Pilot-Rc 103” Laser V3 - CG, radio setup, flight characteristics

Lately I've been getting a lot of questions about the setup details on my new PilotRC 103" Laser V3, including Frsky receivers, CG, dual rates, expos and general thoughts about its flying characteristics. This video should answer most of those questions :-)
I also show how I setup the Frsky TD R18 and TDMX for redundancy.
Pilot-RC 103" Laser V3: tailslideaviat...
FrSky X20S: www.frsky-rc.c...
FrSky TD R18: www.frsky-rc.c...
FrSky TDMX: www.frsky-rc.c...

[@marcojaric4030]

usas alargaderas de servo con cable de mas seccion como el de powerbox o el normal de toda la vida?

[@skyboundrc]

Ultimamente he utilizado estas extensiones: tailslideaviation.com/pro-line-male-to-male.html

[@tonym995]

Hi Juan! What oil and ratio do you mix it at? I bought a 16oz Redline can and mixed it with 5 gallons of gas but it looks pretty clear still. That should be a 40:1 ratio if I’m not mistaken. Thanks for your help!!

[@skyboundrc]

Yeah, that’s correct. 40:1 with redline is what I use too

[@robertsonnel2826]

Great flying and video! Thanks:)

[@beyondxtream4056]

Expo percentage 4:08 . . . . I think it's depend of transmitter brand: . . . . if servo is max +140 and -140 . . . then 60% is not the same if your brand relates 60% to +100 and -100 . . . . so for one it's 60%, for another it's similar at 80%

[@olaf20011]

Not sure this really holds true. The %-servo travel on the Tx is not decisive, it's rather the max surface deflection achieved in your setup (servo + mechanical). Think of expo as an non-linerar (exponential 😉) modulator in relation to the max travel of your surface. If max is achieved by 150% or 80% on the servo doesn't matter as long as the surface deflection is same at either setting (which can be assumed as usually you would aim for a certain degree of deflection). This does not take into account different algorhythms used by the various Tx manufacturers.

[@alexyanguas2950]

Mejor 55° en profundidad.

[@GünterKail]

hello Juan, did you take a nfc radio switch on your plane ?

[@skyboundrc]

Yes, I have an NFC switch in the laser.

[@arnaudfontaine2340]

What gyros do you use ?

[@skyboundrc]

As I mentioned in the video, I don't use gyro on this plane or in my other propeller aerobatic planes. In turbines, I've been using Cortex Pro and I'm now testing a FrSky stabilized gyro in a FMS Viper 70mm EDF

[@dancalhoun7011]

Juan, Randy is having serious issues with his new plane having aileron glitching almost to the point of crashing. He had an Archer R10, that had a problem then last night Monday changed to a Td R10 still had an issue today. I see you are adding a TDMX to your setup which may be the problem that he is having, He might need that redundant RX.

[@skyboundrc]

Randy Allen?

[@dancalhoun7011]

@@skyboundrc Randy is our trainer, heavy set guy that trains new people Flys 3 D also.

[@dancalhoun7011]

Also if you go to amos rc on KZbin you will see who is.

[@skyboundrc]

@@dancalhoun7011 yeah, that's Randy Allen, I just reached out to him in Facebook to try to help figure out what's going on. A TDMX is nice to have, but definitely shouldn't be required

[@markdrury7879]

Please could you show your throttle servo setup, including radio many thanks

[@skyboundrc]

I've gotten this question multiple times, so I probably should make a video about this, but in the meantime: my personal preference has always been trying to keep it as simple and linear as possible. I do very little here. I mainly put effort in the mechanical geometry (similar to what you would do with servo to any other flight surface, ensuring that I use as much travel as possible in the servo, and the movement of the carb arm is mostly linear).

[@markdrury7879]

@skyboundrc it might have been in a previous video but you mentioned about wanting it to hover at about 50 to 60 percent stick input, I find it wants to hover mich lower than this?

[@skyboundrc]

@@markdrury7879 is the throttle response linear? If so, that would mean you have an overpowered plane. In my experience, what usually happens is that people setup gas engines with a servo that doesn't have a very linear movement to the carburetor, and they get a quick response at the first 25/50% of the trottle, and the top 50% doesn't do much

[@fedesilvi6965]

You use gyro?

