I am trying to learn what all the terms are and trust me I'm clueless to this new world of sport flying. So, is there a link I can use, or someone kind enough to go into idiot terms for me.

I have a Futaba SkySport 6H. (I bought all this off the internet and nothing came with instructions) So, when you say things like ad COLLECTIVE and all the other terms you guys use, How can I find out what all that is? How can I find out what lever on this Radio does WHAT? I have like 20 buttons, switches and knobs on this damn thing !! Sorry to ask such questions that take so much explanation! BUT I NEED YOUR KIND HELP.

There is a ton of information on the net and some good books on the subject. If you download a copy of a Raptor manual, they answer basic setup and flight concept questions.

Here's where you can get a copy:
http://graphics.tudelft.nl/%7Ewouter...tor/manual.pdf

also, check out www.raptortechnique.com

Jason

You running a computer radio to fly helicopters or airplanes?
Clint

All this is BRAND NEW TO ME !!

I have what I guess to be a Raptor 30 V.2 (not sure) I got this set up off E-bay for $200.00. The guy whom built it was said to never have flown it. (he passed away before he could fly) This came from his estate sale ! It has no instructions at all. The Radio is a Futaba SkySpot 6H. I have no clue what to do with any of this but going to try and learn. I have always wanted a Chopper and the price I thought was to good to pass on.

Exactly, that's why I posted a manual. You asked about general RC heli info. The Raptor is an ideal example, so, RTFM.

Sounds like a good buy, but you're gonna wanna pack it in the basement for about a month while you buy a simulator and learn to fly the thing. And spend the rest of your time reading the forums here. You can do searches for any term you want and find a thousand refrences to them. Also trying to find local helli pilots will get you in the air a lot faster.

Don't waste good money on a sim... They're simply fancy videogames for the lazy...

Get a Co-Pilot. You can be flying nose in in a week.

I should know, I teach several people a month.
None use a sim.
All use a Co-Pilot.

I have a G2 and also the copilot. Warlock is right in some ways about sim. If you dont have enough computor the sim is no good. It takes a pretty good computor to make it seem like flying RC. The copilot on the other hand will get you hovering. But you have to have somone set it up or you will never get it to fly. Everybody has there own oppinion. I will keep mine to myself. I have both and they both are a very big help. But all in all you will not learn to fly with out a crash or 2. So be prepared. The rappy is a cheap one to fix.

My experience and opinion.

I've got 2 gallons through a Raptor 30 and have not crashed once yet. My first experience with helis. I trained ONLY with the Real Flight sim. I have a co-pilot but haven't installed it yet.

If you are just starting out and don't have a good support network of established heli pilots nearby, you can't beat the sim fo getting started. Co-pilot or not, if you go out there the first time and you don't know what you are doing, you WILL dork the heli and possible hurt yourself in the process.

I agree the co-pilot is a great tool, and helps build confidence, but it also easily becomes a crutch that can limit your development.

Jason

I have to agree, there aren't many heli pilots in my area, so the sim helps a lot.

The copilot is not going to help you learn to fly a helicopter. If every time you get into trouble and you have to rely on the copilot to get you out of trouble how in the world are you going to ever learn to correct mistakes. Using a copilot will not get you there. You will have to rely on it from now on. Having to rely on a copilot will not make you a good helicopter pilot.

I disagree with Stormavic,

In fact, I disagree with most of the above statements. The co-pilot won't correct mistakes for you. What it will do, however, is return you to a level position when you let go of the cyclic stick.

I have trained numerous pilots using the CP, and the results are far more impressive than those that use a sim.

A sim doesn't give you a good appreciation of the actual feel of the helicopter. You also can't see the heli in 3 dimensions with a sim, which affects your depth perception, and your ability to judge orientation.

Most of the people that have a negative opinion of the Co-Pilot haven't tried it... What I found was that people with one are getting actual stick time. Knowing that there is a device on board that will save their ***** if they get confused, most will have less stress and worry about crashing, therefore freeing them up to concentrate on learning.

I've seen a remarkable difference in those that learn with a co-pilot, and those that learn with a sim. There's no comparison. The comment that I hear most often about the sims is that "it doesn't feel the same" or that "it feels too artificial". With the CP, students are actually flying the heli, and not sitting around a computer.

It's interesting to note that the military, and private flight schools are now using more onboard based computers on actual aircraft versus simulators. It probably has something to do with the "hands-on" aspect of learning.


