Hi all,
I've just started out in 3d! I've been flying for 8 years and I was wondering the best way to enter a hover or prop hang???? I am flying a sig fazer and I don't use a sim at all!!! I have been praticing the hover from starting with a half cuban eight then cutting throttle and pulling vertical. Then when the plane almost stops moving, then I'll try and hover from there. Is that the way to do it? I have been able to hover for a few seconds then the plane falls out of it. Am I on the right track and just need practice? Or am I doing it wrong? I do believe in practice makes perfect unlike some!!!! can you real 3d'ers help me out?

best way to enter a hover: nose up

I'm not sure there is a "set" way to enter a hover. I like to slow the plane down until it almost stalls then give it some elevator and blip the throttle enough to point it verticle. I just think it looks nice when coming down the runway into a hover like that.

One thing to remember. You're probably not going to find one set throttle position to hover. You'll most likely be moving the throttle around for altitude/attitude adjustments. I've seen alot of people who set the throttle and blame the plane for falling out. If you start to get out of whack, give a little throttle blip (couple or three clicks for a second or so) to make your controls respond a little more quickly and get you back in the sweet spot. Also, if your plane is flopping all over the place, try a little extra expo. I've found that I can hover much easier when I'm light on the controls. I've never flown a fazer so I really can't terribly specific about the particular tendancies of that plane. What engine are you running? How much throw do you have in your ele, rudder, and aileron? Where is your C/G? ( a nose heavy plane harder to hover than a tail heavy one)

Just my $.0000025
hope this helps

Well first the airplane has to be setup for 3D/hovering.

1. long prop and low pitch
2. RELIABLE engine
3. Aft CG (as far back as you are comfortable with)
4. Control surface throws ie lots

I am probably going to get beat down for this but, You might want to try a more capable airplane for 3D. If you want a good 3D trainer then the [link=http://Spadtothebone.com]SPA3DT[/link] is a good way to go. Another good choice would be the [link=http://swanyshouse.com]Burrito[/link], or the [link=http://ohiomodelplanes.com]OMP edge[/link]. these are .40 sized planes and they fly VERY well for 3D. There are others but that is a good start.

To actually answer your question, there is no right or wrong way to enter a hover, you just pull and balance. I can say that to maintain a hover it helps a lot to do it as close to you as comfortable. You will have the chance to see subtle changes and correct them. Trailingedge has a good point in that airplanes do not like to hover and you will be moving the sticks a lot. Another thing about flying close is it is better to make many small corrections than large ones. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE buy more fuel, then practice some more.

(Give a look at the SPA3DT almost indestructable and great for harriers and hovering)

check out my website for the Cougar review on how i did it.
www.philsrcworld.fsnet.co.uk

The two ways I enter a hover. especially LOW ones, come in slow and couple feet over the runway, when I get right in front of myself I wall it by throwing in full elevator and blip the throttle, itll stand on end without gaining much altitude.

Second way is to do a low harrier into position.

make sure you go in wings level- bad entry =bad manouvre

Go from a blender into rolliong harriers and stop in an indrted harrier and then some down elevator and hover!!! [8D]

If you want to hover get a sim to learn this on! I bet I crashed 500 times before I got it down. Had I been attempting to do this with real airplanes I wouldn't be in this bobby anymore.

The best sim for 3D is hands down Aerofly Pro from Ikarus. Tye it you'll be glad you did.

You dint have very muchmoney do you?

David

That's about what it's worth.

I Either wall it or go from a harrier to a hover. Or go from a knife edge spin into rolling harriers then to a blender and back into rolling harriers into a harrier to a hover. Uh.. I think I'm getting carried away... OOH! Something new to try!

3D-kid330

Or a flat spin to the deck and then push out of it into a hover. That looks neat.

I have an OS46fx on the fazer, running a 12x4 APC prop. The CofG is at 7 inches from the trailing edge at the wing root. The only 3d manuovers I can do so far is an inverted spin and normal harriers. Although I've also been working on harrier landings! I just chicken out at about 10 feet and advance the throttle briefly and gain some speed, then cut it and land normally. The main problem with the hover is that once i hit the sweet spot, the aircraft begins to torque roll. Then once the belly is facing me I seem to give the wrong rudder input and it falls out!!! I have tried putting in right aileron to stop the torque roll but then i forget to watch the other axis of flight. (i.e. Rudder, elevator) I think I just need more pratice. Now I'm looking forward to the weekend. The fazer recovers very quickly If you get in trouble, just ad full trottle an fly away. I only seem to lose about 10-15 feet if i fall out sideways. So I can practice at around 150 feet and close to myself. I think it will come with time and pratice.

bigsport, Keep workin on it. sounds like your real close to having it down. Getting used to seeing the belly is your next hurtle. just keep getting lower as your confidence rises. youll be torkin on the deck in no time
When the fazer dies (and it will, if you aint crashin you aint learnin) replace it with a better suited plane. Taco, burrito, omp, sledge, Etc. and it will really get easy.

Best of luck to you

Rudder to the low wing helps when the belly is facing you.

Thanks guys I'll let you know how I go next time I fly!!!!!

From an inverted Harrier, 2 feet off the ground.

But, not initially. Take 3D-kid330's advise. "Either wall it or go from a harrier to a hover." Throttle mngmnt. is critical.

I usually do a nice semi slow end to end pass then about midfield I pull into a wall. From there you should be able to transition into a hover very easily. Just my way I guess

If your plane will HARRIER nicely, that is a great way to enter hovers. It is already slow, already at a high AOA, and can be initiated from low altitude. The biggest benefit of the low altitude is your ability to see it! The sim will help to develop the reflexes to do this. Most important reflex to acquire... learning when to blast out of trouble before the nose is committed down!!! Another acceptable entry is from a takeoff or touch'n'go. I will typically get good speed on the ground and simultaineously "YANK" the nose up and cut power. Must be confident that the YANK does not turn into a SNAP! And also, the need for reliable motor can not be over emphasized. Sketchy Motor = Smoking Crater!!!

enjoy

http://www.nesail.com/videos/extrema.wmv

Try this vid, see how I do it.

newest vid

Hey John... awesome plane and nice job tooling that puppy around!!!!!
I enjoyed it more with the volume turned down as your choice of background music is rather age specific.... LOL

It was a little old, or a little new for ya?

i usually do a wall into a hover

Welll... sorry... no music!! LOL



Here is a small action movie!!!

PREDATOR_EXPANDED_ENVELOPE.zip

You can retreive this file at

http://141.248.186.227/asisite/upload/6/

The userid is: asi6

The password is: mithrandir

Right click on the file in your browser and select -Save Link As- to down load the file.

The file will be deleted after 48 hours.
It will be removed friday evening!!! get'em while they are hot!!!

Both vids are well done.I love the big gassers and their looks and sound and stableness,but that little foamy was flown very well too