Training gear and when to do without

[edm3]

Howdy folks,

Just wondering when do you think I should leave the training gear on the ground. Although I do not feel up to it yet I have run 9 tanks of gas and am making fewer hops with more time in the air.

Thanks

Ed :)

[3Dgonnabe]

Ed,

I think it all comes down to how confident you are of being able to put it down without it tipping over. If you can hover stationary over one spot then do it. Possibly its better to wait until you are comfortable transiting forward, backwards and sideways and then coming to a complete stop before landing.

Enjoy!

[DebianDog]

I am about at 9 tanks too... I can still hop around without them :mrgreen:

Like John says...

[Hotshot Charlie]

I used my "gears" until I quit making the short hops and started consistant hovering. I then decided to use them to practice nose-in hovering, but found out, the hard way, that if you catch a training gear in the grass..... it will break and fly up into your main blade and really mess up a heli ! :shock: Not pretty.

I think as mentioned by John, confidence is the main factor. Do it when you feel like you are not going to tip it over when taking off and landing.

[capebob]

You will know when it's time. One day you'll look at your machine and say to yourself, "I don't need these any more" and you'll be done with them.

Bob

[Hotshot Charlie]

Samuel Adams field rep
Buffalo Wings field rep

Now that's the field rep jobs I would like to have !!!! :mrgreen:

[OzarkCopterBum]

I'm weaning myself off of the gear. I started with full dowels and after a week or so, cut off 4" and then later cut off 4" more. I was psyching myself up to lose some more and grounded myself with a stupid hot start and smoked the clutch. As soon as I'm up again I'll probably lose a few more inches before I drop them entirely.

Still flyin blind......

[edm3]

All,

Thanks for the input. I don't think I have the confidence yet put I did like the OzarkCoptermans idea. For now I think I'll run a few more tanks of gas and build up my confidence.

Thanks for all the replies.

Ed :noteworthy

[DavidH]

In my opinion the pilot is ready to lose the training when he is comfortable hovering the heli in any direction.
When the pilot can hold the heli in one spot .
When the pilot can hover the heli sideways, nose-in, tail-in, 45 deg angle. Pretty much can turn the heli anyway comfortable, then they are ready to lose the gear.

Learn the basics above and then proceed to simple forward flight. If you get comfortable hovering the heli with it facing any of the above directions. Then when you go into the forward flight, it should not get in any attitude that would be uncomfortable to the pilot.

Just my opinion. I see a lot of pilots that want to lose the gear just because they can hold the heli in a 5 second hover.


David

[edm3]

David,

Thanks for the advice. I have been hovering in all directions on the sim but have only hovered with the nose pointing away from me. I think I have a long way to go before I dump the training gear. I do have the wind dialed up to simulate my local conditions because so far I have always had a little wind to contend with.

Still waiting for the rain to stop. :(

Ed

[Bluefuzzyone]

I had to beef up my landing gear as I had the problem that Hotshot mentioned. The small size dowels broke off and did a good number on my Flybar and Paddles :( , It was not a pretty site but I was lucky and that was all I had to replace. :)
I have only did 5 flights so far, but the first steady hover(#3) was FANTASTIC.

[edm3]

Tom,

I am using 3/8" diameter dowels so I think I would really have to dork it in to break a dowel, but with me flying you never know.

Still waiting for the weather to improve, I have been rained out all week. I am getting in some sim time and am running the sim at 150% speed. I got that idea from another HF.

Thanks for the info.

Ed :noteworthy

[Hotshot Charlie]

I am using 3/8" diameter dowels so I think I would really have to dork it in to break a dowel, but with me flying you never know.

I assure you, the wood dowel will break easily. I think I was using 3/8" dowels and all I did was catch some taller/heavier grass as I was moving backwards during a nose in hover, the next thing that happend was "snap, krackle and pop" !
Not pretty !

[edm3]

Wow,

That must have been ugly! I'll upgarde to stainless steel! :lol:

My wife likes my new hobby since I now have a reason to keep the grass mowed. She knows when I am planning another flight session whan she hears me fire up the the mower.

The weather looks to be improving next week so maybe I'll get a chance to fly, and cut the grass! :wink:

Ed

[Bluefuzzyone]

I was only using 1/4" as I thought it would be OK for my small size Helli. :dontknow I have now put landing gear from a larger size Helli on and went to 3/8" dowel as well. It has a nice smooth bounce now if I hop around, but the last flight was well under control. :D

[OzarkCopterBum]

I originally bought the Helimax gear and had more trouble with that than I did with the hovering. I replaced the broken FRP carbon rods with carbon arrows shafts "used" from the local archery store and snapped those too. Ended up with 3/8 dowels, rubber bands and wiffle golf balls from Wally World and have not had a problem since. I did break one but I had to work REALLY hard to do it.
I've seen a rotopod in action and they seem pretty tough but a little ungainly, I'd want those off my heli ASAP!

[Hotshot Charlie]

We taught my flying buddies son to fly his Rappy 30 without ever putting a training gear on it. Of course, the kid has had "hours" of sim time. He hasn't even had a close call on tipping over.

[Bluefuzzyone]

My soninlaw tried my Sim and caught on very fast. I think the video games he plays has helped with his learning curve. I have never played games or used a transmitter before getting in Hellis. He hasn't had a try with my Voyager "E" yet though. Now I feel safe with the training gear I might let him have a try. :roll: