Practicing on Phoenix

[atxplus]

When I started I saw a web site called Radds school of rotary flight. That helped a lot. I brought a 450 size heli such as a belt CP (Load of old crap) and I used that in a disused ware house. I did the hop bit first with training legs then gradually was able to hold it in the Air for 5 seconds I kept repeating this exercise until I could hover a whole battery. I did this alone and away from people. to me its essential to find a place which is like a enclosed barn with a smooth concrete floor. charge up two batteries and when they are used up pack up for the day and start again the next day. The Sim I find is another great aid in getting yourself to know the sticks of your control box intimately. without having to think what does the left stick do when you push it up. good luck

[ShinySideUp]

If you want focus on the job of learning pretend you are not using a simulator. Sit down with a computer in front of you and a metal waste bin next to you and a functioning blowlamp. Then every time you crash on the simulator take some real cash (start with twenty quid) put it in the bin and use the blowlamp to set fire to it. You now know what it is like to fly a real rc helicopter!

Martin

[Darwil]

Thanks for replies, but forgive my ignorance but does FBL mean flybar less and FB flybar? I was given a Blade CX3 which started me on this tortuous route, I have since got a little mcx as it's much easier flying indoors than the CX3 (now beaten up). I am looking to get a DX6i to use with Phoenix as well as to use with said helis, anyone got one going cheap?

Yes FBL is Flybarless and FB is with Flybar, and I can say from experience (on sim) FBL is easier and more predictable so initially avoid it for serious learning.
You say beaten up -come on let's see it, it can't be any worse than my Evo180SE, I've almost crashed it to death now plus it has a few homespun repairs to give the rest of you a giggle as well, picture enclosed

[don_kiddik]

Here is a pic of the CX3, go on have a laugh !

[tiddler]

Lol, thats a very jaunty angle you've got the fuse at there Seriously though, if you enjoy flying it why not dump the stupidly fragile scale CX3 body and put a CX2 body on instead. Their way stronger and the skids can take quite a beating.

[Darwil]

See what you mean, it's defo as good as mine don't worry it's all part of the learning curve - when I first started I was gutted when I broke anything.....now I realise it's part of learning! Breaking things on real models has the right impact - it affects your pocket; on sim it doesn't unless you do what was posted earlier - who's going to do that though???
The main thing is to enjoy what you are doing and if you're anything like me you're having great fun!

[don_kiddik]

@tiddler, funny you should say that about getting a cx2 body, as I have just purchased one for £4.50, and I have a brand new CX3 body arriving. I wont be putting the new police body on till I have mastered it a bit better, but I think I'll try the CX2 one and see how I get on.

@Darwil, yes I am having fun, steep (and not cheap) learning curve, I now have an MCX which is far easier to fly indoors, hell it virtually flies itself!

Now if I could just find some kind person who is selling a DX6i (mode 2) nice and cheap I'll be well happy

[Darwil]

Must admit the dx6i was possibly my best purchase, it takes a while to figure out the programming but when you've got it sussed it's worth the effort - you've got so much more control of things than the rtf tx! adding expo to the elevator and aelrons and possibly rudder makes thing less twitchy. (expo being exponential) It makes the controls less sensitive around mid stick, as you learn you can gradually reduce it as you get used to gentler stick movements.

[don_kiddik]

Must admit the dx6i was possibly my best purchase, it takes a while to figure out the programming but when you've got it sussed it's worth the effort - you've got so much more control of things than the rtf tx! adding expo to the elevator and aelrons and possibly rudder makes thing less twitchy. (expo being exponential) It makes the controls less sensitive around mid stick, as you learn you can gradually reduce it as you get used to gentler stick movements.

When I manage to get one can you use it on phoenix with the programming mods, as my little LP5DSM Tx is a pain when using on sim, any little movements and the heli is off like a rocket !

[tiddler]

When I manage to get one can you use it on phoenix with the programming mods, as my little LP5DSM Tx is a pain when using on sim, any little movements and the heli is off like a rocket !

The Dx6i works very well with Phoenix. However there's nothing stopping you from adding expo to individual models in the sim via the edit model function.

[Darwil]

The Dx6i works very well with Phoenix. However there's nothing stopping you from adding expo to individual models in the sim via the edit model function.

+1 for that, you don't need to touch any of the default heli setup on the dx6i, do it all on the model edit and save it as a copy with your own custom settings on Phoenix not the dx6i simples!!!
So in reality if you only want the dx6i for Phoenix there's no need - you can do it with what you've already got.

[don_kiddik]

Whoa........just tried the T-rex 450 trainer, hard work trying to hover with this with my little CX3 Tx! Would it be better if I turned down the simulator setting to about 25% and try that for a while, gradually increasing it as I get better?
Thanks in advance

[Darwil]

Nope, don't really need to do that - go into the edit model menu then go to Control expo and move the sliders for Elevator & Aileron to about 30% and try it again this makes the right stick less sensitive around mid stick; you could put more on but I find that 30% helps a great deal.
Have a go and see - the other thing to try is a bigger heli like a 550 or 600 again with the settings adjusted.

[don_kiddik]

Cheers Darwil, will give it a go.