Alien- Thanks for the advice, and the Spektrum DX6 I am planning on getting will work with my Axe, but the Futaba Gy401 will not. So, I am just going to continue to fly using the stock electronics until I am ready to move on to a bigger heli.

So, I am going to wait on any TRex for a while and continue to fly the Axe for now. I still need to perfect my figure 8's and get my circles down a little better before moving up.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

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Oh I guess because the Gy401 expects only to talk to a digital servo? I got the Gy240 to work fine with the stock electronics, no separate tail ESC needed.

Yep, having too much fun with the Axe to go for TREX yet - and so far, knock on wood, its been cheaper than my TREX estimates.


Success!

I got to the clubhouse tonight, and dang! Forgot my training gear. Oh well, I'll just get light on the skids and slide as I debug my new DX7 program.

After about a quarter pack, with some radio tweaks she is sliding controllably. Looks real smooth and just 'wanting' to hover.

Ok, give more throttle and -

Whoa!! Never seen such a smooth liftoff! I got into a nice, stable hover, just INCHES off the floor!! Killer!!

The stick response is soooo smooth! Before, the transition from light-on-skids to liftoff was the very slightest - now its almost a quarter inch of stick travel!

I gave more throttle and with super smooth control, got into a glass-smooth hover about eye level - tracking is within a half-blade thickness - good 'nuff.

I was thinking I could reduce headspeed a bit, so I landed and tweaked the Normal Throttle Curve - down 5% at position 1 and 2 - the critical ones for the hover.

I took off more boldly this time - even smoother! And, the headspeed was reduced to a 'comfortable hum'. I could see the rotor disk reflecting the flourescent lighting, making a colored pattern that was changing with the headspeed. Very cool!

Then I was observing - the stick is too high up during hover. Time to increase the Normal Pitch Curve.

Just added 2% across the whole curve...

Awesome!! Its so close to being totally dialed, its beyond my skill to tell how to change it from here!

I'm still on the first pack!!

I ran out the second pack in nice hovers with only a few landings - all feather-light!

What I learned tonight was the RADIO has a lot to do with the initial difficulty many Axe pilots experience. I think any nOOB with a DX7 could get into a stable hover much faster and safer than with the stock radio. I know though - its a cost thing and the basic radio has to be a compromise between nOOb and expert pilot's requirements.

The deal is - it now takes me MORE stick movement to do anything (in particular, change the collective pitch and throttle) at the hover, thus its easier!! Useless for hotshot 3D pilots, but a godsend for a nOOOB like me!!

I flew out the 3rd pack in very relaxed hoverings around - actually just having FUN! She did creep up to 10 feet away from me in a few undesireable movements, at different times, but was easy to get back under the reigns. She was buffeted a bit too by some odd air currents in the room, but nothing ugly.

Now then, she is ready, once again and after all this time, for FF. All I need now is the normal miracle - time and dead calm wind. Ha!! See? Even TREX can't buy you that!