Canopy Colour for Orientation

[Tarkers]

Hey all,

What does everyone find is the best colours for your canopy to aid orientation at height/distance?

I know its going to be personal preference, but there must be general rule of thumb which is considered to be "the best way"?

Also is it best to go with a 50/50 split left and right or top top and bottom?

Basically, I'm really struggling with the helis orientation whilst its high and far away - the all white canopy gives no indication at all as to whether I'm pitched 45' left of right and an incorrect correction means a trip to the bathroom to change pants :badair: - or a trip to the field to pick the bits up :shock: - either way there must be an aid to orientation that helps. The only way to avoid serious incident is to fly higher - which compounds my problem!

Also, I know that painting the white plastic canopy is difficult and preventing flaking is hard too, is there any way round this? I thought about only painting the lower 2/3's as the upper piece is the bit that gets bent around whilst fixing and removing.

TIA

Tarkers

[Greybird]

Look at Callie Graphics for a nice Swift look. I just put 3m tape(3 bucks) on mine from Walmart, and it really helps with orientation.

[Tarkers]

Hi Greybird,
I spent a couple of hours trawling round the DIY places over here in the UK last night, trying to find some flouro tape with a view to doing exactly what you did, but with yellow/pink/green whatever I could find. Unfortunately couldn't find anything suitable.

I'll contact Callie Graphics, see if they'll ship overseas. They look pretty good.

[kgfly]

It's all about contrast with the background. Flourescent orange and yellow work well against grey or blue skies as well as green trees or even a fairly cluttered background. Bold stripes can help. Left/Right split is less popular than top/bottom, but possibly better, just less aesthetically pleasing on the ground. Don't use a highly patterned design as it will work as camouflage, breaking up the outline so it's hard to see again.

Vinyl from Callie Graphics or tape like the nice job Greybird has done avoids the how-to-make-the-paint-stick problem.

[Coolice]

Hey,

I make and sell vinyl graphics for helis in the UK, check out my own Swift :

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/71ece3aa07b7e13fb8ac18ce0c547e15.jpg

I am due to be making a bright, Neon Orange set for a customer very shortly as they are moving onto aeros and struggling with orientation. Due to other work commitments ordering the vinyl is on hold for a short while.

From experience and speaking to fellow fliers the neon orange is a good colour ro have as it stands out like a sore thumb in the sky.
.

[Tarkers]

Coolice,
Like the graphics down the side! Nice!
I was thinking about a neon Orange for one side at least and maybe neon green for the other - its more of a training aid at the mo rather than something to look good.
I figure even if my heli looks a million dollars on the ground, its still gonna look like a bag of sticks when its doing the chicken dance and burying itself into the ground :shock:
So I need to learn to fly it confidently first - then I'll make it look hot :)

[Coolice]

Hey,

It's a good idea having the two sides done in differing colours, once you remember which is which it will be good.

As I mentioned above I am going to shortly be placing an order for some neon vinyl, I can certainly give you a price when I do to meet your requirements if you'd like?
We can still make the canopy look good and different at the same time, perhaps add a flame similar to my own but in neon yellow.

If you dont have any luck pursuing other vinyl suppliers or want to deal with someone in the UK drop me an email : ian@coolice.co.uk
.