FLEXJET SUPER PNP

[Phantom]

My last flight with this plane ended badly. It rolled on landing and didn't want to slow down. It hit the grass at the end of the GeoTex runway very fast. The grass is much higher than the runway surface. When it hit, the plane broke in two, right at the where the leading edge of the wing meets the fuse. The front retract broke off complete with all the balsa it was attached to. I may or may not fix it. The parts are quite good and they may serve a better purpose in a different plane. Prior to this, all retracts have come out at least once but was easy to glue back in. One must remember to cycle the gear a couple of times before sending it up. It needs to "wake up" (initialize).
EDF_Lover, if you had a power glitch while in the air, the gear may not have "awakened" again. I also found "mode 1" to be very twitchy because (if I recall correctly) it has no stabilizer or very little stabilizer programmed in. Mode 2 and 3 are more stabilized but also have higher rates. I tried the plane with the Aura 8 programmed with stabilizer on all 3 modes and even increased the stabilization throughout. I started flying this off grass and I found using mode 3 got the plane off the ground much more effectively, but I still didn't like the way it flew and took the Aura 8 out, opting to use a "regular" receiver exclusively. It flew OK for me after that. At the time, the FlexJet was an exciting concept in design and appearance, but having flown it for a while, I find the execution of it to be severely lacking and the price point unjustified compared to what was out there at the time and what has come along since. The landing gear is wonderful but they simply aren't secured on the plane adequately.

Xviper,

I've finally gotten around to putting my Flexjet together and want to remove the Aura 8 completely as you did. My question is, is any part of the landing gear or door operation tied in with the Aura 8?

[xviper]

Xviper,

I've finally gotten around to putting my Flexjet together and want to remove the Aura 8 completely as you did. My question is, is any part of the landing gear or door operation tied in with the Aura 8?

I don't believe the retracts are controlled by the Aura 8. It has its own separate controller that sequences the doors. I can't remember but if it does go through the Aura 8, it can simply be unplugged and plugged directly into Ch. 5 of your RX.

Now that this thread has been brought back, I did decide to fix the FlexJet and my last day of flying it, it flies better than it ever has. I've figured out how to bring it in much slower by increasing the flaperon travel. I've also increased the "taileron" travel as well, since when I'm at high angles of flap, I go to much reduced aileron throws so as to not over drive the servos. The tailerons help with roll control in those instances. I can now bring it in at high alpha and under much better control when flying so slow. I don't "hate" this plane nearly as much as I once did.

[Phantom]

I don't believe the retracts are controlled by the Aura 8. It has its own separate controller that sequences the doors. I can't remember but if it does go through the Aura 8, it can simply be unplugged and plugged directly into Ch. 5 of your RX.

Now that this thread has been brought back, I did decide to fix the FlexJet and my last day of flying it, it flies better than it ever has. I've figured out how to bring it in much slower by increasing the flaperon travel. I've also increased the "taileron" travel as well, since when I'm at high angles of flap, I go to much reduced aileron throws so as to not over drive the servos. The tailerons help with roll control in those instances. I can now bring it in at high alpha and under much better control when flying so slow. I don't "hate" this plane nearly as much as I once did.

I appreciate the info and prompt response, my plan to set her up is simular to how you already have yours set up. I've got my ailerons on separate channels and my elevators on separate channels. The plan was to create 3 flight modes, 1 conventional ailerons and elevators, 2 flaps, no ailerons and elevons, and 3 flaperons and elevons. Using the Taranis x9d plus with open tx, not sure if it's possible but I'm giving it a shot.

[Phantom]

I don't believe the retracts are controlled by the Aura 8. It has its own separate controller that sequences the doors. I can't remember but if it does go through the Aura 8, it can simply be unplugged and plugged directly into Ch. 5 of your RX.

Now that this thread has been brought back, I did decide to fix the FlexJet and my last day of flying it, it flies better than it ever has. I've figured out how to bring it in much slower by increasing the flaperon travel. I've also increased the "taileron" travel as well, since when I'm at high angles of flap, I go to much reduced aileron throws so as to not over drive the servos. The tailerons help with roll control in those instances. I can now bring it in at high alpha and under much better control when flying so slow. I don't "hate" this plane nearly as much as I once did.

Well plugged the one output lead that was in the Aura 8 from the sequencer and plugged it into my reciever channel 5. Nothing, ensure the switch was assigned in the radio and nothing, tried every other switch, knob, and slider on the radio, nothing. Could you take a look at yours and see if you had to plug and play a little differently, I'd appreciate any assistance.

[xviper]

Well plugged the one output lead that was in the Aura 8 from the sequencer and plugged it into my reciever channel 5. Nothing, ensure the switch was assigned in the radio and nothing, tried every other switch, knob, and slider on the radio, nothing. Could you take a look at yours and see if you had to plug and play a little differently, I'd appreciate any assistance.

