Blade CPP - Newbe Questions

[gregmuri]

Hello,

I am just starting out with my first Heli and hope to clear up a couple things before my first test flight.

1. Would it be advantageous for someone just learning to get the optional G90 Gyro? Wondering if the heading lock would be better than without. Although I may not be clearly understand how this gyro affects the flight characteristics of the heli.

2. Since there is no auto-cutoff built into the 3in1 unit is this something that could be incorporated with an aftermarket option? If not, how do you keep up with how low the battery is getting? It doesn't seem like the time spent flying would be a remotely accurate measure since the load on the battery can vary drastically depending on what you are doing.

Thanks for any input! I have really enjoyed reading all the posts here!!!

Greg

[bigblackken]

Hi gregmuri,
I'm new to this forum but I'd share my thoughts.

I learned on a gas heli (much bigger) and then left for about 10 years.(i could hover, hover nose in ok, do a little forward flight- also had some airplane experience) Then got back into it with a blade cx, and had so much fun. bought a CP within a couple weeks. the CX and CP are far different from each other. I've read that a lot of people don't even think the CX is a good intro because the CP is so much harder.

Despite my previous gas heli experience I felt like I WAS STARTING OVER. I required training gear and spent a lot time re-learning to hover and hover nose in. I used the cp with the 4-1 (and training gear) and no other gyro. In my opinion it does a pretty decent job. but you'd probably want to hear the opinion of someone else, whose first heli was CPP.

you might want to visit:
I highly suggest this website about learning to fly:
http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

(its Radd's rotary flight school)

Regarding flight times- I am not an expert but if you are flying to the point that your battery monitor is reading low, you've probably flown too long if you're using LI-Po, and you risk shortening battery life. Flight timers for the type of flying you are doing seem to work well for most people.

[HilliHeli]

Hey gm, My first venture into CCPM Helis was the BCP/Pro, I found this Heli to be quite a challenge, very twitchy and super responsive to any little bit of input from the "sticks". I would recommend something more in the catagory of the BCP to start with, basically a Heli with Collective pitch but not a "full" Bell-Hiller head set-up. I would check-into purchasing a Simulator program for your computer that includes a Heli similar to the one you are thinking about purchasing. I have the Blade CP/CP+/CP Pro Sim program from Transcendental Technologies (www.preflightsim.com (http://www.preflightsim.com)) which is the one listed in the BCP catagory on your fleBay webpage. It works pretty well for the price and you can use the BCP Transmitter to operate the program aswell. What Helis are you thinking about purchasing(?) bbk gives some good info for you with the website, their are more sites you can check-out for introduction to flying aswell as sites that will give you info about the Heli you're thinkin' about getting! I run the G90 HH Gyro on my Pro, it made a HUGE difference because the Pro is soo sensitive, their are a few different options for low cell voltage (alarms, ESC's with low-cell features),
Hope that helps, if you have any others (?) don't hesitate to ask! :YeaBaby:

[gregmuri]

Thanks for the info!!

BB, that is a great site I had not found yet, will spend lots of time there, thanks!

HH, I ordered the simulator. The only thing that kept me from getting one was the fact they cost more than I wanted to spend since they were mostly geared towards planes not helis. Having so many options of helis to choose from is fantastic!

I bought a CPP last week but haven't flown it yet, just been reading the manual and checking out all the functions. I know it isn't the best choice for a first heli but I like the challenge. I have spent some time with a simulator at the LHS and have a good grasp of how the helicopters operate. I will wait until the new simulator gets here and spend time practicing before my first flight attempt. Will likely also get the G90 as it seems to make good sense.

