Official Skynetic 1400mm Cardinal Glider Thread

[Aros]

Cardinal 1400mm (55.2") Wingspan from Skynetic

The Skynetic Cardinal is a beginner glider with tri-dihedral to increase wing performance and stability. The Cardinal comes with a MS2208 Kv1550 brushless outrunner motor and 6x4 propeller to get you up to altitude in no time to begin your search for thermals. Flaps are molded into the wings to help with slower flight and landings for beginners. Just add the flap kit for functionality (optional). The Cardinal is a fun, introductory glider for anyone that enjoys the tranquility of "surfing the wind."
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Easy Connect Wings The Skynetic Cardinal comes with easy connect wings for simplicity and convenience.

Accepts 3S 2200mAh LiPo Battery You can fit up to a 3S 2200mAh LiPo battery for extended flight times.

Carbon Rod The Cardinal includes a carbon rod joiner for added strength and reliability.

Flaps Optional The Cardinal comes with flap slots molded into the wings for slower flight and landings which are ideal traits for beginners. Just add the flap kit (optional).

Features:

• Constructed of durable EPO and a large tri-dihedral wing for increased wing stability
• Brushless MS2208 Kv1550 outrunner motor to get up to altitude easily for soaring adventures
• Rubber-based impact nose covering provides added durability in case of hard landing or crash
• Cooling holes provide adequate air flow over the battery's surface and motor during flight
• Carbon rods strategically implemented throughout the model's structure for added durability
• Wings and tail assembly are easily removable for storage or transportation
• Weight counterbalance channel allows the use to add or remove weight for various battery capacities
• Carbon fiber wing spars for strength and durability
• Admiral 20 Amp ESC adds reliability and security
• Optional flaps molded into the wings, simply add the flap kit (sold separately)

Includes:

• Skynetic Cardinal 1400mm (55.2") Wingspan - PNP
• Servos, motor, ESC pre-installed
• Owner's Manual

Requires:

• 4 Channel radio - select a minimum 4 channel radio from our Radio Collection
• 4 Channel receiver - select a minimum 4 channel receiver from our Receiver Collection
• 3 Cell 11.1V 1600 - 2200 mAh Li-Po Battery with XT60 connector - we recommend the Admiral 2200mAh 3S 11.1V 35C LiPo Battery with XT60 Connector
• 3 Cell compatible battery charger - select a minimum 3 cell (3S) charger from our Charger Collection

Product Specifications:

AGE LEVEL :10 and up
SKILL LEVEL :Beginner
BUILD TIME :1 Hour

Model Scale	N/A
Wingspan	1400mm / 55.1in
Length	1030mm / 40.5in
Weight	630-700g
CG (Center of Gravity)	50-65mm from the leading edge of the wing at the root
Power System	MS2208 Kv1550 Brushless motor (installed)
Electronic Speed Control	20 Amp brushless ESC with XT60 connector (installed)
Propeller / EDF	6 x 4 Electric propeller
Servos	4x 8g standard: left aileron, right aileron, rudder, elevator
Landing Gear	None
Required Battery	3 Cell 11.1V 1600 - 2200 mAh Li-Po battery with XT60 connector (required)
Required Radio	4+ Channel 2.4GHz (required)
Ailerons	Yes
Elevator	Yes
Rudder	Yes
Flaps	Optional
Lights	No
Hinge Type	Foam
Material	EPO Foam
Skill Level	Beginner
Build Time	1 Hour
Recommended Environment	Outdoors

[Aros]

RTF:

https://www.motionrc.com/products/skynetic-cardinal-1400mm-rtf-sky1027-001

PNP:

https://www.motionrc.com/products/skynetic-cardinal-1400mm-pnp-sky1027-002

[ridgerunner]

This looks to be the exact same airframe as the (now discontinued?) Skynetetic Mercury V2, (which, itself, was a re-brand of the Techone Mercury V2.) The Mercury recently disappeared from the MRC site; i.e. I get a "404 - Not Found Error" for the old product page.

I'm not complaining; just curios what is going on with this model?

Note that I own two Skynetic Mercury V2s and really like the design.

[ptsetsonis]

I succeeded yesterday and assembled my new Cardinal! I even put the flap servos !
But I don't understand two things :
1. The flaps servos, when I turn on the remote control switch, tend to lift up and come out of the servo slots...I somehow managed to keep them in place by taping them with double sided tape. Do I have to stick them with some glue?
2. I have not understood (new to the hobby) what the yellow wire that comes with the Skynetic 20A ESC does and where it connects... (photo)

Do you know anything about it?

[ridgerunner]

It appears that the Skynetic 20A ESC in your new Cardinal has REVERSE functionality. The extra yellow wire on these reversing ESCs is provided to allow the user to select either forward or reverse direction for the brushless motor. This reversing functionality is typically used by pilots flying fast EDF aircraft to quickly slow the plane down after touching down on the runway. It is also useful for float planes to allow them to back up when floating around. This functionality is certainly not needed on the Cardinal motor glider! The single yellow wire carries the REVERSE function signal from the receiver (RX) to the electronic speed controller (ESC). The signal is essentially a binary switch that selects either forward or reverse.

