First flight with my new Blade mCX

[cyberman]

I got my Blade mCX and Spektrum transmitter late yesterday and had a bit of time to try them out today.

Firstly, I was very impressed by how easy the Spektrum DX7 was to bind to the Blade mCX (I had got the BNF variant).
I was expecting the worst but had it bound on the first attempt, Spektrum get 10/10 for ease of use and quality of manual.
The Spektrum feels a lot better than the Esky I got with my Phoenix simulator!

As for the Blade mCX, it is great fun and an amazing bit of kit for its size.
The first few flights I was a dead loss wit it drifting everywhere, then I got more confident and was able to get it in the air and the start trimming it. Before I knew it I had it pretty much hovering and doing what i wanted.
Talk about a nice asy helicopter to fly, all beginners should try these!!

But here are my questions.
1. I seem to have to trim it differently every time, is this normal for an mCX? For example I correct it rotating right on one flight but next flight it will rotate right or left. And on one flight I correct for forward or backward drift but then on the next it needs sliughtly different trim.
Is this normal? I am guessing that as its a small coaxial heli this is normal, and to be honest its easy to get used to.
2. I can get it to hover, but as soon as I go forward, backwards or sidewards I tend to loose altitude and drift to a different height, is this normal? Again I guess this is ok and Its easy to get used.

I have not even worried about using other controls yet beyond the joysticks, should I be using any other options with the mCX or is that enough to be going on with!

I will have to get another battery though as I need more flight time, its seems that as soon as I start getting used to it the battery is low and its needs a recharge!
Great fun though, although I think I might have fueled an addiction!

[Tony Herbert]

Hi Andy,
I started with one of these at the beginning of the year and still enjoy it indoors now. I have no problem with drift or trimming. As the whole thing only weighs 26g with battery any small changes can affect the way it flys. Check that the links are free and flybar screw is not overtightened. A light lube of silicone might help.
On the stock Tx there is a training mode which reduces servo travel to about 60/70% and I found this really usefull to start with. Maybe worth a try with your Tx.
If you get into any trouble, just close the throttle, these little things seem to survive any crashes so long as the blades are not flying round too much.
Wecome to the addiction!!
Herbie

[Rob O]

Hi Andy , Firstly Congrats on buying a good starter package . 1st Question the trims on these very small contra rotating helis change as the battery starts to lose charge so you do have to alter the trims to account for this . As for Q 2 You will soon learn to use more throttle (collective) as you start to move the heli about , you will need a bit more oomph . 3rd Q . as far as im aware there really isn't any more you can use on your radio than you are doing now . That comes later when you get a collective pitch heli . Hope this helps mate . Rob .

[Mart61]

Hi Andy and congrats on your purchase.

I agree with all that's been said thus far. Stick with it and have fun!

[matt27]

hi Andy

as said previously great couple of purchases and they should set you away very nicely
i own an mcx myself (as do many others) and their great fun
you may well have heard that e-flight are bringing a new micro heli to their range called the msr
this would be an ideal next step with the durablity of the mcx with some more challenges as its a fixed-pitch heli
good luck and enjoy

[cyberman]

I've done a few more flights now and its very addictive, what have I got myself into!!
I definitely need to get another battery so I can have a bit more flying time.

The mSR does look good, I guess it might be a good step for me to try when I can manouver the mCX with confidence and get it where I want every time.

The bits I need to get used are...
Throttle control, as I move around I need to practise controlling the throttle to maintain a level as at the moment I am up and down like a fiddlers elbow!
I also need to get better at co-ordinating the controls when its nose on to me, when its facing away its easy but it takes me a minute to get it right when its facing me nose on.
But that will all come with time and practice I am sure.

Right, onto the sim now for a bit of practice.