A Helicopter Confession !!!

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hi folks,

Well, I have finally determined that my "demeanor" as a heli pilot is not the 3D route, I love scale ships and I really think that I will enjoy getting into scale flying. I will be 50 years old this year, and my reflexes aren't what the used to be (hard for me to admit to that).

I have a Century Hawk Sport and a Gohbee Stinger 50 in my stall, and I need some advice on the direction I should take.

I really like the Augusta 109's and the Long Rangers, Jet Rangers....... also the Bell 222's. What should I look at for a simple, get my feet wet, scale project.

I am not opposed to buying new mechanics if needed, but that will delay my start of the project..... due to finances.

I love heli's and just flying around, making the fast approaches with flares and touchdowns, sort of like the way the military heli's make a fast in approach and set down..... Heli's are just fun and everyone should try to stay inside their limits. Believe me, I love the flippin' and floppin', but doing it is a whole 'nother matter for this old fart. heheheheee Plus, trying to make a model look like it's full scale brother is a challenge in it's own right !

Spread your good words of wisdom on this old fart ! heheheee

For your information:
(I have been flying heli's for about 1.5 years now. Forward flight, stall turns, etc. is pretty well the max of my flying abilities, although, rolls and loops are not impossible.... but funnels and tic-tocs are probably beyond my abilities.)

[Laurens]

Century has nice scale fuselages. Put one on your Hawk :wink: .

While building you can keep practicing 3D with your gohbee :mrgreen:

[Bonsai]

Rob: I turn 50 in July ...I aint givin up the 3D... I may not be fast and I may not ever be the best...But Im still havin fun... So what if the kids are better and faster..Our fun meter runs the same speed as theirs.... But Scale could be fun too... Just dont stop 3D'in..
Dean

[Hotshot Charlie]

Thanks Laurens, I have studied the Funkey fuse's and they look like a nice option.

Hey Dean, Dude, you give me hope..... heheheheee :wink: I don't think it is that I can't do it, it is just that maybe I don't want the stress of it..... not sure. I am still very new to heli's (flown planks since the mid 70's, heli's only 1.5 yrs) so I have a huge learning curve on the 3D, not as much of a curve on the scale stuff. To clarify, over the years of plank flying, I leaned toward scale planks, so maybe this is just the direction I should go???? Not sure, I am going to leave all my avenues open...... it just looks like a path I might want to take. I also like building stuff, so the scale avenue has some interest for me.

At any rate, you won't get rid of me from the 3D Invasions.... I will be there putterin' around and attempting my very limited abilities.... but you will probably see me with a few scale ships before it is over.

I would also like to start flying some of the IRCHA contest stuff.... I think that would be fun, although, I am not into necessarily competeing..... been there and done that for tooooo many years, but maybe just to help learn better flying skills. I guess I realized when I went flying yesterday, that I need to work on basic skills as much or more than flippin' and floppin'. I still have a lot to learn and practice.

Anyway, that is my thoughts on a rainy Sunday morning.

[Dan Lewis]

I kinda see what you're saying because I can relate to those times when your adrenaline kicks in and you can hardly keep a straight thought, avoiding landing for fear of your fingers jittering off the gimbles as you touch down... On the other hand, while we're talking about stress... Flying one of those elegantly decorated scale's would stess me out more than a pod & boom :) ...I would love to fly scale but my wallet can't handle it! Nor could my heart after laboring what could be hundreds of hours on some of the most mind-blowingest meticulous details (as I've admired first hand) just to see it go ker-plunk :mrgreen: That's stress to me! One way I tried getting past it is by buying a $50 parts kit and go out one day and do some high up flips and rolls. This worked for me - might for you. That's fun and stress free. Expect to make mistakes :glasses2: and expect to rebuild. You've got the perfect heli for it!

An alternative to high speed, high risk 3D is low risk, high skill, precision flying. That stuff is hard and gives a completely different kind of stress, I think - not the finger shaking kind but the satisfying kind when you know you finally, finally nailed it.

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the input..... I understand about crashing a perfectly built and very good flying craft.... I have done that a few times with some of my planks.... not fun at all..... but the building of the ship was a major part of the fun.

I am really torn between the different aspects of the heli hobby.... I love it all, just need to find the niche that works for me???? :?: :wink: :idea:

Thanks again for the support.

[Laurens]

As I said use the hawk for scale (airwolf). Keep the Stinger 50 for 3D.

[Hotshot Charlie]

As I said use the hawk for scale (airwolf). Keep the Stinger 50 for 3D

I have to agree with you Laurens.... that will probably be my plan..... I might even buy the mechanics and fuse all at one time and keep the two pod and booms I have to practice and play with.

[Heli_jack]

Ther ya go

[wolfdad]

Rob,
Since we are all visiting the "confessional" on this one, I too join you in stating that my passion is in the scale end of the house and my decision, based on what I saw at IRCHA has been to dive into scale with both feet and help, push, conjole or whatever it takes to get more people interested and participating in the scale side of the house. No, I am not an expert, however I am more than willing to learn, participate and help others along the way. I know you and I feel very strongly the same about that issue. Good luck to you, shipmate and hope to see you in the scale competition next year at IRCHA.
Doc

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Doc,

The good Lord willing, I will be there. I would like to make Dalton in September, but not sure right now. All I have is my sport scale Airwolf, that really isn't "scale", but it's close.... heheheeee

I guess I will keep my Hawk and make a Long Ranger out of it. Time to get busy.

[Hotshot Charlie]

BTW, thanks for the post, I am there if you need help boosting Scale on HeliFreak !

My problem is that I love all the venues of heli's...... my ability and age keep me from doing much 3D, but I am going to try some contest stuff and I am definitely going to spend more time and money in the scale end.

Keep me posted !

[Clintstone]

3D can be a mix between FAI and Hard Core in the Dirt or should I say near the Dirt. Learning 3D can be fun and relaxing if the right approach is taken..........the stress can be avoided with the right planning. I like doing orientation exercises and then just fly big precise maneavers and then bring it in low and tight on the Deck. I like to keep it mixed up. I went back to the basics this week and went thru all the Hovering and the control box and the to figure 8's and just enjoyed flying with no stress.............If you ain't having Fun, Find a way to have FUN. Keep it real and you will be fine ROB..........

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Clint,

Yep, I'm enjoying loops and rolls, 2 mistakes high (down from 3 mistakes high). I just like it all, don't know that I will ever get to the point of " Hard Core in the Dirt or should I say near the Dirt" stuff.... but that's ok. I spend a lot of time on just enjoying flying the beasts! Heli's are mechanical creations that somehow fly.... heheheee !

With all the help that Clint and others provide, if a fellow wants to learn something... all he has to do is ask ! Thanks guys !

[Clintstone]

Anytime...............out the door to Mooresville..............................

[wolfdad]

Hey Clint,
Enjoy yourself!!! Down week for me, however, I hope to see a bunch of you up at OC Bob's next weekend.

Rob, we are of "like" mind. I still maintain the two mistakes high, plus some attitude with regard to the "limited" aerobatics I attempt and, I am always tickled to death when a manuever works out the way it should. I have had some extremely good coaches, however due to eyes and reflexes having seen "better" times, my thumbs don't always do the "right" things...however, I still love to fly and I am still having one helluva' lot of fun as I know you are as well. And, at my age, I don't mind the "long walk" down to a spot to the left or right where I can safely "do my own thing" and "have fun"...and, damn it, that's the name of the game...."HAVING FUN."
All the best,
Doc