A virgin no more

[SurfCity]

As promised, first flights today. First time flying a single-rotor heli of any kind. Alan Szabo's title is safe awhile longer, but what fun! Indoors, not a very big space. A lot of time spent in ground effect. With training wheels. Careening like a drunk. Ran through three packs. Experienced a shift in the force field, however. It's now MUCH more interesting to fly this thing than to write about it. Really fun.

Anomalies: When I'd lift off, the heli would immediately (and quickly) move in the 10:30 direction, flat as a water bug. The tail (still in rate mode) remained pointed at me; it didn't follow the nose. Correcting back and to the right banked the heli a lot, and it didn't return the way it went. Question is, what might cause this? I believe everything's level, but perhaps it's not. And like the other night, I noticed that straight forward stick yields a forward-left tilt; straight back yields a backward-right tilt. What might need adjustment?

One more thing. An odd chatter was coming intermittently from the drive train at very low head speeds. The sound was like the pinion and main gear were slipping, although they're correctly meshed. Any clue?

Thanks for your help. Flying was really fun. Expect to get it outdoors tomorrow. And buy more batteries; four is not enough.

[mjr_larkin]

Anomalies: When I'd lift off, the heli would immediately (and quickly) move in the 10:30 direction, flat as a water bug. The tail (still in rate mode) remained pointed at me; it didn't follow the nose. Correcting back and to the right banked the heli a lot, and it didn't return the way it went. Question is, what might cause this? I believe everything's level, but perhaps it's not. And like the other night, I noticed that straight forward stick yields a forward-left tilt; straight back yields a backward-right tilt. What might need adjustment?

One more thing. An odd chatter was coming intermittently from the drive train at very low head speeds. The sound was like the pinion and main gear were slipping, although they're correctly meshed. Any clue?

Thanks for your help. Flying was really fun. Expect to get it outdoors tomorrow. And buy more batteries; four is not enough.

For the tilt) You probably checked for level swash at zero pitch and 7mm. Now make sure that the swash is completely level all the way from -12 to +12. It sounds like you may be level at around zero pitch but your aileron arms have unequal travel.

For the chatter noise) This is most likely the tail belt slipping. Check to see if the belt is too loose around the main gear. If you manually rotate the tail rotor does the belt slip? If so tighten the belt around the main gear.

[psindrup]

Congrats!

Get out of rate mode and into HH mode to let the gyro take over some of the work for you.

And get out in the open (not indoor) to get out of the TBE (Air hitting the walls, and then hitting the heli)

And remember, it is easier to fly chest high (even though it is also more scary)

Peter

[crabfu]

yeah congrats man, woohoo!!!!!!! and yeah rate mode is good for setup, once done just stay in HH!!! and that should get rid of the tail issues.

yeah chatter noise sounds like gear mesh or tail belt issues... so all that I can recommend is to recheck both :)

congratz again!

-Crabfu

[Gr4yb3ard]

YEEEHHHAA!

Congrats!

You've got some advice already, BUT, OF COURSE, I'm more than happy to add my 2c.:nanabobo

1. Heading Hold! At this rate <no pun intended>, I'm beginning to think that standard rate is pretty much the same as setup-mode. Obviously, with no gyro, you manage the tail full-time, but what, really, is standard mode? From what I've learned so far, it seems to be right up there with buggy whips and cassette tape. HH solves my problems every time.

2. Somebody up here, at least it was not me, made a marvelous quote "Keep your attempts at least three mistakes high." You'll have far fewer problems if you find a soft grassy field for a new bird, and as Pete said, flying at chest level is definately easier too. For me, ground effect sometimes makes things easier, and sometimes worse. But down low, when the end comes, it comes way to quickly. I dream of flying 3d in my house or garage, but realistically, now, at my level, I want tundra!

3. The guys are right about the belt, happened on two of my other birds. Made a (BBBRRRBBBRRR) noise. But once got a noise that sounded like a wobbling wheel attacking an axle (GRGRGRgrgrgrGRGRGRgrgrgr). Can't describe this any better, but quicker, more cyclic, and aggressive than the belt noise. It ended up a bad bearing on the mainshaft. Also check that you are not hitting limits on any control movements.

Gr4yb3ard
"... never, never, EVER!, put the Superglue and Visine bottles in the same drawer..."

[surgicalCFe]

The chattering you are hearing could be due to having the belt to tight. After switching to the carbon fiber tail boom I had mine to tight and it was causing the motor to "chatter" or kinda grind a little. I tapped in a touch more slack and that went away.

[crabfu]

The chattering you are hearing could be due to having the belt to tight. After switching to the carbon fiber tail boom I had mine to tight and it was causing the motor to "chatter" or kinda grind a little. I tapped in a touch more slack and that went away.

Good point, another thing to consider, the chattering that you are hearing could be your teeth... I usually get the knee shakes and finger twitches, but occasionally I hear the chatter... In any case, it's a good idea to land it when you hear any strange noise or body spasms, and take a closer look, and take a deep breath :)

-Crabfu