Really frustrated!!! Need some help

Really frustrated!!! Need some help
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Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:38:22 AM

high flyer 777

Posts: 554
Joined: 7/29/2007
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline

Well I'm a rookie, but I have managed to master the coaxial helicopters. I have an Esky Lama V3 & and Exceed Lama G5.
I can make them do anything now and can land on a dime.

I'm trying to fly my Esky Honey Bee FP. Course I'm trying to get it to hover first. Can't do it. I think the one mistake I made
was I purchased a set of ultimate skids and installed them right away without trying to fly the helicopter as a stock machine.
I'm all over the place trying to get this thing up in the air just to hover. The tail is also hanging lower than the front of the
helicopter too when I first try to get it up in the air. I've made sure of the CG before I fly it.

Anyway, what is the trick to getting a tail driven rotor helicopter up and to hover it? Is there anything not set up correct on
the transmitter or the helicopter. One thing I noticed is that 3 of the Servo Reverser settings came in the box set on Reverse.
The Throttle is set on Normal. Is that correct.

Any help in progressing me along would be greatly appreciated. I feel like a hot shot on the coaxial, but the tail rotor machine
is like trying to fly a UFO. Can't do it and I know they will fly. Seems to have a mind of it's own that I can't overide.

I'm hooked on helicopters. I also have a brand new Honey Bee CP2 and a King II in the box. But they're not coming out till
I can fly this FP.

Post #: 1

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:45:19 AM

[]TEX[]

Posts: 9581
Joined: 6/27/2006
From: Glencoe, IL, USA
Status: offline

The one you have is much harder to fly so it will take you a bit longer to transition into it and hover. Just keep practicing and the skids have nothing to do with it.

If the tail is lower it slides back, yes? Give it some forward trim for now until you master it and then you can adjust it mechanically later.

_____________________________

JR Vibe 50 powered by O.S. | 7C FASST | Hatori Perfomance | Curtis Youngblood | Reactor X | CSM RL20 | Let the fun begin!

(in reply to high flyer 777)

Post #: 2

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:47:34 AM

bzinfinity

Posts: 572
Joined: 10/10/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline

First of all, how are you checking the CG? Are the servos at 90 degrees to the casing when the bird sync's up? Is the swash level on the ground?

The skids won't make any difference unless you mounted them at some crazy angle thats throwing off the balance of the heli.

The settings it came with are probably correct.

One thing I can tell you with any FP bird - GET IT OUT OF GROUNDWASH. FP birds will roll automatically in their own rotorwash, try getting the bird light on the skids and then shoot it up about 4-5 feet off the ground. Keep the tail pointed at you and treat it like the Lama.

The trick is getting it in the air. Until you get upwards of 300mm blades, Rotorwash is a HUGE issue, and even after that it can be.

To be honest - you might have better luck with the King than with a FP bird. I despise FP, I had a Rotofly for like 3 weeks and I bailed on it because it was horrible. The bird worked great, but throttle-based lift on a small helicopter thats twitchy already is just a recipe for low self confidence.

_____________________________

I wish Bic made an electronic Piezo lighter attachment for my servo channels so I could shoot bottle rockets off my Airwolf.

(in reply to high flyer 777)

Post #: 3

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:51:12 AM

[]TEX[]

Posts: 9581
Joined: 6/27/2006
From: Glencoe, IL, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bzinfinity

To be honest - you might have better luck with the King than with a FP bird. I despise FP, I had a Rotofly for like 3 weeks and I bailed on it because it was horrible. The bird worked great, but throttle-based lift on a small helicopter thats twitchy already is just a recipe for low self confidence.

I agree with this comment as well.

_____________________________

JR Vibe 50 powered by O.S. | 7C FASST | Hatori Perfomance | Curtis Youngblood | Reactor X | CSM RL20 | Let the fun begin!

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 4

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:51:45 AM

bzinfinity

Posts: 572
Joined: 10/10/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline

Also - if you haven't done RADD's School of Rotary Flight, Google it and do it now.

