FPV EasyStar test flights :)
Posted by admin on July 24, 2010
- Few days ago, I made the first test flight of my EasyStar just to look is the CG right and is the FPV Gear working properly, all in all this first test went well but due to bad weather conditions I was unable to do any further test until today
- I also found an old Pinnacle video capturing device in an Second hand electronics shop for 2$, it’s nothing special, but will do it for now until I save some money for a better device
- Here the spec. of the Dazzle USB Digital Video Creator.
- *MPEG-1 Real-Time One-Pass Encoding
* Video resolution: up to 352 x 240
* Still image resolution: up to 352 x 240
* S-Video and Composite Inputs)
- Anyway, I was thinking (thinking ≠ knowing) that the weather conditions are OK, so I went out to the field to do the testing. Unpacked all my stuff, the laptop, did all the pre-flight checks all OK except the altimeter, for some strange reason it didn’t show the real height, but I realised it almost on the end of the flight.
- After my friend (spotter) launched the EasyStar the wind started blowing like crazy, I almost crashed the plane right away but I managed it to get to some height, the whole flight was a battle against the wind ( I won
) after few minutes I tried to land the plane which seemed almost impossible, I made few turns more desperately trying to land. Than I realised that I have to land the plane immediately because the wind started to blow even stronger. So I forced the plane to land, it stopped in a corn field, my luck was that the plane survived with absolute no damage. This is the last time that I go out to the field if the weather is not absolutely stable. So, here you have the both test flight videos, the first test video is from ground, the second one is from the plane’s camera 
cheers!
hi Flugzeug
Cool video, nice view on the Bosna river.
It was really windy almost like my videoflight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8nwji83f7A
too bad that the EasyStar has no Aileron, a Gyro on the Aileron would help to stabilize the flight.
Greetings from Austria
Thank’s Viktor, I realy like your video
P.S. Thank’s for the comment
Flugzeug
cool! das naechste mal will ich aber mit!
Ja, du kannst gerne das naechste mal mit kommen
cheers!
Hi,
Really liked your video, so happy it went well for you. I’d like to say a massive thank you for documenting how you created your easy star FPV system. This has been a massive help for me and creating my easy star FPV. I’ve got 2 questions for you.
1) Aren’t you concerned that your won’t be able to get to middle part of your plane (where the ESC, OSD system, etc…) is if there is a problem? I’m think about cutting and using the foam from the undercarriage and those rare earth magnets to make a hatch on the bottom of the plan??? Do you think that it would work??? Only 20mm of space to get your fingers in though.
2) I live in a place where it is pretty windy. Do you think that use of some gyros would be worth it??? I was thinking about these gyros: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10113
I know they are heli gyros but some other people said that they worked well in there planes. Having an easy star, what do you think???
Kindest regards,
Hi Nonkey, I’m glad you like my blog.
Now to answer your two questions.:
1.) I’m not concerned about been able to get to the ESC,OSD… because all the stuff i have in it is meant to be/stay in it, everything is set up correctly.
Off course if i have to switch/change some wiring on the receiver it can be done because the only part i glued with CA is the part where the motor is mounted, everything else is been kept in place by scotch tape…
Your idea with the undercarriage and rare earth magnets is OK and should work as long your magnets are strong enough. I have seen this type of mod on few easystars but have not try it yet. As long as the undercarriage cut is not to big and want affect the construction and the stability of the plane I don’t see any reason why this method should not work
The magnets i have are really strong but they are just to big for this, here the link..
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8288&aff=151397
I would suggest you this magnets, they are round, a bit smaller and strong enough
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7645&aff=151397
2.) In order to use gyros (the one you selected will work) you have to make ailerons on the wings of your EasyStar. I would use one gyro for ailerons and one for the elevator. Is it worth it? If you want to enjoy the flight even if it’s a little bit windy YES it is worth it as long as you can adjust the gyros correctly. The only thing why i did not put them in to my plane yet is insufficient place and weight problems. But like i said after my last to flights in windy situations (the video with my new camera is uploading) i really have to figure out a way how to put all that stuff in to the plane and still be under 1kg.
I really hope i have answered your questions…
Best regards
Flugzeug
rcspotlight.com
Hi Flugzeug,
Great idea to tape instead of gluing it. I really don’t want to commit to gluing it up. I thought that you were just only going to do that for the maiden flight then you were going to glue it up later, but brilliant idea!!! Once my Easystar is up and going for a while and it is proven to be stable, I think that I may glue it. Do you think you will glue yours or will you stay with the tape?
I was thinking about gluing in the first place, but after i saw how good this tape is actually holding everything together (in the same time protects the foam from sharp grass straws and similar stuff which the plane comes across while landing) i just left it like this. Believe me it’s bulletproof
So no worries the plane will not fall apart, I’m 100% sure 
Many thanks for your advice, I’ll let you know how it goes.
Kind regards,
Nonkey
You are welcome, just let me know how it goes