In fast forward flight, the Microbeast made the X5 feel even better than it already was, with the X5 holding a perfect line across the horizon, without any pitch up or pitch down.In the past, flybarless controller choices were very limited and costly, but technology has advanced bringing prices down and features up.The Microbeast, manufactured by BeastX in Germany, is a 3-axis gyro system, utilizing MEMS technology that allows RC helicopters to enjoy fully stabilized flybarless flight.At about 200, the Microbeast is a bargain, costing about as much as a high end tail gyro, but with much more functionality and capability.
The base of the case is constructed out of machined aluminum, while the top is plastic. The aluminum case adds some extra mass to the unit, enhancing its ability to work optimally in vibration-prone environments. The overall fit and finish of the case is top notch and screams quality. Of course, it can be hooked up via multiple wires to any standard receiver, but it can also be configured to work with a single Spektrum satellite receiver or Futabas S-BUS, forgoing a lot of extra wiring and weight. This can be important in smaller setups, where space can be at a premium. In terms of mounting, the Microbeast can be mounted in almost any orientation. The only requirement is that the connector side of the unit must face towards the front or the back of the helicopter. Seen here on Gauis X5, Tony Yap placed it near the receiver to allow short extensions and minimize the wiring clutter. Empire RC was nice enough to provide a flybarless conversion for this helicopter, which consists of a new rotor head block and swash follower, control arms for the main blade grips, a shorter main shaft, and some hardware. Flybarless Heli Install The FlybarlessConverting over the X5 was easy, taking less than an hour to remove the flybarred rotor head and install the flybarless components. Total weight of parts removed, including the original tail gyro was 7.5 ounces. The weight of the new parts, including the Microbeast was 5.0 ounces, for a nice weight savings of 2.5 ounces. I used the included double-sided foam tape to affix it, after cleaning both mounting surfaces adequately with rubbing alcohol. Flybarless Heli Update Your MicrobeastThe optional USB interface allows you to update your Microbeast with any future software releases. Flybarless Heli Download The ManualRather than going through all the programming steps here, you can download the manual by visiting Find.helipilotonline. I left all the parameters as recommend, and set the tail gain in the transmitter to 50 percent. ![]() The entire time, everything felt well controlled and positive, without any bobbles or sluggishness. I was really impressed at the fact that I didnt have to make any adjustments outside of the normal initial setup to get a heli that was totally stable within seconds of spooling it up for the first time. At 2200 rpm, in the original flybarred configuration, it took 478 watts to hover out of ground effect. With the Microbeast and the flybarless head, it took only 448 watts to hover, over a 6 percent gain in efficiency. The gain is probably more significant once the helicopter is pushed harder, as the flybar is no longer fighting the actions of the main rotor blades. This improvement translates into more flight time and more reserve power for 3D flight.
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