Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Is it possible to learn to fly a heli with a blade cp pro? I fly planes right now, but am thinking ahead. This is assuming that I spend a lot of time on a sim and using RADDs guide.

Thanks

Jack

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I did ,with sim (RealFlight G2), Radd's (follow it closely), extra flybar weights, and a heavier lipo. It can be done. Buy exta blades.

orlbuzz

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I'm learning to fly on one

But then again I'm cheating......

I have a Specktrum Radio in it (makes it easier)

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Harry, how does the radio make things easier?

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I learned on a cp...took me about 3 hours of fly time to be able to hover somewhat stable with no gyro. This was my first RC ever.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

An advanced radio like the Futaba 7CHP, Spektrum and the Hitec Optic 6 makes flying the Blade or HoneyBee CP2 easier in that you can program the radio to fit your level. Milder throttle and pitch curves, revo mixing, rudder to throttle mixing and expo to name a few. In the stock radio there is only one mix or CCPM is already programmed. You can only vary the pitch setting by moving the throttle trim.

Also, with the advanced radio you have more than one idle up, maybe 3 to 4 flight modes.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I am learning (doing nose in) on a blade CP pro. I highly recomend it, although you may want to replace the symetrical blades with flat bottom blades. I am sorta cheating too in that I have a futaba 7CH...you can buy one without the reciver or servos for like 170 bux...that way it is a direct replacment for the stock transmiter. I also had followed radds, But do not have a sim. So far no HUGE crashes, just a couple minor ones.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

HeliTB and jent, you both made me realize what a different radio is capable of, never really thought of it before. Sounds stupid I guess but maybe I should too look into a more advanced radio, it's just a matter of time anyways as I'm going to move up into more advanced helis and planes eventually.

Jon

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I have been learning to fly on a CP Pro and just want to echo some of the comments here. I have about 25 battery packs down, with one major crash (tail rotor failure in flight). I am using training gear and have switched out the included blades with Plasti Blades, they are heavier and more stable and resist crashing quite well. These things have calmed down the heli quite a bit and I can easily hover an entire battery and have started on side-in flying with good success. I think that the included perks (lipo battery, heat sinks, bell-hiller, symmetrical blades) are well worth the added expense over a basic CP and will allow you to stick with the same heli as your skills advance. I too would highly recommend Radds because it has allowed me to advance without serious crashes to hinder my progress. Just make sure you are patient and advance only as fast as you are comfortable and you will be fine starting on a CP Pro.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Jon,

They beat me to it :)

The stock radio is ok but an advanced radio makes a world of difference.

I also have a Blade CX that I fly between batteries or while the Pro is cooling down.

Good Luck.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I am learning on a cp pro. It seems very touchy after coming from 4 wheeled nitro RCs, but it can be done.

One reccomendation. Learn in a somewhat LARGE OPEN AREA. I tried indoors my first few times, and let's just say it didnt work out well...

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Yeah, try to clear out a garage or a basement and don't try to fly it when there is wind until your really confident in your level of flying. I learned on the CPPro after 2 years of airplane flying. Just take your time with it and start small and you should be fine. Good luck

Rob

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I just purchased the Pro a week ago and love it, I flew airplanes for 10 years and love the challenge of the rotary side of RC. After about 12 battery packs I am now hovering fairly well and am considering removing the training wheels. I did not follow RADDS as I did not find out about it until recently but highly recommend you follow it as it will save you money from crashes. When I purchased my pro, my LHS suggested I buy the platic blades for learning, the blades are durable and prevented blade replacements but instead of changing blades on a strike you will be changing tail booms and rotor head parts. I removed the plastic blades after I felt comfortable with the control of the pro and installed a flat bottom balsa set, for me I would rather pay an extra $10 dollars and quickly change a blade than spend an hour changing out the boom, IMHO. Another thing to look at is trimming your proportional and gain on your 3 in 1, in one of the threads there is a number of video links which explain in detail how to set up your 3 in 1. This definately helped as well as the less time you need to focus on the tail postion the better your control will be on the helicopter in general. I love the electric side, when the wind is howling or its -30 outside I can still practice in the garage... hovering anyway.. my winter project, nose in with control! Have fun with your project.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I too have flown airplanes for a couple of years and still love it but recenty decided to add helis, I bought a cp pro about a week ago.
Without radds training steps, and 7 or 8 charges later I am hovering without too much difficulty. Just take it slow and get used to the cyclic
controls. Cant say I like the balsa blades it comes with though if you breathe on them wrong the covering will come off. I went to carbons fairly quick.
I have a buddy that picked one up the same time, His story is the same as mine and we both fly about the same. The only thing is that his is just the CP and he
hates the batteries on his. They dont hold a charge very long. The LiPo definately is much better.
Hope this helps with your decision

