Ready for foward flight?

[LYNNJ]

OK guys, I've been fairly quiet here, mainly getting questions answered through other posts. Here is the question that has probably been answered many times before. I can hover in a six foot circle in all directions (execpt nose in, haven't tried it yet). I've got more hours on G2 than I have on my heli, and can hover all directions, do figure 8's and can do foward flight. Is this sim close to how the heli actually handles? There is not another heli pilot close by that will respond to emails, so I am kind of on my own except for you guys. Thanks for any responses.

[Hotshot Charlie]

From a "not as new" newbie to another,

It sounds as if you are as ready as I was when I made the leap to Forward Flight. I did have a lot of plank experience though. I think the plank experience helps in heli FF.

All I can tell you is, you know how to do the hardest thing, hover. You should practice nose in, but I really feel you should practice nose in at a "two mistake" high altitude to start with, so your next step (In My Opinion) is FF.

Take it easy, first start flying from your right to left and then left to right. Each time stopping your heli and doing a piroette turn and flying back to where you started. This will get you moving your heli in a forward flight attitude. Just continue doing this until you are comfortable. After that, it is time to fly.... :shock:

Take your turns smooth and easy and remember, if you get into trouble, add collective and stabilize your heli, then continue. Collective is your friend.

I really suggest you getting some local help, but since you haven't found an instructor, you are sort of hung out there by yourself.

Take care, be careful and stay safe. These heli's can "eat" you !

[ThBrtmn]

Lynn...
Are you doing figure eights in real life... not sim? ... If not, and you can hover in all directions... (except nose)..especial sideways since that is the view you will mostly see the heli in, Start doing figure eights... start out small and turn away from the flight line..example right side-left turn...left side-right turn.
then...when you feel comfortable with the small 8s... open them up a little...and then a little more.. etc...then before you know it you will be in FF... but...start working on that nose in. If you can do it on the sim.. you can do it in real life. You just have to adjust for adrenalin.
On a second note. Follow the Heli invasion. They meet at Easly SC alot. If you cant wait and can go. Get your but to Easly SC to Blacksheep RC. Henry Caldwell lives there and he is an awesome person and would be happy to help you out. I dont think its more than two hrs from you? Its worth a days trip.

P.S. Did you look up a person on the Pilot Locator?

[WillJames]

There are lots of great pilots (me excluded) and excited about the heli hobby people at BS. Bart's idea is a very good one.

As for FF. The hardest part is the transition from FF back to hover. If you can transition back to hover from FF, then go for it. If not, practice more. Barts suggestion about doing more figure 8 practice with the real thing is also a good one. Try to do them as slow as you can and not let the heli start moving fast.

[LYNNJ]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. Yes, I can do figure 8's in small circuits (very small). Everyone on the pilot locator that is close by that I have emailed no response. The person that helped get me started no longer lives in the area. I wanted to go to Black Sheep this past weekend but my little boys were sick. I need to make time to get out there though, I would love to be exposed to some of the knowledge you guys have. I am just waiting on my AMA. Thanks again guys. :D

PS: I fly in a field away from anything that I might hit, and always fly with someone else.

[ThBrtmn]

Good deal Lynn..
Just keep practicing those 8s and on the sim...They are always flying at BS unless they're off to a FF...Look for anouncements on Clintstones Heli Invasion...They go there like once a month if they are not busy with regular FFs.

[Matthew]

LYNNJ

Can you nose in on the sim? not sure if you said you could or not. I learned nose in before FF flight but that was just me. I've seen allot of guys who have waited and gone to FF first. What ever you choose to do first don't let the nose in go by the side in your learning. I learned it on the sim first then tried it for real. At some altitude first then after two crashes I put the training gear back on and tried it in the back yard. I had it in one tank. Just started out tail in spun it around and started like a beginner with the nose in not tail in. So what I'm trying to say I think is do nose in first FF is nothing after that.

[LYNNJ]

Yes, I can do nose in on the sim. I'm just nervous to do it for real, my transmitter does not have a space bar. If the weather is good tomorrow I'm gonna burn some fuel and give it a try.

[Matthew]

LYNNJ

I was the same way. Just start off tail in turn it around and start just like you did when you first learned to hovered. You'll have it in no time. Once you see you can do it for real, it will make FF allot easier. Plus you'll know what is happening when the heli turns nose into you in FF. Good luck and burn fuel. As soon as your in to FF well tell you about loop and rolls. Those are a blast.

[LYNNJ]

Thanks for all the help guys. Weather permitting I will burn fuel this weekend!!!

[bigrcr]

LynnJ,
Shoot me an e-mail and come fly with us at Black Sheep anytime. I work a crazy schedule, so I can usually go out when others cannot (and the other way round :cry: ). We are all off to various events this week end, but normally there will someone there to help. Be glad to help myself!

Later,

[Tom Fiddler]

I've helped a couple people with nose in with this method.

1. Take the heli up to a comfortable high hover (not so high you can't see it)
2. After your in a stable hover, piro (rotate the tail) 1 full turn..regain stable hover
3. Do this until it doesn't scare the daylights out of you any more :D
4. Now stop the piro nose in for half a second and then continue the piro to tail in.
you really won't have to do anything for that 1/2 second the heli is nose in, just stop, look at it, and go back to tail in. This will get you used to seeing the heli nose in
5. Repeat step 3
6. Continue to lengthen the time your nose in a 1/2 second at a time. Make SMALL corrections as needed

Fear is the biggest factor you have to overcome. Taking small steps like this teaches your brain the heli is not going to EXPLODE when you first turn nose in :D

Take your time and most of all ENJOY :lol:

[LYNNJ]

Hey BIGRCR, I would love to come down to BS but I am waiting on my AMA renewal. I need to be around more people because I'm sure that I've picked up some bad habits. Tom thanks for the input! That sounds like a good idea, I'll have to try that.

[ThBrtmn]

Lynn...
Here is how I got aquainted with nose in....
I could do it easy on the sim...its the real that thats a pain...
I myself couldnt get the nerve to piro in the air and try to stabilize it so I would turn it around on the ground... Nose in on the TGear....as I would give it collective and it would start to become light on the gear...I would pusth the cyclic back...causing the tail to drop...This keeps the heli from coming after ya once it gets in the air..(personal experience)...Slowyly lift it up to about 3 or so feet and do what you do on the sim...when I got tired...I would quicly piro back to tail while in the air and get control and set her down. :glasses2:
Hope that helps

[Matthew]

Yea, I tried Toms way only part I didn't do was the stop and go. That might have helped me instead of stop and crash. :cry: :cry: