I figure if I am setting up a new helicopter and the helicopter appears in the model preset of the setup wizard, I might as well choose it. That's fairly easy. However, what is the best option to choose when a model I built does not appear in the model preset? Is it better to choose a preset model of the same helicopter size or is it better to just choose a "Default" model?

2nd question: The setup wizard states, "Selecting Model preset is optional but can greatly help you with the tuning process". How exactly does selecting the model preset help with the tuning process?

It sets head gains, piro consistency, rudder delay etc to a value that is reasonable for your model. If your model is not on the list pick a model of similar size and characteristics.

You don't need to use it if you're familiar with Spirits parameters as you can just set them to what you see as reasonable yourself.

The best is to select Default or just ask here.
The most important are rudder parameters - Rudder Delay and Pirouette Consistency. Others can be always default and it will work fine.

Wizard is changing the following parameters:

- swashplate
- cyclic gain
- rudder common gain
- rudder dynamic
- pirouette consistency
- rudder delay
- pitch up compensation
- elevator filter

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Spirit System developer

The reason I posted the original question about "model presets" is because the current helicopter I installed the Spirit Pro is not fun to fly at all. The tail blows out substantially. Whenever I transition to inverted, the helicopter responds erratically and gets into unexpected orientations. If it were not for the robust Spirit self-level bailout, I would more than likely crash. I am able to do fast forward flight and figure 8's except that the tail makes "high gain" noise during figure 8 turns and whenever I stop giving rudder stick commands. Even with these "high gain" tail noise, I get tail blowouts when doing pitch pumps. I know that the Spirit can stabilize amazingly. I had one installed on a Goblin 380 and another on a Synergy E5, and both helicopters flew without issues. Now I have a Spirit Pro on a Synergy 766 spinning 806/116mm blades, but it almost feels like I was flying the helicopter without a FBL unit. I bet that the reason why the helicopter is flying so awful is because I need to tune the Spirit Pro appropriately, but I feel like I am blindly adjusting parameters and checking what makes it better and what makes it worse.

This is the equipment I am using on the helicopter:

1) Synergy 766 airframe stretched to swing 806mm main and 116mm tail blades with optional 5.1:1 tail gear ratio

2) Kontronik Kosmik 200HV ESC

3) Kontronik governor store yields 1750rpm at 80% throttle.

4) Kontronik BEC set to 7.5v

5) R2 super capacitor buffer unit

6) BK BLS-8002HV cyclic and BK BLS-8005HV tail servo

7) Jeti DS-16 radio with REX7 receiver

It would help to have a starting point for the following parameters:

1) Cyclic gain

2) Rudder Common Gain multiplier

3) Rudder Gain in transmitter

4) Pirouette consistency

5) Rudder Delay

6) Rudder Dynamic

7) Elevator filter

8) Cyclic feed forward

Thank you

If rudder is kicking to such extent (more than 45°) then it is possible, that the tail is not able to mechanically handle the load.
This mean, that whatever you will set, it will not help.

Can you tell me what is angle between the tail blades when you set it fully to one side?

If your tail limits are maxed (travel is fully used), then you have options:
- increase RPM (I guess that you will need to increase a lot since it does not work even in transition to inverted flight)
- put a longer tail blades

It is possible that the tail ratio is making the trouble. Can I know reason for gear ratio change from the stock?

Alternatively there is also a chance that what might cause problems are servos. Unfortunately I have seen many troubles with RJX/BK servos due to different issues But this was usually with 700X series. When they are good, it is working exceptionally well.
It can be good to try to lower BEC voltage to 6V if possible (just a try) - this often helped with BK servos that were loosing its holding power.
You might also start the motor without blades to verify if nothing strange is happening. Also you can try to touch the servo cases by finger.

Regarding setup - For BLS servos you will need to increase Pirouette Consistency by 10-20 from normal (to e.g. 185 - 200).
Rudder Delay to 0.
Elevator Filter probably 3-4.

Nothing else should be that important.

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Spirit System developer

Tomas, I think you're right about the BK servos. I think that They caused that same model to crash. What settings would you recommend on that same model with MKS X8 servos?