PHugger
Church Meal Expert
I haven't updated this thread for a while and it so happens that I have some free time tonight waiting for spackle to dry (on a wall).
I got the Fortis flying with the default Naze settings for a tricopter. The defaults are poor and it didn't fly well. I tried David new Naze firmware and had more fun (read about it HERE). I had a lot of hard landings and many broken props (since switched to cheap Gemfans). The legs or landing gear on the Fortis are made out of laser cut Delrin and look like this -
The legs are simply attached to the boom with cable ties. You can choose the size and number. It's a nice design that fails at the cable tie. I was failing a lot and spent a good bit of time reattaching legs after each less than vertical landing. I needed something more forgiving while I was learning to fly this machine. My first idea was to take some slices of a 4" rubber pipe union. I cut the slices on my table saw and filled basement with thick smelly smoke.
These worked, but not well. They are too flexible (almost floppy, especially when warm) and heavy. I was starting to think about just using some 4" PVC pipe when inspiration struck at the Dollar Store. At this same time I was trying to work out how to do something to the frame to help with orientation (I'm still just flying LOS). They had a 3 pack of softball sized wiffle balls two pink and one yellow. This solved of both of these issues. I present to you the Wifflecopter -
The orientation is great and they work good for landings. I'm not moving horizontally so fast anymore when I land and I fully intend to take these training wheels off eventually and put the OEM legs back on. I'll really miss the bright colors, but maybe some LEDs are in my future. I'm getting more comfortable with flying it and starting to find it relaxing.
Best Regards,
PCH
I got the Fortis flying with the default Naze settings for a tricopter. The defaults are poor and it didn't fly well. I tried David new Naze firmware and had more fun (read about it HERE). I had a lot of hard landings and many broken props (since switched to cheap Gemfans). The legs or landing gear on the Fortis are made out of laser cut Delrin and look like this -
The legs are simply attached to the boom with cable ties. You can choose the size and number. It's a nice design that fails at the cable tie. I was failing a lot and spent a good bit of time reattaching legs after each less than vertical landing. I needed something more forgiving while I was learning to fly this machine. My first idea was to take some slices of a 4" rubber pipe union. I cut the slices on my table saw and filled basement with thick smelly smoke.
These worked, but not well. They are too flexible (almost floppy, especially when warm) and heavy. I was starting to think about just using some 4" PVC pipe when inspiration struck at the Dollar Store. At this same time I was trying to work out how to do something to the frame to help with orientation (I'm still just flying LOS). They had a 3 pack of softball sized wiffle balls two pink and one yellow. This solved of both of these issues. I present to you the Wifflecopter -
The orientation is great and they work good for landings. I'm not moving horizontally so fast anymore when I land and I fully intend to take these training wheels off eventually and put the OEM legs back on. I'll really miss the bright colors, but maybe some LEDs are in my future. I'm getting more comfortable with flying it and starting to find it relaxing.
Best Regards,
PCH