The gear switch must be cycles at least once (maybe twice), with a reasonable wait time (2 - 4 seconds) for it to react. This is assuming that you left all the wires the same from the sequencer to the retracts and doors. Many of today's sequenced door systems must be cycled before they "wake up" and work properly. The newer Hobby King planes, especially, are like this.
If memory serves, the sequencer module does not label the pins, or at least, not very well. If the cycling didn't help, it may be possible that someone at the factory plugged those in wrong. You will have to confirm all leads with a servo tester and then by trial and error plug them into the pins and see which ones work. It's a pain. I took everything apart when I did the repair and figuring out where each lead went on the sequencer took a long time. Hopefully, yours will work after cycling. Take a picture of it in case you ever have to re-assemble it again.

[Phantom]

The gear switch must be cycles at least once (maybe twice), with a reasonable wait time (2 - 4 seconds) for it to react. This is assuming that you left all the wires the same from the sequencer to the retracts and doors. Many of today's sequenced door systems must be cycled before they "wake up" and work properly. The newer Hobby King planes, especially, are like this.
If memory serves, the sequencer module does not label the pins, or at least, not very well. If the cycling didn't help, it may be possible that someone at the factory plugged those in wrong. You will have to confirm all leads with a servo tester and then by trial and error plug them into the pins and see which ones work. It's a pain. I took everything apart when I did the repair and figuring out where each lead went on the sequencer took a long time. Hopefully, yours will work after cycling. Take a picture of it in case you ever have to re-assemble it again.

Thanks, I never unplugged anything from the sequencer, I messed around with it for about half an hour and the gear just started working. I have no idea what I did to fix it lol. I also got all three flight modes programmed and am still adding more mixes, once you get the hang of the X9D plus, holy crap it seems like there's no end to programming mixes. And I hate programming! Gonna setup my 90mm F-16 the same way. Thanks for your help, can't wait to get her maidened.

[xviper]

[Robert Belluomini]

Not sure why you would buy this model and remove the Aura 8! It flies great with either the standard or the Expert config. The Aura settings are easy to change through the configuration tool.

Phantom you need to up the endpoints per the flex manual to make the gear cycle. You do need to flick gear switch up then down before flight to set the sequencer. This has to be done before each flight.

I also suggest using a light battery. I use s HS 4200 and the model flies beautifully.

[xviper]

Not sure why you would buy this model and remove the Aura 8! It flies great with either the standard or the Expert config. The Aura settings are easy to change through the configuration tool.

With all due respect, there are many, many reasons why a person would buy this model and the Aura 8 is but only one and it doesn't appeal to everyone. It does NOT fly great with either config, at least not for me. It all depends on who is flying it. I found the stock settings NOT to my liking in any way and for me, NO, it was not "easy" to change those settings via any tool because I did not understand what the settings meant, let alone what the plane would do once the settings were changed. I ditched that Aura 8 faster than a dog wants to get rid of fleas. I, for one, did not buy this plane for the Aura 8. I bought it because it looked neat and it appeared to have great presence in the air. It makes nice sounds and now that I've ditched the 8 and programmed it on a standard RX with no stabilization, it is an "acceptable" model. The "neatness" has all but worn off, but it still has a certain "special-ness" about it and that's why I've kept it. If I knew then what I know now, I would not buy this plane at all or at least, buy it WITHOUT the Aura 8 (if it were available that way).
Now comes along the new FlexJet with its 8s power system and vectored thrust. Looks great to the uninitiated, but I won't be fooled again. There are many, many other planes for much less money that can give greater owner experience and satisfaction.

[Phantom]

Not sure why you would buy this model and remove the Aura 8! It flies great with either the standard or the Expert config. The Aura settings are easy to change through the configuration tool.

Phantom you need to up the endpoints per the flex manual to make the gear cycle. You do need to flick gear switch up then down before flight to set the sequencer. This has to be done before each flight.

I also suggest using a light battery. I use s HS 4200 and the model flies beautifully.

Robert, I've read all your posts on this thread and am very aware of your love for the Aura 8, I believe you even said something to the effect that you fly all your planes, or atleast all your jets with the Aura 8.

Xviper and I agree on this point when it comes to flight stabilization, I just don't like it, never have, never will. If I had the option to purchase the Flexjet without the Aura 8, I would have. There are E- flight models that I have bypassed purchasing until the version without their safe flight technology was in stock. To me purchasing a flight stabilization system is an unnecessary expense, money which could be used elsewhere, another battery perhaps.

I'm a pilot by profession both rotary wing, as well as fixed wing. I cut my teeth on airframes such as the CH-47D Chinook which has a marvelous AFCS, (Automated Flight Control System). Cockpit managers, as we came to call our less gifted stick wigglers, loved that system, I rarely used it. Did it require a great deal more attention from me to fly with AFCS off? Without a doubt, but the responsiveness from it being off was unreal. I've flown two airshows with that bird and countless re-enlistment flights that's stunned viewers and passengers, they had no idea that the Dirty-D could be so maneuverable.

I bet if I set the Aura 8 up correctly, as you say, it would fly amazing. But that's not my style, I want to strap on the aircraft, figuratively in the case of RC flight, but I want to feel every twitch of the flight controls, every change in wind direction and velocity. I prefer not to have a system numb those experiences out for me. Some of my greatest RC memories are wrestling down a bird in crazy wind conditions that I wasn't expecting, to a nice gentle kiss on the runway. Doesn't happen all the time, ofcourse not. Nobody's perfect, but when it does, man it doesn't get any better.

