fly a plane without a gyro. it makes any plane fly great

Wow... 4 gyros on a Stryker..... Hmmm.... Elevon Mixing? Hmmm....

Why would you need 4 gyros? (let alone HOW you would get 4 gyros in it and configured with Elevon)

Aileron, Elevator, Rudder and ??


Don, which gyros, and how much bro???


And Spencer, check this thread: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65527
I dont think gyros do anything but ADD to the pleasure of flying.

[icema]

one for each aileron ,mounted 45 degrees to take care of ail and ele . and one for each rudder so i can still use my airbrake.it flies awesome.

[Nitro Blast]

Originally Posted by icema

one for each aileron ,mounted 45 degrees to take care of ail and ele . and one for each rudder so i can still use my airbrake.it flies awesome.

[solentlife]

Apologies ... I don't have a Stryker but do have a Parkjet that torque rolls into ground on launch as it's way overpowered for speed records.

It has similar to Stryker in separate servos for elevons. I want to fit gyro to help with launches and possibly switch of via the Tx once airborne. Or just have on rate mode all time. I assume that Heading Hold is not advised.

How do you connect a gyro when you have twin servo setup on elevons ? can it work by just inserting into 1 servo connection and use one elevon ? r is it necessary to have 2 gyros ?

I read an earlier post here that mentions 2 gyros and then a delta mixer ... why a delta mixer ? Surely the gyros if aligned and adjusted properly should compliment each other ? And Tx mix should work as normal ?

HELP !

[fmw]

Originally Posted by solentlife

Apologies ... I don't have a Stryker but do have a Parkjet that torque rolls into ground on launch as it's way overpowered for speed records.

It has similar to Stryker in separate servos for elevons. I want to fit gyro to help with launches and possibly switch of via the Tx once airborne. Or just have on rate mode all time. I assume that Heading Hold is not advised.

How do you connect a gyro when you have twin servo setup on elevons ? can it work by just inserting into 1 servo connection and use one elevon ? r is it necessary to have 2 gyros ?

I read an earlier post here that mentions 2 gyros and then a delta mixer ... why a delta mixer ? Surely the gyros if aligned and adjusted properly should compliment each other ? And Tx mix should work as normal ?

HELP !

Why not just take off with less power? Most overpowered planes want to torque roll to their death. The rest of us simply reduce the power to take off and then apply full throttle when it is stabe in the air.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by fmw

Why not just take off with less power? Most overpowered planes want to torque roll to their death. The rest of us simply reduce the power to take off and then apply full throttle when it is stabe in the air.

Tried .. but you have to bring throttle in before glide dies ... and this baby is a torque nightmare ... If you follow the Parkjet threads on various forums - you will see that torque and launching is the biggest topic.

[mred]

You can't take off with half power?? I use half power and when it is stable and flying speed is reached, you can start adding throttle until you get to full throttle without torque rolling it into the ground. It's worked for me so far.

Ed

[solentlife]

mred ... of course you're right - but it means finding that sweet spot to launch and how to feed it in ... I'm talking a Parkjet that is right on physical limits. And then remembering the settings you used ... as most of us find - with high power / extremes - the adrenaline running and speed that things happen overtakes the brain.

My idea is to add the gyro - I have mini MEMs on way from Hk along with their 3gr mixer that is usually supplied with the Parkjet ARF and to make the Parkjet a cat to launch.
Like another says - as sport flyers anything that makes life easier and more enjoyable is fine.

[icema]

if you mount gyro at 45 degree angle,it will work roll and pitch.works great .

[Nitro Blast]

Heres somethig for ya...

Instead of going 40 degrees with a gyro, and fooling around with it, try this:

http://www.allerc.com/fyetech-fy-30a...on-p-6381.html

It has a mode for elevon's delta wings etc...

I own one, have it in my 3D foamie and honestly, I wish I could have one in everything I fly.

Its more than just a gyro, it uses accelerometers like a WII controller does. It knows what up is, and really makes your plane fly like it is on rails.

[icema]

sweet ! i fly gyros in all my planes,i dont understand why everyone doesnt

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Spencer J

My Stryker uses a UH KDA (FIN) inrunner with 30A heat sink ESC and 5S 1300mah 15C Lipo (Weight saving)- radio is a optic 6 with Supreme 8 and a pair of HS-55s.

I forgot about the elevon mixing....... Darn. I just want to be able to fly my fast bird in wind, so I can fly it more often.

