Thanks Chris for posting the pics...and not all of them!
Anyway, yeah had a slight mishap as mentioned above but I'm not discouraged (one doesn't stay in this hobby long if that comes easily.)
Saturday we learned that the thin foam was needed to mount the gyro, which made it a very short day but Sunday was much more productive. As I leaned the engine out the heli developed a drift to the left that worsened even more following the next few clicks leaner on the engine. We richened it back up and the problem seemed to go away and that is when I was attempting to lift off and it tipped over to the left. Fortunately the ground was soft and the main blades survived with only a few scuffs, the tail boom snapped and the 25mm boom support screws were slightly bent, one servo arm broke and the pitch & swash plate links were damaged. Mainshaft & head axle unharmed, pretty minor I'd say!
I learned one thing real quick however, FBL likes to FLY not sit on the ground and I thought I had that pretty well under control but maybe not completely. In addition I am going to remount the gyro slightly rearwards at the top rear corner of the cyclic servo tray instead of being somewhat centered over the rear two servos. I think some flex in the tray may have been allowing the gyro to move in relation to the side-frames and with seeing the difference the thin foam made it makes sense that more rigid mounting will cure it.
Danny with HeliCommand was very helpfull both days and he is sending me a new gyro just to be sure there is not a problem with it, which I feel is above & beyond in service, thanks to Danny on that!
I ordered my link rods yesterday, had an extra boom (from my initial order) and just completed replacing it so it is not looking so sad any more, soon I will be ready to get back out to the field, pray for nice weather!
