Getting into helicopters need help
 

Hi guys I have talked to guys at my local club here in Florida about helis, but only a few fly them. So I am going to ask you fellow RCers to help me out. I have been a rc airplane pilot for about 7 years and now want to get a helicopter. Can you guys help educate me on them. I would like to know everything that you guys know. Thanks.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

Have you flown one on the GP G2 simulator? They are extremely neat, but a ton of work to learn. I tried the simulator, and changed my mind. The simulator might influence your decision. Good luck!

Getting into helicopters need help
 

if you have club members who fly them, the best thing you can do is pick their brains. they all started out where you are and an open dialogue is easier and more informative than trying to wade through thousands of posts on a forum.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

I would suggest getting G2 and the add on disc with the raptor 30 and 60. Then order a Raptor 30 or 60 depending on funds. The 60 is a touch more stable, but a touch more expensive. You can learn on either and both are great helis. Both will do 3D when you get to that part and both are cheaper to fix than most. I had Schluter and miniature aircraft birds and sold all 6 and bough a couple of raptor 30s and a 60. I like them. I have since sold the 30s and just fly the 60. It is a great heli. I have some updates on it and love flying it. The sim is a great training aid. Helps teach you the basics.

Hope that helps some. I would go for it if you want to fly one. They are a blast. I am enjoying them more than fixed wing right now.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

Send me your email address and I will email you my list for beginners.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

thank you guys for all your help. I have purchased g2 and that actually got me interested in flying helicopters. I can fly them pretty good in g2 but i know that they are harder to fly in real life because i have had some flying time on them. The only thing I have trouble with I guess is setting them up and getting everything perfect to fly it. But that you guys again as i will still be interested in any helpfull information.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

I learned to fly helis on a G2. I figured it payed for itself in crashed parts. I say you can't aford not to buy a G2.

Good Bird to start is.....
 

forty percent:

Here is the best advice:
Purchase a Raptor 30 with the TT39 in her.
Don't get a set of carbon mains for it quite yet,
the woodies are fine to learn on.
Get the GY240 gyro from futaba and the servo
of your choice, but no 3004 or 148 in this set up.
Get a relatively fast Tail Rotor servo for the gyro
but a 9253 is overkill and way to pricey.
(But if you have money out the wazoo....)

This is by far the best heli on the market.
Solid performer, great design, powerful new ringed
engine in the tt39!

Take two wood dowels, glue a wiffle ball on the ends
cut the sticks to 42 inches, and tyrap them to the
skids X pattern to prevent tipover as you learn to
hover tail in to you. (Just like sitting in the cockpit!)

The guys at your field will no doubt be able to
set this bird up with you.

Play between the G2 sim and the Bird!
It's just like playing the piano, one doesn't play
Chopin overnight either! Reflexes are gained by
burning fuel and flying. The sim really helps build
muscular type reflexes. Practice all you can.

If you've been plankin for 7 years you'll be an expert
at it by August! :cool:

Keep asking questions, the guys here on the forums
are fantastic! None of us would be this good with each
other's assistance and advice. There is a LOT to know!

Best of luck to you.
Byron Omaha Helihawks

Edit...
 

Edit: "Without"





30

Getting into helicopters need help
 

ok you guys are still helping me a lot. i have another question. After i establish my hovering skills both from the back front and sides what is the next thing i should try to master before trying forward flight.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

Nose-in hovering.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

nothing, once you've mastered all that just go into forward flight.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

Hi.
I really think you should learn nose-in hovering. I am a begginer too and right now I am now training the forward flight and fast forward flight a bit high but I have been training for 4 months tail in hovering, nose-in hovering, eights and all that only a few feet from the ground, but it gave me a lot of training and I feel now very confortable flying the heli and watching it from all angles knowing what to do.

Good luck:
Daniel Maia

Getting into helicopters need help
 

While I do not doubt the importance of nose in hovering, it is not necessary to master it before forward flight. I did not perfect nose in, or for that matter attempt it before forward flight. I fly just fine, and have not found it to be a necessity.

While in forward flight I do just fine with orientation while on final approach for landing.

So, while Nose in is cool and all, it is not a must have skill for forward flight..

Getting into helicopters need help
 

HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS. i HAVE BEEN READING ADS FOR SOME HELICOPTERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LATEST AND GREATEST PARTS FOR THE HELIS. I READ A COUPLE PARTS AND HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THEY ARE OR DO. ONE WAS A GRAPHITE BASE PLATE AND THE OTHER WAS A SWASH PLATE. WHAT ARE THESE PARTS FOR AND WHAT DO THEY DO.

Getting into helicopters need help
 

40 per:

You gots the addiction now, wait til you nose in one
of these incredible machines.

With that fire ya got burnin there, it's time to steer
you to a main man. Order up the New edition of
Ray Hostetler's Authoritative Guide to RC Helicopters.

Just do it.

Lt Helicopter Commander, Byron L. Head Omaha.










Rock on

Getting into helicopters need help
 

ok guys, need your help again. I am pretty set on the heli i am gonna get. To no surprise it is the raptor 50. If I buy the kit and motor i am no doubt gonna have to get some more things. I have made a list of what i think i need. I was wondering if any of you guys out there had a list of your own that you would be willing to share. Thanks

Getting into helicopters need help
 

Where in Florida do you live? I would suggest you go to a field where there are more than a few helicopters and talk to them. If you are in Orlando stop by Speedworld in east Orlando on Sundays. I have seen 20-30 helicopters flying there!

Getting into helicopters need help
 

good question...where in florida do you live?....im in st.cloud and if you live a reasonable distance from there i would be willing to help you....we have several guys at our field that fly helis so if im not there then im sure someone there would help you

Getting into helicopters need help
 

i live in st.petersburg florida and recently a guy came out to our field and joined and guees what he flies heli's and has been helping me a lot. thank you guys for all your help.

Some useful things to have for a heli...
 

- Ball link plyers (makes it easier to snap/unsnap the links)
- incidence meter (I used my flying buddy's for a while, then got my own)
- blade balancer (still use my friends) - don't tend to crack up the blades as much as everything else
- talking stop watch. I use a Radio Shack one for $10.
- training gear
- crash kit - typically involves rotor and tail rotor parts

I heard some guy built his training gear out of fiber rods (arrow-type material) and they went into oscillation and brought his chopper down!. I'm sticking to wood dowels.

It's awfully nice when you crash, and you will, unless you've done 100 hours on a sim) to have some spare parts and not always have to go to the hobby store. When I got my used Hirobo Shuttle Zx 30, it came with a box of parts. It really helped to keep the momentum going.

This site is worth looking at for a set of maneuvers to practice on the sim:

http://ircha.org/ppp.html

By the way, are you for real "Guys I want to know everything you guys know." or just form another part of the country. (Don't mind me, I know the Celtics don't have a chance and finding hard to cope). I hope you're not pulling all our respective legs. Doesn't seem like it.

By the way, I crash every 5th time out or so. I'm learning to get real conservative. Been flying for 3 months, fixed wing since 1975. It's humbling but an absolute blast. Wouldn't trade it for the world.