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I just got CP Pro 3 weeks ago. Still unable to hover yet. Couple time comes close to hover but drifting every where and space not big enough and broke couple blades. Now use plastic blade, extra bigger battery still unable to hover yet. I play on the parking lot and the rear blade keep cutting the ground. I do not like the rear stand to low. I lost the rear gear. Haven't found the bigger spaces with concrete yet. Maybe Tennis court will be ideal. Keep practicing makes perfect, I hoped. [:@]

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Also, move all of the linkages to the inside hole on the servo arms - makes a big difference.

Dennis

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

tea007

I can only just hover (barely) ...... I sure ain't flying ... yet.

Keep practicing.

Ye gotta be persistent, or stubborn, or something to fly these things.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Well like the advertisements for the Blade series say, The CP Pro is for more advanced fliers and the main reason for this is because theyve installed the BellHiller which quickens the response of the cyclic.

If youre having problems because you find the heli too quick at movements and too easy to overcorrect theres a couple things you can try.
1st is to add 1 flybar weight to each side of the flybar on the outside. this will slow down the cyclic response.
2nd is to try pinching the sticks instead of using your thumbs. I cant seem to have precise control when I use my thumbs. I always seem to be oversteering but when I instead hold the sticks with 2 fingers I have way better control.
Worth a try.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Most of mine is teaching an old dog new tricks.

I'm working on getting that brain finger connection down.

These things are very addicting!

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

You can and will learn if you try. I did (CP modified to a Pro). The Blade is a great way to learn, cheap parts and a good flyer. I started with planes and it did not help me much until I started to get the hang of forward flight. I've been at it for a bit over a year and can fly around fairly well, figure 8's and stall turns. I still need to work on inverted! Unlike some others on the forum, I found the Bell-Hiller easier to hover/fly than the Hiller. I had a hard time with the lag between control input and reaction of the heli, and the bell-hiller took care of that. Just don't over control, fast response is a good thing!

Steve

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I hovered really good tonight

Woo Hoo

I just put in a new tail motor and trimmed it out and Yeah!!!

I think my old motor was going and screwing me as it was quite weak.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Im not sure if I am the only one that finds it weird (read:totally amazing) that once you put in the patience, time, and possibly some new parts in those first few dozen batteries to figure out how to hover then it really becomes FUN to fly the little bugger around. This really is a cool heli, even a stable hover at about chest high is amazing but once you can move the heli around, where you want, and in control, that is where the fun begins. Like I said earlier and has been echoed, you can learn to fly on a a CP Pro as long as you are patient and maybe replace the blades and possibly add weights to the flybar to make it more stable. This heli wants to fly, you just need to be patient and learn how to make it do only what you want it to.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

I actually put in a whole lot of time (Hours) trimming it out.

(I did put in a Spektrum DX6)

It will actually hover for couple of seconds "Hands Off".

It is well worth the setup time as I'm learning to fly not fighting it any more.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

Might I inquire as to how you did this?
I'd love to have expo on my CP.

RE: Learning on a Blade CP Pro
 

If it is like my futaba 7c all you have to do is buy a transmiter on the same chan. The blade and the futaba use the same shift so it is a direct replacment.