You can plug this connector into any extra channel on the receiver (on the signal pin) and set up your transmitter to control it using that channel. Note that only one wire is needed because the other two wires are provided by the throttle cable. (The black wire is ground and the red wire is +5Volts, and together these two wires provide power from the ESC to the RX and servos. Since power is provided by the throttle cable, the reverse cable only needs one wire.) Alternatively, I do believe that you can just not connect it at all and leave it hanging disconnected - but I am not 100% certain on this point.

Have fun with your new Cardinal - its a nice motor glider!

[ptsetsonis]

Well, I did not connect it at all and it works ! I'm now waiting for the perfect -low wind- weekend to fly the Cardinal ! Just a little worry about the flap servos -I don't want to glue them yet- ....

[Lt Dan]

My cardintal with a 2200 3s wouldn't come close the cg recommend it took a 3s 2800 with 1 Oz of lead. It Flys great. We had 14mph wind absolutely no problem.

[Joc]

I ask for some guidance.

I bought the RTF version of Skynetic Cardinal and I am disappointed with it. Its flying is not even close to the one advertised in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB0EXMaHjZk
With the remote that came with it, it looks like the (3 position) Ch5 switch does nothing - if I test controls while tilting the plane in hand there are no changes, no matter the position of the switch. Ailerons move very slowly for a very small amount (compared to my other planes, way too slow and too little).
It also doesn't level itself, I had very hard time trying to fly it and not to stall it.

Besides this plane I also have two other planes e-flite apprentice and sport cub s, which I can comfortably fly in all modes (safe, intermediate, advanced) - no issues whatsoever.

I also have edgeTX RadioMaster zorro 4in1 and I could try to control the plane. Is it possible to connect it to the receiver that comes stock with RTF?

Thanks for any advice offered.

[ridgerunner]

... Thanks for any advice offered.

The Skynetic Cardinal is a re-release of the Skynetic Mercury, which itself was a re-branding of the TechOne Mercury V2. There is a more active thread on this model over on RC Groups here:

Tech One Mercury (NP) or Breeze (HK)

Note that on its initial release back around 2012 the original Mercury suffered from a weak main spar but that problem was quickly fixed with the V2 version (the Cardinal does not have this problem).

The Cardinal is a great plane for a beginner, but IMO does NOT need a gyro; this design has stability built into the airframe and has very docile handling. If you do a search for the "Skynetic Mercury" or "TechOne Mercury" you will get lots of useful resources such as this build video from MotionRC:

It would be very helpful if MotionRC provided information about the specific protocol used on the receiver installed on the RTF version. Many of us own a 4-in-1 multi-protocol radio.

[Joc]

@ridgerunner thanks for providing this info and link to the rcgroups forum. I will read through it and hopefully get some ideas what might be wrong.

Funny that you mention this built-in stability as I was having big issues trying to make it fly horizontally - as it would either dive too step and stall or it would lose height.
I will recheck prop mounting and CG.

[Joc]

Yeeey! 😀 Managed to fly successfully.

For anybody else who might also struggle with this RC airplane - mine came with two problems (bought new):

1. NX3 Evo Flight controller (gyro) should have AUX signal on input "Multi" connected to Ch5 of the receiver. In my setup the wire was not connected - consequently Ch5 switch on the remote didn't do anything (according to the NX3 manual, when unconnected, as dip switches came configured, it should be in 'Beginner' mode)
2. This was more serious: NX3 board was not secured to the aircraft. There's a warning in bold about this in the manual and I can imagine why. The issue was a little wooden platform where the NX3 should be taped to (double sided tape). Unfortunately, this little piece of wood seemed to be oiled and nothing stuck to it. IP alcohol cleaning didn't help. I managed to fix the adhesion using CA glue and CA kicker. I simply applied CA all over the little piece of wood, which seems to fix adhesion issue. Then, the double-sided tape would stick.

Fixing these two things, the airplane flew.

It can stall easily though, when too much elevator is applied. It's best to hand launch it with full throttle so that it doesn't stall during launching.
When it flies it's quite stable, though not slow (compared to e-Flite Apprentice and e-Flite Sport Cub S).
Will adding flaps make it slower?

[ridgerunner]

... NX3 board was not secured to the aircraft. ...

For a RTF this is unacceptable!

[WhiskeyBeard]

Watching the Motion RC assembly video on YouTube sure seems like the prop is installed incorrectly due to the prop against the motor is not a flat fit. Needs a spacer first? To put it simply, there is space between the prop and the motor because the prop is installed backwards from the motor being backwards. The front facing blade touches the motor first, causing space between prop and the motor. The only way I get this to fit is to put the washer on first, then the prop and then the nut.