There could just be an AXN maiden this afternoon!

[Loopdreams]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned but a few hours on a sim is well worth it.  Nothing in that video suggested to me that there was anything too badly wrong with the plane, you just made several mistakes which is more or less inevitable when you're learning.  But a sim lets you get all these mistakes out of the way and learn the correct reflexes without wasted trips and trashed airframes.

[FPVSteve]

^ Very true, I never needed to use a simulator but some people swear by them.

Then again, I can't land for sh*t :D

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

I should be flying near Tarleton tomorrow afternoon if you need a hand.

Sorry, I've just seen this reply. It would be great to meet up. What time are you thinking? I've only got 2 batteries at the mo but any experience you can impart on me would be great.

Thanks
P

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

Well fight number 2 lasted for all of 10 seconds but I did manage more control. It ended badly with a snapped tail, cracked nose, snapped servo wires. It's fixed now. I've relocated the esc to the exterior in front of the motor I've cut a hatch in the belly and placed the receiver there with all the servo wires. This leaves the "cockpit" less cluttered. CG is good but wasn't an issue anyway.

I think I'm going to take off the 20% rudder to aileron mix so I know half of what to expect when I use the sticks. I think turning down the sensitivity of the sticks might be an idea

[Billy_boy_2010]

20s jeez what are you doing?! You said you flew mini quads a lot they are just as difficult IME.

Imo you need to get to a flying club and have someone buddy box with you. or find someone on here.

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

I was advised to mix rudder in. I've taken the mix off now.

I can't go to a club mate, I can't make that type of commitment. I'll get it eventually, today was my 2nd flight without stability backing me up. I'll turn down the inputs and have another stab.

I've got the axn in bits again after fixing it. I'm rerouting the motor wiring, rx, esc and cutting a hatch in the belly.

[Billy_boy_2010]

It's all a learning experience for sure. But 20s?

Programme dual rates and maybe a bit of expo. That way if she's too twitchy you can flick to lower rates and see if that helps.

I flew my axn almost entirely with ailerons don't see why people feel the rudder is so vital.

Turning up to a flying club once or twice really isn't that much of a commitment. If someone's nice they will buddy box with you and you can probably have about half an hour in the air with them. In that time they will save your skin about 5-10 times after which you can fly alone and get better alone.

[ThunderstruK]

What trouble are you actually having that's causing you to crash? Are you putting in too much input, or too little orthe same as your earlier video?

[electrotor]

The tendency is for newbies to over control, then over control the other way to compensate and they get into a vicious circle. Then within seconds it all stops abruptly courtesy of terra firma. This sounds like what is happening. Stability would dampen this but not really teach you how to fly.
My AXN flew like an oven ready turkey until I mixed in rudder.
I think you really need hands-on help.

[FPVSteve]

Dial the throws back and put some expo in (if you can) so that it's not so abrupt and twitchy. You really don't need loads of movement on the control surfaces to make it turn (nor do you want it to turn quickly at this stage). Maybe 5mm up and down from center max.

Put the rudder mix back in, it'll make it handle better (and give you more turning authority if you do the above).

Then fly it on a fairly calm day.

GET ALTITUDE! before you try to turn :) And keep the airspeed up.

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

OK, it looks like I need to sort out my rates and expos. When I use ailerons the axn goes almost knife edge and sort of goes into a curving dive, that's what is causing me the most problems. Looking at the ailerons on the ground under input the travel is about 2cm in both directions so I highly suspect that's part of my problem. I did intend to film my 2nd flight yesterday but was short on time and forgot my gopro.

I'm hopeful the next flight will go better. For dual rates do you think 25% is a good place to start?

Thanks for all the help
P

[markwilliams]

Yep those throws are way too high.

You can move the control rods. On the servo end move the rod to a hole closer to the servo. On the control surface end move the rod to a hole further away from the surface.

When you have your throws down to about 10mm each way you can set up dual rates at about 60-70% on a switch. It may not sound like much but it will make a difference.

Now try to set up some expo. 30% should be OK.

If you are not sure how to set up your radio just search on youtube. There are hundreds of tutorials for just about every radio there is.

Like Steve said try and launch in an area where you can get some height without have to turn too much. Height is your friend. Not too heigh though.

Take it slow. Just try circling overhead left hand circuits then right hand circuits. You will probably find you will prefer one way more than the other.

Keep with it. I gave up loads of times but am now getting on OK. I do cheat though with an AP for stabilisation.

Mark.

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

Thanks Mark. I'll give those tips a try. I followed Bruces xjet youtube axn build to the letter including his servo horn recommendations, which are clearly to much for me.

It's shitty weather for the next couple of days so I won't get out. But my axn is stripped anyway so needs rebuilding.

Thanks for your help.
P

[markwilliams]

You're most welcome :)

[electrotor]

The AXN Cloud appears under another name - BMI Arrow. The manual is a whole lot better than the one I got with my AXN but unfortunately will not upload despite being a pdf and under the max. file size. I have extracted the relevant part on control throws. However this indicates throws which are twice that of another similar manual I have. It's puzzling.