Even if you are proficient with Coaxials, do it anyways. And if you have training gear, put it on for approximately 45 seconds, just long enough to see if you can get the bird off the ground and if it's controllable.

If it is - set it down and take the gear off and keep going. If not - let us know what it's doing.

Using the gear for a brief period of time will give you a buffer zone to get the bird in the air to see if it's behaving and responding appropriately to your control inputs.

Do not - and I repeat - DO NOT - learn to fly with training gear. It's a crutch that I PROMISE you, you do not need.

_____________________________

I wish Bic made an electronic Piezo lighter attachment for my servo channels so I could shoot bottle rockets off my Airwolf.

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 5

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 2:53:12 AM

[]TEX[]

Posts: 9581
Joined: 6/27/2006
From: Glencoe, IL, USA
Status: offline

Here's the RADD's link

http://www.dream-models.com/docs/FieldManual.pdf

_____________________________

JR Vibe 50 powered by O.S. | 7C FASST | Hatori Perfomance | Curtis Youngblood | Reactor X | CSM RL20 | Let the fun begin!

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 6

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 3:37:48 AM

high flyer 777

Posts: 554
Joined: 7/29/2007
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline

Well I put the training gear back on. Everything seems to be in working order. It's night time now, so I tried it in the living room.
Not much room, but got it to hover a bit. Problem is I can't get it high enough to get out of it's wash. You guys must have giving
me a bit more confidence, besides your pointers. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm bent on learning and getting up to 3D flying.
Don't know about this Summer though. I live in Minnesota. Fall & Winter can come early. Still have Sept. & some of Oct. for
flying.

I'd love to take out my Honey Bee King II. But I'd feel better if I knew that I could take it up and not have an immediate mishap.
I'd rather try my CP2. My plan was to progress starting with FP, to CP2, then the King II. I know there's a ton of helicopter mfgs.
out there. I'm not too mechanical, but Esky looks very well engineered and simplistic. I've taken apart my Exceed G5 and
replaced parts down to the gears. As everyone knows, the manuals don't offer much help to the new owners.

I'm lucky enough to be close to where the MN club flys. Watched them fly their gas powered Aligns on the weekend. Pretty amazing!

(in reply to []TEX[])

Post #: 7

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 3:49:58 AM

bzinfinity

Posts: 572
Joined: 10/10/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline

Glad to hear it man.

Just remember - FLY THE BIRD. Do not think about what your doing, as stupid as that sounds.

Just fly it man, feel the controls, and watch the main shaft or the nose of the heli. Don't get caught watching the tail. The heli can't go anywhere without the main shaft tipping/tilting in that direction first. Pretty much the same with the nose, you need to stay ahead of the bird.

Just breathe, relax, and fly it man, I know that sounds like some Zen Buddhist crap, but I'm serious. You can fly it, you've proven that to yourself with the Coax's, just bring it up to speed and get it in the air, you will be flying in no time.

_____________________________

I wish Bic made an electronic Piezo lighter attachment for my servo channels so I could shoot bottle rockets off my Airwolf.

(in reply to high flyer 777)

Post #: 8

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 3:54:42 AM

high flyer 777

Posts: 554
Joined: 7/29/2007
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the positive feedback.
One last thing for now. The green light on the controller turns red when I throttle up the machine to, I guess 1/2 throttle or more.
Is that normal?

I appreciate you all for helping me to become a pilot!

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 9

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 4:01:04 AM

bzinfinity

Posts: 572
Joined: 10/10/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline

Thats normal.

That means the bird is recieving the maximum amount of power to the motor.

If this happens at half throttle, your pack is probably a little low, but it's been so long since I've flown a Honeybee FP, that may be completely normal.

On a fully charged pack, next time, see how high the stick goes before the red light comes on.

On most of my birds it's between half and 2/3.

Anytime man, I'm glad you are so excited about it, helis rock!

_____________________________

I wish Bic made an electronic Piezo lighter attachment for my servo channels so I could shoot bottle rockets off my Airwolf.

