HFA (Heli Freaks Anonymous) Meeting 04.11.2008

[HeliMix]

Ok, so here is my problem. I have been flying on the sim (Phoenix) for a week now and doing rather well (better than I thought I would). The more I am on the sim, the more I want to try my hand at my new heli.

I have always envisioned my first time with some one experienced, but right now, that does not seem to be a viable possibility (at least this weekend). I also figured that by the time I was ready to power the physical heli up, I would have ordered all the special tools I need to make sure it is really in order (pitch gauge etc) and ready to go. I really want to do things right. Plus this would help me learn more about the heli. I cannot get the other tools right now for budget reasons (will be doing so fairly soon though).

On the sim I do crash some still. Usually because I was looking at my dogs, the TV or doing something I would not try with my heli in the beginning. But there are many times I start my 15 minute sim training session and successfully hover some, fly in a rectangle some, even do a loop or two, and land etc without tearing anything up.

I keep reading here on the forums about those that are enjoying the wonder of flight with their little bird and I so want to feel that experience. But then again, I read the stories of those that thought they were ready to take on this addiction and learned the hard way that they were not ready.

So, do I dare assume that the QC techs did in fact check out this heli at the factory and try to hover with my training gear on? I have already checked the operation with motor disconnected and all the movement is correct.

Do I put the battery in it and spin it up this weekend without an experienced pilot at my side?

Or should I be more patient and spend more time on the sim, get the tools I feel I need to do it right, and wait until I can have an experienced pilot by my side? Do I wait till I can purchase replacement parts for the stock parts that are known to be weak performers to lessen the crashes?

God I want to try so badly. But part of me is telling myself to be more patient than I would be with other hobbies that cannot fall out of the sky.

What do I do? What do I do? I need help!!! :hug:

[LockMD]

Can you scope out your area and even ask the LHS about flying fields in your area so you can meet up with other pilots?

I SRONGLY RECOMMEND:

http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

I am not a patient person at all, but like you I wanted to do it right. I did double his recommendations but did not take off training gear until I could land really soft.

For me, I think it really paid off.

[skigolfmike]

Brother, I implore you to proceed with caution. You are getting into dangerous territory, 1 flight will be too many and a 100 flights won't be enough. How will you ever be able to stop.;)

Seriously, if you have a pitch gauge, disconnect the motor, put the heli in idle-up and check the pitches at low, 1/2 and high throttle. If you get -10*, 0* and 10* you are ready to go. The training gear is a good idea for getting airborne. However, if you do the Radd's School of Flight system, you start with the training gear off. Radd's will take you 8-10 battery packs to get ready to hover, but it's well worth it.

I gotta go now so I can try to figure out the G770 3D gyro on my Hurri 550. Last night I was test hovering in a lighted parking lot after dark.

I have no flying problem. I get up, I eat, I fly - no problem.

[LockMD]

I gotta go now so I can try to figure out the G770 3D gyro on my Hurri 550. Last night I was test hovering in a lighted parking lot after dark.


I am sooooo jealous, I am getting pretty close to getting the 600 in the air...

I really went slow on Radds, I did 20 battery packs before the first hover and as I said, That is the only thing I did not follow his instructions on, Ikept the gear on. I know scaredy cat, yes I am! :P

[HeliMix]

Dangit! You didn't tell me what I wanted to hear. But hey, that is what support groups are for. Ok, you made me give into my sensible side. I will wait.

I have a local club right next to where I work. In fact, I hear them over there flying right now (those chumps). Lots of room there. It is at Lowe's Motor Speedway. They have a plane show/fly day going on there this weekend and that is the last place I want to take my first flight attempts (with too many witnesses). When I first try, I want as few people around as possible, except my experienced guide.

[mupchu]

Can you scope out your area and even ask the LHS about flying fields in your area so you can meet up with other pilots?

I SRONGLY RECOMMEND:

http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

I am not a patient person at all, but like you I wanted to do it right. I did double his recommendations but did not take off training gear until I could land really soft.

For me, I think it really paid off.

I Second Radd's, if you follow his advice you will not be disappointed. Just remember follow his advice and don't get too cocky.

[HeliMix]

:rolling

I have been reading the info from Radd but thought I would put it all in one document so I can read it easier. So I begin copy and pasting it all in MS Word, and then I come to the menu item that reads, "Short Version". Of all the times I have been there, I never noticed the link for the PDF version of that info.

:lolol

Thanks again guys for some solid advice.

[HeliMix]

I did double his recommendations but did not take off training gear until I could land really soft.

Lock, you left the training gear on for RADD's lessons? You went through it all step by step with it on and were able to see all of the effects he speaks of? Then practiced landing until you could do so softly before removing your gear?

You said you did it all in duplicate? Do you mean you did battery 1 steps twice before moving on, then the second battery twice etc?

I myself do not like the idea of taking the training gear off. But I also want to be a good student of RADD's Flight School.

[LEADWORKS]

Don't be a puss. Take that heli out and fly the thing. The real thing is easier to fly than the simulator.

As long as you have decent hand/eye coordination, and don't try to do anything stupid, then you won't crash it. Just keep it real close to the ground, don't go more than a few inches high at first. If you get in trouble, drop the throttle/collective real quick, and it'll only drop a couple inches. Use training gear of course. And fly it on a smooth, level, paved surface so it can slide around and not tip over. Big tennis courts and basketball courts are good. Make sure there is no wind.

You just have to have self control and don't get cocky with it, and you'll be fine.

