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Old 11-26-2010 | 06:54 AM
  #17  
fliers1
 
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From: Lockport, NY
Default RE: Is HeliX on to something.


ORIGINAL: 804

ORIGINAL: fliers1


ORIGINAL: 804


ORIGINAL: fliers1

James,
I went to HeliX.com and this is what I got: GlaxoSmithKline USA
fliers1
Don't know for sure, but it might be this:

http://www.xheli.com/

Yep, I believe the correct web site. They have quite a few very good looking helis. I teach people to fly both fuel and electric powered helis. I get people hovering electrics in my hobby shop, and it usually only takes less than an hour to get them hovering on their own. That is without them having any sim experience at all. Matter of fact, I find it better that they NOT have any sim experience before they come to me. I use my helis or their's btw.

fliers1
I just started heli's a little over a month ago. Bought a Gaui 425 electric.
After quite a bit of time on the sim, I was able to hover a friends nitro Pantera, using a buddy box, right off the bat, including taking off, and landing it.
Did that once, and immediately was able to hover my Gaui. I can now do forward flight, all upright hovering orientations, did some loops and rolls last week.
So, I have to say that, IMO, sims and buddy boxing still work great.
However, just this morning I flew the heli into a tree in my back yard, getting a couple quick flights in before dinner, and now am doing a frame-up re-build.
So, still much to learn, and I think the sim is very helpful. In fact, I doubt you could find many top level pilots that don't sim extensively.

This is to lead up to an observation:
Since starting with heli's, I've noticed a much younger and enthusiastic crowd involved.
I attended IRCHA this summer, and if AMA and the rest of the model aviation hobby want to learn something,
they should pay attention to the RC helicopter folks.
Edit to add:
This months MA features a lot of heli stuff. Good job to the staff for that.
I wasn't saying that there is no need for a sim, just that everyone I teach doesn't need sim experience to learn to quickly hover a helicopter. Yes, sims are extremely useful, in fact, I practice on mine on a daily basis. I tried teaching with buddy-box, but found that my method is much easier, faster and productive in getting people to see just how easy learning to fly helis and fixed wing can be.

fliers1