im new on here...

[kygirl]

i'm a beginner w/helis...my boyfriend is crazy about them...he flies raptors and ive became interested...i started flying on the sim a few months ago and decided it's time for me to get a hobby...im learning to hover right now...it's harder than i thought it would be! any suggestions for learners?

:) i REALLY dont understand the technical stuff either (like how to set them up)

[Jetgirl]

that stuff has me confused too!

Trying to learn it all on my own right now which is fine with me because there are SOOO many folks who are extremely helpful and want to help out ANYONE new to the hobby.

Hang in there, you will get it eventually!

[2kwik2c]

Hi there,

There are several options for a beginner to start on this hobby.

You got three types of beginner RC helis:

Co-Axial Helis

FP (Fixed Pitch) Heli

CP (Controlled Pitch) Heli

If you are just beginning to learn to hover, the best novice RC helicopter and easiest to fly in my opinion would be a Co-axial RC heli like this one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/2kwik2c/HMXE05.jpg

A co-axial is basically a dual rotor bladed helicopter that counter rotates which help eliminates the need for controlling the tail. These type of helis are good for hovering, forward flights, left and right turns. etc. and like I said they're easy to fly. That's the pros on those heli, but the cons is that it doesn't have the flight characteristic and orientation of a "real" helicopter like the way a Raptor flies.

Now if you want to learn how to fly close to how a real heli does, your other option would be getting a fixed pitch heli like this one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/2kwik2c/ek005.jpg

In a fixed pitch heli, the rotor head do not have moving parts that tilt and move the blades thus why they are called fixed pitch. They're kind of easy to fly if you have the basic fundamentals of hovering and throttle control.

Last but not least the the CP (Controlled Pitched) Heli which is basically the "real deal" in heli flight characteristics. This version have moving parts on the rotorhead that tilts the blades negatively or positively to achieve flight. It's better to practice on these because eventually if you decide to move up to the "big league" of helicopters at least you have the knowledge and skills to fly it. This one though is a little complicated and complex to fly. You can ask some help from someone who has the skills to fly it.

This CP helicopter is a good one to practice for the large ones like the Raptor or TREX600.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/2kwik2c/HMXE04.jpg


This one is by Helimax Axe CP. It's a good beginner for CP heli flying. Another popular heli is called Blade CP.




Good luck and happy flying.

[kama1]

dont waste your time or your money on these.
you would be way better off biting the bullet and getting a T-Rex 450
if your boyfriend is into helis thats what he would prolly tell you if you asked him.

of course the cost is higher for the T-Rex but its a much better heli.
you will prolly upgrade to one anyway so its better to go right for it.

i started off with a blade cp and once i got a T-Rex i wished i started with it.

just my 2 cents

[JasonJ]

My wife had bought me that Walkera 22e back in April and was interested in learning to fly. After seeing the hell I went through with that thing with it always failing she changed her mind, said the hobby looked like it was more trouble than it was worth. I bought the Falcon 3d and since it has been working well and I have been progressing fine with it,she became interested again. I had bought a little Airhogs Havoc to torture the cats and the wife played with it and liked it but didn't like how uncontrollable the little thing was. I did some work for my sister so she bought me a little coax heli so I can do orientation work in the basement when the weather is bad, and the wife will learn on that for the time being. When I get the Trex, I will be more willing to let her use the Falcon.

My opinion is, get a sim if you have a good computer (my laptop can't handle the sims so it is all real world for me), get a little coax so you can have stick time when the weather sucks and can get basic orientation down, and get a quality helicopter like the trex 450. Skip the Ready-To-fly helis except the little coaxs, because they are not ready to fly. They need to be gone over, and definatley do NOT get anything that has a seperate tail motor. It will fail, over and over, and you will have no stick time. That is why my 22e is on the shelf.

I like my RTF Falcon 3d, it has been great, but I have done a bit of work on it to reduce sloppy linkages and sticking tail rotor issues. I also run a 2100 lipo in it which gives long flight times and the weight made the helicopter much more stable.

I would like a nitro bird, but that is way down the road. the Trex will be more than enough for the time being...

[Whirly-Girl]

Well, here is my .02 as well!

I firmly believe that a sim is the #1 purchase for learning how to FLY! I highly recommend and only use AeroFly Pro Deluxe. I can't stand G3.5...too gamey and not realistic on physics.

Next, I also believe in skipping the cheap electrics with tail motors, etc. A T-Rex 450 SE is a sweet, stable electric helicopter and my husband had success from day one flying one of mine after ONLY flying a simulator. From there, you can easily progress to a T600? Raptor 50? MinAir Stratus? YES! Any of them...the bigger they are, the easier they are to fly...STABILITY. Just as long as you have the cash flow for the investment. Buy as big as you can afford to properly setup (ie - not cheap electronics/motor). If I had to chose from a blinged out T-Rex 450SE V2 with top of the line servos and radio versus a Raptor 30 with a Thunder Tiger motor and cheap analog servos...I'd go with the T-Rex any day. Good equipment in the beginning saves you more money and SANITY!

Lastly, to learn all the techno-geeky stuff behind the setup of a collective pitch (CP) helicopter, download and watch any and ALL Finless videos here on HeliFreak. He is THE MAN when it comes to video instruction and as long as you faithly watch all his videos on a particular heli or process, I guarantee you can figure this stuff out!

