Startup Question

[xand49]

Hello,

My dad has been into helicopters for many many years, building a kit about 15 years ago that cost over £1000, and has since purchased a few RC's planes + heli's, however he is too terrified of crashing them to attempt to fly!

This weekend while he has been away I have gone round and dug the Heli out of it's box in an effort to learn and then teach him. I'm not sure of the model but it is a smaller one, each blade probably a forearms length, the remote is a Sky Artec 706 (seems to be a fairly cheap chinese build) when I tried to hover the heli, as soon as I got power up it started spinning on the ground, upon getting it into the air it continued to spin at a very fast rate, I had to keep bringing it down hard to avoid going into walls/fences etc.

I've since tried using said remote on Aerofly simulator with a plane, and even travelling on the run way I am doing a constant right turn and have to excessively counter steer to stay on the runway.

Is the remote broken or am I just missing something any beginner would generally know?

[cloudrider]

Hello,
Do you have access to a manual for that transmitter? Changes to the transmitter settings are done via a computer program.

The spinning, sounds like gyro setup.
Check by observing the direction of the tail rotor blade leading edges.
First disconnection the motor leads. Power up the transmitter then helicopter and allow the gyro to initialise.
Hold the tail fin and swing the boom to the left the leading edge of the tail rotor blades should deflect to the right and vice versa. If the blades deflect in the same direction as the boom, you will need to change the direction switch on the gyro. There are probable two quite small slide switches side by side in a small square window, one for direction and one for servo type. There may also be a square of brown-yellow plastic film on the surface of the switches, gently remove that with a cocktail stick or similar.

[xygax]

May I suggest that finding a local club and asking one of their members to look it over for you may be wise.... There are a few things that will prevent levitation in helis that most club members will be able to identify .... Steve

[tomatwalden]

May I suggest that finding a local club and asking one of their members to look it over for you may be wise.... There are a few things that will prevent levitation in helis that most club members will be able to identify .... Steve

Second this. Helis are complex machines and trouble shooting isn't easy over a forum. In answer to your question , is there something simple, no is the honest answer.

By the sounds of it though, that machine sounds quite old, so treat it carefully as parts may be difficult to come by.

The BMFA website has a local club finder.


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[tomatwalden]

I've since tried using said remote on Aerofly simulator with a plane, and even travelling on the run way I am doing a constant right turn and have to excessively counter steer to stay on the runway.

Is the remote broken ...

Sounds like it could be. If it is, don't worry, you can get a modern computerised transmitter for about £60 second hand these days (dx6i). You'd just need to change the receiver on the heli to a compatible one (about £20). All very simple stuff (especially if you find someone local to help!)


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[MartinW]

I think the key thing here is put it back in the cupboard until he's back and then make sure he knows you're doing it. There's a very high chance of a crash which WILL end up with damage. In fact, I'm surprised it hasn't already from your description

[moyesboy]

Post a pic of the heli, and the transmitter.
Then maybe we can offer help.

I take it this is not the £1000 heli (you wouldnt fly that with a cheap remote). That one might be quite the collectors item now.

[cloudrider]

I've since tried using said remote on Aerofly simulator with a plane, and even travelling on the run way I am doing a constant right turn and have to excessively counter steer to stay on the runway.

Is the remote broken...

With regards to using that transmitter with a flight sim.
From what you've said that transmitter hasn't had much use, so there is probably nothing at all wrong with it.

The transmitter needs to be set-up for the type of aircraft being controlled.
The setting for rotary-wing are different to those for fixed-wing.
You will need a computer in order to make any changes to the settings in that transmitter. Here is a link for a manual:
http://www.skyartec.com/UploadProPic..._Manual_EN.pdf

[parksy]

As above wait for dad to get back, while your intentions may be honourable, he may not see it that way when he sees his old model in bits on the kitchen table. If heli is acting weird on sim too then it sounds like the trims are out on the transmitter, BUT I don't know that transmitter, so am only guessing. It may be that heli is set up incorrectly or transmitter has sticky sticks, dodgy contacts or also just not set up right. You need to learn a lot about basic setup of both before getting into the hovering stage, or start writing IUO s fast hahaha