Align GP700 Gyro

[AdieSmith]

I have been using the the align GP700 with a 9256 on my Trex 700. I had a few problems with the tail drifting so decided to change the foam pads for futaba foams now it works great really impressed with its performance.

[machasm]

Good to hear.
How would you say it compares against a 401 or spartan even?

[moonmanflyer]

Nice one adie, did you make it out to the field tonight, i didn't bother with the weather looking so iffy

[AdieSmith]

Ive not flown a spartan but its defo better than a gy611 or 401. It was ok out the field you should have come out.

[moonmanflyer]

Was going to but when i was driving home it started to rain and then ash had homework to finsh so by then it was half five and i couldn't be bothered to get there for only half an hour or so, hopefully friday will be nice

[t-rex pedro]

Hi Adie

Can parameters be changed via USB or is it like the 401 adjustable pots? Why didn't you use the servo that comes with the combo?

Cheers

[AdieSmith]

So far you set it up using the rudder stick there are 5 options really easy to use, no adjustable pots. I had a 611 on it so just swapped it out for this gyro thats why im using a 9256.

[steelie600]

My 2p

Right my turn to chip in. As some of you know my K3d has been grounded fer over a month after selling my 401 in a silly moment and my Align gyro not arriving and gettin stuck at customs.

Well ive got it now and its fitted and i have a few observations. The gyro pads are poo!! No other word to describe it, far too soft and transmit too many vibes to gyro and it does seem that this gyro is very sensitive to vibes. Even with supplied metal plate it was still not behaving so i removed the pad below the plate and used a strip of 3m tape and it was lots better. Some futaba pads are on the way or maybe the spartan ones.

When you set the gyro up its fairly easy setting the limit is a bit wierd as you move the stick slowly to the max you want it to go and then go the other way again. To acheive this i had to set rudder travel to max and when set up i reduced it back to 100% so i can set it up a bit easier in flight. The one that caught me out was the delay feature, in the instructions supplied it doesnt say which way you move the stick to get delay on or off, ITS RED LIGHT ON!!! Dont ask me how i know.

Obviously you set the centre in normal mode and the switch to hh. now i think it holds really well, very consistant piro rate. I even launched into a 1/2 pie dish and it held quite well. But i thought the tail felt a little soggy on the stops they werent very crisp, well not as id like anyway, so out came the trusty 9254 and that went in the hole, and the stops seem a bit crisper but it does still feel a little soggy when stopping a right piro left is spot on, probably down to the pads.

So a little more fine tuning required im up to 70% gain on the suggested hole position on the horn (11mm) so im going out a hole to see what that turns up.

Initial thoughts: Good attempt by Align, i wouldnt say its up there with the Spartan, but its not bad and id say possibly around 601 territory, but not as good as 611. The tail servo just doesnt cut it imo it seems a bit slow compared to the 9254.

So I now intend to try a bls 251 or 8900g in there to see what happens. I think its got the makings of a very good affordable gyro but I just cant help thinking the Spartan has set the bar too high for this gyro to reach but ill keep twiddling and tuning and we'll see how we get on.