Back to the hobby!
After almost 2 years I'm back to flying RC helicopters. I had a rough start with trying to fly from memory 
.
I actively searched and found a mentor to help me. I wanted someone who was willing to help, doesn't like spending money in the hobby, and really knows what they are doing. I know it's a tall order but I found the man for the job and he's been awsum to meet and start getting to know. I'm feeling excitement for the hobby again.
Tom (my mentor) went over my Pantera and overall was happy with the setup but changed a few things that had a huge effect on how easy it is to fly (much easier post changes). We removed the governor, modified the throttle curves to actual curves, switched to 10% nitro/20% oil fuel (MUCH CHEAPER!), and re-tuned my YS .61. The end result is a Heli that behaves, handles, and operates in a more controlled manner.
We're flying at a field near the house during the week and at the club field on Saturday. I'm getting about 2-3 sessions a week with about 3-4 sim sessions the rest of the nights. Flights are about 15-17 minutes per tank. Sim sessions are about 10-15 minutes with lots of breaks.
Training program Tom has me on is all about T patterns. Imagine a huge letter T with the verticle part facing away from you. Hover 3-4 seconds at each end point and where the lines meet. Transition between points slowly at a constant speed keeping the model at eye level.
I started the first day hovering 3 tanks.
2nd day I hovered 1 tank and did tail in T pattern for 2 tanks.
3rd day I did 2 tanks of Tail in T pattern.
I can't wait until Thursday to do more Tail in T pattern and see if I can keep the model at the right height. I'm struggling at the end points of the T to hover. I can't tell as easily when the model is static. Tom suggested using orange cones and I thought of picking up some of the yard paint contracters use to mark buried cables.
I only did 2 sim sessions this week. Mostly duplicating what I've done with the Pantera but trying nose in as well.
I've started the frame change on the Trex 450 (broken 2 years ago). It's going well but I question ever buying a built model as repair parts. Whomever built mine used screws that were intended to go into the plastic parts where threaded screws should have gone. I expected to check all the screws and re-loctite but i didn't expect to change screws out because they were just wrong
.
As a distraction I purchased a used - never flown Top Flite Cessna 182 Arf. The person who built it really had it dolled up. It was really something that would have been best hanging from a teenage boy's ceiling rather than a flying model. I'm going to strip the model down and re-monocote it. I probably won't buy new windows (which he cut/modified). I'm thinking to just cover them with monocote and keep going. I got a good deal on the model, servos, lighting, and engine (60 size). So if it doesn't work out I should be able to recoup most of my cash. I think the model is $400 without servos, engine, lights..etc. So if I decide to not actually keep it after fixing it up I'll be able to give someone a deal and not go negative with the costs. I estimate the original owner is well over $800 with the gear/model.
The weather is rain for much of the week so I may have to do more sim work. I've not heard from Tom and the guys. I think Jeff and Ed (or was it Chuck?) are out of town. I have enough to keep me busy with the Trex450 frame swap and the Cessna.
Final thoughts: I'm really focused on saving money and have defined my flight goal as ultimately being a hard sport pilot (mild 3D) in all orientations. I'm progressing well so far but it's baby steps.
Jer
. I actively searched and found a mentor to help me. I wanted someone who was willing to help, doesn't like spending money in the hobby, and really knows what they are doing. I know it's a tall order but I found the man for the job and he's been awsum to meet and start getting to know. I'm feeling excitement for the hobby again.
Tom (my mentor) went over my Pantera and overall was happy with the setup but changed a few things that had a huge effect on how easy it is to fly (much easier post changes). We removed the governor, modified the throttle curves to actual curves, switched to 10% nitro/20% oil fuel (MUCH CHEAPER!), and re-tuned my YS .61. The end result is a Heli that behaves, handles, and operates in a more controlled manner.
We're flying at a field near the house during the week and at the club field on Saturday. I'm getting about 2-3 sessions a week with about 3-4 sim sessions the rest of the nights. Flights are about 15-17 minutes per tank. Sim sessions are about 10-15 minutes with lots of breaks.
Training program Tom has me on is all about T patterns. Imagine a huge letter T with the verticle part facing away from you. Hover 3-4 seconds at each end point and where the lines meet. Transition between points slowly at a constant speed keeping the model at eye level.
I started the first day hovering 3 tanks.
2nd day I hovered 1 tank and did tail in T pattern for 2 tanks.
3rd day I did 2 tanks of Tail in T pattern.
I can't wait until Thursday to do more Tail in T pattern and see if I can keep the model at the right height. I'm struggling at the end points of the T to hover. I can't tell as easily when the model is static. Tom suggested using orange cones and I thought of picking up some of the yard paint contracters use to mark buried cables.
I only did 2 sim sessions this week. Mostly duplicating what I've done with the Pantera but trying nose in as well.
I've started the frame change on the Trex 450 (broken 2 years ago). It's going well but I question ever buying a built model as repair parts. Whomever built mine used screws that were intended to go into the plastic parts where threaded screws should have gone. I expected to check all the screws and re-loctite but i didn't expect to change screws out because they were just wrong
.As a distraction I purchased a used - never flown Top Flite Cessna 182 Arf. The person who built it really had it dolled up. It was really something that would have been best hanging from a teenage boy's ceiling rather than a flying model. I'm going to strip the model down and re-monocote it. I probably won't buy new windows (which he cut/modified). I'm thinking to just cover them with monocote and keep going. I got a good deal on the model, servos, lighting, and engine (60 size). So if it doesn't work out I should be able to recoup most of my cash. I think the model is $400 without servos, engine, lights..etc. So if I decide to not actually keep it after fixing it up I'll be able to give someone a deal and not go negative with the costs. I estimate the original owner is well over $800 with the gear/model.
The weather is rain for much of the week so I may have to do more sim work. I've not heard from Tom and the guys. I think Jeff and Ed (or was it Chuck?) are out of town. I have enough to keep me busy with the Trex450 frame swap and the Cessna.
Final thoughts: I'm really focused on saving money and have defined my flight goal as ultimately being a hard sport pilot (mild 3D) in all orientations. I'm progressing well so far but it's baby steps.
Jer
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