Forward flight technique.

[cuban8]

OK, so far so good with the hovering and generally putting the machine where I want it. (Twister 3D) Still have the training balls on but I think I'll ditch them soon. My question is regarding forward & circuit flight. What I find on the sim, is that the machine tends to pitch nose up and slow down when entering a turn after feeding in up elevator during a turn. I can't seem to find a happy medium of up elevator, so I either give too much and slow down and slip into the (thankfully virtual) ground, or too little and then things get too fast etc. I presume I should be working with the collective as well, but I'd be grateful for some help and advice to try please.

thanks again

C8

[Andy from Sandy]

When you model enters translational lift, the point where you notice in forward flight the helicopter starts to climb on its own, you can lower the collective to maintain level flight. At whatever speed that is with good balance of the cyclic controls you should be able to fly around without changing the collective much at all. Basically you have to let the model maintain its speed through the turn. It will not fall out of the sky, which is one of the hurdles you have to over come when starting out in forward flight.

On a windy day however when flying up wind and down wind you will need to use the collective.

[Rotorhead]

Some models just do pitch up or down, but before you get into circuits, I'd make sure I had mastered nose in and left and right sideways orientations before trying.

[Raptornator]

I agree with rotorhead; i would try and master the side on flight in a stable hover and then start to move the model forward still side on about three meters away, and then stop and turn so the model moves slowly in the opposite direction. Try this a few times and then progress slowly to not stopping and just turning with the tail either end.
Take small steps and master them before you move on to fast.
Of course this is only advise from my experiences and everyone learns at a different rate (dependant on how often you can fly and how soon you pick it up).
Main thing is to try and relax. Enjoy it.
Good luck with your flying.

[Jamez]

Also, what you have to remmeber is that when you make a turn you are asking more from the blades ( they turn the heli if you put any left / right bank in ) so you will need to notch up the power a bit to maintain a smooth turn, or else you will loose height quickly. But before you try and fly forwards get at least competent in side on hovering, both sides, it will give you more of an idea of control inputs.

[pxr5]

Some models just do pitch up or down, but before you get into circuits, I'd make sure I had mastered nose in and left and right sideways orientations before trying.

yea i was gonna say its best to learn all those angles first. something i do in the simulator to make sure im learning every single angle, is let the heli slowly yaw left or right constantly and just practice keeping it in a hover without losing it. theres always a little blackspot that you arnt quite as good at as the rest.

[hairy flyer]

I would like to add I am a newbie too - been doing circuits and some loops, rolls, flips, and stall turns only for the last month or so.
I found orientation at height and distance very difficult at first so as you get more confident just gradually ease out the distance. My biggest issue was say 6o feet out and 15 feet high and side on I would mistake which side it was falling on. Also I was flying around with my training balls on and when I took them off I realised they had been making life difficult in even light winds. when I did take them off I was surprised the helicopter (trex 450) actually seemed to want to stand on its skids rather than fall over!