Transition from Hover to FF

[AndyThilo]

Ok so here's the dealeo, i've got my shiney superb R60 which has been put aside until I get more confident with simple circuit flying. Now I bought the 450 so that I can learn and crash with less expense.

At the moment I am hovering with a lot of confidence in my back garden, moving it about under good control, no problem. So i'm ready to get my arse out to the field and start FF.

I've done some buddy boxing with a previous heli (R50) a while ago before I had to sell it, but have never gone it alone so I need to get my confidence back up.

Any tips etc.. on moving into FF, I'm not overly concerned about crashing as I know it won't be too expensive, well not compared to the R60 anyway .

[163phil]

Get Phoenix!! Crashing is FREE

[rombonie]

Or Real Flight

[AndyThilo]

Sorry should have said, got phoenix, practicing every day

[andylinney]

Just move the cyclic forward - give it a nudge of collective and you're away, once you're moving you're going to find that you'll not need as much collective to hold height - are you comfortable with nose-in and side on, if so give it a try... the worst thing that can happen is a bump so enjoy it!

[jimheli]

yep id just go for it, get some hight and give it a go lol

[Disc]

Okay can you hover side on both ways 1st.

Get used to seeing the helicopter side on then push forward cyclic gently because even a small 450 will move like a little bullet!

if it goes pair shaped return to tail in.

[andylinney]

agreed, the 450's accelerate like hell, just give it a touch of forward and let it move off, then ease back on the cyclic to level it out and (I find I also come back on the collective a tad too but it's a natural reaction as the heli levels) enjoy it - the 450's decelerate just as quickly so just return to the hover if it gets grotty...

[Pipistrelli]

Have you got idle ups programmed? If you are ready for forward flight idle up is essential for bringing the heli back down into hover without sacrificing stability!

[AndyThilo]

Hi, yes got idle up all set up with 100% throttle, I use that in the garden at the moment. Guess it's just me holding back. Hopefully i'll go out tonight and make some progress, chaos here I come!!

[163phil]

Good luck!....and enjoy

[AndyThilo]

Just off out now, bricking it!!, so nerve racking. Oh well just take it steady and start with hovering moving to gentle circuits and not let get to far from me. I'll check back with progress update

[AndyThilo]

I'm back heli fans!. She's in one piece and no mishaps at all . Only flew 2 packs timed at 4mins each cause after the second my hands were shaking so much I couldn't continue and the 'just one more flight' kept ringing in my ears telling me to stop lol.

Very cool and really chuffed that I grew some nads and got into FF. Took it gentle but bloody hell, like has been said, it really can move lol but the noise from a hard bank at high speed is so cool .

Can't wait to get back out tommorow if the weather is clear and not too windy. Just one thing, are all rex's touchy between 5 and 0 deg pitch, it seemed to drop quite easily almost taking me by suprise when coming in to land.

[Rick Rotorhead]

Congrats! yep. Collective is generally quite sensitive, especially when hovering. As a guide, if you happen to still have throttle stick 'notches' (the ratchet) and lets say your collective range is about +/- 11 degrees - you'll find that settling from hover to gently landing needs playing with the collective by at most just one ratchet notch. That equates to something like 3mm of movement at the top of the stick. If you pull the stick back by say three notches, she will drop quite alarmingly. Finesse is the name of the game for a smooth and gentle landing............

[AndyThilo]

That did cross my mind but my 9303 doesn't have any notches on throttle. I'll check for play in the head, might swap a few ball links out as I think I went a little too far with the reamer on some links causing a little slop.

I do need to tighten the spring on the rudder though as it's too light and doesn't feel right.