And, with the co-pilot being half the price of a good sim, what's worth more to you? Being able to rescue your heli IF and WHEN you do get disoriented or confused, or playing a game on a PC that WON'T save you if you get disoriented...

In short, don't knock it until you've tried it.

I personally dont need it. I do have a sim and when I cant get to the field to fly I use it instead. BTW the sim is in no way a game. Anybody that says so is blowing smoke.The copilot to me is "cheating" and anybody that has to fly with one is not really flying the heli he is just watching some gadget fly it for him. You cant say that you have mastered the heli if you have to use a copilot in my humble opinion. My grandmother could probably "fly" a heli if equiped with a copilot.

How is the co-pilot cheating? It doesn't fly the heli for you. It doesn't perform any maneuvers for you. It's no different than using the "reset" button when you crash in a sim. Except, in a sim, there's no worry if you crash, all you gotta do is start over.

On a real r.c. heli, if you could perform any maneuver you wanted, without fear of crashing, or making a mistake, wouldn't you choose that instead?

It's biased opinions like yours that turn a lot of potential newbies into nutcases.

Like most things in life the answer to this debate is neither one way or the other. There are benefits and limitations to both items as learning tools. However, Warlock said something critical in his post, "I've trained ....". Warlock is an experienced RC heli pilot who has tought several people how to fly with the assistance of the co-pilot (Which beats a buddy cord where the instructor simply takes control and recovers the heli).

If you are forced to go it alone as I was, the co-pilot by itself won't prepare you for that first experience when you advance the collective and the skids come off the ground. The sim allows you to get comfortable with what the heli SHOULD do before you put your expensive model at risk. The co-pilot is like having an instructor there who can recover the heli to a level attitude when you lose orientation.

Jason

I guess your opinion is not "biased". If you need a copilot to" fly" your bird thats all right with me. I dont need it.

I by no means "need" a co-pilot. However, I started using it when I began practicing inverted. You can practice inverted all you want on a sim, but all it takes is one incident of "dumb-thumbs", and there goes your heli...

I simply think it's just a much better investment.

I guess the wonderful thing about America is that all of us can have an opinion.

Co-Pilots, simulators, etc., etc.

Why don't you guys chill out, and be thankful you didn't have to learn how to fly one of these things without the benefit of any aids other than a couple of dowels with whiffle balls...

All of these are "crutches". So what? The game is so involved and difficult, anyone would be a fool not to take every advantage he could.

But, having been involved in the adult learning process for many years as an instructor teaching fine motor skills, I can tell you that a simulator only goes so far in preparing you for the live event. There is no EDF (Emotional Debt factor) present when using the sim. IOW, you're not worrying about breaking your expensive toy.

When the blades are turning, THAT'S when your knees get weak, and that is also when you get maximum feedback (learning process) and build muscle memory.

So, while a sim does indeed help, nothing can take the place of burning fuel and just DOING it; Co-Pilot or not.

Sounds like you need to "chill Out".

Steve Campbell:

Very eloquently put. Couldn't have said it better myself.

First of all RC Helicopters are NOT toys. Second if you "Believe" that's your $1000 helicopter in the sim, you will do everything inyour power not to crash. That's what I do. I'm a "newbee" and honestly wouldn't want to buy co-pilot. I think that I, this is just me, would get too dependant on it getting me out of tough situations. I would rather learn how to get out of the tough situations, than relying on something else. Also I emailed one of the sponsors (I really don't remember who), who sells co-pilot, to ask some questions and he told me not to waste my money. He said if you already have the sim use that to practice with. Also warlock, you have the largest thread ever dedicated to co-pilot. I honestly wouldn't want to buy anything that's so confusing & hard to set up. Yes you do need a decent PC to run the sim. So I say, whatever works for you If you can afford both, plus a radio & helicopter, go for it. I also agree there's Nothing like the real thing, be it having a sim or co-pilot to help. But that's what they're both for, to help. I say, its a personnal opinion/choice

<<...R/C helicopters are NOT toys...>>

Excuse me; how about "leisure time product"? That suit your palate better? A rose is still a rose, and a turd is still a turd...

And you can "believe" that is your machine on the sim all you want to; your metabolism (heart rate, reflexes, synapses in general) is still going to be at a higher level when flying the real thing.

Jeez....... relax dude,, didn't mean to upset you.......

If you'll read my post again you'll see I said "I also agree there's Nothing like the real thing,..........." That also has to do with life in general

Oh, I wasn't upset; just amused.

Happy to be a form of amusement for you