Clamdigger
07-18-2006, 12:33 PM
I purchased a Honeybee Mark 2 fixed pitch electric micro heli from Hobby Lobby. I checked the balance of the heli and it is tail heavy. I balanced it by attaching a balsa spar to the gyro and adding clay to the forward end of the spar. It balanced but it naturally adds weight which isn't good. The battery is as far forward as the design allows. The model came RTF.
My understanding is that any helicopter should balance perfectly. I place my fingers under the ends of the flybar to check the balance. The tailboom drops about ten to fifteen degrees from horizontal. Since it is tail heavy I am concerned that this will negatively affect the flying characteristics and may lead to tailboom strikes. I am a new pilot and am teaching myself to fly using Radd's Roatary School of Flight instructions. I have not hovered yet and would like to get the heli balanced before I attempt hovering.
Could anyone help me with suggestions on balancing this model or tips on flying it if I cannot balance it without a front spar and weight?
My understanding is that any helicopter should balance perfectly. I place my fingers under the ends of the flybar to check the balance. The tailboom drops about ten to fifteen degrees from horizontal. Since it is tail heavy I am concerned that this will negatively affect the flying characteristics and may lead to tailboom strikes. I am a new pilot and am teaching myself to fly using Radd's Roatary School of Flight instructions. I have not hovered yet and would like to get the heli balanced before I attempt hovering.
Could anyone help me with suggestions on balancing this model or tips on flying it if I cannot balance it without a front spar and weight?