(in reply to high flyer 777)

Post #: 10

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 4:15:41 AM

high flyer 777

Posts: 554
Joined: 7/29/2007
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline

Ya, it is at around 2/3rd's throttle when the light turns red. Guess I never noticed it before. Really appreciate
you taking the time. Thanks for answering.
You're right, Helis rock!!!!!!! Didn't know how much fun I was missing.

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 11

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 4:29:37 AM

bzinfinity

Posts: 572
Joined: 10/10/2006
From: Roswell, GA, USA
Status: offline

Anytime, if you need anything else don't hesitate to ask.

Post some video of the FP hovering after you get some stick time =D.

_____________________________

I wish Bic made an electronic Piezo lighter attachment for my servo channels so I could shoot bottle rockets off my Airwolf.

(in reply to high flyer 777)

Post #: 12

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 4:20:18 PM

racin06

Posts: 53
Joined: 12/2/2006
From: Westfield, IN, USA
Status: offline

This is a perfect example of the frustration and disappointment that results when new pilots move from a coaxial heli to a single main rotor FP or CP heli. I would never recommend a coaxial heli to a newbie. These coaxials have no common flight characteristics with a FP or CP heli whatsoever. The only thing that can really be learned by flying a coaxial heli is orientation; however, that can be learned on a simulator.

high flyer 777, I’m not trying to pick on you, but I think that others on this board, particularly those who are looking at purchasing their first heli should abide by this advice. My advice is to purchase a high-end simulator and an FP heli. For the combined price of the Esky Lama V3 and Exceed Lama G5, you can purchase a high-end simulator. Simulator training is the key to learning to fly the FP and CP helis.

I chose to purchase Phoenix RC simulator and the Honey Bee FP eight months ago. I had no prior RC experience of any kind. My flying skills have advanced quickly because of the simulator training. I have logged about 125 hours on the simulator. My total flying time on my real helis is only approximately 25 hours. I have followed one simple rule during my learning process…never attempt any hovering orientation or forward/backward flight maneuver on the real heli until it is first mastered on the simulator.

Check out my videos below of me flying my HBFPs. The first video is a stock bird, with the exception of Super Skids, in 10-15 mph winds. The second video is my modified HBFP with the Slo-Max 300 main motor and Kyosho M24 main rotor blades.

http://media.putfile.com/Flying-the-stock-Honey-Bee-FP-in-10-15-mph-winds

http://media.putfile.com/Flying-my-Honey-Bee-FP-with-Slo-Max-300-main-motor-and-Kyosho-M24-blades

Just my 2 cents worth and highflyer 777, we are here to help. You have received some good advice from others above, as well.

(in reply to bzinfinity)

Post #: 13

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 5:52:06 PM

high flyer 777

Posts: 554
Joined: 7/29/2007
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the comments. I do take them positively. I want to be a heli pilot. It's challenging, rewarding, and it's fun!
Maybe you can try to put it into words what the difference is or what's happening between a coaxial and a tail rotor
that you are trying to feel the difference of the controls. What are you trying to do different, or what is the heli doing
different when up get it up in the air?

Question. When I get the heli up and try to make it hover, and I try to correct it. It seems to tilt more when I make it go
another direction. Is that normal? Seems it tilts more than the coaxial. Thought maybe because of the size difference
between them? Another problem I'm having is I'm trying to fly it in my living room. Not much space. I can't really get
it up very high because if I don't have control I'm going to hit something. It's been wet and raining here in MN as you've
probably seen on the National news lately. Alot more than usual. I got outside yesterday afternoon for a bit. But been
confined to the indoors.

When hoving a tail rotor heli. You should be at least what. 4-5 ft. off the ground to avoid the wash?

Really enjoyed your videos and thanks for taking your time to read and respond to me! I'm sure I'll have more questions.
What a great forum.

(in reply to racin06)

Post #: 14

RE: Really frustrated!!! Need some help - 8/22/2007 10:54:28 PM