Author Topic: My first E Patteren! (Read 4693 times)

Paul Taylor · « **on:** October 29, 2013, 04:05:27 PM »

Well I had a little time to kill this afternoon and stopped by the local soccer field before the soccer moms showed up. I had my one battery charged.
It was not the best pattern I ever flew because this was a new plane or at least new to me.

I flew my very first full pattern on a electric plane!!!

It was a little windy and I might have been a little fast (9400+-) but this thing pulled like a Hoss!

Prop made a funny sound when i turn a corner. Like maybe flexing? Is that normal? APC electric prop.

Did 12 laps when done with clover and a very nice landing. Plane is balanced spot on.

Cant wait for my other batteries to come in and my next flying session.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2013, 04:16:38 PM »

Quote from: Paul Taylor on October 29, 2013, 04:05:27 PM

Prop made a funny sound when i turn a corner. Like maybe flexing? Is that normal? APC electric prop.

That's normal. Mine did it more on outsides than insides.

Jason Greer · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2013, 04:40:19 PM »

Congrats Paul. Now you should come to El Dorado this weekend and join in the fun!

Jason

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2013, 04:40:32 PM »

  One thing I have noticed watching some of the newer and better electrics fly, is the difference in prop noise from plane to plane. They don't all sound alike. That makes me wonder, how much of a tuning tool can this be? More noise=more load? And vice versa? Just a curiosity, and it almost makes mechanical sense. Aerodynamics are still in play no matter what is driving the prop.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2013, 05:53:31 PM »

Quote from: Jason Greer on October 29, 2013, 04:40:19 PM

Congrats Paul. Now you should come to El Dorado this weekend and join in the fun!

Jason

Hey Jason - wish I could. Going to visit some family this weekend and maybe get some sand between my toes.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2013, 10:25:39 PM »

CONGRATS Paul!

I'd be willing to bet that IC props generate similar noises - that get drowned out by motor noises.

RandySmith · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2013, 11:00:56 PM »

Much of that noise is the props flexing and fluttering, I have watch several very carefully and you can see the prop blades get wider in the corners, you also hear it in hard corners. I have also flown 2 that when the noise happens you can feel the buzzing in the handle, and hear the nise at the exact same time, that happened with the very flexible APC E props that were on the planes.

Randy

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2013, 01:10:18 AM »

Quote from: RandySmith on October 29, 2013, 11:00:56 PM

Much of that noise is the props flexing and fluttering, I have watch several very carefully and you can see the prop blades get wider in the corners, you also hear it in hard corners. I have also flown 2 that when the noise happens you can feel the buzzing in the handle, and hear the nise at the exact same time, that happened with the very flexible APC E props that were on the planes.

Randy

That was part of my curiosity as more electric models showed up at contests and such. yeah, they run smoother, bu they still turn pretty high RPM, and on larger models, get loaded a lot due to the torque that the motors make, especially in corners like you say. And yet, most of the props looked like the flexi-flier props that park flyers use, just a bit heavier. I wonder why they need to be a certain style and shape, and why props for internal combustion engines would work just as well on a electric motor as they do on a PA61?
Just curious,
Dan McEntee

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2013, 10:34:52 AM »

IC props tend to be thicker/heavier. Folks report up to 20% higher power usage for an IC prop versus an electric when both are turned for similar speeds & flight power.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2013, 10:43:47 AM »

Quote from: Dennis Adamisin on October 30, 2013, 10:34:52 AM

IC props tend to be thicker/heavier. Folks report up to 20% higher power usage for an IC prop versus an electric when both are turned for similar speeds & flight power.

Can you use a IC prop on a electric?

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2013, 10:56:12 AM »

Yes you can, and as Dennis said, you will probably loose some efficiency.

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2013, 11:54:37 AM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on October 29, 2013, 04:40:32 PM

One thing I have noticed watching some of the newer and better electrics fly, is the difference in prop noise from plane to plane. They don't all sound alike. That makes me wonder, how much of a tuning tool can this be? More noise=more load? And vice versa? Just a curiosity, and it almost makes mechanical sense. Aerodynamics are still in play no matter what is driving the prop.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Excellent point, Dan. I think you are exactly correct and it would be something I'd investigate were I to go electric. Unfortunately, experimenting with props while holding my nose closed would be difficult.

Ted

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding. Sheeesh! (added peremptorially in breathless anticipation)

Ryan Taylor · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2013, 02:52:54 AM »

Nice! I'm going to steal a flight next time I'm home :p

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2013, 02:32:33 PM »

Quote from: Ryan Taylor on October 31, 2013, 02:52:54 AM

Nice! I'm going to steal a flight next time I'm home :p

Come and get it buddy!
Anything to get you back on the handle.

Phil Krankowski · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2013, 08:13:56 PM »

Is the noise prop flutter? Slow-fly props are known for this in the RC world. I have also seen other lightweight props flutter in static runs.

I have even had o-rings on a prop-saver come off from the vibrations.

My understanding is that a combination of prop flex and prop stalling is taking place. The sound is awful.

Giving an airplane throttle just to have the prop and plane part company is worse.

Phil

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2013, 01:41:32 PM »

What plane is your electric set-up on?

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #16 on:** November 01, 2013, 09:38:25 PM »

Quote from: Allen Eshleman on November 01, 2013, 01:41:32 PM

What plane is your electric set-up on?

The plane is a Tutor II profile. All Tom Morris stuff.

Juan Carlos Pesce · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2013, 10:37:17 PM »

Please Paul
can you tell us your model set up? thanks in advance.
regards

Juan Carlos Pesce
Buenos Aires
Argentina

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2013, 08:58:27 AM »

Hey Juan
Will try

It's a FM 9 timer and a new castle controller. Battery is a 3300 mha 4s. Not sure on the motor but will check when I get home. It all came from Tom Morris with the exception of the battery.

Jeff Traxler · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2013, 11:11:52 AM »

Hey Paul,Congrats on that flight!!Was it worth the wait??It only gets better

Paul Walker · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2013, 11:22:36 AM »

Quote from: RandySmith on October 29, 2013, 11:00:56 PM

Much of that noise is the props flexing and fluttering, I have watch several very carefully and you can see the prop blades get wider in the corners, you also hear it in hard corners. I have also flown 2 that when the noise happens you can feel the buzzing in the handle, and hear the nise at the exact same time, that happened with the very flexible APC E props that were on the planes.

Randy

I agree Randy. I would modify that to say that a flexible prop contributes to that noise. I have had the flexible APC's be very quiet and some very rigid carbon props make terrible noises as well. I have noticed that the slower the prop turns relative to its pitch, the more noise it makes. The 3 blade carbon prop I now use turns about 11k, is 5.5 pitch, flies at 5.4 and is very quiet!

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #21 on:** November 02, 2013, 11:41:40 AM »

Quote from: RandySmith on October 29, 2013, 11:00:56 PM

Much of that noise is the props flexing and fluttering, I have watch several very carefully and you can see the prop blades get wider in the corners, you also hear it in hard corners. I have also flown 2 that when the noise happens you can feel the buzzing in the handle, and hear the nise at the exact same time, that happened with the very flexible APC E props that were on the planes.

Randy

Isn't because the airflow direction through the prop is suddenly changed due to a hard corner (pitch up/down) ?

MASSIVE P-factor going on throughout the radius of the turn ?