Here's a full list of links to the items mentioned in today's episode:
Spitfire made by TLMARK:
http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?4288-FT-Spitfire-Build/page9
Learn more about Frank Weaver's Nutball:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=836389
Learn more about The Pizza Box Flyer (PBF):
http://mypage.yhti.net/~dmcdnld/pizzabox.htm
Learn more about The Smart Dart XS:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599674
Delta Dart and AMA Cub:
http://customers.hbci.com/~bkuhl/history.htm
Flight Control Boards mentioned in this episode:
The ArduPilot Mega 2.5 (APM 2.5)
Respect
Admiration
Appreciation
Anticipation
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Thank you for all you do for the hobby.
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How about a short video on the design process Bixler
goes through in designing a new plane?
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Chad: "David what do you like?"
David: "Chocolate."
LOL
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So will this become a family destination spot? Where we can pack up the wife and kids drive for hours to meet the cast and crew and fly RC's? If so will you sell rootbeer and mountain dew?
God Bless Flight Test
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Really great comments on FC boards.
I have one technical comment on your use of the HexTronik DT750s and the wood washer.
Chad puts the wood washer straight on the shaft with no nut under the washer. Without a nut under the prop and one above, clamping the prop and the wood washer, you put a high amount of shear on the inset grub screw locking the shaft to the bell. There's then a high probability the shaft slips and stresses the bearings.
This is how I suspect most people ruin the bearings of this particular threaded shaft design, AND most of the complaints about the DT750s having bad bearings.
Also, use Loctite (blue) on the upper nut or use a lock nut. Treat the two grub screws with Loctite on the base mount as well as the screw I refer to on the bell.
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I've tried them all now. I know these aren't all of the choices but in my research they are the most popular. The KK2 was first and it was a great introduction into flight control boards. If you are new to this, I highly recommend you invest the $30 in a KK2. The education is priceless and will prepare you for the next step – LEARN HOW TO FLY IN MANUAL MODE WITH THE KK2 (just like Flite Test says! And they have a great show on this.)
The Naza Lite was next for me and it was quite a step up! The GPS feature which enables RTL (return to launch or – COME BACK!) was very cool. The software is very simple and the documentation was great. I loved that the application ran on a Mac. Sadly I lost that Hexcopter (I built a 550 Flamewheel knock-off) to a fly-away that was my fault entirely. It is out there somewhere and I still hope to find it. As I was learning about the Naza I started to become curious about the APM board (the HKPilot is Hobby King’s version). I read a bit and it sounded really interesting. I was on the verge of purchasing when I lost my Hex so I went for it and built another just like the last but with the APM.
The APM (HK’s version is the HKPilot) is in a whole ‘nother league on all levels. The board itself is amazingly flexible and will move your copter to a true drone (defined as autonomous flight). What I needed most with my last Hex was some telemetry so I could locate it when it crashed. The Naza Lite didn't have that but whoa daddy, the APM rocks an amazing telemetry package including the ability to create and fly totally autonomous missions (another fun show on this)!
The APM is very feature-rich (AKA – complicated) and has a long learning curve but the videos available and the documentation will totally get you THERE. Remember – learning is fun! With the APM system, "THERE" is pretty limitless. This is an open source platform and the “community” is amazing. I have nothing but respect and awe for the people that work on this and continuously improve the software.
At the tail of this glowing review I have to add a few negatives for the HK Pilot version: The GPS mast (other than the carbon pole) is worthless. My base broke on a hard landing in which the Hex DIDN'T invert! Also, I ended up with a 433Mhz telemetry package when I should have had the 915Mhz (433 is not legal in the US without a Ham license) and I would have loved for there to be SOMETHING on the product page about that.
I’m a geek but I’m not a programmer geek. I can learn hard systems and understand the basics of electronics so this was just plain fun for me and it continues to be. I read the manual at night to learn about new features or to all of a sudden, understand what a feature is really about. So far the system is rock-solid with no unexpected behavior. There are a ton of cool flight modes to try like Loiter, Drift (which lets you fly a copter like a plane, primarily using roll and pitch), Sport, Altitude Hold (or “let your friend fly your copter” mode) and an amazingly solid ACRO mode. One totally cool thing is Auto Trim in which you turn over the unit to itself and it pitches and rolls until it comes up with a rock solid trim. Really amazing.
In summary: If you are new, get a KK2. When you are ready to expand, get an HK Pilot. Understand that there is a learning curve to all of this stuff. Learn how to fly in ACRO mode with the KK2 on an inexpensive Quad setup and THEN go to a Hex or an Octo. Knowing how to really fly a copter in Manual mode is key to everything else. Don’t get in a hurry and enjoy the journey!
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Corel draw?
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