Rotors

[chia]

I believe lower, since thinner rubber (unless you use more than one single loop) won't have enough power to turn a rotor with a high pitch fast enough to keep the helicopter in the air and rising. Someone else should confirm/correct that, though, to be sure.

[illusionist]

I also agree. Assuming you use only one loop, a thicker rubber will most likely need a high pitch, while a thinner rubber will need a low pitch. The thinner motor has less torque, and therefore is unable to push the high pitched rotors fast enough to generate the necessary lift.

[Kovu]

Okay thanks, I will work on building a high and low pitch and then experiment with different type of rubber to find the best combination.

[illusionist]

What size rubber are you trying to use? If it's 1/8, then I would start with a low pitch. If it's 3/16, I would start with a higher pitch.

[Kovu]

Yea for regionals we used 3/16 but I want to use 1/8 to get more winds in and a better time.

[lllazar]

I've seen from testing that stiffer spars = higher flight time. All other factors kept constant of course. I think it has to do with the fact that if the spars aren't stiff then the rotors warp and change pitch during flight a lot more? Well anyway, i think a little weight gain would be worth it to make sure ur spars are nice and strong, and not so flimsy.

[Draylon Fogg]

we were using mylar on ours and it was getting around 54 seconds, and we switched to tissue and placed 2nd at state with 2 mins 12 seconds, so like lllazar, stiffer rotors can make better times

[Draylon Fogg]

i also saw an event supervisor had beams in the middle of the ribs for extra support

[lllazar]

Draylon Fog, you went from 54 seconds to 2 minutes+ by just switching to tissue paper? That's quite interesting...

[chia]

i also saw an event supervisor had beams in the middle of the ribs for extra support

How do you mean?