helicopter training

[icequake2000]

HI I am new to rc helicopters and would like to have some professional lessons before getting started. Has anyone on this forum ever used Skids n' skills for training or could you recommend me another flying school. Thank you

[Bee_random]

IMHO learning to fly a CP heli is a long road requiring many many hours of practice. At £40 an hour, you'd be better off getting a good simulator and just practice practice practice.

Find a local club. If you like the people and how they operate then join - clubs do vary and you might enjoy one more than another. Everyone in this hobby has been where you are and will be happy to help you get going for free.

If you just want to get a feel for the hobby, again just find a local club and talk to some of the members.

Just my 2c. I did a trial lesson before buying a heli and joining a club (which didn't work out for me due to too many plank pilots). Looking back, there are better ways to invest the money. I taught myself the basics of forward flight and last year joined a club that has given me loads of inspiration and taken me to the next level. No lessons required.

[DaveJones]

Agree with the comments of Mr Bee. Also take a look on this forum as there is plenty of advice on what heli to get to start with. My advice If you have never flown then one of the blade coaxials would be simplest or for a little more of a challenge a blade fixed pitch heli like the MSR (I started with one of these).

When you can move around confidently it's time for a collective pitch heli, I went for a blade Mcpx it's a steep but fun learning curve and these bounce, won't remove limbs and can be flown indoors and out (will damage walls and flat screen TV).

Do some research on Radios as well,again plenty of advice on here but it will mostly say Spectrum DX6i or one of the more expensive models like the 8 or 9 to save you upgrading later. I went with a 6 three years ago, it will fly everything and I wasn't sure if I'd stick with it at first so didn't want to spend loads.

You could by any one of these Heli's for the price of a few lessons at £40 a go, there are plenty of basic heli lessons on the web to get you started as well.

Enjoy the research and feel free to come back with more questions on here, folks always willing to give their opinions.



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[debrooker]

I disagree. I went down the route as most others learning by themselves, joining a club getting a sim - whilst it gets you a fair way you also can pick up some very bad habits which can be difficult to unpick in later times. The key to tuition is getting good tutition -get the right teacher and it is amazing how quickly people can progress if they are willing to learn to do things correctly. We have members who have visited Flyin Fish for example and after 3/4 lessons and practicing the exercises taught are easily at "A" cert levels.

Granted tuition is not cheap, but you need to way up cost vs benefit. I wish i had gone this route from the start.

But as i said above not all tuition is equal.

[Bee_random]

Agree that my progression would have been faster had I had some more tuition... but speed was not important then as I was getting fun from the hobby.

More importantly, good habits, genuine encouragement and good tuition can be easily found at a good club.

[Mike Sanders]

I have had a couple of lessons from Noel Cross. He is excellent and I recommend him highly.

[Dan22]

I had tuition from the start by an old school flyer at my local club, as well as plenty of sim time. The tuition was free as I was a member but was invaluable. I'm a great believer in nailing all the basics before progressing to 3D. I see quite a lot of good 3D pilots, but you can just tell they have skipped the basics eg. nice tidy circuits, hovering in all orientations etc.....Last year I had tuition from Dave Fisher of 'Flyin fish' and 'Mr Coolice', Ian Contessa. It's sometimes nice if you are stuck I a rut and need to progress or simply want some set up advise, to go and see a professional, I can recommend both of these guys, their knowledge is invaluable, I came away buzzing and learnt lots! The best way to progress is get out and fly as much as you can and try and stick to one helicopter, throw some sim time and a bit of tuition into the mix and you should be good
Good luck
Dan.

[tomatwalden]

helicopter training

I had one lesson at Phoenix UAV centre in Wiltshire when I started. For me, it got me over the initial fear of flying something bigger than a micro. But, I had already progressed to collective pitch flight through a Blade 120sr and an mcpx v2.

Financially though, I don't think lessons are good value for money beyond just one or two.

It's not out yet, but for beginners, the soon to be released Blade 200srx will probably be the perfect beginner heli. Varying levels of agility to suit level and a panic button for when you totally lose it. ( as an alternative to lessons )


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[Guest]

When I started in the hobby, I had three two-hour lessons with Noel Cross at Skids and Skills, I have to say it was worth every penny....you get the chance to fly a fairly large heli (Raptor 30) with the peace of mind that if you get something wrong (and you will!), that Noel will be able to save it.

Practicing on your own is fine, but if you can afford it get some lessons, they give you some core understandings that you will remember every time you fly and you won't start of with bad habits.

£40 an hour may sound expensive, but that is the thin end of the wedge if you get addicted to this amazing hobby....you will spend lots more on a fleet of models like I now own!!!

Buy a sim as well, then you can practice the things you learn in your lessons with Noel, then just practice, practice, practice....it takes a long time but it's worth it!!!!

[Dan22]

We all learn in different ways, I started with a Raptor 30, yes it was intimidating to start with, but for me learning on a larger Heli is a lot better and easier than a micro. The new blade heli does look good, but you will out grow it fast!
My dad is 69 and has just started in the hobby, I gave him a trex 600n set up for a beginner and on a training hoop, he's coming on great, one step at a time and no bad habits yet! He has joined a club in his local area and is getting great advise and good (free) tuition. He gets out as as much as he can and goes on the sim in between.
My advise is, don't spend a fortune buying lots of helis and chasing the next best thing, buy one decent Heli and practice, practise, practise!!

Dan.

[PeteStewardson]

I disagree. I went down the route as most others learning by themselves, joining a club getting a sim - whilst it gets you a fair way you also can pick up some very bad habits which can be difficult to unpick in later times. The key to tuition is getting good tutition -get the right teacher and it is amazing how quickly people can progress if they are willing to learn to do things correctly. We have members who have visited Flyin Fish for example and after 3/4 lessons and practicing the exercises taught are easily at "A" cert levels.

Granted tuition is not cheap, but you need to way up cost vs benefit. I wish i had gone this route from the start.

But as i said above not all tuition is equal.

+1 to this. On my 4th visit to Flyinfish Dave had me taking my 'A' and passing. Taking what I learnt from him each visit and practicing it on my own got me a long way very fast. In fact on the 5th visit I was nose in hovering. Although I've regressed a bit since so need to try and get back this year a few times.

[iceuk]

If you got money to burn then get a lesson or two just to get started, some ppl really benefit from a lesson but others don't, it's not like the bad old days when there was no internet to get hints and tips from,, if you lived near Bristol I'd give you a lesson for FREE, It's a hobby to me not a way to make money out of ppl. I have taught two ppl so far and I got my reward seeing them with a big smile, a two hour lesson should be enough but I would try and use my own model as that way you would get it checked over too and the simulator will really help you progress.

[Ross Northcott]

Noel Cross who runs the flying classes is a top bloke, what he doesnt know isnt worth knowing, he will also help you with set up issues and is one of the knowledgable guys i have ever met regarding model helicopters

[anyw]

if you are thinking of joining a club take a trip down to newton abbot heli club we fly at the old point to point race course buckfastliegh, Newton Abbot HeliClub - Home

[buzz1984]

phoenix is a brilliant way to go but I think fastlads have someone who does lessons, theirs also a top bloke called Jason platts, I know he does lessons, his web site is ultimate build and fly. hope this helps.