EXI-450 Helicopter Build – Day 7 + First Flight!

After fighting with the gyro for a day, I finally cleared the programming on the DX6i and re-did ALL of it. I learned a few more things along the way. This is the final, current configuration that actually let me fly! I won’t pretend to say this is an optimal or even suggested setup, but it’s the one I came up with. Maybe this helps some others get their stuff off the ground.

DX6i EXI-450 Programming Ver. 2
Dual Rate & Expo
  Aileron Elevator Rudder
AIL D/R 0 100% INHibited 100% INHibited 100% INHibited
AIL D/R 1 100% INHibited 100% INHibited 100% INHibited
Travel Adjust
  Note: You need to move the sticks to access both travel directions, this was an important lesson!
  Throttle Elevator Gyroscope Aileron Rudder Pitch
  ↑100%
↓100%
↑125%
↓125%
↑100%
↓100%
←125%
→125%
←100%
→100%
↑125%
↓125%
Sub Trims
  Throttle Elevator Gyroscope Aileron Rudder Pitch
  0 ↑30 0 ←17 →42 ↑63
Gyro
  0 (flap-0) 1 (gyro-1>  
SW-GYRO 60.0% 70.0%  
Throttle Curve
  Low 1/4 1/2 3/4 Full  
Normal 0 % 25% 50% 85% 100%  
Stunt* 0 % 20% 40% 40% 40%  
Hold 0.0 %  
Pitch Curve
  Low 1/4 1/2 3/4 Full  
Normal 25% 50% 67% 82% 100%  
Stunt* 15 % 25% 25% 25% 25%  
Hold 0% 10% 10% 10% 10%  
Swash Mixing
Swash Aileron Elevator Pitch
  – 60% – 60% + 60%
Channel Mixing
  Master Slave Rate D U Sitch Trim
Mix 1 INHibited
Mix 2 INHibited
Revo Mix
  UP DOWN  
Normal 0 % 0 %  
Stunt 0 % 0 %  
DX6i EXI-450 Setup Ver. 2
Reverse
  Throttle Elevator Gyroscope Aileron Rudder Pitch
  Normal Reverse Normal Reverse Reverse Normal
Swash Type
  CCPM 120°
Throttle Cut
  Position ACTIVE
Dual Rate Combination Assignment
  Dual Rate Switch INHibited
Power Setting
  B-US 247
* NOTE: I have set the Stunt settings for my own safety, not for actual stunt flying. If you use those settings you’ll end up with a bird in the ground, but at least it’s less likely to go full-throttle without you expecting if, if you do something really stupid (like me) and flip the mode from NORMAL to STUNT without thinking.

Following the re-build of the tail setup, removed gyro.. server testing.. reprogramming.. it all led up to the first *real* flight of the 450. Even in some pretty good wind!

Despite the bluster, the heli flew, and the gyro seemed to hold to any heading I set! This was FUN!

Despite bouncing off the pavement, I had a big fat grin as I walked home. I’d built the helicopter, I’d flown it, crashed it and flew it again. Now it’s time to learn to *really* fly this thing! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.