Pixel - a cool 60-inch Pitcheron sloper from France
Posted by Russ Whitford on Sep 12, 2002, 02:37
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"Digital!" That was the way I described the roll response of the Pixel on my first flight. Wingeron planes are interesting but there are horror stories of snap stall behavior using wing pivoting for pitch as well as roll. I bought the Pixel as a fast 60" sloper that was also the most compact airplane possible for travel. I wanted a plane that would fly in a variety of lift conditions, maintain energy and perform aerobatics well. Is the Pixel this plane?
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| Russ readies his Pixel at Big Bay |
Roll response is so positive, "digital" is the only way to describe it. The Pixel maintains direction well at any attitude and responds directly to stick input. It is not twitchy but actually quite stable. Rolls are nearly axial even without the recommended differential that is impossible with my Hitec Focus III system. Loops are smooth with excellent retention of energy for this 25 oz plane.
So what about the dreaded snap-stall I was expecting from a pitcheron plane? The Pixel did not miss-behave in this department. Stalls are fairly benign even with a rearward CG. Pitch control is different. Up "elevator" does not necessarily raise the nose. If speed is good, there is no discernable difference between pitcheron and elevator control. At low speed, up stick just slows the plane down instead of lifting the nose. That is probably where pitcherons get a bad rap. As the plane stays level, one is tempted to haul back on the stick until she quits flying. Understanding this, all is well. So go ahead and pull back on the stick and wait for the stall. It is a longer wait than you would imagine and the stall is gentle and mostly straight ahead.
I consider the Pixel to be slightly slower than a 60" slope racer but much faster than a HLG. It is quite aerobatic and retains enery well. It is a go-where-you-point-it, smooth flier. Rolls and loops can be performed in light conditions with minimal loss of altitude.
You can't beat the price of the radio. I use a Hitec Focus III transmitter , 555 Rx and standard full size servos. I don't even use ball bearing servos but I am sure these would be the best choice. The torque required, translated into English units is 50 oz-in. Standard servos are about 45 oz-in but I am using a 5 cell NiMh 100 mAh battery intended for cars. It balances the plane perfectly and gives the servos a little more torque. The best dive to date is from about 300 ft. Speed was in the screaming range and the Pixel easily pulled out into a monster loop.
My only criticism is that after many hours of flight, I had a landing in the dreaded rotor that tumbled the plane violently. The fuselage broke between tail and wing. Nothing else was damaged. The pitcheron control mechanism and wings are fine. I can easily fix the fuselage but a little more reinforcement would have prevented any damage.
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