BMFA A cert advice

[Bee_random]

Practicing today, a wee bit gusty, with 450 & 500 size helis and damned if I can get the lazy 8's to a walking pace as required. Slow yes, but not that slow. It is just too squirrelly not to stop start if I go too slow. Best I can manage consistently is a gentle jog.

Any advice? Is the pace really that slow or is it more important to demonstrate proper control?

[r4nd0m]

you should perform it at a slow speed, walking pace ... if your heli accelerates too much, create a profile and dial in loads of expo on your cyclic to tame it down ... then practice and you will get used to it .. then bring your expo down as well and reduce your inputs .. thats how I got used to it ... being able to hover at walking pace actually means proper control ...

[Bee_random]

Cool. Thank you. Guess I'd better keep at the practice. Certainly makes sense to have an IU programmed to make this a bit easier in the wind.

[Mark_T]

...Is the pace really that slow or is it more important to demonstrate proper control?

Slow is the way you show proper control, this is a hovering maneuver, not forward flight.

Your examiner should make appropriate allowances for the weather conditions, but you will be expected to be hovering not flying circuits

I'm sure you'll get some comments from the examiners on here as well.

[jimmyhorns]

Any advice? Is the pace really that slow or is it more important to demonstrate proper control?

The pace is going to be down to the examiner to some extend, as to what is a walking pace e.t.c.

Your question kind of answers itself though, by flying that slowly you are demonstrating that you have proper control.

My personal take on it, is that the wording needs to be improved, and that you have to factor in what size heli you are flying. If you are flying a 450, then a jog is proportionally much quicker than the same speed would be with a 700.

Lazy 8's are flown, not hovered IMO, which is where the rules need changing, but then I have a good 18+ months til I would be considered as an examiner anyways.......

[Mike Sanders]

I too would like advice as to how the examiner wants to see the lazy 8.
I don't think that I am ready to take the A test yet because I can't get them to be tidy, at a consistent height or speed. I would however like to know exactly what I should be aiming at.

[mole hunter]

This is where I found out that slow is not easy.

A well rigged heli will definitely reduce your workload. If your bird seems a bit forward going you might check it's C of G - I like windmill style. Check swash for level and if you can find some still air (ha!) check for drift while in the hover. I used my 500 for practice and the test last year and it was the lightest of the four machines of us nervous candidates. I wouldn't fancy using a 450 though.

Ultimately, it's down to what happens between your eyes and your thumbs. Practice, practice and good luck.

Marty

[Andy from Sandy]

I too would like advice as to how the examiner wants to see the lazy 8.

Ask Baz.

The one thing that is always left out of these discussions is the need to be able to answer 5 questions that the examiner will take from the BMFA handbook. There is also the importance of being able to demonstrate you know what you are doing during your pre and post flight checks. Also don't forget to find out what your club rules are because you should also get asked about them as well.

At MK we usually get one of the BMFA's chief examiners and you certainly know you have passed with him.

[waveydavey]

Pete Spurway is normally our examiner Mike, he runs the achievement scheme for the BMFA and Spurry on here, a very nice chap. As Andy says above if you pass with Pete you know you've done well.

[r4nd0m]

I too would like advice as to how the examiner wants to see the lazy 8.
I don't think that I am ready to take the A test yet because I can't get them to be tidy, at a consistent height or speed. I would however like to know exactly what I should be aiming at.

I can review yours if you want me to next time up the club, memory is still fresh

The one thing that is always left out of these discussions is the need to be able to answer 5 questions that the examiner will take from the BMFA handbook. There is also the importance of being able to demonstrate you know what you are doing during your pre and post flight checks. Also don't forget to find out what your club rules are because you should also get asked about them as well.

Or even more, don't know how many I got asked but it felt like a book full even on technology (nitro) I never even touched as everything within the book is what you need to know

Pete Spurway is normally our examiner Mike, he runs the achievement scheme for the BMFA and Spurry on here, a very nice chap. As Andy says above if you pass with Pete you know you've done well.

Or do it like I did, approach Jason Platts - top lad - the next time when he is at our club, fly-in etc .. and just go for it but surely be prepared and don't let him intimidate you

[Rainman]

Couple of points

1 - The lazy 8 is a hovering manoeuvre not a forward flight manoeuvre.

2 - The speed of the lazy 8 should be no faster than a fast walking pace, and no allowance should be made for the size of the helicopter.

3 - It is a minimum of 5 questions based on the BMFA hand book and the club rules at the site the test is conducted.

The best source of information is the examiner guidance notes which can be down loaded from the BMFA web site.

With regard to Heli setup, don't run a head speed higher than needed, and you don't need 24 degrees of collective!

Hope this helps

Richard