JR Ergo 50 Type II

JR ERGO 50 TYPE II

Background

Lately, the popularity of the JR Ergo is like a heat wave that swept the States. I guess its due to its design around a "modular" concept – i.e. most of the common parts are being shared between a 30, 46 and 60 machine, with the 30 and 46 machine share most parts between them. This tends to lower the manufacturing cost, and it will provide an upgrade path for users. This is a good practice and I think one of the important factors that leads to the success of the Ergo line. However, this is also a double edge sword. Some compromises have to be made in between different Ergos in order to use the most common parts to lower cost. If you owned an Ergo 30, you will feel that it is a bit large comparing to other 30 size heli. When you have an Ergo 46, you will feel that the fuel tank is kind of small for a 46 machine.

Over here, we have been flying what JR called "Type II" machines for years already. We refer to the last generation Ergo (what other people have outside of Asia) as a Type I machine. The Type II machine features side frame designed specially for a 46 machine from the ground up, and it tend to correct some of the compromises made with the type I frame to make it a truly 46 machine. Also, with the re-design main frames the Type II kit could be easily adopted to different powerplants. Type II comes in three flavors, Ergo 50 Type II is for 50 2 strokes with mechanical mixing, Ergo FS70 for OS70FS four stroke engine with mechanical mixing, and Ergo 50 Type II CCPM for 50 two stroke with electronic CCPM. The Type II is the latest evolution to the Ergo 46. The main difference between the Type II and Type I machines are as follows:

Re-designed main frame - The Type II features redesigned upper and lower frames with different servo positions. The servos are now being mounted on a lower position right above the battery tray. The frame features lower profile design.
Bigger capacity fuel tank - Type II fuel tanks are in
Longer tail boom (Length = 690mm) - With the longer tail boom, the Type II now flies with 600mm. The tail drive belt is longer than Type 1 to adapt to this boom. JR sells this long tail boom together with the belt as an upgrade in the States and Europe, and I think its a rip-off.
Bearing comes standard in starter shaft bearing block
Bearing comes standard in tail drive pinion block
Re-designed canopy


*Right side of Ergo 50 Type II*	*Right side of Ergo 50 Type I for comparison*

*Left side of Ergo 50 Type II*	*Note lower placement of servo on Type II*

Converting your Type I into a Type II?

I doubt JR will release Type II Ergos in the States, since the Type I are already selling like hotcakes around the world. JR does not have an absolute need to introduce the Type II to other parts of the world. So, for the mean time, the Type II is available only in the Asian area. Since the Type II machine is not available outside of Asia, pilots in Europe or USA did not see any of these. A lot of Type I Ergo 46 owners will want that big fuel tank of the Type II (JR # 60333, might not compatible with the parts numbering system of other parts of the world, at least not with those in the States ). However, you cannot just stick the Type II tank directly onto your Type I 46, because the opening of the Type I fuel tank is too small for a Type II fuel tank. K&S have a part that comes to the rescue. (Note: I refer K&S as the K&S as distributed in our region. I know that K&S sell their products under KSJ brand name in other parts of the country. I don't know whether the full line of K&S products will be distributed under the KSJ name. You might want to check the availability of this part in your area.) Part # 561 is a piece of 2mm thick carbon fiber in a C-Shape. What it does is for the installation of the 60333 fuel tank. To install the fuel tank, you must cut out the front portion of the fuel tank opening, and mount the K&S part. The K&S part will provide a bigger size opening for the fuel tank. Someone might ask by cutting a section of the main frame, will the strength of the main frame be compromised? Some of my club members have installed it and found out that in no way the mainframe structure was weakened after we've installed the part. In fact, since the piece of graphite is pretty thick, it reinforced the main frame. By installing the big fuel tank, flight time was prolonged for about three more minutes as stated by my fellow club members.

If you are into details you might notice that the Type II 46 is called a 50, not a 46, why? Its because JR has obtained the exclusive distribution of Webra engines in Japan, so, to promote their products, the new design are more concentrated on the fittings with Webra engines, instead of the more common OS engines. All Ergos on sales in Japan now comes standard with Webra engine mounts, except when Webra does not offer an engine in the class (e.g. four strokes and gas). Since almost 90% of heli flyers in the Asian region fly OS, I don't think it's a good idea for JR to bundle Webra engine mounts as standard item. In fact, a lot of us have Webra engine mounts as doorstop or paperweights. Also, The Type II lower frame is specifically design to mount a Webra 50 GTH with ease. If you are using OSes, you will need to mill down the lower L shape landing gear mount to clear the muffler.

Flying

As to flying, the Type II has more agility than the Type I. It's a fast and aerobatic machine. While basic mechanics are the same, the Type II exhibits more precision and control than the Type I machine.

Conclusion

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