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... as far as helis are concerned (got a funny feeling I'm nicking that line from someone).
Took Harry the 500 over to the field lunchtime with the rock-steady intention of keeping the moves closer and more gentle.
Next to yesterday's debacle with Junior where it was a handful just keeping him under control. I don't think where I was flying was heli friendly as Juniour seemed to hit patches of turbulence causing rapid changes in control of him.
Today, with Harry, was a completely different kettle of fish. It's amazing what you can accomplish once you lose the fear of the larger heli. I still remember how terrified I was of the 450 that looks so small now.
Rather than tank 'all over the sky' I decided to do my warm up moves much closer to me, I don't mean chop-chop chops close, just not so far out to the left or right and not so high. This wasn't particularly difficult to manage as I just flew slower and turned sooner. Then came the slow tight flying. Oh, this all takes place over three batteries and not one attempt at a splat (which pleased both Harry and me).
Basically I'm hovering nose in, then nose left, then nose right. Seemed ok. Harry is slow enough that you can concentrate on what you're doing and resolve things before they go the shape of a certain fruit (if you're thinking apple then leave the room). As it happens it didn't go fruity shaped. Then I chanced moving forward and turning 90 to the left. Then repeat but with a 90 to the right.
When it came to trying a circle I just handed my bottle to the nearest dung-beetle. Ok, gained some height and practiced nose-in. Each time I managed it for 5 seconds before bailing out. Brought Harry back down so that he was 10 feet up and 20 feet in front of me and tail-in. OK, it was go for it time. Did a quick piro (WHAT? I thought...) then did another and then a couple of sliding ones. But I couldn't put it off any longer (ah, I see, we're are going to do it then?).
Back to 10 feet high and 20 feet up front tail-in. A small push forward on the stick and Harry sneaks forward (big ones are like pushing through treacle at times - except when they're not..). Time to tip and turn. OK, another bottle handed to the next beetle in line. Ringo's wasting his time, not enough legs for my kind of beetle.
Ok, RESET. Gentle forward motion. Aileron left a little bit and rudder a little bit. Harry starts to turn nice and slow but I can see something is not quite right so I give a tiny bit more aileron left and Harry starts to come round real nice, but now he's nose-in (OMG! Nose-in! What did you do?). Well, I carried on holding that turn and correcting where I needed to until I finished my first raggedy turn and sucked in my breath Dysonesque. OK, that was FRIGHTENING!!! So I did it a couple of more times, each a little less raggy than the previous but not great but I'd done them! Full circles in front of me.
It was quite windy and I felt a small chill in my back but I'd done with Harry the 500 what I couldn't accomplish with Junior the 300. Bigger is better!!! It's getting past the scare stage and cost of crash stage. Touch wood I've not lamped Harry into the ground (there's still time, sister!), come close a couple of times! Yet on video they don't appear half as bad as I thought.
So, more progress today. More progress because I went to the field with grit in my eye and determination in my walk.... erm, grit in my walk and determination in my eye (better)!
I had decided that today was going to be slow day and not just hovering slow day. It will take a while but the first steps have been made. Delicacy of control is starting to peek around the corner.
Three batteries. I need a hug. I need a lie down. I need more batteries!
Forgot to say, did my first flips today. Flipped on to back then flipped on to front (oh come on! You know what I mean)
Took Harry the 500 over to the field lunchtime with the rock-steady intention of keeping the moves closer and more gentle.
Next to yesterday's debacle with Junior where it was a handful just keeping him under control. I don't think where I was flying was heli friendly as Juniour seemed to hit patches of turbulence causing rapid changes in control of him.
Today, with Harry, was a completely different kettle of fish. It's amazing what you can accomplish once you lose the fear of the larger heli. I still remember how terrified I was of the 450 that looks so small now.
Rather than tank 'all over the sky' I decided to do my warm up moves much closer to me, I don't mean chop-chop chops close, just not so far out to the left or right and not so high. This wasn't particularly difficult to manage as I just flew slower and turned sooner. Then came the slow tight flying. Oh, this all takes place over three batteries and not one attempt at a splat (which pleased both Harry and me).
Basically I'm hovering nose in, then nose left, then nose right. Seemed ok. Harry is slow enough that you can concentrate on what you're doing and resolve things before they go the shape of a certain fruit (if you're thinking apple then leave the room). As it happens it didn't go fruity shaped. Then I chanced moving forward and turning 90 to the left. Then repeat but with a 90 to the right.
When it came to trying a circle I just handed my bottle to the nearest dung-beetle. Ok, gained some height and practiced nose-in. Each time I managed it for 5 seconds before bailing out. Brought Harry back down so that he was 10 feet up and 20 feet in front of me and tail-in. OK, it was go for it time. Did a quick piro (WHAT? I thought...) then did another and then a couple of sliding ones. But I couldn't put it off any longer (ah, I see, we're are going to do it then?).
Back to 10 feet high and 20 feet up front tail-in. A small push forward on the stick and Harry sneaks forward (big ones are like pushing through treacle at times - except when they're not..). Time to tip and turn. OK, another bottle handed to the next beetle in line. Ringo's wasting his time, not enough legs for my kind of beetle.
Ok, RESET. Gentle forward motion. Aileron left a little bit and rudder a little bit. Harry starts to turn nice and slow but I can see something is not quite right so I give a tiny bit more aileron left and Harry starts to come round real nice, but now he's nose-in (OMG! Nose-in! What did you do?). Well, I carried on holding that turn and correcting where I needed to until I finished my first raggedy turn and sucked in my breath Dysonesque. OK, that was FRIGHTENING!!! So I did it a couple of more times, each a little less raggy than the previous but not great but I'd done them! Full circles in front of me.
It was quite windy and I felt a small chill in my back but I'd done with Harry the 500 what I couldn't accomplish with Junior the 300. Bigger is better!!! It's getting past the scare stage and cost of crash stage. Touch wood I've not lamped Harry into the ground (there's still time, sister!), come close a couple of times! Yet on video they don't appear half as bad as I thought.
So, more progress today. More progress because I went to the field with grit in my eye and determination in my walk.... erm, grit in my walk and determination in my eye (better)!
I had decided that today was going to be slow day and not just hovering slow day. It will take a while but the first steps have been made. Delicacy of control is starting to peek around the corner.
Three batteries. I need a hug. I need a lie down. I need more batteries!
Forgot to say, did my first flips today. Flipped on to back then flipped on to front (oh come on! You know what I mean)
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