Hey everyone.

I'm pretty new to flying. I've been flying for about 6 months or so... However, I did catch on quite quick, and have been involved with airplane for quite some time... I've got a question though. I can't seem to be able to do a consistant hover with my plane... it seems to be one of the only draw backs to my flying. I'm flying a seagull razzle 3D plane with a OS 91 engine, a 14-8 prop, a futaba 6exap TX with S3004 servos... my control surfaces have huge amounts of throw, and I dont seem to be running out of throw. The CG of my plane is spec.

I just cant seem to figure out why this wont work. I know its quite different, but I have a collective pitch mini electric helicopter too, and I have NO problem flying it... Perhaps this isn't the right plane for hovering? Maybe it truly is that hard, and I just need to keep practicing? Please help me out!

Thanks lots,
Carlyle

It is that hard. OK switch to a apc 15/4W prop , move the cg back keep it controllable but try to get it were it needs no elevator to fly inverted. Reduce your throw , it sounds like your fighting and chasing the plane. And practice allot you'll get it it just takes time.

Well, I read somewhere that there is the hundred gallon rule. It takes 100 gallons to learn to hover well.

For me, I'm starting my second 100 gallons.


3dbob

I would suggest a simulator. It is not the same but it will give you lots of stick time and teach you the proper stick movements.

Been trying all summer to hover with my UCD 46 (am using the 50SX-H). I am all over the place but making painfully slow progress, so I asked a pilot at the club to try to hover it. I think, maybe the plane is not set up right, or maybe the plane is over rated. This pilot is very good BTW, the best in the club. He hangs it solid as a brick and lowers it down - so low and close I am ready to bail at the first sign of trouble - this is totally awesome. I now fully realize the skill gap and I agree with prophanger1 - It is that hard.

I had trouble until I put medium rates on the elevator and then increased my expo. Play around and see what fits your flying style best.

and another thing is to bring the plane down low so you can see it and it will be easier to control because you can see what is happening to be plane closer, but dont do this if you are not famliar of how to catch the plane if it falls out of a hover without loosing a lot of altitude.

Getting low to see your controls does help.... But while learning
it also brings that "ground fever" and can make the stick "thumbs"
a bit jittery... So be carefull... What helped me was the Sim and
practice and lots of it.. I stayed up high, it's a bit eaiser with the
added prop wash... Plane setup, power and Finding the sweet spot
where the plane sort of just hangs with little input... Make quick small
corrections as soon as you see any fall out the sooner the better..
Then practice, practice, and more practice....

i never had problems hovering. My harrier hovered all day and it took me like 10 flights before i could haver good. My showtime is tail heavy and it hovers better than the harrier.
I think the sim helps a bunch because i practiced on it before i tryed it with a real plane.

It takes time. A lot of people build SPADS to practice with b/c they are easy and nearly impossible to kill. They really help you get over that ground fever and give your thumbs a work out. My dad couldnt hover at all but after a few hours with the spad he was hovering 5 ft. off the deck.

EXPO helps a lot too. I learned without it then one day I used it and it made it 100% easier

Like anything else, some find it easy some find it hard. Sims are helpful. Proper airplane helpful. Practice is really helpful.

Thanks for all your help. I think i'm going to change from a 14/8 to 14/6 and try and get the CG back a bit on my plane.

Thanks again,
Carlyle

If you can find a hotshot 3D pilot in your area get him to fly the plane around and make recommendations.

I'd love to be able to find someone around here. I seem to be lacking in that. The amount of time that I've been flying doesn't help eather; six months.

You are definately asking the right questions and a lot of people have given great suggestions. I had several things help to teach me hover better but one thing I have not yet seen suggested is perhaps a different plane. I highly recomend a profile plane from www.ohiomodelproducts.com like the 47" Edge 540. They are relatively cheap, very tough so you can dork it, and when it comes to hovering they are relatively easy. Not all planes fly the same.

A simulator like AFPD is also great to learn how to hover low. You can also DL a quick sample instruction from www.flyingcirkus.com. You can also get the DVD with Chris Maier doing 3-D. But the bottom line comes down to stick time! You want to get to a point where you are a few moves ahead of the plane anticipating which way it will fall. And when you have it in that sweet spot very little movement is involved. You only need that huge throw when you get into trouble and need big time correction.

Burn fuel and patience! Good luck!

John

i say just keep practicing up high and then bring it down as you feel more comfortable with doing it, you need to learn the controls when the plane begins to toque roll everything gets reversed and use more throttle when you begin to slide any plane can hover you just need practice i've got the hang of it probably about 10 years ago but i've been flying for 13 years. (and when i say i got the hang of it i mean about 10-15 rotations in a torque roll) I don't think its your plane, i think you just need more experience, also get a simulator those helped me out tremendously and will improve your skill level. GET great planes G3 simulator its the best one out!!!

Josh

Like someone said 15x4 or maybe even the 16x4w will make it easier. 14x6 and 14x8 are more pattern type props

I can hover my Mayhem for about 15-20 seconds, and that's considerably longer than when I first got it. I never made it a real goal to get really long hovers, but they're becoming longer by default, just through flying the plane.

It may seem like an odd suggestion, but I find it easier to hover late in the say when the sun is low. The shadows thrown by the control surfaces and the rest of the plane seem to help.

a little transmission fluid on the covering helps...

I changed my prop today... Its now a 14/6. I know that isnt the exact right prop, but it helped me quite a bit... I went from 5 or so seconds of hovering to 40 to 60 or so. For some reason today I was able to hover much better. I will get a 15/4 next time i'm at the RC shop though. I was so happy today with my flying, that I wouldn't even land my plane to re-fuel. I just got so carried away with the fact that I was hovering that much better. My engine ran out of fuel TWICE on me today when I was hovering. Thank god I was BEARLEY high enough to land it. No problems though!

My plane is now charging and getting ready for tomorrows flight; I hope tomorrow will be as good as today!

Thanks again everyone
Carlyle

Would help lots if you drank some , cause you got some stripped gears or bent shaft.

Give it up dude your about as funny as sticking your finger in a prop.

Keep it up carlyle. It just takes time , fuel and the right aditude.

lol the only way i land is deadstick the only plane i land with power is my cap.

Josh

i noticed some planes just handle better then others my tribute hovers but needs alot of stick movement to do so but the yak54f the first time i flew it hoverd on its own practly wow is all i got to say ....i love that plane (E-flite Yak54f)

Thanks! I keep getting closer and closer every day. I'm slowly catching onto it, and getting close now. I've had consistant hovers for over a minute now. Today was though though, the wind was pretty strong, and blowing my plane into knife edges... I played along with it though, and made it look like I was trying to do that. haha.

Thanks lots though!

Carlyle

I cant wait to get my new plane eather. I'm going to be getting a Funtana 90 for my next plane... Just a matter of time. I cant justify going and buying a new plane when my razzle is still ok. But oh well. accidents happen, its just a matter of time. haha.

Carlyle