Deciding what heli to have the rescue feature on

[trillian]

I recently bought a Spirit FBL unit, kinda as an impulse buy when I saw they were in stock, but also I've been curious about them since hearing so many good things.

But then I started to wonder what heli to put it on. There are a few trains of thought but mine boiled down to one of two things which I narrowed down to just one.... what heli am I most likely to crash.

Soooo, at the moment I'm thinking I'll put it on a Beam 450 that I am building up now. The reasoning is that due to the small size it's easier to get disoriented and flying lower and closer means less time to think my way of a sticky situation.

Is anyone flying a 450 size heli with the Spirit? Just curious how it's working in general, how well it flies and also how well the rescue function can keep track of the position to 'know' when it's level.

[jasoncook]

Hi Bit random , I have a mate with a pair of beam 450,s one is FBL with RJX head hitec servos scorp motor esc just needs a FBL. The other is an airframe only, He wants £ 95 plus postage for the pair got to be a few cheap crashes to be had !!

[jimmyhorns]

Wouldnt it be better on something bigger Sheryl?... making the crash costs less?...

[jimheli]

i have it on a rap 550 with flybar , and on my TDR , it works very well on both models works flawless every time i use rescue spot on very happy . a friend has one on a trex 500 has we no are vibey models again works perfect , their are a few guys on heli freak with them on 450 size models maybe you should look their .
The unit snaps to level very fast , and is adjustable in the software it can be set from soft to violent in its reaction , i use it in acro mode so it will level from inverted or upright depending on which its nearest to at the time .

[trillian]

Wouldnt it be better on something bigger Sheryl?... making the crash costs less?...

Well, my first thought was to have it on a heli that I'm flying regularly and practising things with. I am mainly flying 700s lately, the TDR, Faifa and Triabolo (all currently with Spartans). But with those I can do any new moves 'two mistakes high' and I'm only really in danger if I get too far away and / or in low light.

So my logic on using the 450 is I could work on things like inverted stuff and backwards where it's not so critical to have the same feel as the bigger helis.

The most expensive to crash would be the Triabolo but it wouldn't be the one I'd generally grab to go work on a new move, so then it's between the TDR and the Faifa but the TDR would be much easier for mounting and wiring so maybe that's the more logical choice.

I go round and round thinking about it. I'm happy with the Vortex's so it's only this whole rescue thing.

I don't have a 550 but maybe something that size would be ideal - it would have to be something I could carry along with one of my bigger helis, usually I only bring one heli when I go to the field these days but the 450 is so easy to carry as well.

[Mike656]

I put the Spirit on my 450, just to try it out before moving it on to something bigger. Liked the way it flew, so kept it there.

[Scotvar]

i've a spirit on my Goblin 380. Flying great. I also have the rescue set up in acro mode. It does exactly what is says on the tin, really happy with it. The only time I've had to use it was due to orientation flying into a low sun (in fact I used it twice just to make doubly sure I knew which orientation I was in!).
What I would say is practise a lot on the rescue switch with a 450 sized model because they are smaller and you are in general closer to yourself. I have the feeling you'll have the spirit on your beam for a short time then will move it onto a bigger model when you realise just how capable a unit it is and just how much of a safety net feeling the bailout gives you. I had a brain on my 6hv and it was flying really nice and I was so reluctant to change it to a spirit but I'm glad I did. Like I say, I have a feeling you'll do the same and put it in one of your bigger models.

Paul

[Jez N]

Put my rescue on a 450 as fly them lower and crash them more often.

I suspect rescue will become the norm soon. Well when Angeles brings it out it will!!

[berley114]

I used to only use the BeastX on my Align 450 & 550's also had a Vbar for a while but, i changed over to the Spirit on a 450pro to try first... the spirit is excellent and the bail out works well, it is also a very robust unit as proved after a very, very hard inverted crash, (i was far too low to bail out) after rebuild the spirit was still working perfectly.
I now fly a Warp 360 and an Align 550 FBL with Spirit systems, IMO Spirit are the best... very good support too.

[Mikej]

I have mine on a 450 - but I generally only fly small helis

The Spirit is a small unit so works well on a 450, the only thing to mention (as discussed on the other thread), is just make sure that your servos and especially BEC are up to the job - you can test this easily with the unit as it has a BEC test function.

[Malc1]

I have gone for a Spirit instead of the usual V Bar for a new build soon to be started.
This with be on a OS 105 powered Gaui NX7 so I will be interested to see how it works out.

[trillian]

I have gone for a Spirit instead of the usual V Bar for a new build soon to be started.
This with be on a OS 105 powered Gaui NX7 so I will be interested to see how it works out.

My new project is a Raptor E700 gasser conversion so it had crossed my mind to use the Spirit but I also have to decide what button on my TX and get used to reaching for it. One thing about a bigger heli flying higher is you might have more time to think about it and hit the rescue button but the 450 might sharpen the old reflexes.

[wadders248]

I don't have a 550 but maybe something that size would be ideal

The Beam 600 makes a great 550! I've chopped 75mm off the boom, used a Raptor 550 belt and it balances perfectly with a 5000 pack. If you spaced a 4000 pack a bit further forward you could pack share.

I personally wouldn't use less than a 5000 on a 550, because I have the head speed high using a 1200kv motor, which is a bit harsh on packs.

[trillian]

The Beam 600 makes a great 550! I've chopped 75mm off the boom, used a Raptor 550 belt and it balances perfectly with a 5000 pack. If you spaced a 4000 pack a bit further forward you could pack share.

I personally wouldn't use less than a 5000 on a 550, because I have the head speed high using a 1200kv motor, which is a bit harsh on packs.

I am actually looking to do just that with the Beam. The reason is that I'd like to get most of my helis flying on the same size packs because right now if I want to fly the Beam it means charging a different set of packs. If I can get the Beam working as a 6s then I can charge one group of LiPos and have the choice of helis to fly. First I need to test the three blade head so for simplicity I'll leave it as a 12s setup for the moment but after that I'll be looking for a suitable motor (depending on if the three blade head works well and what headspeed I need).

[wadders248]

Three blade 550 sounds good, should be really stable! Just let me know if you need any pics or measurements.

The Quantum 4120-1200kv motor I'm using would be way too much for three blades, I get 2,300 - 2,400rpm with a 12t pinion. Although the motor is meant for the Goblin 500 and looks small, it's a powerful little beastie! If I was going to swap I would go for something like the Dominator 550 730MX 850KV motor, a bit more flexible and a brute of a motor if you need it.