First loop done but need advice plz

[clubb699]

Hi all,

Well after the feedback and encouragment from you guys from my first video post ive just got back from the field i really got the bug.

I Forward flyied one battery all went great so brought down changed the battery and took of again after flying for few minutes i had this sudden feeling to do my first loop all went well but needed about 6 inches more and actually bounced it of ground but luckly got away from it crashing .

I then flew around a bit more and like an idiot attempted the second loop i seemed to be higher than first attempt maybe not not sure must be experience but for some reson on the end of the loop the heli was a slow response recovering to go back up i could not pull it out fully down she came normal crash bits have been broke but will be back up tomorrow, i must say what a buzz to achieve the first loops but im wondering what height do you lads start these loops and are you in normal mode or idle up? should i change the pinion on motor to make it faster? im currently on 11teeth.

Thanks for reading one happy chap just about to go on my stag doo god help me

Lee

[dam74]

Definately should be in idle up so you can input negative pitch when inverted if required to correct any loss in altitude.

[clubb699]

Hi Dam,

Thanks alot for that info thats were the flight sim has let me down for the first time it made it look like that i could do a loop easy on sim in normal mode strange and slightly confused about that but o well want be trying that again untill the controllers set for idle up (still waiting on pitch gauge to come)

Thanks for the reply

Lee

[dam74]

You can do them I expect in normal mode but I'd be inclined to ease up on the throttle when when bringing the heli to 90deg vertical as when you're inverted the positive pitch will push the heli towards the ground.

I did my first flips yesterday in idle up and had one close call but besides that I didn't bin it through any fault of my own. Had one hard landing which was from a glitch which I haven't resolved yet. Now the tail keeps kicking out which I think is down to this glitching.

[jamesb72]

The best how to video on loops IMHO is Finless bobs stickcam - watch this 30 times, and you will loop like a pro I promise !

IMHO you should be in idle up when flying above 20ft at all times, in case you need to lose height quickly - in normal your headspeed will drop which could be fatal - and could easily lead to hitting the ground as you describe - your idle throttle curve just needs to be mirror'ed top and bottom half, so if your normal (EXAMPE ONLY) was 0-60-75-85-100 your idle would be 100-85-75-85-100 - that way in flight (above half stick) you can flick in/out of idle without any headspeed difference - You do need to remember to flick back to normal when hovering before landing, otherwise when you land it will rev up and go full neg on the ground, which isn't ideal (but shouldn't be a huge problem as long as your gently dropping throttle stick on touchdown).


Also I love the power loop technicque, much easier/safer than 'airplane' style looping which I learned with - and they look fantastic and you can literally do a loop across the whole sky - then another and another as you don't need any real speed !

The stickcam loops/rolls video is on this thread:

Flight Training videos - Sim and real life! - HeliFreak

The loops/rolls/flips video with stickcam is:

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=...loopsrolls.wmv

You need to be registered/logged in to helifreak forum to see the file.

[clubb699]

James thats a brilliant post thanks alot for that, yeah i got my curves set just not activated due to waiting on the pitch guage i understand the 2 curves at the one end need to be the same but thanks for heads up on the idle up info

Did not realise about his training vids so will take a look at them like you say in the mean time the helis all back to working order again now so will carry on practicing the forward flying untill the pitch guage turns up

Lee

[jamesb72]

You don't need much negative pitch for loops, you really just center the throttle just as the heli goes past vertical - zero pitch and the heli really 'floats' over the top of the loop.

Even for rolls you are only dipping into negative - probably only 2-3deg negative even on a long slow roll (the best kind IMHO) - don't forget you have good airspeed when looping/rolling so are getting a lot of lift off the rotor disc (think like its a wing), even without any pitch lift.

[clubb699]

Actually thinking about it again i might have dropped the throttle slightly under the middle throttle position causing it not to recover it does makes sence thanks alot james

Im still going to wait and get the idle up etc all set up now cant wait to get back up there

Started viewing the training vids there brilliant


Lee

[jamesb72]

Actually thinking about it again i might have dropped the throttle slightly under the middle throttle position causing it not to recover it does makes sence thanks alot james
...
Started viewing the training vids there brilliant

If you lost a lot of headspeed dropping throttle its possible - or maybe you just ran out of room.

I'd suggest learning to loop in stages is the safest way - start with flying a fast high circuit, then pull up and see how high you can get with a stall turn, then next step is to go up into the stall turn and as you slow down at the top, pull full back elevator to do a rough 9 shape - coming out higher than you went in so your always safe height, once you can do these 9s with confidence you can start to round out the loop more and more until your coming out at same height you came in on.

The typical things you'll do to start with are pulling up too hard into the loop, you hardly need any elevator at all almost just centering elevator will get you first quarter of the loop easy - also pulling out of the loop the heli will rear up and stop in the air - when this happens push the nose down and full power to accelerate back into forward flight - when you've done a few you'll get the hang of releasing elevator when your still diving downwards about 30degree's, as the heli picks up speed it will level off on its own.

Main thing is any loop is a loop, so get some rough 9s done at height, and get comfortable doing them, then you can bring them lower.

Finless bobs stickcam video is just superb, you can practice the stick movements with tx off just watching the video, so your comfortable doing it without thinking.

[clubb699]

Hi james,

Great advice there really apriciate your feedback, the more i do think about this from what you are saying its all adding up, the height was another factor as my first loop carried on but just needed that extra height to finish it without skimming the ground.

I will do what you say go much higher and take it from there, today i have had my pitch gauge arrive so currently checking the blade pitches via the vids etc and will set this up for idle up

Thanks

Lee

[clubb699]

Update

Spent a good few hours watching the finless vids and setting up the heli, heli pitches set, idle up set, and just been to the field had to adjust gyro slightly for a min or 2 then took her up and done some forward flight at height for one battery all went well

So then swapped battery and did some more forward flight and heart pounding went for the loop guess what>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I DID IT and banked away nicley had 20 meteres to spare so all went very well

So then 3rd battery went in some forward flight to start off and yet again another forward loop was bit quicker i had my throttle bit heigher but got through it again and finished with some FF .

All in all im a happy chap and the moral of the story is thank you very much for your all the input to who it my concern who has got me to this point of this great hobby


Thanks for reading

Lee