Discussions

My EasyStar doesn't like the breeze!

Posted by simonl on July 27, 2010 at 2:20pm
Hi folks,

I've been flying heli's for several years, but thought I'd see what these "planks" are like, so I bought an EasyStar.

Having finally built the thing; checked it's CoG, and got the radio set-up, I took it to the field. I'd say the breeze was fairly steady, and only about 5mph, so I threw it into the air on full throttle.

Boy, what a handful! Are these things normally so uncontrollable? It was all over the place!

Needless to say, it's now about 5mm shorter than when it took off, but it survived :-)

I tried several times more, but with similar flight style - what am I missing? (Cue the humour!)

Cheers,
Simon

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Replies

  • simonl July 28, 2010 at 3:06pm
    Well, it's time for me to blush - it turns out that my CoG was forward by about 3cm! I'm sure I checked it at least twice upon build completion, so I really can't explain it, but I can confirm that it now flies OKish - high throttle tends to send it earthwards, and no throttle tends to induce stall, so I guess I need to play with CoG a little more, but at least I can now do reasonably controlled circuits, and land without crashing :-)

    Thanks for all your replies folks.
  • simonl July 28, 2010 at 10:22am
    Hey, thanks for these replies guys.

    @Brian: I _think_ I've got the prop the correct way round - I'll check again.

    @Jason: Ouch! I've already put a longer carbon spar in the wings, as I want to add ailerons - just seems more intuitive, maybe coz of my heli background.

    @John: Thanks for the xls; I'll probably follow some of that - esp. the motor & ESC.

    From what I remember it was a bit of both (porpoising _and_ uncontrollable). I think I'll check the prop orientation - I'd not paid that much attention to it as I'd not realised how much difference it would make!

    @Chris: Looks like I'll be upgrading then :-)

    Thanks again folks.

    Cheers,
    Simon
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson July 27, 2010 at 8:34pm
    Yes, to repeat all the advice here: you have to upgrade to brushless. The stock EasyStar motor is a joke.
  • John C. July 27, 2010 at 6:28pm
    You need a decent amount of weight in the nose. I have a 3S 2200Mah all the way in the nose, and it's just about right.

    Does it porpoise, or is it just slow and uncontrollable? (backwards prop)

    A little brushless motor is pretty nice on these. Here's a build list that I still use successfully in the air.

    JC

    easystar_ardupilot_parts_list.xls

    https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3692071311?profile=original
  • simonl July 27, 2010 at 4:08pm
    Thanks for the replies folks.

    @John: Being my first foray into planes, I believe I've set it up as per the instructions - GoG as required and all surfaces straight & true. As for "does it glide level" - dunno, it's never glided; just climbed / descended / generally been a handful! It could be the loose nut on the sticks, but I'd hoped my years with heli's would've tamed that LOL.

    @Jason: I've not upgraded to brushless yet, and haven't put any AP in yet either - I was hoping to build it and prove it as a "stock flyer" before entrusting it with any more hard-earned cash! I guess some extra weight should help - I'll give that a try when the wind dies down again (I hate living in the UK!).
  • Developer
    Jason Short July 27, 2010 at 3:09pm
    Have you upgraded it to a brushless? That and running Ardupilot on Stabilize will help a lot. You're looking for too things in wind - power to spare and weight as ballast. I fly in 10 mph winds without worrying too much.
    Jason
  • Moderator
    John Church July 27, 2010 at 3:07pm
    Hi!
    Well, like our helis, how's the trim? Does it glide level? Do your control rates need taming a bit?
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