[mupchu]

Lock, you left the training gear on for RADD's lessons? You went through it all step by step with it on and were able to see all of the effects he speaks of? Then practiced landing until you could do so softly before removing your gear?

You said you did it all in duplicate? Do you mean you did battery 1 steps twice before moving on, then the second battery twice etc?

I myself do not like the idea of taking the training gear off. But I also want to be a good student of RADD's Flight School.

I used a blade 3d (not the 400) when I learned to hover, and used the training gear on all the steps. Do what you feel comfortable with because you don't want to be more nervous on the sticks. Just remember you can always drop the collective and you will come down.

Just find a large flat area, and you'll do fine. The 400 hovers a lot easier that the 3d could dream of, so don't worry so much.

[LockMD]

Lock, you left the training gear on for RADD's lessons? You went through it all step by step with it on and were able to see all of the effects he speaks of? Then practiced landing until you could do so softly before removing your gear?

You said you did it all in duplicate? Do you mean you did battery 1 steps twice before moving on, then the second battery twice etc?

I myself do not like the idea of taking the training gear off. But I also want to be a good student of RADD's Flight School.


Yes I did leave the gear on the whole time, grant it I did Radds with the CP Pro when I first got started and this is a much more stable bird. But I am just telling you what I did.

Yes repeated everystep twice. Going from the CX2 to the CP Pro was a real eye opener (rude awakening)

[LockMD]

Don't be a puss. Take that heli out and fly the thing. The real thing is easier to fly than the simulator.




Now, now dont rush him, yes everything you said is true but everyone learns at diff speeds and if you take too big of step that you are not comfy a crash is def coming.

I see no harm with gear on spooling it up and scoot around feel the power hear the power LOL

I just tell everyone to take it easy, so I dont feel bad when they crash on my telling them to do it. When he feels its right he will do it.

Look at my local buddy Scolex, his second flight he already does waaaay better than me, although, I do think I am more stable LOL

[LockMD]

I used a blade 3d (not the 400) when I learned to hover, and used the training gear on all the steps. Do what you feel comfortable with because you don't want to be more nervous on the sticks. Just remember you can always drop the collective and you will come down.

Just find a large flat area, and you'll do fine. The 400 hovers a lot easier that the 3d could dream of, so don't worry so much.


Yup Yup Yup and with the 400 you can add expo to slow down the responses until you feel like its too slow then gradually lower it.

[LEADWORKS]

he he, yeah I crashed badly on my third flight :YeaBaby:, but only because I got too cocky with it. Must remember to respect that beast. Was totally worth it though, because rebuilding the thing taught me so much about it.

[LockMD]

he he, yeah I crashed badly on my third flight :YeaBaby:, but only because I got too cocky with it. Must remember to respect that beast. Was totally worth it though, because rebuilding the thing taught me so much about it.


Well that is part of the learning curve, if we are not crashing we are not learning. But yeah, I hear ya. Sometimes we really bite off too much thinking we are good or something and WHAM it will put you promptly in your place.

[blade4oo]

Don't be a puss. Take that heli out and fly the thing. The real thing is easier to fly than the simulator.

As long as you have decent hand/eye coordination, and don't try to do anything stupid, then you won't crash it. Just keep it real close to the ground, don't go more than a few inches high at first. If you get in trouble, drop the throttle/collective real quick, and it'll only drop a couple inches. Use training gear of course. And fly it on a smooth, level, paved surface so it can slide around and not tip over. Big tennis courts and basketball courts are good. Make sure there is no wind.

You just have to have self control and don't get cocky with it, and you'll be fine.
thats how i began the only thing that got me was i could only handle 2 to 3 min and my nervs where shot lol

[koyote]

thats how i began the only thing that got me was i could only handle 2 to 3 min and my nervs where shot lol
Yup, makes your knees knock. I have no simulator and have had to completely rebuild twice. The machine is easier to fly also once you have the basic mechanics down.
The more you repair and tweak, the more you learn about rotary flight. (What can I say,I like it the hard way)
Go fly it man!

[LockMD]

thats how i began the only thing that got me was i could only handle 2 to 3 min and my nervs where shot lol


Thats what the beer is for.:YeaBaby:

[eugenefelisco]

Yup, makes your knees knock. I have no simulator and have had to completely rebuild twice. The machine is easier to fly also once you have the basic mechanics down.
The more you repair and tweak, the more you learn about rotary flight. (What can I say,I like it the hard way)
Go fly it man!
Same boat as you no sim. Hover for a week in the backyard then today I took the gear down. I learn fast but in this situation I left the gear to build confidence. To tell you the truth I had the 400 for a month now and just enjoyed the hovering today. Thats just me and my 2 cents.

[HeliMix]

Welp, I built an extra large set of training gear last week (sick all weekend so no usage yet). Will see what I can do this week following Radd's info. As cheap as it seeems, I have spent quite a bit of money on this new heli getting started and I also have TOO many money pits so I think I will take my time like Lock.

[sokal]

this is one odd helicopter
it has been chopping around our airfield all week
shhhhh (testing its abilitys for the military)

jk no secret

heres a vid
http://www.kamanaero.com/images/KMAX-ATW.mpg
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45348&stc=1&d=1208405773

[koyote]

Yup, kinda looks like the red wasp I smacked in my shop today.:shock:

[skigolfmike]

There's a model of this heli available in AeroFly Pro Deluxe. 63Kg, turbine powered. Flies like an overgrown CX2.