Having ranted on continuously more for a paragraph or two, I have an Aura 8 for sale, never been used, brand spanking new. You interested? Sells for 99 bucks on the Flex website I'll sell it to you for 79 bucks USD, let me know and I'll send it your way. 😁

[Phantom]

Not sure why you would buy this model and remove the Aura 8! It flies great with either the standard or the Expert config. The Aura settings are easy to change through the configuration tool.

Phantom you need to up the endpoints per the flex manual to make the gear cycle. You do need to flick gear switch up then down before flight to set the sequencer. This has to be done before each flight.

I also suggest using a light battery. I use s HS 4200 and the model flies beautifully.

Robert,

Thank you for the for the battery suggestion, I have quite a few of those HS 6s 4200's as well, I love em! I hollowed out quite a bit of useless foam on the underside of the back canopy so that I can stack two in parallel back there and still remain on CG. So the fun alpha flights will be with one battery, and the longer demo flights or touch and go flying days will be with two. This is how I setup a number of my birds, I use this same configuration in my FW F-5 80mm.

[xviper]

I have an Aura 8 for sale, never been used, brand spanking new. You interested? Sells for 99 bucks on the Flex website I'll sell it to you for 79 bucks USD, let me know and I'll send it your way. 😁

I like your humor! My Aura 8 has been sitting at the bottom of my bag of new and used receivers. When I first took it out, I offered it FOR FREE to anyone around here who wanted it. I belong to 2 RC clubs, retired from a 3rd and currently keep in touch with people at a 4th club. NOBODY WANTS IT. I can't give it away. Good luck with selling yours. I'm just keeping it till a day comes when I might suddenly want to put it into one of my cheap, disposable planes and experiment with it and maybe try to understand it.

[Robert Belluomini]

Phantom thanks for the offer.
XViper the config tool is free to download from the flex website. It’s easy to use.

[xviper]

Phantom thanks for the offer.
XViper the config tool is free to download from the flex website. It’s easy to use.

I've had the config tool since the beginning. Played with it a bit and even changed a couple of parameters. Hated it. It may be easy for you, but it's not easy for everyone. In fact, I've seen posts from people who despise the Aura 8 way of doing things.
I used to do brain surgery on lab animals. I considered it "easy". Not many others thought it was. "Easy" is a subjective view.

[Robert Belluomini]

Flew mine at our annual “Freeze Fly” 6 flights today. It is a perfect model for the new edf jet pattern series!

The Aura 8 makes this model fly big. Made the 15mph crosswinds a non factor! :)

[Rosytime]

Robert, I too have the FlexJet with the extreme setup. To each his own but I have had more people fly mine and remark on how it doesn't feel like it has a flight control system. And these are pilots who fly turbines with the Cortex gyro. I too have Auras in most of my other EDFs and my giant scale P-40. It's an amazing FCS and easily programmed or changed. I will admit that my son does most of the programming for the non Flex stuff since he has become a guru at it. We even took the ASX3 out of the Havoc EDF and put an Aura in it. The owner of the company that sells the turbine Havocs flew it and was impressed. He also flew the FlexJet and loved it. But that is what make this hobby fun, flying the way you want to.
And a side note, If you go around trying to give away something that you have a disdain for, of course no one wants that item.

[Robert Belluomini]

Hey Rosytime Ive met your son a couple of times. He’s a talented flyer! I also know the other pilots that you mention quite well too.
As I mentioned before the Aura 8 makes any model fly so much better but Its in the background so you don't even know its there.
The capabilities of the Aura is what sets it apart. The Flex Wiki pages are full of great information too.

[FLYBOY777]

So I just got my Flex jet today. I got it all together and set up however i notice whenever my gear is up it sounds like sequencer servos are still doing something. Its giving out that loud whine as if they are still trying to pull the doors up when they are in fact up all the way. The retracts and sequencer doors seems to work and rotate fine other than I think they are still trying to work once they should be resting... this only happens in the gear up position. When gear is deployed its fine.... someone please tell me i missed something or its a simple fix. Thank you!

[xviper]

So I just got my Flex jet today. I got it all together and set up however i notice whenever my gear is up it sounds like sequencer servos are still doing something. Its giving out that loud whine as if they are still trying to pull the doors up when they are in fact up all the way. The retracts and sequencer doors seems to work and rotate fine other than I think they are still trying to work once they should be resting... this only happens in the gear up position. When gear is deployed its fine.... someone please tell me i missed something or its a simple fix. Thank you!

Sounds to me like your door servos are working to further close an already fully closed door. Open it up and change the length of the door servo rod so that as soon as the door is closed, the servo has completed its full travel and it's not trying to close the door more.

[FLYBOY777]

Sounds to me like your door servos are working to further close an already fully closed door. Open it up and change the length of the door servo rod so that as soon as the door is closed, the servo has completed its full travel and it's not trying to close the door more.

Thanks Viper... I figured it was something as aimple as this... I just literally finished putting it together last night and didnt have time to mess with it. So I figured I would get a second thought on here. That fixed the issue! Thanks again!