AE6 Intruder & Mirage d/r & expo

[rcaviator]

I have both planes.  I have not yet figured out the right d/r & expo for either plane to achieve predictable & stable flight.  Both are a struggle to fly well.  I have 25 other planes, and several other EDF's including a 90mm Viper, and do not have this issue with any of them.

What have some of you found works for you??  Looking for advice from those of you who have figured it out.  :huh:

[OV10]

RE: AE6 Intruder & Mirage d/r & expo

Hello rcaviator,
I have the A6 and the major concern with that bird is getting the CG set with appropriate lipo size. I am using a 4000mAh 40C which is the largest I could fit in (with the 4000 you better be on the ground in 4 min) set as far aft in the slot as allowable. It is still nose heavy so in order to not use more than 10% up trim on the DX8, I set the horizontal stabilator at 2 degrees up which nulls any major electronic trim adjustment. As far as d/r is concerned - not needed. I was in an A6 squadron in the early seventies and this is a medium attack bomber that was capable of some subtle aerobatics, so using d/r to snap it around like a fighter just is a reach. All my planes have 15% expo to null the center point control to remove control twitchiness. When landing, do not try to float it in with flaps(which you need). Keep the blades turning about 1/4 throttle and when about 2' from the ground flare out onto the mains. Trying to reapply full apply power at this level and waiving off will only cause the bird to ground loop because of ground effects. That's about it for the A6 and it is the only EDF I have. I prefer the prop birds due to the fact that cost(battery) for performance(flight time) is ALOT more economical.
Regards,
Charlie

[rcaviator]

RE: AE6 Intruder & Mirage d/r & expo

Hello rcaviator,
I have the A6 and the major concern with that bird is getting the CG set with appropriate lipo size. I am using a 4000mAh 40C which is the largest I could fit in (with the 4000 you better be on the ground in 4 min) set as far aft in the slot as allowable. It is still nose heavy so in order to not use more than 10% up trim on the DX8, I set the horizontal stabilator at 2 degrees up which nulls any major electronic trim adjustment. As far as d/r is concerned - not needed. I was in an A6 squadron in the early seventies and this is a medium attack bomber that was capable of some subtle aerobatics, so using d/r to snap it around like a fighter just is a reach. All my planes have 15% expo to null the center point control to remove control twitchiness. When landing, do not try to float it in with flaps(which you need). Keep the blades turning about 1/4 throttle and when about 2' from the ground flare out onto the mains. Trying to reapply full apply power at this level and waiving off will only cause the bird to ground loop because of ground effects. That's about it for the A6 and it is the only EDF I have. I prefer the prop birds due to the fact that cost(battery) for performance(flight time) is ALOT more economical.
Regards,
Charlie

Thanks Charlie. I was running 30% expo, maybe I'll tune it down, and 80 % d/r. I also found it nose heavy. I must have received an early A6. mine, compared to current A6's had a back stop that was 1 1/2 inches further back. Boy was I having problems when I was advised by Alpha from MotionRC to move the battery all the way aft. I now have that figured out, but it is still a challenge to land. I was trying to float it, but as you point out, that does not work. I also find if you lift it off the ground too early, it will roll right and drop to the ground. So far, one of the worse EDF's I've flown. BTW, if you are looking for a GREAT EDF, try the ViperJet from Banana Hobby. It is a 90 EDF and fly's like a dream. Stable, predictable and almost lands itself.

[OV10]

RE: AE6 Intruder & Mirage d/r & expo

rcaviator,
Biggest thing to remember about this airframe is that it flys' very characteristically like the real one. You can not horse it off the ground like a lot of the models out there that are over powered. This birds power to weight ratio is like 1.2 to 1 so you need to get the airspeed up(with full flaps) before rotating for lift off. This thing flys' scale like and if you keep that in mind and treat it as such I think that you will change your opinion about it being the worse. It really is all about the perspective of what your comparing it to. I love flying scale aircraft and have never nor will ever use a gyro(just a crutch). Modeling scale aircraft is basically no different than real. A real pilot would never go from a Cub to a jet without the proper advances in training, but ironically I see it all the time in the RC world because of what I call electronic crutches and the instant satisfaction needs of the younger generation. I've had my hands full at times training some of these younger pilots at our club because of this attitude. I love warbirds and the stigma about how difficult they are to fly is really undue because it really comes back to understanding the real ones flight characteristics. If you keep this in mind, I really believe that you'll find a lot more satisfaction with the hobby.
Best Regards,
Warbird Charlie

[ryramZ]

RE: AE6 Intruder & Mirage d/r & expo

I have both planes.  I have not yet figured out the right d/r & expo for either plane to achieve predictable & stable flight.  Both are a struggle to fly well.  I have 25 other planes, and several other EDF's including a 90mm Viper, and do not have this issue with any of them.

What have some of you found works for you??  Looking for advice from those of you who have figured it out.  :huh:

Hello, If you watch our Mirage video we mention what it took to tame the Mirage to our liking. I've got the roll dialed down to 45% travel on my radio which is like 5mmup and 5mm down for roll axis. The pitch or elevator throw is around 12-13 mm up and 12-13mm down. Add in 40% expo all around and the Mirage flies in a very stable manner.

I feel like the Intruder really wants to be flown down, i think that in a glide the performance really drops off. I fly with the 4000 all the way back to the triangle wedge piece. Next time I take her up I'm going to follow Alpha's recommendation and try some lead in the tail section. The advice I received and took from a fellow flyer was to increase my throw on the ailerons a smidge higher than the high rate callout and also to increase my elevator throw to a small degree and to give her a touch of up trim.

Hope this helps,
Ryan