Typhoon 3D

Maidened my Park Zone Typhoon 3D yesterday (the original, not the Typhoon 2) that I got for $65 on close out from AirLand Hobbies. Holy !@$#, that was a handful. None of the surfaces were right, despite "looking" lined up ok. Thing jumped off the deck like I was use to from the simulator, but then it was pitching, rolling and diving. Even with lower rates it was full time panic, while I tried to gain some altitude and get the trims set.

Dual/Triple Rates and Expo

There is a pretty good web page that describes how exponential rates work (the negative vs. positive expo on JR vs. Futaba sort of messes me up too). I also put together a quick Control Rates XLS spread sheet to graphically demonstrate how the control surface should move with various rates and expo settings for a given stick movement and to help myself visualize how the response works for setting targets on my Futaba 7CAP. I am thinking about trying to even do a 3D plot to incorporate subtle p-mixing, but that is probably overkill. For now, this allows me to visualize what I want to do to moderate response around center, but still get full range response for 3D flight. The file currently has a setting for user settings, demonstrating how to limit the beginner's tendancy to "over control", but still deliver the same initial sensitivity/response with 65% rates and 70% positive expo.

Easy Star

I just built my Easy Star kit and got it all setup. Here are some pics with the HXT 2835 2700kV brushless motor installed, and a Turnigy Sentry 25A BESC with a Zippy 2200mAh 3S1P LiPo. I put the BESC on the outside to try to help keep the heat down. The HXT motor sure seems to run hot (hope it isn't a dud). I still have to pop the Hitec Neutron 6S Rx with HS81 servos in and get the push rod throws adjusted as well as make a final CG measurement. Hopefully I can maiden her tomorrow. Found a good EZ* Fan Site page too.

Wild Hawk

Just maidened my Wild Hawk. Got it from HF for $79, plus 20% off (they had to price match the web site and then do the 20% off coupon). Moved the battery forward and put packing tape around the rear fuse and nose. The thing still wants to really stall when under power (seems too tail heavy). I'm about 3.2" back from leading edge on CG. Without power, it is actually pretty balanced and this thing will soar/glide forever. I landed it 3 times and I did like 4 other low speed glide slopes past and then powered up and took it back up. It definately needs more rudder. I'm in the closest hole and there were times I thought the radio was spazzing out on me (maybe it was, actually, it doesn't seem to stay very stable) and turning the opposite way I wanted it to go. Still, just drop power and things get much more controllable. It loops very nice, especially if you get just a little down elevator and speed. I'm definately going to try to swap out the RX and servos out and pair it up with my Hitec mini 6s, HS-55's and Futaba 7CAP that is coming in the mail. Hopefully that cleans up the signal a little. Maybe even replace the motor and speed controller with the Turnigy 25A plush and HXT 2835-2700.

Cheaper...Wild Hawk

Of course, once Harbor Freight starts carrying these, you can begin considering them "disposable". The Wild Hawk is a knock off clone cheap version of the EPP foam Easy Star. Super forgiving, very cheap, and easy to fly...got to see if our local Harbor Freight has one.

Check out the Wild Hawk.

Crash...Thrice!

I went ahead and bought an Aerobird Xtreme from Hobby Zone off Ebay for $80. It was used, but only had a problem with the elevator control horns and a broken canopy (and that seems like it was all just shipping damage, everything was in new sealed containers and it didn't look wreaked or anything. Fixed all that, got a 7.2v 3800mAh NiMH pack off Amazon for longer flights (compared to the 1700mAh stock one). Also found that the prop was busted, so went to the local hobby store, Hobby Town USA and got two new ones as well as the sonic combat module to try to see if I could play with my friend and his older Aerobird Commander original.

Who needs a flight sim...

...when you have some of the cool new stuff they are doing with electric model R/C planes and full motion, light weight, hi-resolution video with GPS overlays and head tracking servo control. Wow.



The Fields - Easystar FPV Onboard Camera from Oliver Fietz on Vimeo.

Summer months coming to a close

We have been spending a lot of time up at our cabin in Cascade, so I haven't had any time to really do any development work on the hardware side of the cockpit. For now, I've just been flying as many different missions and planes as I can on my current mock setup to make sure it has everything I want to have addressed. I really need to install Descent 3 again and just try it out on the wide display too. Maybe even Mech Warrior II. But mostly, I'm just getting use to all the settings, getting familar with all the different GPS knobs and the amazing depth that the G1000 has (including runway approach information, elevation and everything info on almost every airport you can think of). I'm also trying to find optimal configurations for all the different planes and stuff to make sure that my current stack of monitors is going to be the best support. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get a lighted keyboard to mount up in the top front of the cockpit to just provide some sort of access, and I will probably have to have a wireless mouse somewhere. Beyond that, I have to figure out position and overall layout for all 6 of the monitors, the flight yoke, rudder pedals, 6 quad throttle stack, fighter flight stick and fighter throttle stick. It is all going to have to probably start with the chair and for that, I need to get some time to go to a junk yard and get a nice cloth seat...