Greg

[HilliHeli]

gm, Looks like you've already taken the "plunge" then, LOL, the Pro really is a pretty good Heli, just really sensitive IMO, I have switched to a 2.4GHz. Tx/Rx set-up for my Pro (DX7/AR6100) over the stock E-flite and I'm able to get MUCH more control over the Heli because of the Spektrum's Tx features (maybe something to think about for later-on), I spent alot of time just hovering about 2"-6" off the ground at first (with the stock set-up) just to get a good feel for how the Pro would react, I had the Heli for quite some time before actually having my first mishap (a boom strike). I was running the flat-bottomed wood blades and would switch-over to the symetrical woodies from time-to-time just to get a feel for the difference in the two types. The training-gear is also a good idea when first learning how to hover and would recommend these Highly. Which sim program did you order(?) The one from TT lacks alittle in the instructions so, if you run across a problem, post-up! I tried hovering without the G90 HH Gyro at first and found it to be challenging to say the least, once I installed the gyro and tuned it in, the tail was much easier to control and made focusing on the main-rotor head much easier, although you will have to give very slight inputs to the tail to keep it where you want it.Welcome to Helis!!!

[gregmuri]

I ordered the Super Heli edition from TT. I had not come across this sim before and honestly it is the first one I thought really was geared towards what I wanted to do.

I feel pretty good about my initial purchase. I got the flat bottomed blades and the training gear. Will definitely add the G90 before my first flight, can always fly without it once I have more experience. I've checked everything out and the heli seems to me in good working order.

Can't wait until the sim gets here.....

[HilliHeli]

Sounds GREAT!! Once you put the G90 on you may not want to take it back off, mine made that much of a difference for me. I had to change some of the timming parameters around to get my version of the TT sim to work properly, not sure if I can download newer firmware for mine or not(?) I have a pretty good selection of Helis for my version so you should get a few more, after flying the sim your confidence level will help greatly in your "actual" flying. I like the Raptor and Ergo the best but still fall back to the CP's from time to time. I heard some good/some bad about the more exspensive sims, would like to hear from you about that TT version once you get it up and running(?)

[bigblackken]

There's a lot of good info on this site. There's no need to get overwhelmed with information before you start, but along the way, you will want to check out the newbie section or finless bob's video section. There's a sticky there that has a thread titled setup 101. TONS of good links.

There's also a free simulator that a lot of people are talking about and liking. Its under the subforum "other simulators". The most active sticky, however, is under the align 450 forum. you'll want to check that out too. I'm trying to figure out what cable to get, but it looks like you can spen $9.00 on ebay for the cable that connects ESKY controllers. I bet the eflite controllers are just like the esky controllers. anyways, i have blade 400, and it apears that a simple MONO audio jack from radio shack will suffice. anyways, people seem impressed with this free sim, i think its called helisim RC.

[HilliHeli]

bbk, Thanks for the sim info, I will have to check-it out. Does your DX6i Tx. have a Trainer port on the back(?) You will have to forgive me, I'm not up to speed on the DX6i's menu or features.

[bigblackken]

bbk, Thanks for the sim info, I will have to check-it out. Does your DX6i Tx. have a Trainer port on the back(?) You will have to forgive me, I'm not up to speed on the DX6i's menu or features.

Hi HH,
Yes theres a trainer port on the back of the DX6i. I have not yet tried but I read somewhere that the trainer cable is basically a MONO line for mic's. you attatch to back of transmitter and the other end goes to your sound card mic jack. and you also may need some add on's like:
http://www.geocities.com/shaul_ei/SmartPropoPlus.html

but for esky (not sure which helis) and eflite controllers include with CX/CX2 you should look up a usb cable from ebay.
here's the sticky from the align 450 forum:
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=53245

there's a seperate thread in the sim section. but the author states in it that he checks the 450 forum most often and it seems to be the most active. at any rate, it looks like a lot of people around here really like the sim. even people who have purchased big name comercial sims. plus the price is right!

i think the dx7 also uses the mono cable for a trainer cord. but don't know.

[HilliHeli]

Hey bbk, Thanks for the info on the sim, I started to get into reading-up on it in the thread (450 site) and see where the SmartProPoPlus along with another add-on may be needed to get the sim up-and-running. I have the E-flite Tx. (FM) that I use on the TT sim and it simply uses the sound card mic jack to connect to the installed program. I also see that the sim program was going to have some changes along the way (to update it or fix something the users were having problems with) and I haven't gone through that whole thread because it looks like it's 24 pages long :( I believe it should download with the latest updates from the link you provided.