A Beginners Guide How to Not Break Your Helicopter

EagerBeginner

Hi There,

First off, I'm a true beginner, so don't read this if you have flown non-coaxial helicopters before. I am writing this because I had flown micro coaxial helicopters indoors and bought a larger 4ch fixed-pitch.

Everyone tells you that this is a huge step up and to take it slowly, to practice on a sim and to talk to somebody experienced. But what exactly can you expect? Here is some very practical advice that will get you started and avoid crashes. My remote is set to stick mode 2, i.e. rudder on the left stick.

1) Pick the right environment. Ideally, you need space (lots of it), no wind and a soft surface. Grass is perfect (although slightly more difficult to take off from).

I landed my heli a slight bit to fast on the second flight, and the landing gear broke off because the plastic parts that hold the landing skids caught the surface of a running track. Would not have happened in grass.

2) Expect that you WILL HAVE TO CONTROL THE HELI. Don't think you can just lift off, not do nothing, and put it back down.

Lifting the heli up is not as easy as you would think to begin with (see further down), but even if it is up in the air, it will likely pick up speed into one or more directions. (up/down/left/right/forward/backwards). Be prepared for that!

3) Do not try to fly your heli, try to control it first. Try to fly it up 5 feet and leave it exactly there, i.e. try to hover. You will see how hard this is and how poorly you will do, compared to what you may have been used to with a coax heli.

4) Use only the right stick to counter-act the movement. Always bring it back to where you took off, and in the process make sure it doesn't fly too high or sink to low (left stick up and down only, no left/right on left stick).

The heli may turn. If you are not good with directions, turn with it so you face into the same direction as your heli, then use the right stick to bring it back. Don't freak out if the heli picks up speed forward, just counteract with the right stick in the opposite direction slowly but assertively. You do not have to turn it around to fly it back to you; it is a helicopter, not an airplane, it can fly into all directions irrespective of the heading (sounds trivial, but concentrating on turning caused my heli to accelerate to probably 30mph on my 3rd flight, and THAT freaks you out).

5) Now that you know what to look out for once the heli is in the air, here is what helps me to lift up smoothly. Put the heli exactly level on the ground, then rev the main rotor to about 15-20%. If the heli stays level, rev up quickly to 50% (or whatever you need to lift if off the ground). Immediately pull back completely on the left stick if the heli pulls in one direction during the initial revving. Don't try to counter act while the heli is on the ground, that is much easier once it is off the ground.

6) That's it! Since all you do is trying to bring it back where you started from, landing is actually easy. Make sure the heli has 0 movement, go down to about 30% on the throttle so that the heli sinks with about 2 feet per second. This will be enough to land it safely since the lift increases close to the ground. It is more important to have no movement than to land super softly, at least on soft surfaces.

Again, I am in no position to teach anybody anything, I am just trying to pass on what caught me off guard once I finally had the heli in the air and what helped me to gain control. With this: Happy crash-free flying!!

ferretmaster · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: Welcome!!

Welcome EagerBeginner to the world of helis!

Your comments for the beginner are something that the more experienced sometimes forget....that the journey starts with the small steps.

Keep the postings comeing.
_________________
Hello.....My name is Dave....and I am a heli addict!

Scale Heli's...A-109 (HK 450), AH-1W (TT E325)
A-109 (FHH 500), AH-64 (FHH 500),UH-60 (HK 500), Mi-24 (HK 600)

solentlife · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject:

Good but I disagree about Grass ....

It's better to fly from hard level surface IMHO as then you see the tendency of the machine BEFORE it lifts. ie it may start to yaw left or right while still on ground - indicating that 'rudder' is out of trim, it may lean left or right indicating that bank control is out of trim. This is all so much easier to see on hard surface than grass which tends to HOLD the skids until she lifts of. Often that lift is at throttle slightly more than a hard surface needs ...

My opinion ............

Anyway welcome to the mad-house !
_________________
If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.

balcv · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:49 am Post subject:

Greats tips there and many I have used my self while learning. Just waiting for a "Wind Free" day to get out and do some real flying.

I'd like to add that learning on a flat level indoor surface "With Training Kit" has been the best learning aide. I found it the perfect way to get the feel of the heli controls before actually getting off the ground.

Even once off the gound (3 - 5 feet" the training gear absorb the impact on the more enthusiastic landings when hitting the ground a little harder then expected.

I realise that the flight behavious will vary a little once the training gear is off, but it's not like starting all over again.

Keep up the great hints and tips. I'm learning heaps from you guys.
Thanks

pjdog · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:32 am Post subject:

Get a good 6 channel training TX box and buy Clearview simulator. Then practice, practice, practice.

jack

Old Kid · Fully Charged Joined: 26 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

So I broke down, gave into the inner kid in my old bod and bought a 3 channel from the local all in one electronics store. As soon as it gets enough throttle to start moving it starts going straight backwards and after take off seems to continue this even with forward stick. What am I doing wrong? I figured it was going to go left when taking off but that doesn't seem to be this issue. If you think I should take this up in another or new post just tell me.

Thanks

chopper54 · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:39 am Post subject: post subject

Hi Old Kid
It sounds like your c of g is a bit too far to the rear. With a three channel heli about the only thing you can do to help is to add a small amount of weight to the nose to bring the c of g towards the front. Experiment with various weights to try and improve things. If you like flying heli's go and buy a Blade mcx-2 and have some real fun.

Old Kid · Fully Charged Joined: 26 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

Cheers Chopper and Happy Christmas!
You could be right although I'm not ready to think it was made wrong yet. Other models by the same company have pretty good feedback on Amazon and here is a link to the one I have with a video of it flying.

http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Road-Toys-3-5CH-Helicopter/dp/B005ZCT4IW/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1324846966&sr=1-3

I realize it is not in the class of the Blade. Our local store is selling these for $33.00! Any other thoughts?

Edit: They have a 24/7 customer support number and someone answered today (and sounded like he was local)! He had the same thought as Chopper and told me to exchange it. I'll do that.

chopper54 · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 4:40 am Post subject: post subject

It doesn't really matter what you fly as long as you have fun.
Merry christmas to you Old Kid.

SkyKing51 · Extreme 3D Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 428

if it flys it is to be enjoyed
Have Merry HeliChristmas
_________________
WALKERA 180d Dragonfly

Old Kid · Fully Charged Joined: 26 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

Thanks Gentlemen-and the same to you and yours.
(It flew Laughing

)

EagerBeginner · Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:49 am Post subject:

Thx for the welcome, I feel slightly at home already...

Fully agreed, it is way easier to see what's going on when you are revving up on level ground. But for me it has only been a few weeks since hovering was difficult, so I remember how difficult it was to have a safe touch-down. I also found it a lot easier to stabilize in the air than on the ground. The training kit didn't really work well with my heli since it has a no flybar and a 3D gyro, which was completely out of whack with the additional mass. I now also start from level surfaces, if I find one, of course.

Here's something cool I saw the other day: Bring a big piece of cardboard to the field. That way you have the best of both worlds. I'm certainly doing that if I get my first 6ch...

Cheers!

solentlife · Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: post subject

solentlife · Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:38 pm Post subject: