Jim Mahoney
Senior Member
Posts: 2243
Loc: California
Reg: 06-17-03
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 09-07-09 04:30 PM - Post#87753
Hello All,
I have been flying the Phoenix Simulator for some time now and even with Version 1 the flight characteristics were better than anything on the market. The other Sim Manufacturers were racing for ever better Graphics - The Phoenix Sim has way better Graphics (Photo Quality)than needed really but where they have put their major effort in is on Flight Physics to come up with a true flying model.
Phoenix has given us a very powerful set of tools to tune a model by changing its physical and model physics parameters. when I first started using the Phoenix Sim I took the closest 30 size model and changed the parameters until it matched my Century Hawk model, I could then make setup changes to the sim model and they reflected very very well when I made the same setup changes to the Hawk.
The Current Model is all the better ---- And once you have bought the Phoenix Sim the Updates are Free and Often! So far about every 3 or 4 weeks.
I have made a decision to buy a Logo 500 based on my Phoenix Sim as a research tool and this brings up a good point - Heli manufacturers should try and get their designs into the Phoenix library as soon as possible so we the modelers can use the sim as a tool to pick out next machine.
To pick a new model one usually hears about a model on the Web, reads about it in an advertisement ( usually very well in advance, sometimes so long in advance that one wonders if a manufacturer is trying to get enough pre-orders to get the capital to design and manufacturer the machine), talking to other modelers, seeing one at the local flying field or at a fun fly. Seeing the hardware is a big thing, have a chance to take the controls of the prospective new machine even better, but maybe less likely to happen.
Now being able to sit down and download the latest sim model of the machine in question, taking into account that in the case of the Phoenix Sim the model has been modeled very well, one has a powerful tool to explore the characteristics of the possible next model. Being able to see the real machine, see it fly, and to talk to people who own the model is still very important but the Sim gives us a another very useful tool to help our decision process. This is all the more important these days when budgets are a little tighter than before, and even if you are rich and not worried about cost there is always Time, Time even for a rich man is the same as for a man who is not so rich - we all have a limited amount of Time and we want to make the best use of it as we can. So even though I would like to build one of every model that comes out on the market, I won't - I would rather pick the best model that I can and then get the most out of it.
I am not into the 450 class models but if I were then the Rave 450 and the G5 based on flying them on the Phoenix Sim would be good choices - In fact they are good enough that I may consider getting one of them.
The Phoenix Sim is a persuasive research tool!
Happy Flying,
Cherokee Jim Mahoney 
Multiplex - ACT Radios, Youngblood Gyros & Governors, YS Engines, Blitz AVRO 90 - Phoenix Simulator - A123 Batteries - Mikado Helicopters - Hacker Motors & Controllers
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Edited by Jim Mahoney on 09-07-09 08:41 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Jim Mahoney
Senior Member
Posts: 2243
Loc: California
Reg: 06-17-03
|
Re: Using the Phoenix Sim to Research Your Next Model!
09-19-09 03:19 PM - Post#87773
In response to Jim Mahoney
Hello All,
After all the sim flying of the Mikado helicopters, Mr. Dahl's in particular, and after studying over the downloaded manual fro a while I ordered my Mikado 5003D and Hacker A40 10L yesterday. I ordered 1 13 and 15 tooth pinion gear to start with.
I had a very helpful phone conversation with Fil Lowe, the Mikado Field Rep up in Santa Rosa California, Fil took his time and filled me in on the many facts related to electric helicopters and to Mikado in particular ---- Motors, gear ratios, batteries, flight characteristics, etc. 
Next Week!
So far this is how I will set the Mikado 5003D up:
Heavy Mikado paddles to replace the 3D lite paddles
Curtis Young Blood's new small gyro
Hacker A40 L10 Turbo Motor
6S 22.2 Volt 5500maH battery pack
Hacker ESC or Jazz 80
Rotor Tech 550 Blades
Mikado 92mm Tail Blades
Seperate RXServo Battery Pack
Happy Flying,
Cherokee Jim Mahoney
Multiplex - ACT Radios, Youngblood Gyros & Governors, YS Engines, Blitz AVRO 90 - Phoenix Simulator - A123 Batteries - Mikado Helicopters - Hacker Motors & Controllers
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Jim Mahoney
Senior Member
Posts: 2243
Loc: California
Reg: 06-17-03
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Re: Using the Phoenix Sim to Research Your Next Model!
01-03-10 04:56 PM - Post#87862
In response to Jim Mahoney
Hello All,
After awhile I began to feel that maybe mike was right about Heli Sims being too easy, especially in Autorotation so I started changing Parameters to see what the affects would be.
Hover stability and model weight were my first parameters to change,
The Hover stability parameter does make for more control work when reduced, so if you feel that things are too easy then reduce the hover stability.
Since in some models I thought I had too long of a hang time so I increased the Model Weight - I created a model for just Autos.
All in all the flexibility to change parameters allows one to adjust the sim model to match to ones real model very well.
The models in the Phoenix Sim are setup and adjusted by some very talented fliers so I think they set each model up as realistic as they can, But if feel things are getting too easy then Change some parameters and try again.
Now on another note I have been asking Phoenix to make some changes/additions:
Adjustable Gear Ratios for Main Gear in addition to Main Rotor RPM
Adjustable Tail Gear Ratio in addition to setting Tail Rotor RPM
Linkage Sloppiness/friction setting for each control link chain
Flybar Length
Flybar Weights and distance from center
Paddle weight and a coefficient to account for Paddle types
Paddle length and width
Servo parameters: speed, running torque, holding torque, resolution
Happy Flying,
Cherokee Jim Mahoney
Multiplex - ACT Radios, Youngblood Gyros & Governors, YS Engines, Blitz AVRO 90 - Phoenix Simulator - A123 Batteries - Mikado Helicopters - Hacker Motors & Controllers
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