New Raptor 30 V2 Owner/Pilot

[pittsjock]

Greetings, I have been lurking for a few weeks. I flew rc airplanes years ago as a kid and am a pilot but have very little heli experience.

I bought a eFlite CX2 in November and have been having a blast with it. About 3 weeks ago, I saw a listing on CL for a nitro helicopter. Long story short, the guy had all the original receipts and manuals for a Raptor 30 V2 with a TT engine and Futaba 7CHP, 401/S9254 plus starting equipment and a gallon of nitro and just wanted to move it. He said he flew it once, chipped the blade and put it up. I got a super deal on the heli and brought it home.

Once home, I found this site and raptortechnique and went through the whole machine. The guy did a nice job of putting it together, but there were several major things wrong with the heli, including most controls reversed and the Futaba 401 incorrectly set up. It is no wonder he had trouble flying it!

Anyway, I went through it and set it up to the best of my ability following lots of great advice from this site and others. I got the nerve up this morning and decided I was going to test run the engine and maybe fly it. The heli started right up and idled beautifully. I have a nice open area to fly by my home so I went ahead and took her up for a maiden flight. Long and short, I scared myself a couple of times, but managed to run 2 tanks through the heli without any damage. It flys great - set up for a novice of course, but it really is nice compared to the CX2. I flew another tank a few minutes ago which was also very enjoyable and successful.

At this point, I can do tail in hover pretty well, just working on side hovers. I did have one question - namely how do heli people tune their motors? I have flown rc airplanes and they are pretty easy to tune - just hang onto the tail and get it running right. With a heli and those blades, that doesn't seem very possible. Do you remove blades and tweak? If yes, does the load make the motor running differently?

Thanks!

Patrick

[vandelescrow]

for tuning an engine you will get allot of different advice. I am "not" by a long shot an expert but what I do is basicly keep an eye on the exhaust, listen to the engine in a hover and watch the tail, lastly use a temp guage.

Using the temp guage, after flying it a bit I land and with the engine still running (blades stopped (this is vary important)) check the temp of the head. Do not let it get over 220 degrees. Temp to high to lean.

Listen to the engine and watch the tail. Is the engine surging and the tail slipping to the side when it surges? to rich

Looking at the exhaust, Depending on what name brand of fuel will change the amount of smoke so you can't always go by that. Do you see any liquid drops spitting out? to rich Little or no smoke? to lean Excessive smoke? to rich

Bring the heli into a hover, do a gradual climb out, hover at new altitude, then bring the heli back to original altitude. When you climbed out did the RPMs take a while to increase? to rich. When you got to the new altitude and brought he heli to a hover did the RPM;s take a while to drop down? to lean

Lastly you can do the finger test but this is not that acurate, after flying and imediately after stopping the engine, put your finger up into the crank case cover, if it is to hot to keep your finger there for a few seconds it is to lean.

Hope this helps but wait a bit, you will get several more answers on this question so read them all and use what you think best.

Also, congrats on your purchase

[vandelescrow]

Also, on your side hovers, how I teach people to do this is have the heli in a tail in hover. Then move the heli back at a 45 degree angle so it is on your side, either side it doesn't matter but you will do it to both sides. With the heli on your side, don't move your body, just your head. This is still tail in hover as far as the controls are consernd but you are training your mind to look at the side of the heli. When you feel comfortable bring the heli back in front of you to atail in hover and bring it to your other side. I have had students that could not do this on one side of there body even thoe it was tail in hover.

OK, when you feel comfortable with it on both sides, start again in tail in hover, bring it back the same as before but this time, when it is on your side, turn your body into it. If you get into trouble, use your rudder to get it tail in, this is your escape route.

Good luck

[ghtracey]

Also, on your side hovers, how I teach people to do this is have the heli in a tail in hover. Then move the heli back at a 45 degree angle so it is on your side, either side it doesn't matter but you will do it to both sides. With the heli on your side, don't move your body, just your head. This is still tail in hover as far as the controls are consernd but you are training your mind to look at the side of the heli. When you feel comfortable bring the heli back in front of you to atail in hover and bring it to your other side. I have had students that could not do this on one side of there body even thoe it was tail in hover.

OK, when you feel comfortable with it on both sides, start again in tail in hover, bring it back the same as before but this time, when it is on your side, turn your body into it. If you get into trouble, use your rudder to get it tail in, this is your escape route.

Good luck

First time I've read that... great way to do it. Nice one.

[pittsjock]

Thank you guys for the reply and the advice. I like the side hovering idea - I am going to try and fly tomorrow weather permitting.

Regards, Pittsjock

[vandelescrow]

Let me know how it goes and when your ready for the next step. I have been requested to teach someone via e-mail before so if you want, I can get you into forward flight.

JUST REMEMBER: if you get into trouble, your escape is to get the heli into a tial in hover.