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set-up should seek advice.

 First establish that the sense of the transmitter control is correct (i.e. that 

the application of a right rudder command causes a change in tail pitch that will rotate the helicopter to 
the right). Once this has been done check that turning the helicopter to the left makes the gyro apply a 
tail rotor command to the right. Should the gyro operate in the wrong sense use the gyro "REVERSE" 
link to correct it. The gyro is supplied with the reversing link already fitted and to remove it simply pull 
on its protruding tab and store it safely. When replacing the reversing link ensure that it is fitted over 
both pins and pushed firmly into full engagement. 
 

Initial Radio set-up

 

For initial flights we suggest that you adjust the radio system as follows: 
 
ATS (Automatic Tail Stabilisation):   

 

OFF 

Pilot Authority Mixing:     

 

 

OFF (this should never be used with the ICG360) 

Rudder channel ATV  (both directions):    

50% 

Gyro gain channel ATV (both directions): 

50% 

 

Mechanical

 

The ICG360 will work with any servo in the Futaba or JR ranges but as with any gyro system a fast 
servo (e.g. Futaba FP-S9203 or JR 2700G) will give the best results.  
 
To prevent damage due to excessive servo travel the servo movement is limited by the gyro 
electronics. (Under no conditions will the servo travel past the electronic limit set by the gyro, regardless 
of any increase in the ATV value.) You should use the 

longest

 servo arm that gives 

full 

movement of 

the tail rotor pitch linkage 

without causing the linkage to bind or the servo to become stalled at 

either extreme of travel

 
Attention to the tail control linkage is important to getting the best from this gyro. You should aim for a 
easy-moving but slop-free linkage between the tail servo and the tail blades. Inspect the bearings/thrust 
races in the tail hub for smoothness of operation. Check the pitch slider and ball links for slop and 
replace if needed. Some helicopters that have noticeable 'give' in the tail linkage may benefit from the 
addition of a rear-mounted tail servo and rigid pushrod.  
 
Remember that, during aerobatic manoeuvres, the combination of a high performance gyro and a fast 
tail servo can place very high loads on the tail rotor drive train. Regularly Inspect tail rotor gears, etc. to 
ensure that they are in good condition. 
 

Batteries, power consumption, and wiring

 

Although the power consumption of the gyro unit itself is very modest, as with all high performance Solid 
State gyro systems the speed of the gyro response will work the tail rotor servo harder than slower 
mechanical gyro systems. Especially where a high performance servo is being used the battery drain 
from the tail rotor servo can be high. 

We recommend that you use a good quality battery state 

monitor and check it carefully before each flight.

  

 
Your receiver battery is a vital part of your tail rotor system. Remember that a battery in a low state of 
charge or an old battery which has developed a high internal resistance will adversely affect servo 
performance and may even cause the tail to wag on an otherwise well set up helicopter. You may wish 
to consider maintaining the charge in your receiver battery between flights by the use of  a quality Delta 
Peak type field charger. In installing the gyro also bear in mind that voltage drops down long servo 
extension leads will also detract from servo performance. Where the installation requires extensions to 
be used (either between the receiver and gyro or between the gyro and the servo) avoid using ones that 
are unnecessarily long. 
 

Trim adjustment

 

Initially zero the rudder trim and any rudder sub-trim that your transmitter may have. Next, identify which 
gyro gain switch position gives you Standard mode and which gives you Heading Lock mode. This can 
be seen from the difference in the tail rotor servo behaviour on the ground. In Standard mode the rudder 
servo will return to the neutral position when any rudder command is released, while in heading lock 
mode the servo will tend to remain at or near its travel limit when a full stick rudder command is applied 
and then removed. Now set the rudder trim so that with the gyro in Heading Lock mode the servo, once 
centred, has no marked tendency to creep in either direction (though some slow residual creep of the 
servo is quite normal). Once this trim position has been found no further adjustment of the transmitter 
trim should be needed. However, slight adjustment of the helicopter tail control linkage may be needed 
in order to remove any offsets in the Standard mode. This can only be done by flight trials. 
 

Summary of Contents for ICG360

Page 1: ...yaw rate This means that the ICG360 makes full yaw rate available even at high gain settings With this system you can now use the rudder travel volume ATV and rudder rates facilities to set up the desired full stick yaw rate and the gyro gain switch now becomes a Flight Mode Switch for the gyro There is no need for so called Pilot Authority Mixing indeed you should not use pilot authority mixing w...

Page 2: ...arallel with main shaft of helicopter Attach to helicopter using two of the self adhesive foam strips provided COMPUTER AUX INPUT REVERSE SERVO Rx 1 4 IN Figure 2 Mounting the gyro The ICG 360 should be mounted in the helicopter with its axis of rotation as marked on the gyro case accurately parallel to the main shaft of the helicopter The gyro sensor together with the electronics of the gyro is a...

Page 3: ...ndition menu Check under the PMX entry that no throttle to rudder or rudder to gyro mixing is active in any of the flight conditions Check in the P R entry that pitch to rudder mixing is inhibited Under the model menu use the FNC entry to allocate the gyro control to a switch of your choice JR PCM10S SX On these radios it is easier to disable the JR code 44 gyro sense adjust and control the gyro g...

Page 4: ...n the tail rotor drive train Regularly Inspect tail rotor gears etc to ensure that they are in good condition Batteries power consumption and wiring Although the power consumption of the gyro unit itself is very modest as with all high performance Solid State gyro systems the speed of the gyro response will work the tail rotor servo harder than slower mechanical gyro systems Especially where a hig...

Page 5: ...ensure that the tail rotor servo responds to the stick movements 5 Your ICG360 is now ready for flight If the set light fails to come on or flashes turn off the receiver for a few seconds and repeat the turn on sequence Make sure the model is not moved during the gyro self test period Initial flight trials and setting up First select flight mode 1 Heading hold mode and hover the helicopter Use sho...

Page 6: ... range available and the tail rotor disk size The disk size is also related to the tail rotor speed Of course there are other influences on the tail system but these are the most important and can be grouped together as mechanical gain If the mechanical gain is not correct then the gyro will not be able to function to its best ability For this reason it is important to select the correct size serv...

Page 7: ...120 metres with the main rotor pitch at zero Once terminal velocity has been reached pull the model out in a smooth arc and if the model does not wag under these conditions it is unlikely to do so under any conditions WARNING Only attempt to carry out these flight tests if you are 100 confident in your own flying ability and the structural integrity of your equipment Boom supports Tests have shown...

Page 8: ...f the supplied self adhesive foam strips Do mount the gyro to a hard smooth clean surface Do use the rudder ATV and rates to tailor required stick response Do check the sense of the gyro operation and fit remove Reversing link as needed before flight Do use a battery state monitor and check it before each flight Do remove slop and stiffness from tail control linkage Do inspect tail gears etc for w...

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