FMA Direct
23
FS8 Co-Pilot™ user guide
Symptom
Possible solution
FS8 Co-Pilot™ doesn’t seem to apply flight stabilization in
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Operate FS8 Co-Pilot™ outside.
Normal Flight Mode.
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Turn flight stabilization on. Make sure remote on/off channel
isn’t reversed at transmitter.
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Make sure Roll/Pitch Sensor is connected to FS8 Co-Pilot™.
If Vertical Sensor is installed, make sure it is connected.
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Make sure receiver battery voltage is above 3.5V.
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Increase Pitch and Roll Throw.
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Repeat Flight Stabilization Setup. (If FS8 Co-Pilot™ senses
certain problems during Flight Stabilization Setup, it disables
flight stablization in Normal Flight Mode.)
Aircraft trim changes when flight stabilization is turned on or off.
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Trim with Throws fully off.
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Turn on Auto Trim.
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See “Tips for trimming” on page 19.
Aircraft shakes or oscillates in the air.
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Reduce Throw.
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Repeat infrared calibration every day you fly.
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Assure airplane is vertical (or helicopter is rolled to horizontal)
during step 1 of infrared calibration.
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Repeat infrared calibration over grass, if possible.
Aircraft takes a long time to level.
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Increase Throws.
Flight stabilization doesn’t move the aircraft to level.
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Clean Sensor windows with alcohol and cotton-tipped
applicator.
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Mount Pitch/Roll Sensor where it “sees” equal amounts of
wing and fuselage on both sides.
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Mount Pitch/Roll Sensor away from muffler and engine (which
are hot).
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Repeat infrared calibration every day you fly.
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Perform infrared calibration at least 100 feet from trees or
buildings.
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Fly when the temperature difference is 3 or greater.
Flight stabilization works in warm weather, but not in cold.
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FS8 Co-Pilot™ is more sensitive to rubber exhaust extensions
in cold weather. Helicopters are especially susceptible to this
problem, as the Pitch/Roll Sensor may have to be located near
the muffler. The Helicopter will tilt away from the muffler.
Remove the exhaust extension, or wrap it in aluminum tape.
Servos don’t move.
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Black or brown wire in servo cables should be toward
component side of FS8 Co-Pilot™.
LED turns off and does not function.
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FS8 Co-Pilot™ detected very low battery voltage. Check for
shorted servos, bad switch and bad battery wires. Check
battery charge state.
When in Flight Stabilization Setup Mode, there is
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Flight Stabilization Setup Mode has three parts: Pitch Setup,
no roll compensation.
Roll Setup and Remote On/Off Setup. To cycle through them,
press the CAL Button.
Sensor windows are dirty.
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Clean Sensor windows with alcohol and cotton-tipped
applicator.
Elevator servo sometimes twitches when operating
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The Vertical Sensor is seeing the warm ceiling, and is
FS8 Co-Pilot™ indoors in Normal Flight Mode.
degrading the pitch feedback. You are seeing the digital effect
of the Vertical Sensor. Put your hand or a hot object under the
vertical sensor to stop the twitching.
Flight Stabilization setup goes properly, but Flight Stabilization
The Vertical Sensor may be installed upside down, or is sensing
does not work correctly in Normal Flight Mode. Symptoms
heat above the aircraft.
include:
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Inspect the Vertical Sensor to be sure it is installed with the
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Pitch control surfaces move in the correct direction, but roll
arrow pointing up when the aircraft is in its normal orientation.
control surfaces move in the wrong direction (or vice versa).
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Put your hand or a hot object below the Vertical Sensor when
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Remote on/off channel does not turn Flight Stabilization on
verifying Flight Stabilization operation.
and off. Instead, it changes the direction that pitch and roll
surfaces move to stabilize.
Troubleshooting