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Machinistdude · 11-21-2010, 12:37 PM

Has anybody seen or heard of installing an Align 3g 3 axis gyro system in a 3D plane. I have read about installing 3 separate gyro's but am wondering if it's been done before.
I am currently building an Extra 300 32e from Eflite and have a 3g system to try.

Ace4 · 11-22-2010, 10:30 AM

If you can set it to operate 90 deg (like mechanical ccpm), you could conceivably try it. I'm not sure I would test it on a balsa plane since you can't really set the gains without flying it, do you have any foamies that you could test it in first?

Machinistdude · 11-22-2010, 11:12 AM

I don't have any foamies but I have an old Biplane that I can sacrifice as an experiment.

Mojappa · 11-23-2010, 12:21 PM

Don't have much knowledge to offer but I would turn the gain way down and set it to a switch at first and then dial it up, could get outta hand fast and a switch could be the difference between a failed test and a totalled airplane testing a gyro.

Paul Hinz · 11-23-2010, 11:35 PM

When gyros are used in a airplane they have to rate gyros. Heading hold gyros do not work. Back some years ago a turbine jet had a Rate/Heading Hold gyro on the rudder when they switched it in to heading hold it did not let the tail weathervane and caused all sorts of problems.

Paul

Machinistdude · 11-24-2010, 07:50 PM

If I've figured correctly the 3g is rate mode on elevator and aileron as it centers itself no matter what the orientation is and the rudder can be set to rate mode only. I'll check this out before I fly and I will set the gains near the bottom of travel. If I turn them off completely the servos won't function.

Machinistdude · 01-03-2011, 06:50 PM

Just got back from my maiden flight on the 300. For the first try with a gyo I went with an align 780 running 5% in rate mode on the rudder only.

The plane took off and landed dead straight (4 times) with no rudder input from me, in a small cross wind (runway is quite narrow and the wind doesn't usually flow that way). Rolls were very linear and knife edge was almost too easy. The only thing I have to get used to is using the rudder to assist in sharp turns as the plane wants to stay on axis. I tried a little hovering but the cold weather really put a damper on my flight times, that and ice build up on the wings.

Next I will try to install a 3G from my Trex 500 and see what happens.

11-21-2010, 12:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Machinistdude Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2009	Extra 300 with gyro? Has anybody seen or heard of installing an Align 3g 3 axis gyro system in a 3D plane. I have read about installing 3 separate gyro's but am wondering if it's been done before. I am currently building an Extra 300 32e from Eflite and have a 3g system to try.

11-23-2010, 12:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mojappa Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2009	Don't have much knowledge to offer but I would turn the gain way down and set it to a switch at first and then dial it up, could get outta hand fast and a switch could be the difference between a failed test and a totalled airplane testing a gyro. __________________ THIS IS MY SIGNATURE. THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT BUT THIS ONE IS MINE.

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11-22-2010, 10:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ace4 Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2004	If you can set it to operate 90 deg (like mechanical ccpm), you could conceivably try it. I'm not sure I would test it on a balsa plane since you can't really set the gains without flying it, do you have any foamies that you could test it in first?

11-22-2010, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Machinistdude Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	I don't have any foamies but I have an old Biplane that I can sacrifice as an experiment.

11-23-2010, 11:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul Hinz Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Sep 2004	When gyros are used in a airplane they have to rate gyros. Heading hold gyros do not work. Back some years ago a turbine jet had a Rate/Heading Hold gyro on the rudder when they switched it in to heading hold it did not let the tail weathervane and caused all sorts of problems. Paul

11-24-2010, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Machinistdude Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	If I've figured correctly the 3g is rate mode on elevator and aileron as it centers itself no matter what the orientation is and the rudder can be set to rate mode only. I'll check this out before I fly and I will set the gains near the bottom of travel. If I turn them off completely the servos won't function.

01-03-2011, 06:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Machinistdude Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	Just got back from my maiden flight on the 300. For the first try with a gyo I went with an align 780 running 5% in rate mode on the rudder only. The plane took off and landed dead straight (4 times) with no rudder input from me, in a small cross wind (runway is quite narrow and the wind doesn't usually flow that way). Rolls were very linear and knife edge was almost too easy. The only thing I have to get used to is using the rudder to assist in sharp turns as the plane wants to stay on axis. I tried a little hovering but the cold weather really put a damper on my flight times, that and ice build up on the wings. Next I will try to install a 3G from my Trex 500 and see what happens.

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