For the life of me...

[Cralis]

... I can't fly to save my life.

I feel I am standing still as far as flying is concerned. I'm flying my Trex 450 a lot. My stock canopy started cracking, so I replaced it with the one that it was sold to me with. Nice orange one.

So I was flying this weekend, and noticed mt faults. Well, some of them. Firstly, my usual thing is, take off tail on, hover for 5 seconds, yaw to the right so 90 degrees, then tilt forward add power and climb away from me. I then do a nice 180 degree left turn (Heli at about 70 degree bank), the FFF back past me.

Then, when it's way off to my left, again, a 180 degree turn to the helis right, and back past me.

However, my first turn (to my right) is usually quite good, and usually bring it in closer to me. But on my left side, my nose comes up, now yaw rate is all wrong that the heli is flying sideways... Just looks poor and out of control.

Also, from the right side, I don't mind turning more than 180, so that it heads slightly towards me, and as it gets close, I turn slightly away from me, so that I can hear the blades making that cool sound. But as soon as it's to my left, I'm junk! There is no way I can bring it towards me from the left. It all just goes wrong!

Also, when I do decide to do a nose in attempt, I usually fly off away from me, about 30 degrees to my right, and high. When it's quite far, and high, I turn left 180, and fly towards me. I find I'm cheating, as it really just flys towards me easily. I'm not really flying...

But I find I pull the nose up all the time and sometimes fall backwards.

However, if I fly off to 30 degrees to my left, there ain't no chance in hell I can turn towards me. Just feels all wrong.

Does it suddenly click? I feel.. scared... when it comes towards me. Like, out of control. Also, I do fly quite fast. If I go slow, it seems more difficult.. maybe because I need to hold it there longer. Also, if I notice the heli is leaning to one side, I touch the stick to the side I feel it should turn to correct. Sometimes I get it wrong and correct. But, when will I be 100% sure at which way to turn the sticks to correct correctly?

LOVE flying. Just want to be good now.

[mattydred]

i was just like you a couple of months ago. most important things are you need to relax, breath properly and enjoy it.

[Steve]

You've become handed in your flying style. I'm handed the same way as you - much better on my right hand side than my left. However, I've been flying long enough not to let it show too much (I hope).

My advice is to practice the BMFA A and B certificates until Kingdom Comes if necessary! They are not just a basic set of manouvers, but are designed to get you comfortable with the helicopter in all orienatations and on both sides.

You might not be able to do rolls yet, but consider this - how many ways can you do a roll? You can fly the heli left to right and do a right hand roll. You can fly the heli left to right and do a left hand roll. You can fly the heli right to left and do a left hand roll, and you can fly the heli right to left and do a right hand roll. Without going into nose-in rolls and tail-in rolls, there are four logical versions of the same manouver, and until you can do all four as smoothly and comfortably as each other, then you can't do a roll at all really.

Unfortunately, too many people (plane flyers included) try to move on too quickly, and think that doing a roll for instance is just a case of banging the stick over and praying, and then trying the next new move. When you break it down into actual flying skill, there's much more to it than that. You'll find that many flyers are handed like yourself, and I've already admitted to it myself, and the answer I'm afraid is to keep practicing out of your comfort zone, until it becomes comfortable

It'll come eventually.

Trust me - the BMFA certs will help you loads in this, and give you a fixed flight schedule to work to, so therefore doesn't let you just slip back into that old comfort zone.

[Cralis]

So the BMFA B Test is a routine? Like, a script? Where can I find this script? I'll give it a ... was going to say 'bach', but will say, 'try' instead.

[Steve]

Download the schedules from the BMFA website.

[Cralis]

Ah, found this!
http://www.bmfa.org/achievement/files/Hel-A-Issue5.pdf
Is that it?

[Steve]

That's the A test. Download the B test as well. Move onto the B once you've sussed the A.

[richieclarkie]

Totally agree on the BMFA schemes, will really help you focus. It also forces you out of your comfort zone which is a good thing and where you will get the most reward.

[Sesame]

Im handed too, to turn away from myself is easy, as in a figure 8 for the A test. going off to the right left turn flyacross to the right right turn etc. absolutely spot on high low fast slow.

But when I try to reverse it and start turning the chopper in towards me I find it very awkward.

But as manger says keep at it and it will come or at least not show as much, when im not messing about and actually putting in some practice this is one of the things im trying to sort out in my own flying.

[Cralis]

Thanks guys. I guess the 'You are not alone (Said in a Michael Jackson voice as well)' factor does help. My goal is to go scale flight, and with the heli yawing, and doing very poor turns (Wrong amount of rudder, or too little aileron) is not good.

I've printed out that PDF from BMFA, and I'll try it. It's also going to make me more strict in myself, as I find I just fly where the heli wants to go. But with a set script, I think that will further increase the learning rate. If I find the heli wondering off, at the moment, I go with it, and then fly about willy-nilly. I noticed with my Raptor in Scotland. A guy who was quite good, was trying to make be don that course. He would tell me where to move the heli to, and what height, and it's THEN when you realise... mmm... this isn't as easy as free flight. Trying to hold a steady hover 5 meters off the ground, off to your 90 degree right side... I'm moving all over the place!

OK, will give this a bash. Thanks. Would be eaiser with the Raptor, but will do it with the Trex as a start, and then move on.

[Steve]

Well done.

It'll be worth it in the end.

[Sesame]

Ive found myself both on the sim and at the field, doing stuff that is fun more than the stuff that is harder although should be simpler like turning in every orientation, just because in a way it seams dull, and I know as a fairly newbie in a minority sport like helis, the rest of the field do tend to watch and comment if you mess up.