ORIGINAL: goirish
I am a pretty good sports pilot but would like to advance to some of the 3-d manuvers. Is there some kind of aid or instruction on how to hover. I have FSOne and have tried that many times. I can't seem to keep it in the air more that 5-7 sec. Seems like I don't have the visual that I would have at the field.
ORIGINAL: TedMo
To have success in hovering the first requirement it the correct aircraft, power, and set up. The control surfaces need to have lots of throw, usually a bit towards tail heavy CG location and quick reflexes. Best to try downwind to enter hover. Lots of practise, with aircraft. Foamy seems to be easiest but since I never fly them don't say for sure.
The correct aircraft and power is very important. Hovering takes an enormous amount of power.
The trick is to lock it in, each plane is different. If you can afford it real flight has a hover trainer. Real Flight is the best!! Helps! You need lots of aileron throw to keep it from torque rolling, some planes need loads of rudder and elevator to keep it there some don't. Practice it at a height that you are comfortable at and that you can recover from. Use very high rates (45 degrees) and loads of expo. Use the ailerons to hold the plane from rotating, you won't be all over the ailerons, but you will be all over the throttle, rudder and elevator. Sometimes it helps to pulse the throttle. With my Aito (foamy) I find that sometimes I'll twitch the rudder and elevator and throttle to make it move around and then re-correct immediately. I find that helps me, sorta like yer shaking a monkey around. lol I find when I do this I get more proficient with all of the controls during a hover. Hovering is not easy and takes lots of time. Practice, practice, burn fuel or electrons...
It truly is easier lower to the ground. If you really want to learn to hover get a foamy and fly indoors a lot. You will be amazed at how much better you are with the rudder after a season of it. With indoor flying you lead with the rudder and follow with the ailerons. I found with just one season of indoor my outdoor hovering went from a 10-second hover to minutes!