How long did it take for you guys to learn how to hover down to the ground and hold it there?. Any recommendations on what plane to use?

Thanks

Down to the ground....about a year.
Hovering.......somewhat less.

Try any of the Morris Hobbies Planes or the Doghouse Extreme.

Morris Hobbies
Doghouse Extreme

This is something you have to practice alot. It take me 6 month
flying almost every day to get it as close as 2 feet from the ground
or a little more. PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, PRACTICE and TIME are
a basic to lern new tricks. I am flying a sig Somethin Extra but I think a morris plane will be more than good. I do not have one because I do not like the profile thing, but I read nice things about them.
Happy landing!
Benny

Vipman,

I saw these but after going to the website and asking a few questions I bought a Diabolic. It's similar in design but has a full flying stab, NOT the typical stab/elevator combination. I ordered on Wednesday, should be here Tuesday Wednesday latest. I'm planning on using a YS 63 4 cycle. I think that's right. It's the motor that's replacing the now discontinuer YS 53 4C. Hopefully it will be enough motor to hover and accelerate vertically out of a hover. What do you think? Enough motor?

Scott

Hey I think we should all quit hovering - check out the warbirds and warplanes forum - the hovering thread..... I read it and i'm definately convinced - I'm quiting hovering. The last thing I would want to do is annoy those guys. Anyways I'm going to try and get hovering banned across the USA. These guys are on the right track.
take care and remember - no more hovering
-Jon

I cant figure out how to hover, I think my reflexes are too slow...

I wont need to learn to hover if its banned, Then I'll look like an expert, I can fly rolls and circles perfectly.... Hehe

vipman=modestmaster,come on man.

Yeah, its much more fun to fly in figure 8's and do slow rolls.
More skill required also......

If you want to read a long post check mine out on the warbird forum for the thought about hovering and 3d and flying in a circle.

Steve

It is funny that you can ask a question and get a couple of good answers, than other people start spouting off and getting off the subject of the original question. Seems like to me if you want to talk about something else besides the question asked, start another thread on another subject. I thought I could ask a question and get answers not peoples oppinions about other things.

Hi,

I moderate this forum (and others) and its not unusual for threads to start to migrate a bit.
If it gets way off topic then we can make some modifications. For now I think its OK.

Do you have anymore ?'s regarding your initial post? We are all listening.

Well on how long it took me to learn to hover probably a year with a profile moriss and such. now touching the tail to the ground probably another 6 months before attempting it. It takes patience and alot of fuel to learn to hover so go practice up high of course and have fun. but as to getting off of the track of the thread. if we do not reply to the people talking about banning hovering you would not be asking this question.

Thanks Steve

Everyone needs to understand that any flying from takeoff, flying without purpose for 20-30 minutes and then landing will be viewed by some as a threat to their flying. I like all aspects of model aviation. I have a Magic with a Webra .32 on it. It will hover just fine at about telephone pole hight. It wanders about but it really is a challange. Since this is viewed by some as abnormal flying I fly at a little field away from everyone else.

Has anyone found a flight sim that could be used to practice on? I have a Truflight sim which has great physics for helo's.

Is there a thread that I should check out to find out what are the defined 3D manuvers. I hear of avalance, water falls, harriers I was wondering if maybe I am doing some of these without knowing what is called.
Sparky

As far as practicing on a sim, G2 is the one in my opinion. Although the purists may say otherwise, it gives you the basics and hand eye to deal with the real thing. In a word, it's still good therapy

I try to practice low hovering when the other guys aren't at the field, ie early in the morning. There is also less wind at that time of day. That way nobody can say anything about me being in the way. I also tend to fly with guys who like to fly the way I like to. If all of us are hovering and doing other ridiculus stuff then we all still get along. It took about 3 months to learn to hover, and about a year to finally get the tail down to the ground. It was a courage thing. I am still working on torque rolls, but I do practice on real flight. Just my opinion, but hovering isn't that hard. And it sure is fun, especially a foot off the deck!

Coulter-Dean. . a few pointers from someone who is finally getting the hang of it .. Remember, when the canopy is toward you, fly the nose for your rudder inputs, when the belly is toward you fly the tail. In other words, push the stick the way you want the nose to go, then shift to push the stick the way you want the tail to go. It's that simple on rudder inputs. Elvators is probably easier, except you might tend to not give enough elevator so the plane will keep the nose at an angle instead of perpindicular. Be aggressive to get the nose straight UP, then blip the elevator HARD and fast to keep the pitch minimal and chase the tail/nose as quick as you can. The big thing is to not get behind the plane, but to anticipate what its going to do next. If it likes to drop the nose, then blipping UP elevator constantly will help that until it gets a touch onto its back. The same for the tail swinging to one side more than the other. Counter it before it happens by blipping the stick hard to counter it. Once it starts to move decisively its pretty much a given that its gonna take a lot of work to get the plane vertical again. Stay ahead of the plane, anticipate where its going next, and hit the sticks hard and decisively instead of trying to gently "fly" the plane.