Here's a mini-review. I managed to pick-up one of Wil's new FM-9 timer systems at Toledo, have not had a chance to fly it but it is very easy to walk through settlings on the ground. The programming box has a large easy to read display. Minimum flight time is now 1 minute so test flights just got even shorter. Key up or down to set flght time, it is reasurring to set the flight time to the second - far closer and easier than what we could do with the pots. Ditto the delay setting.
It will work with several different ESC's and programming modes. It sets the RPM by percengtage of PWM. The full range in Phx High Gov is 8,040 to 12,880. Thus we are certainly safe. I think the increments are small enough about 70 RPM) to be useful. The RPM setting scheme is similar for the Hacker, Hacker 1/2A, Jeti-Spin, & Schulze, but the increments (and presumably the range) are somewhat different for each brand.
It is clear that this new timer will be a god-spend you guys using Hi-gov mode. You can throw away your optical tachs and dial in the RPM you want, and adjust it in precise increments. You can also easily bump up or down in small discrete steps if conditions change and know exactly what you get. In my mind this makes it light years easier to use Hi-gov than it was before. In fact I would be willing to try Hi-gov because I would feel certain about the exact RPM I am setting.
For Castle's Set RPM mode, you can program in RPM 1,2,or 3 as before, and that calls-up whatever RPM you have in the ESC.
The only other difference is that it will be important to mount the timer where it is accessible to get to the two plugs needed to program the timer. However, it is no longer necessary to mount the timer where you can access the pots. In fact I would envision sliding the timer into a pocket, slipping it out to program it then tucking it away again. Of course you can still use a remote starting switch.
For simple ESC's like the Arrowind (Super Clown), E-Flite, or Turnigy, the new timer lets you call up the throttle setting in percents, then has 15 different "throttle-up" schedules to maintain flight speeds as the battery drains. The max throttle is limited to 91% of PWM signal with the remainider held in reserve for throttle up. This should let us get all that is available from the simple ESC's.
There is also a simple non-compensating throttle mode that will let you access all 100% throttle, but will of course give up RPM as the battery wears down.
It seems Mr. Hubin keeps coming up with very useful innovations. The ability to incrementally change RPM settings (in High Gov mode) without a tach or a PC is a great leap forward. The "no-doubt" settings for flight time and delay are also valuable. For those of us flying fleets of electric airplanes with different ESC's the FM-9 will be a great all-purpose timer.