HOW TO HOVER
 

I'M TRYING TO LIFT MY HELI MAX VERY SLOW
IS THIS GOOD OR BAD BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT SEEMS
TO FLY MUCH BETTER AT 4 FT THAN AT 1 FT.
IS THIS NORMAL
WHAT CAN I DO FOR BETTER CONTROL

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

Well to begin with, as a beginner, and that is a presumption, I do presume you are using the training gear as that will help give you a little stability and confidence. And as beginner there is always the tendency to keep the heli low to the ground until we get comfortable with the controls and have developed our eye / hand coordination and finger / brain memory control and confidence. However, the only thing about being close to the ground is the dreaded ground effect from the rotor wash. That air can totally disrupt what we are desparately trying to accomplish. There is also that nasty head-off chicken flopping heli dance to put up with. But as a beginner we really don't have too much choice because as the heli lifts off, gets a little too high and starts doing something unusual that we are not prepared to handle, we panic, pull the throttle back and the heli naturally drives into the tarmac and usually end up breaking one or two parts.

So, what does that all mean? Not sure but for right now I would stick somewhat close to the ground and put up with the heli ground effect (rotor wash) and keep plugging away.

If you have a simulator it can greatly alleviate the cash expenditures from becoming a premature heli mechanic.

Carl

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

THANKS I'LL KEEP TRYING
I HAVE G3.5 COMING NEXT WEEK
I HOPE IT HELPS
SEE YA

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

The Sim will help out greatly! If you got the Sim from Tower Hobbies they are offering I think $30 off of a $200 order. Pretty good deal. Anyway the sim will pay for itself pretty quickly. Learning to fly a heli is tricky so be careful until your Sim comes in then all you have to do is hit the reset after a crash. My reset button is about worn out!:D

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

ProntoW,

Do you find yourself flying more dangerously, daring, and carefree with the sim sometimes?

Carl

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

While the sim is fun to play with I also try to do some dedicated training each week a couple hours a week as time allows. Things like starting a figure 8, do a few circuits and half prio to backwards circuits, flip it over and do some forward and reverse inverted circuits. Also slamming the rudder trim full over and flying a piro'ing circle upright and inverted help tremendously.

Also please lay off typing in all caps its considered shouting and should used for EMPHASIS.

Thanks

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

Thanks for the tip
I think I'll stick to trying to fly up & down
for now maybe someday

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

Hmm, now there's an idea I had never even thought about trying. :D

THanks for the tip.

Carl

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

No problem, it helps alot. C'mon up in May we are hosting a fly in and clinic on May 19th in Jacksonville

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

Answer,
Sure, I try to do things on the sim I would not dare to try with my AXE. Well not yet anyway.:D

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

Great that's my 60th birthday and I can't think of a better way to spend the day. But my wife might have other ideas. Not sure she isn't planning a cruise to Alaska for us.

However, thanks for the invite and it's in my Palm datebook.

Carl

RE: HOW TO HOVER
 

I recently jumped that gap from bouncer to hoverer. When it happened I realized the only thing stopping me was a fear. A little tiny fear and an over tail inputting thumb. Trying to stay right near the ground is harder than actually flying. I wasn't sure why until my bro Quickster47 pointed out why. It sounds to me like you're ready and you just have to go for it. Watch it at liftoff point. Make sure your tail is trimmed so it lifts as straight as possible. When you're up remember to keep it tail in only at first. Sometimes you gotta add throttle (just a little) instead of landing.