Is it normal to be able to hold a fairly decent hover...

[Balders]

Well, why don't you get your wife/7 year old to do a couple of minutes of video, that way we can tell a) how stable your heli is and more importantly b) exactly what your face looks like

[coptermanic]

Don't be in any rush to move on - walk before you run etc. Get confident with a steady tail in hover, really have it nailed, then move to 45 degrees either side. Start to move the heli around in a tail in hover.

The bigger helis are much more stable than the smaller ones, but it's good to learn with a smaller one - less costly to repair etc.

Set-up is all-important too. Be pedantic and get it as good and correct as you can. A good TX makes the world of difference with setting up and the "flying characteristics" of your machine.

And a vid helps not only us see what's going on, but you can review your progress too.

Good luck, and keep us informed...

[Madcowz]

I will get the 7 year old to make a video of the_helicopter today (my wife is a bit er rubbish with a video/camera) and upload it to You Tube.

I'm still finding the tail in hover exciting and challenging so have no desire to move on yet. Like you say I want to get it rock solid first but it is nice to try something slightly different hence the slight angle hovers.

I am having problems with the wind and tx though, when I trim it, it is either too much or too little. Hopefully the DX6i will sort all that out. Also the wind does make it difficult to control but I can't fly inside as the house is too small so will just have to live with it.

There is no way I would move to a bigger more stable heli just now. The nice thing about the 120 SR is it is light and doesn't break and parts are cheap. Anything bigger would have hit the ground with more of a thump and cost dear.

[coptermanic]

Well you can't have it both ways.

A small heli outdoors WILL be difficult to fly in a stable manner and WILL get bashed about by the wind - facts of heli-life I am afraid. The DX6i will help you though.

[Madcowz]

I completely understand the trade off when it comes to my small heli and wouldn't want a bigger one now (or for a looong time). When I bought the 120 the other model I was considering, after advice from this forum, was the mSR as I would be able to fly it indoors, but I felt that this (indoor only unless a dead calm which isn't likely) was limiting and also too small and twitchy in my clumsy hoof like fists.

I am though looking forward to the DX6i. When I compare my old Sanwa 35Mhz TX to the stock Blade one, the feel and quality is totally different. You get what you pay for in terms of functions and features even down to the feel/movement of the sticks, although I bought the BNF version and borrowed my friends transmitter so I could put the money I saved towards the DX & Phoenix.

[coptermanic]

You will not regret a penny when you buy Phoenix!!!

Simply put: a compulsory tool for learning cheaply!! Just wish i had the b4lls to do on my real 600NP what I do with the sim version!!!

[alex]

At the risk of getting boring, I would once again suggest this site.

RADD'S SCHOOL OF ROTARY FLIGHT?

It's gives some good structure for the early days of heli flying and combined with Phoenix will take you a long way. I was self taught and found the Radds way good flor knowing what to do next. You will gradually start to over correct less on the stick inputs, but it is all about flight time and sim time.

Sounds like you are doing well and more to the point having fun and being pretty philosophical about the whole thing

Cheers

Alex

[tiddler]

I bought the BNF version and borrowed my friends transmitter so I could put the money I saved towards the DX & Phoenix.

Now your talking,

Phoenix is a brilliant learning tool It really does help give you the feel for flying helis. Best heli investment I ever made......Plus its fun as well