Can 6-axis mode be trimmed first with the Aura 5?

[PeterG]

Hello,

I am working on a trimming procedure for the FT Aura 5 for my students (here's the current version) and am hoping I can have them fly and learn how to trim while in 6-axis mode first so their airplanes survive long enough to GET to 3-axis and gyro-off modes.

In the Flite Test Aura 5 Field Setup vid, Josh trims it first with the gyro off.

Will there be problems trimming in 6-axis mode before trimming with the gyro off? Google gemini thinks so...

Thanks!

 

[LitterBug]

The accelerometer will compensate for the plane being out of trim, so yes it will be problematic to try to trim it in autoleveling mode.

 

[Piotrsko]

Or you could go really old school and mechanically trim it to fly hands off. The trim electronics will just alter settings enough to fly stable. Unsure if it that includes altitude control without an altimeter but gps does have altitude capabilities and you could get decent flights by just averaged acceleration.

You are aware of chat systems lying lately? Seems to be a "thing"

 

[PeterG]

Talked to Eric at Flight Innovations. He says it should be fine to start students flying and do initial trimming in 6 axis mode.

@Piotrsko - that would be epic! Unfortunately, completely out of reach for never-flown-before pilots.

 

[LitterBug]

Flex videos say you need to trim 3 axis and 6 axis seperately. I always assumed trimming one would do them all.

 

[Piotrsko]

Talked to Eric at Flight Innovations. He says it should be fine to start students flying and do initial trimming in 6 axis mode.

@Piotrsko - that would be epic! Unfortunately, completely out of reach for never-flown-before pilots.

Actually, 60+ years ago, that is how you learned to fly RC aircraft: manually trim for gentle left hand climb, leave it alone until you're way up there then try stuff. Wasn't anybody around to help and if it was set up right you could get 3 mistakes before hitting ground bad enough to break it. Backwards rudder on inbound flight was often the major killer also "hey, watch this!!" . Everyone had freeflight experience where you learned how to set stuff up for the gentle climbing turn. You also started with rudder only then after a while you added elevator control and THAT is when you started breaking stuff. Dont forget winding the rubberband used as a servo motor or galoping ghost

 

[PeterG]

Actually, 60+ years ago, that is how you learned to fly RC aircraft: manually trim for gentle left hand climb, leave it alone until you're way up there then try stuff. Wasn't anybody around to help and if it was set up right you could get 3 mistakes before hitting ground bad enough to break it. Backwards rudder on inbound flight was often the major killer also "hey, watch this!!" . Everyone had freeflight experience where you learned how to set stuff up for the gentle climbing turn. You also started with rudder only then after a while you added elevator control and THAT is when you started breaking stuff. Dont forget winding the rubberband used as a servo motor or galoping ghost

Interesting! That makes more sense - if you had the building/trimming skills from free flight models, it would be much more doable to get your first RC model trimmed out.

My students are very inexperienced: coming from EZs, building Mini-Explorers, and then launching on their own. It surprises me how difficult it can be to get an airplane to launch properly - even when you think you've followed the instructions!

 

[PeterG]

Flex videos say you need to trim 3 axis and 6 axis seperately. I always assumed trimming one would do them all.

Eric at Flex said exactly that: all gyro modes share the same trim.

I'm not sure why the videos say to trim 3 and 6 axis differently. He did say he usually trims quite a few times to get it perfect.

I'm also not sure if the the "gyro off" trim is shared as well, or if that has it's own trim settings.

Starting out I have my students just flying and trimming in 6-axis, which is working pretty well.

 

[LitterBug]

well, three axis modes probably share with each other, but six axis needs different trim for the accelerometer/ autoleveling. And manual may trim out different as well. I need to play with it at the field lhen look at the results in the configurator.