Discussions

Hi All

    I have just had my first day of successful Flying on the Bixler2 with the APM2.5+ with Firmware 2.70 on it.  Other hardware on the plane was the RFD 900 telemetry, ASI, a 9x5 prop, 3530 out-runner, and an aluminium motor mount.

Flight 1, started the aircraft 100m off the tree line, just in case.... set RTL Altitude at 50m.

started in manual, took off, and trimmed the aircraft.  I switched it to stabilize and it entered a dutch roll, that was so violent that it threw out the battery :)  fortunately, without the battery, the aircraft floated to the ground perfectly flat, no damage.

after spending an hour looking for the battery.... adjusted the gains on the pitch down a LOT.

Flight 2.  Plane flew well, stabilize is still a bit touchy, but acceptable, RTL tested well, and then tested loiter, all good.  Auto mode, the flight path appeared to be 100 meters to the north of where I had programmed it, but it flew it well.

Back to stabilize  and I forced it into some horrible flight attitudes, let go of the sticks, and it instantly recovered... very nice, until...

the engine stopped, then the plane fell with no control and smashed into the ground.

other than the front of the plane smashing up (nothing hot melt and more tape couldn't fix) I couldn't find any faults, but noticed that one of the esc wires to the motor had unplugged...

OK, that explains the motor stopping, but why the lack of control?  normally here you would glide to the ground and do some walking :)

my question... is it possible that while the wire was partially connected, that the electrical noise caused the APM to re-set?

any suggestions?  how do I get the data-log out to post here?

Just to confirm, I have since flown the repaired aircraft, minus Telemetry and GPS, and the stabilize mode is all good.