Innovator Stable hover - pitch curve v. exponential v. motor governor

[wgt40w]

Have an Innovator MD530 which I am using to get experience on setting up to prepare for setting a Trex 600E to fly with a scale body - i.e. NO 3D.

Question: I find my Innovator throttle pitch control to be too sensitive when trying to hold a steady hover - the slightest stick movement (1 click) either makes the heli slowly go up or down.
I have got the motor governor engaged; I am experimenting with both altering the pitch curve ('flattening' it out around the mid stick position) AND increasing the exponential of stick movement around the mid stick position.

Which combination do you think I should go for OR should I switch off the motor governor ?

[Boggy]

if your happy with how it flies now just get rid of the ratchet no more clicks and stepped control!! !

[tiddler]

I have the Innovator MD530 as well and agree with Boggy. Get rid of the ratchet on the throttle, its a pain in the backside.
Its quite normal to have to constantly adjust pitch slightly to keep a steady altitude, so a nice smooth throttle stick is essential.

Leave the governor turned on. The speed you select will depend on what blades you are using. If your still using the foam blades make sure you don't set the governor above 1700rpm max.
But if your using wood blades then a speed of around 1900-2000rpm makes the Innovator even more stable.

Not sure what you mean about the expo, as there is no expo function relating to the throttle or pitch curves. Only to the aileron, elevator and rudder.

Important.....

1) Make sure the auto rotate switch is set to action in the throttle curve menu so you can kill the motor (Like throttle hold)

2)Before take off, don't forget to slide the throttle trim up so the motor keeps running even when the throttle stick is at low. Only slide it back down once you have landed and engaged throttle hold/Auto rotate.

[wgt40w]

Graham - nice response - thanks.
Yes, expo, I did mean expo on the elevator. Your 'Important' notes I already knew.

[CookieMan]

Lol saw the post and was just about to recommend PM'ing Graham (Tiddler) and alas - here he was!

[tiddler]

Graham - nice response - thanks.
Yes, expo, I did mean expo on the elevator. Your 'Important' notes I already knew.

Your welcome m8
The Innovator is a great heli for a novice, it got me flying easily in early days and I loved it right from the word go.
I did however change the foam blades for wood at a pretty early stage, upped the head speed and modded the curves to my taste within a couple of flights as I found the stock out of the box set up just too stodgy.

Heres a vid of one of my very early flights

In the second half of this more recent vid you'll see the same heli but now fitted with the TT GF fuselage Fast forward to about 2:28

[wgt40w]

Nice vids - What Pitch curve do you use for 'normal' ?

PS I have fitted a Fat Shark FPV camera system fitted to my MD530 (transmitting at 5.8 ghz), but I haven't yet had the courage to try even hovering using it !

[tiddler]

OK my cp curve is>>> 19%... 28%... 54%... 82%... 95%

All run at 2000rpm on wood blades.... But this may be too aggressive for you especially if your looking for a more sedate curve.

[wgt40w]

I'm about to investigate actual pitch settings. On your pitch curve - what actual settings are achieved - pitch from - ? to + ?

[tiddler]

I'm about to investigate actual pitch settings. On your pitch curve - what actual settings are achieved - pitch from - ? to + ?

At low stick I'm getting about -2 Degrees and at full stick I'm getting around +11 But I will rarely if ever need to use full throttle and find I fly mostly around mid to 3/4 stick so thinking about it I may well knock the % down a little at point 5 on the curve.

[wgt40w]

Very interesting - many thanks