Auto question

[Jermo]

With all the talk of AR I started doing them on my sim (G3.5). Everytime I break blades even tho it looks like the bird lands flat. is it really going to cost $13 in blades every time I AR? how do you afford to practice?

I'm hoping the G3.5 is just a bit sensitive. Also the Trex model I downloaded looks awefully small. Anyone have one that actually looks real?

ty in advance
Jermo

[HeliDan]

It does take a lot of practice on the sim. I spent a few weeks getting to the point where I was able to safely land doing autos.

I am now messing with inverted autos. And you think standard autos are hard! :D

Most likely you are using too much collective and losing all your head speed. Try waiting until closer to the ground.

What model are you using in G3? If you are using one of the smaller ones, then it will be much harder. Use the stratus or raptor (90 size) until you can land pretty consistently. Then slowly move to smaller birds.

Good luck, merry Christmas and happy landings.....

[Jermo]

I'm using a T-Rex 450 I got from one of the guys here. Fly's pretty well (until it's about 100' away then I can't tell what it's doing).. it's so tiny on the sim. I can fly my CX to the end of my driveway and back (about 70'+) without many issues (cept when cars come past and cause a breeze :D )
Jermo

[BarracudaHockey]

Autoing something that small leaves no room for error.

[ClayK]

What model on G3.5 are you using? It's easier to auto with larger models than the smaller ones.

Are you autoing from forward flight? I tried auto from eye level hover at first and I had a hard time doing it. When I started shooting auto's from forward flight, it's was 10 times easier.

Are you flaring early? Late? not enough? too much? Timing is critical, but you can always recover from anything, except too much and too late. Hit the throttle again and bail back out. If you can adjust the curve, set your idle point high so it keeps the blades in motion with a little bit of lift (something like 15% or something like that)

You doing it with wind or no wind? Wind is highly helpful, auto into the wind. Wind at the back of the model will force it to the ground quicker and not help the auto.

[HeliDan]

I'm using a T-Rex 450 I got from one of the guys here. Fly's pretty well (until it's about 100' away then I can't tell what it's doing).. it's so tiny on the sim. I can fly my CX to the end of my driveway and back (about 70'+) without many issues (cept when cars come past and cause a breeze :D )
Jermo

Did you learn autos using a larger heli? You should! :D

Also, you can increase the graphical size of the heli without changing the flight characteristics so that it is easier to see from farther away.

[Jermo]

Are you autoing from forward flight?
No I'm taking off full idle upmode/throttle, when it gets up pretty high I hit throttle hold and let it come down. I figured that would probably be when AR happens *shrug*


Are you flaring early? Late? not enough? too much?
no flare, just falling at full throttle with hold on,


You doing it with wind or no wind?
no wind..I'll try wind.. :)


I'll increase the model size and try with wind... when I get tired from orientation training I fly around and just goof off. So far I only seem to crash when:
1. it gets in the sun (normal)
2. tail down at low altitude pitched up at about 20 degrees (if straight up is zero)
3. pilot error (happens..I'm learning :) )
4. gets too far away.

at least the batteries don't run out :D

Jermo

[BarracudaHockey]

Full throttle = full collective? The heli is going to loose head speed and drop like a home sick lawn dart.

Have forward speed, into the wind, hit throttle hold (TH) and lower the collective stick all the way if you have -5 degrees, to about 1/4 if you are using +-9 or 10 as the heli gets to about 10 feet feed a little back cyclic and start feeding (smoothly) collective, as you get to about a foot give forward cyclic to level it and continue feeding collective till it touches down.

[Jermo]

DOH! I just figured out what you are saying. I forgot that throttle is also collective, so in idle up mode center stick to slight -5 deg..then collective up (flare) near landing...DOH! hehe..it makes sense now.
I'll work on it.. ty
Jermo

[BarracudaHockey]

Read this

http://www.ronlund.com/autos.htm

[Jermo]

rofl...just tried it with the trex model...first time...heli survived :D ty

the ronlund site promotes RR site so I avoid it... *shrug*

Jermo

[BarracudaHockey]

He doesn't promote it, he advertises on it but they have the most traffic and business is business, and he's one of the best people in this business.

RR isnt even listed on his list of sites on his web links.

[Jermo]

oh ok :) I'm a newb ...sorry..

anyway... your instructions work 100%... I can fly upside down, hit throttle hold, center pitch while I flip back over, and land as I slowly collective up...AMAZING!! .. hehe I feel silly now... it's fun on the sim tho..

Ty for everything.. I guess I'll go read more on the Ronlund site..when I first found it I was pretty interested...lots of stuff on there..
Jermo