Six Monitor Flight Sim Goodness

I finally got my second nVidia GeForce 8800 GT card in, so that I could run all 4 virtual monitors (two 15" touch screens, one 8" touch screen, and the three 19" monitors that make up the virtual TH2Go main display) in Vista. After multiple fatal crashes with just about every nVidia driver I could use when running FSX, I finally disabled DX10 preview in FSX and it all works just fine. Frame rates seem moderately stable with my medium high to high detail settings (no AA or anything fancy) in sparsely populated areas at 10-15fps...not great...but tolerable. I'll go work on tweaking and overclocking for performance later.




I've really been irritated fighting having to resetup all my flight panels on the auxilliary monitors each time after you crash (grin) or restart a flight. I've been running in full screen and saving the setup, but when you reload, all the panels popup onto the main display (????). I'd read a lot about trying it in "windowed" mode, but also a lot of cautions that this can hurt performance too (ESPECIALLY if you have a window even SLIGHTLY over lap from one monitor onto another), but that it seemed to fix the save issue (though you have to always launch the same flight, and then load new plane, location, time, flight plan, etc.). Still a little bit of a PITA, but not nearly as much as having to drag all the panel and resize them onto all the auxillary monitors. And performance doesn't seem too bad, and you can mostly hide the window top frame off the monitor edge and have the windows start bar "autohide" down to get 99% of the visual (yeah, there is a slight issue with the border all around that you can see, but it isn't bad).

And, OMFG, how much do I love having the DECM (Dual Engine Control Module) and AutoPilot on that 8" touch screen, and I wont even start in about how beautiful the 15" touch displays with all the interactive touch glory of the PFD/MFD is. For now, the Baron 58 Beachcraft is one of the BEST planes I've found with a full compliment of glass cockpit and all the other stacks. Many of the others default FSX planes, it seems, have skimped on the 2D panels available in favor of the virtual cockpit (which is ok for most setups on a single monitor, the VC is better). I'm sure a little work can drag most of the panels up to snuff on many/most of the planes, it just does suck to have to do it for planes that should have a pretty complete set already. I love tapping the AP vertical speed rate up and down and having it control my climb outs and everything. Even get to see the little trim wheels on the panels twirl. Becareful, though...grin, NAV autopilot will turn you right into a mountain if you aren't up at altitude yet (a problem when climing out on runway 30 in Cascade, ID U70).

Now, my biggest problem is not having monitor cables long enough and enough desktop realestate for all the monitors to be positioned appropriately. It is close to getting time to begin the garage prototyping of the cockpit, I think.

Touch Screen Goodness

I finally gave up (for now) getting twin video cards (of different vendor/chipsets) working in Vista (even with old XPDM drivers, as lots of stuff native to Vista quits working when you do that, if you can even get them installed). And I just focused on getting ONE of my flat panel 15" touch screens working. It frustrates me that I can't seem to save the position of the instruments on the second monitor, so I have to resize, move and orient the PFD onto the second panel every time (even if you crash, it is like quitting and reloading back in, and all the panels are reset). I haven't found anyone else able to size them and place them onto second monitors by default yet, but I'm playing with the SDK to look at the panel/guage config files to see if there is something I can do in there. So far, it is only sizing/moving initial location on the primary display.

But, the good news is, once you get them moved over there, the touch screen 15" display if flipping awesome with the PFD on there. The twin dials (inner/outter ring) sometimes can be a little touchy (no pun intended) to get exactly what you want, but it isn't too bad. And the soft menu keys and headding dial and everything else, including the nav/com tuner buttons all work flipping great! Also, I've begun to like putting the autopilot panel up at the top of the 15" as well as the toggle switch pannel (starters, mags, lights, de-icers, flap controls, etc.). It is so cool to just touch the toggle, and have it respond. And the auto pilot controls are excellent on a touch screen. I think these will ultimately reside perfectly on the 8" LCD touch screen, so I'll have the twin 15" touch screens with the PFD and MFD displays, then the 8" will have the Autopilot, toggle/ignition panel, and probably the fuel mixture/cowl controls (I'm even playing around with the XML gauges, to see if I can just make them all rolled into one custom panel). So far, I don't see a whole lot of down sides to running "virtual" instruments in my cockpit design, and ultimately, it seems the most flexible way to get different cockpit orientations (i.e. fighter jet, private twin prop, and commercial airliner).

I plan to just probably run XP and then I can run two video cards of non-homogonous manufacturer/chipset, which should support the TH2Go, twin 15" touch, and 8" touch very nicely. With the TrackIR, each touch screen, yoke, throttle quad, rudder pedals, jet TQS, and fighter stick each using a USB port, I think it is obvious I'm going to have to invest in a single 8 or 10-port powered USB hub too, just to simplify some of the cable routes and connections to the PC.

Also, I just got up a screenshots page of some of my in flight pictures.