Beginner Blade 120SR flight problems

[Lodds]

Hi Guys,
Just got my Blade 120SR yesterday binded to a DX6i. Before purchase I read about the most suitable Heli for a beginner and indoor flight and this all pointed to the 120SR. I am unable to hover this bird at all, trying to gently lift off all it wants to do is bank left and crash into the first object it meets. Firstly is it possible to gently lift off this aircraft and should I be putting stabilisers on it? From research i'm advised that it is not necessary to put stabilisers on this model. If i give the 120 loads of throttle it does lift off and very quickly so it does fly, I must be doing something wrong or my expectations are not realistic. As a complete novice I question whether it is me or the kit that is at fault. All advice will be greatly received.

Thanks

Tony

[Delarado]

I own a 120SR and I had the same thing as you about 4 days ago now. A couple of points...

as far as I know, (or in my personal experience) fixed pitch heli's dont like hovering anywhere near the ground due to the turbulence created. You cannot hover the 120SR an inch off the ground (or at least I cant!). When I use mine now, I give her a quick blast of throttle and then trim to get the rudder trim right (Turning) without really lifting off the ground, then once It lifts an inch or two without rotating I then go straight up to about 2 feet and trim it the rest of the way (cyclic wise) from there.

Also, Itll be very hard to fly this bird if its not trimmed right. I probably spent 10 batterys just learning to get it up in the air and trimmed properly. The first few flights you will spend just correcting it wanting to crash rather than actually flying until you get the hang of it! Ive had mine about a week now and have been playing with it non stop and still crash it all the time.

Last but probably most critical, make sure you havent lost a push rod from the main shaft - there should be four. Two from the swashplate to the flybar and 2 from the flybar to the main blades.

Mine lost one of these a while back and I didnt notice. It did exactly as your describing - darted left and crashed before I could get it off the ground. I spent pretty much an entire battery charge just trying to take off!


My short advice is to check your heli and make sure all the parts are there. Failing that, get it a good foot off the ground at least.

[Sqn]

I'll echo the above. Quick into the air and heavy right on the Cyclic for me, then she's fine with minimal input. Ground effect is murder on take-off, especially in a confined space. Keep at it!

[dan-eboy]

I agree too, just 'get it up'!

[del19_82]

All heli's try to go left on take off, and they all will struggle with hovering in their own downwash, not just Fixed pitch but Collective pitch machines as well. As has been pointed out, hopping into the air will help or using a bigger room where the downwash can spread without creating turbulance over the model will make it easier to fly.

[Gixer1000rider]

I agree, as a beginner only a week ago I thought it was me being useless but I started to get a little more aggressive on take off and soon got the hang of it, I find starting on a raised platform ie table is better if in a confined space and once in the air and away from The table it is a lot easier to fly.

[Darwil]

TBH the 120sr is a bit big for indoor (as in your house) flying - great for sportshalls or similar. In the house the msr or msr-x would have been a better choice.

[Delarado]

TBH the 120sr is a bit big for indoor (as in your house) flying - great for sportshalls or similar. In the house the msr or msr-x would have been a better choice.

Im starting to agree with this owning mine as a first bird, but still have great fun flying it.

[Lodds]

TBH the 120sr is a bit big for indoor (as in your house) flying - great for sportshalls or similar. In the house the msr or msr-x would have been a better choice.

I tend to agree with you, but I have it now so will haveto make the best of it I can. I do work in a school so have the facility oftheir sports hall (out of term time) so can have a play then. I can now atleast get it in the air for 2 sec before crashing. These things are remarkablysturdy I am surprised it is still in one piece. I now know that my issues are with me and not the bird, knowing that isa great help. As has been suggested getting up quickly is the key, trouble isthis thing moves so dam quick it is against the wall before I know where I am.

Thanks guys

[Rich23]

Hi

Just keep practising with it and you will eventually get to grips with it. Took me 5 days to get my Trex 100 hovering indoors and then another 10 days to get the neon blaze to hover in the garden. Do you have a sim?

[Lodds]

Do you have a sim?

No, No sim, I have been thinking of getting the Phoenix but still trying to work out which one is best. I see you have the Phoenix, can you really relate from the sim to a real world situation. If you train on your blaze within the simulator does it not help you in the real world? I understood that they were so realistic that you could train on a given aircraft and then go out side anf fly the real thing without issue?

[Rich23]

I was recommend Phoenix by the good people on this forum. I find it very helpful with learning to fly heli's. It teaches you everything you need to know from take offs to full on 3D. Take a look on you tube or download the demo from the Phoenix website (video only). It also saves a small fortune on spares and lost flight time. I'm already up to £48 in parts due to sim crashes so eventually it will pay for its self.

I use a Trex 450 pro, Blade MCPx and Trex 600 on the sim. I'm thinking of getting a 450 pro v2 fbl super combo in the future so I'm trying and get used to the model in the sim. I find it a lot easier to fly in the sim as I can hover inverted but can't get the heli over in real life. Last time I tried with the neon it all went wrong and now i need a new flybar (again) and tail motor assembly.

In my opinion Phoenix will help you in the real world a lot. I was having problems hovering and the heli going left on take off but using the sim helped me correct the movement. Now I can lift off and go into a stable hover with confidence in the garden. I hope to get a good hour a night in to practise take offs, hovering, turns, idle up and pitch control. When I go to my flying site I know what I need to do. So yes you can relate to the real world in the sim.

With the training on a certain model then flying it without issue I do not agree. I find small differences to flying in the sim and in real life. I think its more psychological though.

[Lodds]

It teaches you everything you need to know from take offs to full on 3D. Take a look on you tube or download the demo from the Phoenix website (video only). It also saves a small fortune on spares and lost flight time. I'm already up to £48 in parts due to sim crashes so eventually it will pay for its self..

Okay that good to hear that, I will invest in the Phoenix shortly.

Thanks to all for their advice and tips