MrRCSound – The Aspire Sound Unit Test

Concepts, Electronica, Scale, Plane Aerial Concepts Belgium, Patric Dietvorst, Aspire, B-17G, Flying Fortress, MrRCSound, Multi engine sound

P-47D Aspire Sound Unit - detail

Tested the MrRCSound Aspire module with one TT25 installed in the foam battery compartment of my B-17G Flying Fortress. First I have tested the Aspire Sount Unit in the B-17G with a single Engine file of a 9 cylinder Wright Cyclone motor

Because the Multi-engine sound files of the 9 cylinder Wright Cyclone motors are not available at this moment, I have used the Multi-Engine sound file for the Consolidated B24 Liberator with 4 14 cylinder radial Pratt & Whitney motors.

And also because the TT25 was very hot I have mounted a cooling element on the element and modified the audio output of the Aspire card at about 75 %. Still, the sound pressure is very high, measuring about 97 db A at 1m. The test was successful. I'm satisfied with the result.

More information about this Aspire sound card and TT25 transducer you will find on the website of MrRCSound and in the RCgroups.

www.mrrcsound.com/aspire-info
RCgroups Aspire sound unit discussion

Photos

Spektrum – Meaningful Telemetry for Airplanes

 Concepts, Electronica, Plane Aerial Concepts Belgium, Patric Dietvorst, AS3X, Spektrum, Telemetry

Meaningful Telemetry - detail

I am using a Spektrum DX9 Black Edition Transmitter in mode 2. The DX9 possesses a number of class-leading features. Easy programming, 250 models. The centerpiece is its incredibly advanced voice and vibration alert system.

I am using the AR9350 9 channel as  RX. This is a new generation of Spektrum™ AS3X® with Artificial 3-aXis stabilization. The AS3X System works behind the scenes to stabilize an airplane in whatever attitude you command. A. small aircraft behaves like a bigger one and can the more wind influence. This multiLink receiver gives you the protection of as main receiver connected to two satellite receivers. By mounting the smaller satellite receivers away from the main receiver in different orientations, the odds of all of them experiencing signal reflection at the same time are reduced to a statistical impossibility.

This RX has built-in Telemetry capability. This telemetry module keeps tabs on the quality of the signal coming to the receiver and send this information back to the transmitter where it is represented on the LCD screen and logged o the SD card.

I am using a Flight Pack Energy Sensor is designed to measure battery capacity used.  By measuring the current the sensor determines how much capacity has been used by your electric power system. This is more accurate than a voltage sensor. Every 60 secs the TX-voice gives the used capacity. When the capacity of the battery is 30% the TX gives a repeating audio alarm you have to clear (push clear button). After this alarm, you have enough capacity to perform a safe landing (if necessary one go-around).

I am using an airspeed sensor (a pitot tube-based pressure measurement which measures airspeed from approximately 20 km/h to 300 km/h. I am using a switch to get the TX-voice telling me the actual speed at the moment I like to know this information. But more important is a vibration alarm when airspeed drops within a safe zone just above stall speed. This is a very good landing aid. Try to stay just above this alarm until you are about 1m above and at the beginning edge of the landing strip. Flare at stall speed when the plane is maximum 50 cm above the field and gentle land the plane and let the plane slow down on the airstrip or the grass field.

Offline, all telemetry data logged on the SD card can be viewed and analyzed on a Windows PC with the Spektrum Telemetry viewer. Some examples are added to the Spektrum photo link on this page.

Led Lights – Improve the In Air Visibility

 Concepts, Electronica, Plane, Visualisation Aerial Concepts Belgium, Patric DietvorstAS3X, Fun Cub, Mutiplex, Spektrum

Fun Cub Led Strips - detail

In daylight, you can improve the visibility of an aircraft by using different colors or patterns on top of the wing versus the bottom of the wing. But when sunlight is limited in the morning, in the evening, when it is heavy clouded or there is some fog all colors faint and become gray or black.

Because the battery for the Fun Cub is 3S you can use the balancer connector to get approximately 12 Volts. led strips are available in multiple colors.  I have used short strips with 6 Led green, red, and white to create navigation lights left, right, and in for of the wings. The cables are hidden in the wing with a small cut in the foam and can follow the main spar. Central you can use some simple connectors so you can keep the wings removable. You can cover the electrical wiring with a transparent white tape.

Finally, you have to protect electrical connections and the led strips against humidity. I have used a transparent shrinking tube and used a plastic coating spray from Kontakt Chemie to cover the PCB components.