Fine Tuning my AC CLT

Rotor-Head

Shawn Adams
Joined
Nov 29, 2004
Messages
1,207
Location
Jacksonville, OR
Aircraft
Air Command Elite 503 DCDI Sport Rotors - Cesnna 152-172 - R44 - MD500D/E - QuickSilver MXLII Sport
Total Flight Time
220 Fixed Wing - 3000+ gyro 600+ Helicopter
Well, after my first few flight in my CLT Air command, and a hang test, I've been a few degrees off (which is one of the main reasons I never took it up and away from straight and level flights over the runway.

I have now moved the rotorhead back 3 inches and raised it 2 1/2" for better prop clearance. It was dangersouly close to my rotorblade mounting blocks. New (2 1/2" longer) upper control rods were also painted and installed.

I will do another hang test today.
 

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Looks good! I've often wondered why others don't change the cheek plates rather than add weight, move the battery or just fly nose too low or high. Your photos may encourage others to "fix" their gyros too. Increasing the height for safety is also a good idea. I've seen gyros where the blade hits the ground or is too close to the prop.

My first gyro landed nose wheel first! It was way too nose heavy with me (too fat) as the pilot. Dennis Fetters made me new cheek plates to solve the problem.
 
The original edition Air Commands had a four-blade plastic Ultra-Prop and fiberglass McCutchen blades. Good thing both prop and blades were relatively soft plastic, because the rotor was close to the prop. So close, in fact that, with back stick and rearward teeter, the prop could easily graze the rotor. It would let out little chirping noises to announce that you needed to move the stick off the stop. With luck, the damage would be limited to superficial scratching of the McCs' gelcoat.
 
Doug Riley said:
The original edition Air Commands had a four-blade plastic Ultra-Prop and fiberglass McCutchen blades. Good thing both prop and blades were relatively soft plastic, because the rotor was close to the prop. So close, in fact that, with back stick and rearward teeter, the prop could easily graze the rotor. It would let out little chirping noises to announce that you needed to move the stick off the stop. With luck, the damage would be limited to superficial scratching of the McCs' gelcoat.
I have heard that "chirp" on my GSC prop and thaat's why I have raised it up.
 
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