Whats the problem ? I have a Parkjet -much smaller and faster with a Gyro fitted. I use the Mini MEMS Gyros from Assan (Hobby King) .... tiny little things ...

Yes I had to disable Tx mixing and connect a Vtail / Delta mixer in the model to give me elevons ... but it works a treat.

In fact the gyro - I only use on aileron function - was so 'good' on first attempts that the model waggled its wing of the catapult and prevented me from pulling up before hitting the long grass.
It needed serious reduction on sense to stop it doing the same as a heli tail - wagging ....

You still have all the trim and sub functionality - it's just not via Tx mixing anymore.

On the point of flying in high winds .... yes of course it will assist with this - BUT being in RATE MODE does not actually get you out of FLYING the model. It will DAMPEN the effects but not remove them. HEADING HOLD MODE would go some way to do that - but is not advised as then you have other troubles ... bank the model or pitch up / down and HH mode will KEEP the model in that attitude till you correct back again.

I LOVE my gyros ... in fact I plan to increase the use of them to other models .... cheating ? No just enjoying the sport even more because of them. I don't think I'm cheating as I am still flying the machines.

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by dkrhardy

I thought that too. I bought 10 gyros to place on ailerons or rudders for some of my planes. They "worked" but I just didn't feel good with them. I now have 9 gyros sitting in a bag. I gave one to a friend. Anyone want 9 gyros? BTW - I now fly in wind, even gusty wind, with a lot more confidence.
Don

If I lived near you - I'd be banging on yer door for 'em !!

I love my gyros .... but then of course I fly Helis as well !

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by fmw

Why not just take off with less power? Most overpowered planes want to torque roll to their death. The rest of us simply reduce the power to take off and then apply full throttle when it is stabe in the air.

As can be seen by my later replies in this thread - I long ago sorted it ... but in answer to this - have you flown a parkjet with over 550W power in it ... you can throw away the book on launching and low power etc. Unless the PKJ is at high speed when you feed that power in - she death rolls .... We are talking about a model that will fly on barely over 50W ... with my PKJ with 550+W ... my PKJ2 with over 1KW ... and my next will be a twin with about 1KW .....

Not yer average sunday morning sport flyers.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Nitro Blast

Heres somethig for ya...

Instead of going 40 degrees with a gyro, and fooling around with it, try this:

http://www.allerc.com/fyetech-fy-30a...on-p-6381.html

It has a mode for elevon's delta wings etc...

I own one, have it in my 3D foamie and honestly, I wish I could have one in everything I fly.

Its more than just a gyro, it uses accelerometers like a WII controller does. It knows what up is, and really makes your plane fly like it is on rails.

!!!!!!! $125 + shipping !!!!! Great item - but $125 ?

I can fit 3 gyros and set up in HH mold, have a RX On-Off Tx controlled switch on each .... all in price about $50 incl., shipping. In fact I could program my Tx to adjust the gyros from HH to Rate mode as well .. still at $50 all in ...

Since my initial dive into this gyro subject ... as per earlier replies here - I've really spent a lot of time and effort to explore it ... see what you can do .... fact is the simple Gyro will do a lot more than just damp down a wayward model.

For the above item ... lets be honest - plenty of FPV people out there are set-up with stablisation systems a lot less cost than that ... guy I fly with has gyros, auto-pilot, all sorts on his and it's less than $125.

Nigel

[Nitro Blast]

Originally Posted by solentlife

For the above item ... lets be honest - plenty of FPV people out there are set-up with stablisation systems a lot less cost than that ... guy I fly with has gyros, auto-pilot, all sorts on his and it's less than $125.

Nigel

I'd love to see that! How about a link and some info??
(BTW I only pay $87.50 for the FY-30's wholesale)

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Nitro Blast

I'd love to see that! How about a link and some info??
(BTW I only pay $87.50 for the FY-30's wholesale)

Considering that Latvians do not earn such as in USA / UK etc. - they have to devise installations instead of buying intricate machines.

Having read through the specs on the item - I can say that you can buy components such as gyros etc. and create a stable platform control cheaper ... honestly.
It may not be so compact or pretty ... but it will work as his does.

Another point - a Stryker ... my Parkjets ... these are models that are way cheaper than the item in contention ... in fact my TOTAL cost of my Parkjet incl. Gyro, Rx, LiPo, Motor etc,. is LESS than the $125 ......

Sorry I upset the SQ !!

You have to consider that I live in a world where people recycle seriously, they cannot buy fancy bits and pieces as you can ....

Nigel