moving forward

[peterel]

i have been hovering now for 20 + batteries, up off the ground and hold it steady about 3 or 4 foot off the

ground. i would like now like to try forward flight, but i read in a thread you need to have a great deal of

space between the heli and the ground before you start. so today i started hovering about 6 or 7 feet of the

ground. wow it's a whole new view looking up at the heli compared to looking down at it. do i really need to

be that high to try forward flight? or do i work on hovering at 7 foot level before moving on to forward flight?

i must say i seemed to be in more control when i was looking down at the heli then i was when i was

looking up at it. now the next question, when i do move on to forward flight do i keep the heli in front of

me? i was watching some plank guys flying around in a circle turning as the plane went around. this

seams wrong to me, but i may be wrong.

[widower]

Always keep the heli in front of you. At flying fields, there are bystanders behind you.

If you're more comfortable with hovering at 4ft, than that's fine also. At least, you are out of the ground affect of the main rotors. The problem with being at 4ft instead of 8ft, is that you have less time to correct for dumb thumbs.

When I finally broke from hovering, I started around 4-6ft, and started sliding to the left, then to the right. As I got comfortable, I started turning the nose in the direction I was sliding. Soon, I was able to point the nose in the direction I was flying (still back and forth). Then, I turned the nose further so that I could do figure 8's. After you are more comfortable with fig8s, stop moving forward during one of the passes when the heli is facing you. Hold for a few seconds then continue the fig8. You've just done a nose in hover.

[ChasHeliCop]

Try reading Radd's School of Rotoary Flight, teaches about progression

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

[Skarn]

I would start hovering much higher up to get experience with the new visual orientation you are speaking of. Go to 10, then 15, then 20 etc. Once you are comfortable with the visual of looking up at it (the majority of your flying will be lookin up at it) then go ahead with your FF.

A good reason for being up higher is that if/when you do loose orientation, you have enought altitude to recover. The rule of thumb is "fly 2 mistakes high enough....."

Good luck!
Skarn

[GreenCello]

When the heli is low it's easy to see the blades for orientation. Start focusing on other elements such as landing gear and tail boom/ body angle to help your visualization as you hover higher. Also helps in some lighting where the blades flash or seem to disappear momentarily. +1 on sliding sideways and working your way toward pointing the nose in the direction you're going.

[peterel]

well i did it. sort of. i took off got a steady hover about 5 foot up then slowly moved forward, moved about

25 yards away. but i had to fly back tail first. it was the only way i could seam to have any control. i guess

it is back to working on nose in. but i did get to do this 3 times. when you are flying towards yourself, do

you say to yourself tail is backwards? or does just come with time? any way does count as my first

forward flight? i did go from side of the yard to the other, and i was in control (well most of the time) and

i did not crash!!!!!!!!!

[jgatorman2266]

Great job but rember the ground is a beginers worst enemy. When I started foward flight I was flying no less than 30ft up to 50. makes it easier for shakey thumbs and plenty of time for correction. Also remember if you have enough head speed and pitch to hover you can move into foward flight even though I would increase throttle/pitch slightly for a little more speed and stability. I would also pay most attenton to canopy for this is the best way I know to fly and most others agree "fly the nose" even when tail in of you can turn the heli slightly to see the nose

[schwarztrader]

When I started foward flight I was flying no less than 30ft up to 50.

I too went up about 30-50ft in the air to start my fast forward flight just in case anything went wrong. The more proficient I became, I started flying closer and closer to the deck. Just don't be afraid to go higher in the air - it's easier not harder.