Swift 16 takes flight.

[New-heli-pilot]

Hey guys,

To Azteck's question, No Im using a 2600mah 12cell Ni-Mh.

And for Jame's question I usually get around 7-10 minutes flight time, I just go until one of a few things happens:
1.I crash 2:Crash landing 3:Heli starts acting weird 4:It feels like its been about long enough for one flight, or finally 5: I get the temptation to do something which might lead to a crash .

A better way is to set a timer and all that, but a decent way to tell is that once it starts taking a lot more power than normal to keep the helicopter up you should probably land and quit.

Anyways I know what you mean Azteck by all the sudden it just clicks, one battery I had no control, the next one Im hovering solid in gusty winds. If anyone has more questions about the swift (just remember I'm still new to helis and and just now starting ff) I am always glad to answer what I can.

Hope that was any help,
John

[Aztek1701]

Just in response to James question and a bit of a caution to John if he decides to switch to Lipos.

You cant afford to run Lipos until they are flat (or the heli starts acting wierd, lol) because, if Lipos drop below a certain voltage (I think its 2.7 v per cell) the pack is rendered unusable. If you try to recharge an over drawn pack, they will swell up and could explode. (Ive seen video of this... Nasty)

Ive heard Lipos described as being like Nuclear power, clean and lots of it but dangerous if abused.

Its for that reason that usually lipo powered helis have a voltage alarm of some sort. This ensures that the packs dont get cooked.

Take care.... Azzy

[james]

Hey john
just curious here, can you do 3d stuff with a swift? because i would love to be able to do 3d things when i become good enough even though thats going to be a while yet!!
cheers
james

[uneverno]

Originally Posted by Aztek1701

Ive heard Lipos described as being like Nuclear power, clean and lots of it but dangerous if abused.

Its for that reason that usually lipo powered helis have a voltage alarm of some sort. This ensures that the packs dont get cooked.

Take care.... Azzy

Nice analogy - indeed they are.
My speed control has two adjustable low voltage cut offs - a soft cut which will reduce draw on the battery if it's getting low - allowing you to land and a hard cut which protects the battery from dropping below a user set voltage. I have hard cut set at 9v (i.e. 3v per cell). Then I don't have to worry about mis-setting a timer, or guessing.
Also important to keep the packs balanced, as most chargers and ESC's only see total pack voltage. Even well balanced, good cells will charge and discharge at slightly different rates which could lead to an imbalanced situation within the pack over time. Back to the Chernobyl thing

John - how much bigger is the Swift than the Elite pro? (Like T-rex size or bigger?)

Regs,
Emil

[New-heli-pilot]

Ive never really saw a Trex up close, but Im going to guess bigger, its supposed to be a .30 sized. Mine is using 550mm blades if that helps. Also the motor is a lightning 600, so does that make it a 600 class heli?

Edit: Btw, yes James the Swift is capable of 3D. Ill post a link to a video here in a little while

John

[New-heli-pilot]

Here is a review of the swift, also there is a video on there. Another video of the swift can be found at the bottom of the first post on this page.


John

[Aztek1701]

Just to add to that 3D thing, Adam Turner flying a Swift won the Clubman 3D event in the UK this year beating many nitros. Its the only electric heli to win a big event. Saying that, Im sure Alan Szabo was flying a T-Rex 600 at the 3D Masters this year so Im betting it wont be the only one for long. Is is bigger than a T-Rex, yes. about 1.5 times bigger than a T-Rex 450 but about the same size as a t-rex 600.

Take care... Azzy

[New-heli-pilot]

Does anyone else like flying helicopters better without the canopy? I am almost scared to fly my Swift with the canopy on after my experience with my first ESC. I know the canopy probably protects all of the equipment better, but it also seems to push the ESC's wires into a servo pushrod, just barely, so will this affect it too much. Only reason I am asking is because I plan on making a Christmas flight for my family. Look in my photo gallery, it kind of shows where the ESC is mounted, and how the wires would get in the way. Bythe way, the servo wires have been re-done since those photo's were taken, there is now no loose wires hanging all over, servo ones anyways.


John