[@skyboundrc]

No gyro in my prop planes. I don’t radio like the way they feel for aerobatics and I’m just used to flying without them

[@GünterKail]

hello Juan, now its done 😜 I put in the Frsky Servos on all position on my Laser V3 103" and the same RX setup also a nfc radio switch on the engine cut of I have a AR ibec ! on ailerons I run BLS5403H and on elevator and ruder BLS5404H on the throttle the HVS5451H all on Fbus ! but each servo got a extra whirring to get the power to the servos ! - do you agree ? with this set up ? also i will install smoke - the pump should running over the TDR18 - do you think that works good or should I take a extra bat for that ? or what do you think about the RX Akkus how big an witch - lipo or liio - my choice are the jeti power ion 3100 should I go bigger ? so a big list of questions - and its so nice that I can get so good infos over your experience on models like this - thanks for all ! ... and by the way your video with Lior was really great !!! greazz from Austria - Kaili

[@skyboundrc]

hi! The servo selection sounds great to me. What do you mean with "each servo got a extra whirring to get the power to the servos"? Regarding smoke pump, I haven't used that in a while, but I know lots of people simply power it from the receiver directly. Just make sure to do some tests in the ground before flying to ensure everything is working properly. For RX batteries, Anything around the 3000mAh will be good. I usually use LIPOs, but I think those Jeti power ion 3100 have also good discharge capacity.

[@GünterKail]

I meen about the whirring like each servo get en extra full Servoextention not an Y-Kable to the tow wing servos for Aleron for example - I do it like normal used Servos and konected to the receiver via Fbus not as a PWM Servos ! how do you do the servomatching of the to servos on the aileron for example ? ok the mechanical side is for sure normal but I mean the electronic side on Frsky ! thats super interesting for me !

[@skyboundrc]

Most people (myself included) run separate cables for each aileron to the receiver. You need to get the geometry of the linkages of both servos to be as close as possible, and then do the fine tune servo matching in the radio (modify center point and end points for each channel)

[@GünterKail]

@@skyboundrc yes that's the way 🙂 I do that for all my planes this is the first that I do Fbus for all my servos that's the difference - when its ok for you I will inform you about the progress ! thanx for your experience !

[@skyboundrc]

@@GünterKail let us know how things go! :-)

[@DEeMONsworld]

Thanks for sharing your set ups, regarding the Frsky TDMX install with the TD 18 rx. I just completed the exact same set up on my EF Extra 300 104". I found you have to make sure to activate the ports for the TDMX into port 1 as Sbus, and aileron into whatever port you assign it to, failure to double check will cause it not to work, and there is no way of knowing if you neglect to do this. the TDMX will blink and appear to be working but actually won't be sending anything to the TD 18. I found the fool proof (I think) way to make sure all is working is to activate & bind the TDMX separately with a battery not connected to the TD 18, then do same with the TD 18, making sure to check for telemetry in the telemetry settings for each, then connect them together, making sure to activate the port assignments. I'm new to FRsky so this may be obvious to you expert users.

[@skyboundrc]

Definitely agree that the feedback to know that this is properly setup could be improved in Ethos. I use the same process as you to set things up by the way :-)

[@ryusintuphrom7354]

awesome video bro I like Crazy Crankshaft at 2:39

[@skyboundrc]

thanks Ryu!

[@monchichis333]

What's the maneuver on 3:43?

[@skyboundrc]

We usually call that 'rolling no name' (I know, it's a very strange name for a maneuver)

[@monchichis333]

@@skyboundrc Thanks! You gotta make a tutorial for that maneuver. I'm just an amateur 3d flier and slowly learning the more complex maneuvers like rifle rolls going in pattern. I'm also trying to learn ascending and descending rolling-harriers at the moment.

[@skyboundrc]

I definitely will! Hopefully weather gets a bit better soon and I get get some more recordings

[@aviation_for_live_swiss]

Can you make a video about setting up dual redundancy receivers like you use it in your laser because i also fly a td r18 and want to install the tdmx for better signal?

[@skyboundrc]

I'll see what I can do :-)

[@anupamdasrc6970]

Juan you make it look so easy ! Are you going to use your x20s on your BDX?

[@skyboundrc]

Hey Anupam! I actually sold my BDX before I received it from EA. It looks like an awesome plane and I was really excited about it, but after ordering it, I ended up starting a sponsorship with PilotRC and Global Jet Club, and it didn't make sense for me to spend money to promote a different company's product. In any case, I'm currently building a PilotRC 2.8m J10, and I'm using the X20S. I have completely switched all my models to it and pretty happy with it so far :-)

[@davidhall4398]

I love Frsky ...very interesting that you mentioned the Expo rates being higher compared to using the Spektrum Tx.

[@skyboundrc]

One advantage of having flown a couple planes on Spektrum first, then switching them to Frsky is that I was able to compare the feel of the plane without any other factors affecting things. Right away I had to bring all my expos up by 15-20% for the expos to feel similar.

[@upwardrc]

Another great video Juan! The laser looks amazing! It looks like you had something taped on top of the rudder?

[@skyboundrc]

thanks! The tape is just to avoid the rudder hinge wire from spinning around

[@upwardrc]

@@skyboundrc Ah okay. That makes sense!

[@dancalhoun7011]

Great job Juan

[@skyboundrc]

Thank you!

[@tracythomasvision]

Nice!!!

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks!