CoPilot 2 question for noob

[countachkid]

Question. Lets say a heli is properly setup. With the CoPilot 2 system if a heli is spinning up on the ground and an unexpected wind gust comes by and slowly starts to tip it. Would the system react quick enough to save it from a ground strike?

[F-16 CHIEF]

I'm going with a no.

2 reason. If it's that strong, you shouldn't have been flying.

But, with the blades that close, it won't do it in time and you probably weren't hands off the stick. I guess it all depends on how hard it is, but I'd think no.

[countachkid]

Thanks for the response. I was thinking in theory if it was relatively still and a rouge gust came along. I'm trying to determine exactly what it does and doesn't do.

I have both an mcp x and a blade 400. The mcp x is significantly more stable and easier to fly. I'm wondering if I would benefit from putting a system like this on my 400 or if I would just be better off getting another flybarless heli. I already have a 401 gyro and hitec servos installed.

[Howard Matos]

Originally Posted by countachkid

Question. Lets say a heli is properly setup. With the CoPilot 2 system if a heli is spinning up on the ground and an unexpected wind gust comes by and slowly starts to tip it. Would the system react quick enough to save it from a ground strike?

Hi,

With the CPII set to level flight, it will always try to keep the heli level. It cannot keep the heli level if it is physically impossible to do so (slow head speed or not enough control movement). Same as it cannot prevent an aiplane from stalling, if it gets slow enough, it will stall.

[jperkosk]

I occasionally activate CP2 on a FB heli in hard gusts, with no emergency present, for the simple fact that it makes the heli as wind-resistant as a FBL system. As a secondary effect it also self-levels, so I don't fly it like this, but it's very good for bringing the heli back and landing it when I decide that the wind got too strong mid-flight.

Spooling up from the ground, though, I'd say for the most part it won't work unless there is a very specific set of circumstances present, such as high head speed, very flat and obstacle-free takeoff spot, good weather and the clear view of the horizon right from the ground.

[Pelagic Pilot]

You should NOT get into the habit of using CPII on the ground, it will cause you problems at some point. I take off sometimes in a wide open parking lot with full open view for 360 degrees, CPII works great on the ground. Then sometimes I take off in areas such as just inside the door way of a large commercial shop building. When CPII sees wide open space in front and the inside of a building to the rear, it thinks it is pointed straight up in flight, this tilts the swashplate forward and when it spools up it will pitch the heli forward until the blades hit the ground. The problem is remembering when you shut it off or not, too easy to forget when changing flight locations.