Team Skynch

New Remote for the Skynch

admin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:05:15 +0000

The new super compact transmitter for the Skynch is now ready for shipping.

Housing in anodized aluminium secures a robust construction and the big power switch makes it easy to turn the transmitter on and off even with glowes. The optional remote line cut is activated by pulling the loop where you can add a handle at your own desire.

• Battery voltage is displayed with a LED bar, and output power is easy selectable with the 3-position switch.

• Velcro band makes it easy to mount the transmitter on the shoulder strap for best radio contact.

• Easy access to the pairing button on the top.

• Weight: 490g. Dimensions (without antenna and throttle) 90x60x40mm

• 433MHz with selectable output power of 0.5W or 1W or 2W. The system is equipped with a coded fail safe system using complex wide band multi frequency hopping (FHSS).

Check out other products on www.skynch.com

Yes, we’re ready to ship…

admin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:35:38 +0000

Long time no announcements. It is not because nothing is going on but because we were working hard on the new Skynch II and didn’t have the time to communicate

Now the prototype is spinning perfectly and we have our first delivery to France in the coming week.

Check out the short movie from last month showing a test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX3mPHsdN0k
Check out the 360 view on the front page of our web site and check out the flyer at same place.
Check out the new product page, and remember it’s easy to share one Skynch between more pilots.

We have also installed Twitter on the Skynch website to allow you to remain up-to-date with our activities.

Skynch II is improved in many ways. Let just mention a few of them:

Motor and controller is now integrated in the main frame
Drum is now fully open one one side
Modular construction with optional functions
433MHz radio control system
Integrated reciever antenna
Check out our web site to learn more about Skynch II

New HD Skynch video

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:15:40 +0000

Take a look at our new HD Skynch movie on the front page of our web site. [EDIT] You will now find the movie here.

It shows pretty well how your day could be even if you are alone at the tow paddock.

Movie made by Klaus from RAD Film Production.
kontakt @ radfilm.dk (remove spaces)

Skynching with friends

maze — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 07:42:05 +0000

Yesterday we did a very important “test”, where more than one pilot was in the paddock hoping for an XC flight. We currently have only one remote control (although you can have as many as you need), so we needed to do the first tow in the traditional manner, where a winch operator on the ground controls the winch. The second tow was then done as per the Skynch principle, with the pilot in charge of the throttle.

An added benefit of the Skynch in this situation is that the winch operator can stand right next to the pilot (rather than 1200m away, as it is normally done with other stationary winching designs) and thus be in much better control of the critical start phase.

Anyway, it all worked a song, and I got a nice 2-hour flight out of it: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/347775

The real test

maze — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:23:48 +0000

Today I went and picked up the Skynch at the workshop, got the last few instructions from John the Mad Inventor, and took it to the paddock all by myself.

Set it up in less than five minutes, hooked in (still totally alone in the paddock) and took off for an almost 3h, 42km FAI triangle flight around central Fyn. Very satisfying.

Towing when there is noone else around with time on their hands is now within reach. It is nothing less than a new era in flatland paragliding.

The winch suffered from some hiccups during todays’ operation, all due to the fact that the batteries are too old. In the end I had to tow with very light tension to get the most out of the limited juice still available – but I still got 300+ m on my tow, and released right in a weak thermal. All in all a perfect flying day, and John went and picked up four new batteries on his way home so we’re set to go next time the weather allows it.

Check my track on Leonardo here: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/332085

Mads S

The Skynch – ideal for step towing

maze — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:31:04 +0000

Since the Skynch has practically no idle resistance on the drum it should theoretically be ideal for step towing – today we tested this theory, and it held! We only made one ‘step’, but altitude loss on the downwind leg was minimal (comparable to flying with no line attached) and the re-engaging upon return to an against the wind/winch course was super easy and intuitive.

It would make sense to have plenty of line on the drum (there is after all room for 4km of the stuff!) but today we had only 1000m and thus couldn’t use the full length of the paddock on the 2. step. But it still gave us an extra 100m to play with, enough to make the difference between connecting and landing on most days.

All in all a very good days’ testing,

From Proto to Serial in four easy steps

maze — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:42:20 +0000

The control unit of the skynch has gone through something of a metamorphosis, as the images below will show. There are no extra points for guessing which one is the proto and which one is the final version

It looks pretty basic but it worked fine for testing purposes - you wouldn't want to find one in your recently purchased Serial version though!

Once through a software application that is made to design print boards, the above plywood board became this - not as entertaining, but sleeker...

Videos on Youtube

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:23:15 +0000

We only have short movies showing the RC Skynch from last summer.

You probably allready know the videos from youtube.com

You can see a proto test here:

RC-Skynch (better quality)

youtube link

and a short movie from our workshop here:

RC-Skynch transmitter (better quality)

youtube link

Don’t forget the pin!

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:06:33 +0000

A test day with the Skynch going autonomous. The first 3 tows were going well. During the 4th. tow, the pull disappeared as I was reaching 300m and I released the tow bridle. It was a nice day so I just flew around a while but after some time my curiosity drew me back to the paddock and I landed at the winch. The Skynch was lying on the ground some meters from the anchor. I had forgotten to mount the safety pin!

Fortunately the power cables had dismantled themselves from the batteries.

A picture popped into my head: If the cables had stayed on the batteries maybe all the parts would have joined me up there after a while…

Did you know that Skynch’s sleep on the side?

First RC Skynch test

admin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:58:09 +0000

First test was a great experience. Things worked as predicted and there were only minor adjustments to do until next test.