:thumbup:

[fsusmithc2]

It was nice to see a picture of my old friend the HoneyBee (the fixed-pitch heli in the pics). I have that same one and it was what I started on. Heck of a thing to control being that the combined electronics package isn't really good. You get what you pay for with those though. That one was bought for me for Christmas of last year by my dad, an avid R/C pattern airplane flyer. Little did he know what monster he had helped to create as I now have the 450 and nitro 600 T-Rexes.

The 450 really is a good place to start as you'll quickly get tired of the cheap mini-helis. Getting over the pucker factor of the initial cost will take some time though. Then it's all downhill from there and $1000 doesn't seem like a lot anymore. :wink:

[kygirl]

A few weeks ago my boyfriend ordered me an Axe CP...something just to start out with....The first heli went bad so we sent it back and 3 days ago received my new one. He has flew it a little bit and likes it. He's in to flying nitro though, after I learn to fly electronically then I'm moving up to a Raptor. I'm still VERY confused with everything but within time, I'll understand. I've been flying on the sim whenever I get the time and I have to say...I'M VERY FRUSTRATED...does anyone think it'd be better for me to just pick the heli up and try to fly it instead of using that dang sim? I REALLY want to do this but I'm afraid that I'm not going to be patient enough...

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[j bomb]

Hang in there, it seems really difficult at first, but you'll get it. You try and try and it seems like your going nowhere, then one day everything "clicks" and you can hover. You don't really know how, but you're doing it and it feels AWESOME. I think most pilots, myself included, have experienced this so don't worry you're not alone.

I don't know what sim. you're using, but maybe try choosing a different model as some are more forgiving than others. I've tried a couple of different T Rex's for G3.5 and neither of them fly like my own. The Axe CP on RF G3.5 is very difficult to control, and may not be an accurate representation, although I've never flown a real one to compare. Others may disagree w/ me on this, but I don't believe that you need to have a model that flies exactly like your own on the sim. It's for creating muscle memory and learning the control inputs for a given maneuver, not the nuances of each model. Each model has it's own characteristics but they all require the same stick movements to fly.

As for when it's time to try the real thing, I say, as soon as you feel comfortable w/ the idea. Just put the training gear on and keep it low to minimize the risk. Set some reasonable goals and progress at your own pace, don't try anything unless you think you're ready. And don't stop using the sim. I know it's tempting, but you'll progress faster if you keep using it.

Have fun and good luck.

[ShotgunTC88]

KyGirl,(yay!, Im in Louisville<G>)

Go to the HobbyShop nearby and by some of the Axe/Blade type "Training gear" ("X" shaped with little balls on the ends), Strap those puppies on with rubberbands and go out into the Garage or driveway (Make SURE there is very little or NO wind!).

Set the heli down in the open with the TAIL FACING YOU,and EASE in the throttle/collective until the heli starts movin around abit and get a feel for the left/right/forward/backward movement.

Once you are comfortable keeping it somewhat close to one spot (Around 6/8feet circle) add allittle more throttle/collective and try to get up about 2feet or so. (do NOT just "punch" the throttle stick!, Just ease it in smoothly)

If you get into trouble just drop the throttle and it will come on down and will not hurt it at all! (PROMISE <GGGG>)


Just do NOT get much higher than 2 feet or so at first!


Once you can keep it roughly in a small circle (around 6 to 10 feet) with the tail facing you, You can go a little higher to get out of "Ground Effect" (a little "Bubble" that the mainblades create when your low)
It will actually be EASIER to hover at around 3feet or so, Just don't rush yourself!.

For now just keep the TAIL POINTED AT YOU (Concentrate on keeping the Rudder under control) so you don't get disoriented!

If it starts getting the side or nose pointed at you set it down!

Go ahead and give it a shot!

(Even if you do wack somthing the training gear will help and the damage is cheap and most of the time just blades or landing gear,With the landing gear on you probably wont hurt anything!)

One BIG tip!!!,
IF you do crash and the blades hit the ground LOWER THE THROTTLE TO OFF IMMEDIATLY!, or you may burn up your electronics!

Dont let me frighten you about burning it up, Just try and not get in a bad enough position where the heli's Training gear cannot keep you right side up, GO EASY ON THE THROTTLE! and dont get higher than 3ft for awhile!.

Have fun!

Shotgun

[heli-hanger]

The best way is to find someone that has the some radio as you and knows how to work with it.There is no dumb ? eather. Let the person walk you through it step by step.Going to the local flying field is a good start to finding someone.Finless bob has some good videos but as I sead it helps to find someone with the same radio.Local hobbie shop might hold class on some nites.me and one of my good friends that ownes a hobby shop hold a class once a month on the setup of your heli.And we give flying lessons.Just take it slow but don't get stuck in a rut.Push yourself and one day it will just click its called muscle memory if you stay on it before long you wont even think about wiats going on you will just do it.:rolling

[slotcars]

[quote=kygirl;370102]i'm a beginner w/helis...my boyfriend is crazy about them...he flies raptors and ive became interested...i started flying on the sim a few months ago and decided it's time for me to get a hobby...im learning to hover right now...it's harder than i thought it would be! any suggestions for learners?

:) i REALLY dont understand the technical stuff either (like how to set them up)[/quote

[Dr. Ice]

Be patient and keep practicing and you will feel confident enough to fly what ever heli out there.

[snappa]

for any of you ladies who are having trouble try a co-pilot from FMA Direct they work very well and once you "master" it you can reduce the help or even turn it off