[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by Fodder

The very first time I was throttling up, I found my self holding up elevator like I was taxing, but caught myself.

DON'T DO THAT!!! Can you say boomstrike?!!!

A hard habit to overcome, a similar one, with worse consequences is the habit of chopping throttle and pulling up elevator when you're in trouble.... this was a dificult one for me to overcome and results in higher heart rates as the heli drops tail first and accelerates tail-first as you punch collective reacting to the loss in altitude. Add the fact that I don't normally fly in heading hold and the tail comes around with the kick as well... how do you spell orientation problem?

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by Nuker

One thing I noticed was that the SIM recommends right airleron on lift off, then correct it. Jim Mc was at the field and didn't do that and Bernie didn't either.

I don't know anyone who does. I remember reading that "tip" and discussing it with many "experts". How much "aileron" ( lets convert to correct terminology: right cyclic) It might work well on a sim but in reality I'm too pre-occupied with wind direction and uneven ground to bother attempting to offset tail-rotor "push" or more theoretical problems like gyroscopic precession.

[Nuker]

Aileron / cyclic what the hey, so long as it flies.

My concern is really that for 6 weeks daily I'm taking off and hovering on the sim with that method. Amazing how quickly you develop musle memory

When I saw you fly it was the first time I was actually noticing those details; then Bernie did the same so I figured I'd check to see if Scott aka Fodder had noticed the same thing. I also found out how the ratchet on the throttle affects the smoothness of the flight.

Again I had a great theory lesson from Bernie and coupled with Ray's Heli manual, things are sinking in.

The sim also needs reasonable right rudder on takeoff whereas Bernie gave none (both with the HH enabled).

I'm a bit surprised with the sim differences but it highlites some things I have to watch for with the real thing.

IF it ever stops raining .......

[JimMcIntyre]

Do yourself a favour. Open your Tx, and turn that ratchet around so the smooth side rubs on the stick. It'll provide enough friction that the collective (throttle) stick won't flop around and you won't be stuck hunting between detents.

There's nothing wrong with the theory about adding right cyclic on takeoff, it's likely good practice but I find I'm often pre-occuppied with simply correcting for drift due to wind and uneven ground as the skids lose contact with the ground.....

I never take off in Heading hold. if you do, you should consider the fact that if you don't cycle the gyro your heli will be trying to find it's orientation at the time you powered it up....

Rain ... sigh ... after last time out (back tot he woodies) I redid my pitch curves on the bench... still haven't had a chance to test fly them.

[Fodder]

Jim, what is "cycle the gyro" :

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by Fodder

Jim, what is "cycle the gyro" :

Take it out of HH and back in to establish the new heading you want to keep. I learned this the hard way after the first few times I took off in HH....

[Fodder]

Since I am only practicing hovering, I turn on Rx with HH on and in theory, the heli is always facing away from me. Is this a good practice or should I try without the HH.

[JimMcIntyre]

The question is, is the heli facing the same way when you turn it on as it is when you start the blades turning....

[AJCoholic]

One bit of advice Nuker and Fodder if I may... since you guys have access to the simulator, start practicing nose in hovering NOW. Its never too early. When I began flying helis in college I didnt even have my training gear off and was nose in hovering (I had rcaerochopper) and when I started to fly around I could shoot approaches and not get disoriented. Its nice to have the same confidence when flying the heli as when you are flying a plane. The guys that didnt take the time to learn nose in would allways crash if they couldnt approach from behind and land tail in.

The sim is THE way to go to learn nose in hovering.

[Nuker]

I hear you Andrew.

I've been on the sim for 6 weeks now on heli's only. Before trying anything new, I want to be comfortable on the sim only in that I know what to expect. I'm sure the sim isn't exact but the physics tell me what to expect.

I'm not in a rush for this so patience is key.

At least until Fodder and I try heli combat of course

Bob