Knife edge mix.....switch or no switch???

[Richo]

Isn't expo also a "feature" of your radio! If you want to be a purist, take out the expo!
I dont see the big deal about using a mix. Bet most folks have power steering in thier car, and if your car wandered all over the road when you drove it, you'd get it fixed!

Mixing isn't black magic, or some other kind of weirdo cult following. It's a tool that can be used to help your model fly better, same as expo. Some models neen more, some models need less, but if you go to the Tucson Shootout next month, you will be hard pressed to find a model there or a pilot that isn't using mixes. Mixes are there to help, if you want them. Using them wont turn you into some kind of limp wristed mumies boy.

[MalaysianFlyer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by hpapilot
	MalaysianFlyer, you must remember that the coupling in Knifeedge is not always the same as the coupling tendencies in level flight. An airplane may make a perfectly flat level rudder turn in level flight, but still roll or pitch in KE. It all depends on the airplane. RJ

Agreed, I was just offering another point of view, since at the end of the day, it always comes down to personal preference.

[Tonybons]

For what it's worth, when I first started flying knife edge I did it with no mixing to ensure that I knew how to fly knife edge under any scenario. As we all know, even with mixing, conditions change and you often need to fly it through anyway. I chose to use a switch just to give myself an option if I wanted to eliminate the mixing, however, I very seldom turn the switch off.

Tony Bonanno

[krayzc]

i think i am a mixing fool

knife edge mixes
down line mixes
throttle mixes

[Royster]

Can anyone help in regards to mixing for KE on a DX7?

How do ya do it?

[sprice50]

Always on.

[MadMonkey]

Okay, I just managed to do one of my typical COMPLETE "Opinion 180's". I did a PERFECT, completely tuned knife-edge mix on my Giles 202 for the first time (correctly) and I'm now in love. I'm now doing high speed KE passes at sub-1' levels... wasn't able to before.

I changed my mind. Always on

[Royster]

	Quote: Originally Posted by MadMonkey
	Okay, I just managed to do one of my typical COMPLETE "Opinion 180's". I did a PERFECT, completely tuned knife-edge mix on my Giles 202 for the first time (correctly) and I'm now in love. I'm now doing high speed KE passes at sub-1' levels... wasn't able to before. I changed my mind. Always on

Wheres the video dude?

[MadMonkey]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Royster
	Wheres the video dude?

I was flying alone that day

I'll have one soon though!

[sinergy]

	Quote: Originally Posted by XJet
	If there's a way to throw the wrong switch at the wrong time (or forget to throw the right switch at the right time) then I'll do it. So I don't use anything that requires me to throw switches while flying. Dual-rates? Nope -- I'll use expo thanks. That way, if I *need* a fist-full of control at the drop of a hat (like when everything goes titsup at 3 feet above the deck) I won't have to stab wildly to go back to high-riates. Mixing out any KE coupling? No thanks. One of the *great* things about this hobby is that you'll *never* get *everything* 100% right with your thumbs. It's the challenge of being as good as you can be, simply by using your skill (rather than falling back on the "features" of your radio) that makes this stuff such a challenge. I build and fly UAVs as a full-time job. If I wanted a model plane that flew itself I could easily build one -- but I'd rather have one that requires *me* to be good on the sticks -- and that means leaning to use those sticks *properly* and actually inputting the right stick movements at the right time. You don't see any full-sized Extras, Edges, Yaks or whatever with this kind of mixing on the control inputs -- so why should we think it's the best way to fly a model? Simply "because we can"? In that case, let me sell you a full autopilot system and you can sitdown with your beer while you fly the pattern :-)

While your approach keeps it simple, you will never be able to fly advanced precision stuff that way.. you need to use dual rates.

As far as having high rates on all the time to "get you out of trouble" I would be willing to bet I have seen high rates get more pilots in trouble than anything else. A little bit of panic and they start banging around the sticks until they stall/snap it right in.

I remember the first time I flew a 40%er.. it wasn't mine and I told the guy his rates were too high. he said.. it's ok I don't mind it touchy. As the flight went on he asked me to show him how it flew and rolling circles in particular. Soon as I started doing a rolling circle he looked down and said "your fingers are barely moving".. I said I can't move them anymore I am already doing 2 rolls per second because your poorly setup rates! hahah

My personal opinion is leave it on all the time.