Developer Comment by jasonshort on March 22, 2010 at 2:21pm

Nice!
What angle are you holding in your turns? Are you flying a Funjet or SkyFun?

Developer Comment by Doug Weibel on March 22, 2010 at 3:15pm

It is a Skyfun with a new power system.

I am using a 60 degree max bank. The data I have gathered in Fly By Wire holding that angle looks pretty good ;)

Moderator Comment by Chris Anderson on March 22, 2010 at 3:25pm

What power system are you using for the Skyfun? I like the stock configuration, but I'll bet I could like a beefier one even better ;-)

Developer Comment by Doug Weibel on March 22, 2010 at 5:40pm

OK Chris - you have to promise that I won't see this motor on your SparkFun entry before you can clidk the link.

Have you promised?

This is a great motor for a great price. I have tested it at nearly 200 watts with no problem. It is really well matched for the SkyFun, and probably for an EasyStar for that matter. I have one on a V-Trainer (as Gary M promoted a bit a while back) and it rocks on that airframe as well. Pair it with a 6x4 prop. You could probably push it up to a 6x5.5 which would put it at 90+ mph. Haven't tried that though. With the 6x4 any decent 25A esc will suffice. Here is the link.

Moderator Comment by Chris Anderson on March 22, 2010 at 6:05pm

I promise! We're actually planning on entering with a regular EasyStar, using good old fashioned thermopiles. We're not hoping to win, of course (that wouldn't be fair to do it two years in a row, and it would be a bit dodgy if the ArduPilot creators are the only ones who can get it to perform well!). We're just hoping to demonstrate tight patterns, reliably repeatability and safe landings, showing that ArduPilot is now a mature autopilot ready for broad adoption.

Comment by Greg Fletcher on March 22, 2010 at 6:30pm

Chris, I have been putting together a Skyfun fully rigged with ardu(thermo) ,Xbee pro, ublox, & video.
And the stock power system. I flew it for 6 mins with nothing in it when i first got it. I found the power to be acceptable for what I had pland for it(not racing). Wit all the gear in the CG was getting hard to maintain.
I put my 130 g baterry as far back as I could. and every thing else except the XY thermo. I saw the pic of your setup and it looked nose heave frome my experience. I balanced mine in the middle of the finger holes. I could send a pic of mine. It hasn't flown yet with the extra gear yet. It's 120% of the stack setup so it should fly ok, but not like a rocket. My initial flight was recorded with an Eaglet Tree Oracle. I was only drawing 7+ amps at full throttle. I only flew for 6 mins because my fingers were freezing. On the fist 2nd landing I actually caught it with one hand.

Developer Comment by Doug Weibel on March 22, 2010 at 6:39pm

@Greg - There is a trick that will really help with the balance. Works OK with most brushless motors, although you might kill one trying this. You disassemble the motor, take loose the grub screws holding the shaft, and then press the shaft so that it protrudes from the opposite side. Then you can mount the motor on the back of the motor mount instead of the front. Some motors have bearing setups that are not amenable to this, and some have shafts that are press fit so tight you destroy the motor trying to get it out. But many motor manufacturers consider the shaft a replaceable part and this is easy in that case. Or alternately just get a motor with the shaft coming out of the bell side, like the one I linked to above. This moves the motor back a fair amount and gives the prop a little bit cleaner air.

Comment by Greg Fletcher on March 22, 2010 at 7:05pm

@ Doug - That would work. I have an AXI motor with an adapter that does the same thing. It's to big for the funjet.
Instead of putting lead in the tail, I put a cool heat sink on the ESC (doesn't need it) and a 10 g video Tx just behind the ESC. Don't know if there will be a noise problem - haven't tried it yet.

Comment by Muot Vuong on March 23, 2010 at 7:49pm

Could you tell me what camera are you using on this model? It's very clear.

Developer Comment by Doug Weibel on March 23, 2010 at 8:54pm

You will not believe what camera I am using. It is a $15 "keychain" camera off e-bay. Look for the description "Spy Camera Key Chain Camcorder Video Cam 720x480 30FPS". It is unbelievable how well it works for the price.

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