Hi Guys,

I am planning on programming flaperons on my Phoenix Funstar for better Harriers.  Do I use flaps or spoilerons (ailerons up).  Do I also need to couple elevator mixes?  I am using a Dx6i and this has these features.  One aileron servo should go to the aileron channel and the other should go to the AUX1 channel.  Then using Wing Tail mixing, I think I would be able to achieve the same.  How much of deflection should I have when I hit the switch. 

The plan that I had was about 10 to 15 degrees deflection (both ailerons down) when the switch is hit.  I have been reading about elevator coupling which I am not sure about.  Is it worth the effort and does the flaperons really aid in the harriers??

I have also changed to a 10x4 prop which should ideally be better for 3D flying rather than the 10x6 which I have been using so long.

Any suggestions on any other mixes I can use?  I am basically a 4 channel flyer with no experience in mixing.  The only switch is use is to toggle Dual Rates .. 

- Chan

First of all, you should try anything new high above, so that you have adequate recovery time 

I have not tried these mixes, but I would assume you will need both ailerons and elevator to make this easy.  By how much is something to be settled on by experimentation.

I try to fly without any mixing of any sort. It is tougher and takes longer in practise, but it is good to be flying with a single set of "conditions". For example, being a heli flier primarily, I keep a single pitch curve for all my flying modes (normal, throttle hold and idle-up1 and idle-up2).  It is one less thing to think about, and makes it easy switching between modes.

Hi Anwar,

Yeah.. I totally agree with you.. I also prefer to keep everything straight and simple without hitting switches all over the place... but temptation spares none.. the idea of an easy harrier is always tempting and the landings would be also be great.. would be programming everything today and flying it tomorrow.  I had some left thrust in my Funstar, which I corrected yesterday.  Now it has 1 deg of down thrust and 1 deg of right thrust.  The sequence of testing would be as follows,

1. Fly the first sortie to trim out the plane because of the thrust correction given.
2. With quite some altitude, deploy spoilerons (both ailerons up about 15 deg).  Manually give elevator input to correct nose down tendency.  Check behaviour and land.
3. Mix elevator as required to the spoileron switch.  So that when I deploy spoilerons, the elevator should also be automatically corrected.  Check this in flight and correct mixing so that the plane does not stall.  Too much of elevator with spoilerons might stall the plane.
4.  If time permits, I might also try to deploy flaps and test them out (both ailerons down)!

Would post the results tomorrow.

- Chan

Here goes my Sunday report...

As usual went back home late on Saturday and sat for setting up the plane.  Got the wing, removed the Y harness.  Marked the left and right aileron extensions so that I dont mix them up and connected the right aileron to the aileron channel and the left aileron to the flap channel.

When testing out the aileron setup (and it worked fine), I noticed one spar on the aileron was broken and I had been flying with that  !!  And when I was trimming each aileron separately, I also noticed a warp on one aileron.  But it was too late to do anything.  Fixed the broken spar first.  Connected the setup and then started on the mixing part.  I programmed flaperons on the Flap switch and Spoilerons on the Gear switch.  So when I hit the flap switch, both the ailerons go down 40% of their throws.   Similarly when I hit the gear switch, both the ailerons go up 40% of their throws.  The ailerons were also working fine with the flaperon / spoileron setup.  Satisifed with the nights work, went to sleep at 2.30am.

Got up early and reached the field and setup the plane.  The damn engine wouldnt start.  After a lot of fiddling around with the plugs and air screws and needles, finally got her running and idling perfectly (well almost  :)!! Best thing was she was peaking nicely on the 10 x 4 prop and the new fuel but idling was a bit troublesome.  But took off did one normal sortie and landed safely. 

The next sortie was to test the flaperons.  Deployed the flaps up in the air and immediately, the nose went right up!! held a bit of down elevator and voila.. she was gliding beautifully on a slight high alpha position!! got a deadstick and turned off the flaps, aligned her on the runway and deployed the flaps again..  I literally had to take 3 close circles and a S approach to make sure that she touches down in front of me.  She didnt want to come down!!  Got her down, started her, got her up and deployed the spoilerons, nose went down a wee bit and I did not find much difference in the handling.  It was better while trying to harrier but no significant difference.  Would try and put more throws on the spoilerons and test it this Friday. 

Overall weekend flying was great and I emptied about a litre and a half of fuel.  And moreover, hovers just got better (infact great) after the thrust line change. 

But this is a very fragile plane and real hard flying takes its toll.  So should look at a new Fun fly model soon after my 50cc completion!!

- Chan

Duuuuude....    Where is da rockin' video ??

A friend of mine took some videos.. am still waiting for them to be given to me  !!  Would upload once I get it!! Or coming Friday, I would take a full session with my cam!

- Chan

Hi everyone,

Heres a video of the funstar flying a couple of weeks back in Kovalam before its timely.. YES... TIMELY demise this sunday!! Thanks to Mr. Saju for the video!! And check out the part where I try to hunt a bird down with the plane !!



- Chan

Chan ,
Don't know if I should say it here but in any case :

LOOKING  AT YOUR PROGRESS IN AERO MODELING , FLYING SKILLS AND YOUR  LEANING MORE TOWARDS FLYING THAN BUILDING I THINK YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY  CONSIDER A CAREER  CHANGE FROM SOFTWARE TO BEING A PROFESSIONAL PILOT AND A CAREER IN FLYING ACTUAL PLANES 

Treat for free career counselling as well 
sai

The post of yours is seriously a huge coincidence!! I was just checking out flying schools in Florida as I read your post!! I have been planning a career shift for quite sometime given the fluctuations in IT!! The Sheffield school and Phoenix East Aviation are under serious consideration now!! Weather is also great in Florida not to mention the beaches and etc etc!!

- Chan

That is cool , I have heard of  some trainning in Phillipines and Newzeland and Ausrtralia as well .

Hey Anwar ,
Career advice  on the  forum  must be the world's first 
sai

Although a career as a pilot seems exciting, for me, it is one of the most boring jobs!... You don't get to do all those cool aerobatic stuff like what you do with your aeromodels. If at all you do aerobatics its more of a terror than fun!!.. However, flying for recreation is always exciting.

We have some real CPL pilots who fly RC with us, guess they are looking for some aerobatics

Just the weather I hope etc etc seems quite vague and dubious    See the title other mixes