[Predator]

G’day Tug, glad to hear that you are hanging in there.

Last things first. If you are having trouble attaching photos make sure they are re sized to around 1024 pixels x ???. Any picture files posted that are too large trigger an approval process and disappear until administrator approval is given.  The easiest way is to resize the pics in Picasa (or similar) before posting.

You are right about the Turnigy LSD batteries, many of mine are around 9 years old and still going strong. I have had a couple of LiPo’s fail over the years but usually only after a sudden impact with Terra Firma beforehand.

I think most of our players down this way are using all the spare time they now have with getting all their models back up to scratch for when the LockDown restrictions are finally eased.

At this stage there may possibly be a relaxing of the number of persons allowed in a group (back to 10 from the current 2) in about 3 weeks so if this does happen we can most likely get back to flying before the winter sets in. Other than that we will have to be content flying the simulators to keep our skills up.

 

[Predator]

Yes Ricky but not busy enough, still haven’t finished the Mt Gay 30 yet.

[Predator]

Thanks Chris, I’ll check it out.

[Predator]

With everyone under “The Great LockDown” I’d have thought there would have been a bit more activity on here but I guess everyone is busy building new projects (and just not telling anyone about them)!!

As it’s a high probability that the current restrictions will slowly start to be rolled back in around another 4 weeks it may not (hopefully) be too long before we are back taking to the skies once again.

Equipment orders ex China are once again slowly starting to filter through & the FrSKY Hi Precision Variometer that has been on order for quite a while finally arrived a couple of days ago.

It took a little while to suss out how to connect it to the Motive-RC R8SB receiver as this Rx comes with an SBus connection but not a Smart Port. After a bit of research it appeared as if connecting it to the Digital Data-Stream port should be the way to go.  It worked first go so that was a win.

 

Also took a little while to program the Jumper T16 Tx to read & display the data and also to sound out (switchable) either variable beeps (rising or falling height) or a voice readout of the altitude.

Needed to create some new voice files for the Vario switch functions but my usual on line text to voice converter “Nicole” soon sorted them out as MP3 files & Audacity quickly converted them to 256kps wave files which is what the OpenTX os requires.

Jumper telemetry screens

    

What it all means

Alt+ = Maximum Altitude reached

Alt = Current Altitude

VSpd+ = Maximum Climb/Sink speed

VSpd = Current Climb/Sink speed

Battery = Powered Flight time (count down to 0)

Flight = Total Flight time

Other Top Line telemetry readings

A2 = Flight Battery voltage (also triggers Low Battery Alarm)

Batt = Tx internal battery voltage

Alt = Current Altitude

RSSI = Rx Signal Strength

Now all we need is reduced restrictions so groups of 10 or less are again permissible (with appropriate social distancing) & we can get back to our favourite pass time @ our favourite flying field.

[Predator]

Yes Hoppy, Phoenix still has Slope Soaring options along with thermal gliding etc.

So far I’ve only tried out the ASW28 (with motor off) but its a bit heavy. There are a couple of Slope Soaring gliders so I may have a go with one of those when time permits.

[Predator]

Probably not Moose. More than likely I’ll just go back to sane & simple FPV gliding & site seeing.

There is no RESET button on our real models & the number I have written off in the simulator would send our whole Flight Line broke if I flew them like that.

[Predator]

The Mini USB-B connectors (for the RunCam 2) arrived on Thursday so the FPV setup on the Fox is now complete & ready to fly (once we get out of this bloody Covid-19 induced LockDown that is).

      

      

[Predator]

You are quite correct Gerald, the Apprentice does not do inverted flight well and tends to fly into the ground even with full down elevator & max power, the Pitts Special in this next clip however is a whole other story !!

[Predator]

Got a quick flight in this morning with the E_Flite Apprentice (fitted with AS3X SAFE technology but turned off before flight) before settling down to more mundane household chores.

By the way Gerald, I got an email from PhaserFPV this morning, they have the external charge sockets & mounting plate back in stock if you need one (they still had 30 when I ordered mine but they were going fast.

[Predator]

Ah, I can almost smell the snags burning, or perhaps it was the dog!!.

[Predator]

Another quick flight with the ASW28 around a typical Aussie Sports field. It feels a lot like Lauderdale Oval especially when trying to land .

[Predator]

I’m sure a bit of wind & rain and a few hundred sheep will soon flatten it out. Probably a damn side quicker than we will get back to it.

[Predator]

G’day Pete, there are two trains of thought when it comes to storing LiPo batteries, some suggest they should be stored with a “Storage Charge” (one of the LiPo charger settings) which is a bit above 1/2 charge however I have always stored mine fully charged and then just top them up before usage.

The Eneloop batteries are LSD (low self discharge) so will hold a charge (typically for over a year) however I would remove ALL batteries from any equipment not in regular use.

Just my thoughts & I’m sure many will argue against it but I have Eneloop & Turnigy LSD AA & AAA cells over 8 years old and still going strong and many of my LiPo batteries are a similar age and apart from one or two that eventually a cell failed in any other replacements have been due to “catastrophic trauma” from impacting the ground at a great rate of knots.

[Predator]

A quick flight with the ASW-28 “Gooney Bird”

[Predator]

Its a free download here (as abandoned software) these days Hoppy including all the updates etc.

 

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