No really it is.
All the talk about RC Helicopters has me doing some digging on the internet. I came across this.
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/l7TBxFEPttI&hl=en_US&fs=1
I don't see how this thing doesn't just fly apart. Not to mention just drill a largish hole in the ground. ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/googly-18.png)
Now I want one. ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/evil-18.png)
Skip to the 1 minute mark to skip the boring parts.
To quote Bob Hoskins in "The Wall"....
"EFF ME!"
That's nucking futs! ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/googly-18.png)
I believe the sound is from the blade tips going supersonic.
peter
HalfDork
1/11/13 9:07 p.m.
great googly moogly, I had no idea it was possible to do those sorts of acrobatics with a helicopter.
the last time I saw something that maneuverable (in the air), it was a dragon fly. and this just chopped it to smitherines.
PHeller
UltraDork
1/11/13 9:27 p.m.
Is that a counter-rotating dual rotor or just a single? I dont understand how it can stop while horizontal.
peter
HalfDork
1/11/13 9:37 p.m.
PHeller wrote:
Is that a counter-rotating dual rotor or just a single? I dont understand how it can stop while horizontal.
I'd like to know this too. Either that or I need to go back and take high school physics again, because something does not compute.
Single rotor with the ability to pitch the rotors positive or negative. After watching a bunch of videos they appear to kind of flop it back and forth from negative to positive and apply most of the pitch to the bottom of the rotor disk. Hard to tell, though there is a fair chance I'm going to learn, or crash trying. ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/wink-18.png)
I can't even imagine the amount of stress on the rotor components when flying like that. The forces must be impressive for something so small. Now I know why most of them are carbon fiber.
I think there may be some camera trickery afoot.
Definitely single blades. The pitch probably has equal travel positive to negitive, combined with an airfoil profile that creates lift equally right-side-up or inverted. And a power to weight ratio several orders of magnitude stronger than a real helicopter. And MAD MAD SKILLS to keep it from drilling into the ground!
And it sounds like a giant hummingbird! ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/crazy-18.png)
Ian F
PowerDork
1/11/13 11:02 p.m.
I've seen a video like this before. The guy just has skills. Simple as that. Incredible
peter wrote:
PHeller wrote:
Is that a counter-rotating dual rotor or just a single? I dont understand how it can stop while horizontal.
I'd like to know this too. Either that or I need to go back and take high school physics again, because something does not compute.
I am guessing that the force comes primarily from the tail rotor. It's also not going exactly on it's side, just mostly on it's side. There is still some downward thrust vector from the main rotors. So, kinda sorta similar to the ability of an acrobatic airplane to fly "knife edge".
The ability to vary pitch in equal amounts plus and minus, plus an INSANE thrust to weight ratio and lots and lots of practice. I couldn't afford the damage to the previous 'copters practice to get to this point, so I'll just watch this video several times ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/crazy-18.png)
A little research show the power to weight ratio is better than 1:1.
Taken from Helifreak.com. Video and commentary by the godfather of rc helis, Finless Bob
Tim Jones has built a Trex 700 electric conversion based around a prototype Castle Creations motor. The initial word was that the motor was putting out around 7 horsepower.
How ever the last thing I heard about this insane motor (supposedly after some data logging was performed) it was putting out about 10 horsepower(!). That's over 7000 watts of power output in a machine that weighs just over 5 kilos! Compare that to the stock nitro engine which produces about 3.4 hp (total fly weight here is somewhat lower though).
As an interesting side note (although a somewhat inappropriate comparison) one of the most powerful full scale helis in the world, the American millitary attack helicopter AH-64D Apache Longbow (i.e. the most powerful version) has a power to weight ratio of 0.773 horsepowers per kilo. Even in the wold of rc 3D helis that's powerful. That's how ever without any weapons, fuel or pilot. In the same way the full scale Bell222 (the Airwolf helicopter) has a ratio of 0.598 hp per kilo. Loaded and ready for combat the Apache has a power to weight ratio of 0.499 hp per kilo.
Still very powerful.
How ever, assuming this Trex700E conversion heli weighs about the same as other electric conversions "The Beast" should be approaching 2 whole horsepowers per kilo! And that's with the heavy batteries installed.
A Trex 700 is about the length of a 3 seated sofa or couch. It's very big and normally moves like "a hog" compared to smaller sizes but Tim's conversion is like a finch. It's capable of moving around more like a 50 sized heli even though it's a 90 size.
Surfice to say... power to weight ratio on this thing is sick. By far the most powerful rc heli I've ever seen.
Be sure to view in HD and crank up the volume. The blade farts on this thing nicknamed The Beast are pure music.
Here is another video of his. Simply put, this guy is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDKN9Nus2nw
Well, I tried to fix the formatting. Still working on it.
Knurled
UltraDork
1/12/13 7:24 a.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X4IqwE8EkcA
no camera foolery or trickery.. those pilots are just that good flying super powerful and super light helicopters.
and I don't think a twinblade could do those sorts of tricks.
I have a single blade.. it is hard enough for me to lift off, hover, move around the hard at a stately pace, and land again.
Landing is VERY hard.
The flying capabilities are the natural result of the awesome power-to-weight and strength-to-mass ratios possible at this scale...but that guy's flying skills? HOOOOLY E36 M3 ![](/media/img/icons/smilies/googly-18.png)
Here's another one with better quality video. This chopper is a little down on power compared to the other one, but still insane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VDdHJDQn3Y
The RC club field I use is planes on one side of the lot, heli on the other.
Never the twain shall meet.
The guys who can do all the full-on 3D heli stuff? It's all they do. I swear there's a couple guys who have been there ~every~ time I've been to the field the past 5 years. They log insane hours, and are addicted, fully.
The do a LOT of expensive crashing on the way to that level of proficiency.
There's a few guys flying 50 or 80cc Yaks or Extras who can do all the 3D stuff. I can hover and do harriers w/ a small (1m) electric foamy, but the mortality cost of a mistake w/ my 40cc extra is prohibitive.
Woody
MegaDork
1/12/13 2:23 p.m.
I wonder how many times you behead yourself learning how to do that...