Galloping Ghost Radio Control

Demonstration of a 1960's Galloping Ghost radio control system. A single "servo" is used and by a clever combination of pulse rate variation, pulse width variation, and mechanical decoding, three controls are achieved. There is some interaction between the controls and the throttle operation prevents independently using the rudder and elevator, but it does work. The constant pulsing motion really eats up the batteries and the system requires some mechanical tuning to get everything working correctly.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• radio
• control
• galloping
• ghost
• single
• channel
• rc
• pulse
• rand
• actuator

[MFGKirchdorf]

☆★☆ FANTASTIC VIDEO ☆★☆

I would like to see a plane in air with this kind of radio control system :)

[sonex413]

I had an actuator just like that around 1968, it's a Rand LR-3. I still have the Citizen-Ship model NPT galloping ghost transmitter that I used to operate it with. It was installed in a Goldberg Ranger 42 foamie ARF and powered by an old Fox .15. It flew, but it was never really in control, more like "suggestion"!

[Parawatt]

Great idea to remember our youth !

Like Daveymg, my actuator was a single torque rod driven by a "Mighty Midget" elec motor (I still have one). It worked well for rudder ; but as soon as the pulse rate had to be increased for controlling elevator, it was hard for the Rx relay to follow.

[heroineworshipper]

It got us to the moon.

[daijohn3]

Have you flown it? Does it use up batteries?

[daveymg]

Fascinating actuator, I've never seen one of those before. I built my own 27MHz radio set in the late '60s for a model that I built named Rattler, designed for GG. My actuator was a single push (torque) rod driven by an elec motor and had an angled end that engaged the tail surfaces. My setup used short pulse width for down elev and long gave up elev. Mark-space controlled the rudder. I only ever managed one fully controlled flight! Thanks for sharing.

[Hurhausdirektor]

You had to design the model to overcome the failings of the control system - long moment arms, low levels of inertia, small pitch inputs - but it only cost a few thousand dollars in today's terms (several week's wages), so hey you would tolerate some minor system drawbacks!

[xjet]

Wow, that brings back memories. I built my own GG set back in the 1960s. Look how far we've come with today's highly computerized RC gear in just a few short decades. Astounding.