Experience about Gyros in Planes ?

[Jutti]

Hi there,
I made my first flight now after the winter and I just came back from the field, and I`m kinda frustrated because I crashed my T2M Cessna 140 into the ground, because I lost orientation while I was flying through the sun while making a right turn. I thought: Is it making a left, or right turn. I chose left, and that was the beginning of a fight for live- it lasted 5 seconds before I had a touchdown. My Elevator and rudder is completely broken. I am fixing it at the Moment. But a Gyro could have saved me???? Or not??? I would have released the sticks and the gyro would recover my plane.. right????? I am working now on my Great Planes P-51D Mustang with a O.S Engines 0.46 FX Engine.. This one is a bit faster than my trainer with a Thunder Tiger ( it has 4,0 ccm , metric !!!!) that would be ABOUT 0,3!! So I am thinking about buying a Gyro for my Mustang, because I think it would make the beginning more easier, or what do YOU think????
PLEASE SEND ME YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH GYROS!

THANKS!!!!! JUTTI

[Dave Robelen]

Hello JUTTI,
It sounds like you are mixing up gyros with autopilots. In the case you described, a gyro would have made no difference in the way the plane responded, and would not attempt to right the plane. What a gyro can do well is to smooth out the flight in gusty weather. When you have an active gyro on a control, say ailerons, when turbulence causes the plane to bank left, the gyro will repond with a right aileron command. This may or may not cause the plane to return to level flight, but it will seem to fly a whole lot smoother. The only downside is that a gyro will keep the servo "twitching" which shortens the servo life and reduces the flight time on the battery. In short, if your plane is rocking around in uncommanded motions, the gyro will act as a damper to reduce the "wiggles" while letting you fly whatever motions you want.
The autopilot would have been a help in your case. The unit sold by FMA senses the horizon in both pitch and roll, and when you release the sticks it will level the model on its own. There are several autopilot units on the market, one sold by an Israeli firm, and the FMA unit. Of the two, the FMA is less expensive and lighter. I am not sure how the money compares.
Regards, Dave

[Jutti]

Oh,
Well, thank you! I know both the gyro and the two autopiltos. There is an article in the Model Airplane News ( April 2002). thank you again. I`m thinking about buying a autopilot for my Cessna and then I`ll put it into my Mustang. However THANKS!

[Targo]

I agree with Dave but I think there is something that he missed...
The autopilot must be a graduable one! or at least connected to an on/off switch of your controller . If not u'll transform any plane into almost a trainer!
The first mistake U made was to fly into the sun...stop doing it!
And its worst when it is just above of U...
Try to keep concentrated while U fly and the problem will be solved :D . This kind of accidents happen when U get distracted.
Personally when i get disoriented I try the elevator first and not the aileron. That would immediatly give U the position of the plane , while the aileron may confuse U and the movement must be larger to be able to get the plane's position.
Besides, unless U are inverted ( what U should know when U R !) giving a lil up wouldn't do any harm, but right or left can invert the plane!
And if U are not used to fly inverted this could be the worst nightmare ( In fact that is what I think it happened to U)

I hope this will help U...;)

[Jutti]

Well, thank you for your answer!
But I have to fly through the sun, because otherwise I would fly over a much used street.. And I don`t like that (and it`s illegal in Austria!! Thats where I live).. Just imagine, my engine stops and I crash onto the street, or even worse, fly INTO A CAR. Well you know what all could happen..
However, I`m always concentrated while I fly..
And when if I would buy an autopilot I will turn it off and on with an extra channel. I`m less used to flying inverted.. I mean, hey my plane is a Cessna.. Not a good acrobatic plane. But my Mustang will be much better, so I will have to get used to it..
But thank you, I`ll keep it in mind when I`ll lose orientation again. And I always wear sunglasses since the accident..

Thanks!... Jutti

[vvargas4586]

Jutti,
I am also looking to the FMA equipment as an option at saving my investment from becoming an expensive pile of toothpicks at our flying field. Still a student myself, I have the same problems with the sun and orientation. Just part of the learning process. If your schedule is flexible try flying at a different time of the day, you might catch old "Mr. Sun" at a better point in the sky (IE-Flying in the morning versus the afternoon, or vice-versa.). The other "tip" that was passed onto me was to find a cloud (if possible) if you get in trouble. The cloud provides a great backdrop and will help silhouette your bird much better, giving you a better look at your planes attitude. Good luck. -Houston PS-Here's a link to our flying club. Pretty nice place. http://www.bcflyers.com/sys-tmpl/door/