Making nice smooth banked turns

[Richard H]

Hi all

Been doing a lot of practising my figure of 8's on the sim lately to try and get them nice and smooth. They are getting fairly tidy when moving slow but once I start banking the heli over when picking up speed the heli tends to shoot up in the air and it just gets messy.

How do you get smoother banked turns without it launching into space?

Thanks

Richard

[phockzie]

With plenty of practice you'll get it, and i'm talking hours on the sim. It sounds like I'm at the same stage as you.

It is hard to judge the distance on the sim because it is in 2D and this will probably be throwing your orientation out. Stick with it.

Are you practicing doing slow lazy-8's for your A cert?

[Richard H]

With plenty of practice you'll get it, and i'm talking hours on the sim. It sounds like I'm at the same stage as you.

It is hard to judge the distance on the sim because it is in 2D and this will probably be throwing your orientation out. Stick with it.

Are you practicing doing slow lazy-8's for your A cert?

Just doing them over and over and over and over and over and over again to get my orentation better really lol.

Its just the actual banked turns that are throwing me at the moment. I know which way to bank the heli and turn the rudder. I think I just have dodgy collective management that ends up giving too much power around the turn.

Not too bothered about going for cert A yet, just want to get better at forward flight.

[phockzie]

.. over and over and over and over, yes, i'm definately at that stage.

Could you be running before you walk? Can you do a slow (walking speed) lazy-8 as this gives you good control over every position of the helicopter. If you are trying to jump ahead to fast forward flight and smooth turns without slow control, you might be missing the basics. Slow down a bit.

I've had to do this as I just wanted to fly around the sky skipping the basics because it frustrated the hell out of me. But i wasn't getting anywhere and I've made myself concentrate on getting throught the A then I know I have the basics and can then move onto the next stage... The B cert...

Just doing them over and over and over and over and over and over again to get my orentation better really lol.

Its just the actual banked turns that are throwing me at the moment. I know which way to bank the heli and turn the rudder. I think I just have dodgy collective management that ends up giving too much power around the turn.

Not too bothered about going for cert A yet, just want to get better at forward flight.

[Richard H]

.. over and over and over and over, yes, i'm definately at that stage.

Could you be running before you walk? Can you do a slow (walking speed) lazy-8 as this gives you good control over every position of the helicopter. If you are trying to jump ahead to fast forward flight and smooth turns without slow control, you might be missing the basics. Slow down a bit.

I've had to do this as I just wanted to fly around the sky skipping the basics because it frustrated the hell out of me. But i wasn't getting anywhere and I've made myself concentrate on getting throught the A then I know I have the basics and can then move onto the next stage... The B cert...

They are fine slow, I can do them no problem on the sim. Still won't try it on my real heli though just yet. It's when it gains speed I have issues.

I think your right though as there seems to be no inbetween when I practice them It's either slow and fine or fast and messy lol.

Must drill into my thick head that slow progressive steps is the way forward!!

[Sao]

You probably just need to work on your collective management

[phockzie]

The heli will gain height as speed increases, so you need to learn to bring the pitch down as the heli starts to gain speed and height. Just concentrate on the pitch.

[phockzie]

I really should learn what the correct terms are!!!

[Richard H]

Thanks guys. Collective practice it is :-)

[robgt]

Also worth noting...
If you turn the heli into wind it will rise in height, so reduced collective is needed there.
Conversely, if you turn the heli out of wind (going down wind) it will lose height, so more collective needed to maintain height.

Cheers,
Rob

[Richard H]

Thank you for that Rob.

[Tim Procter]

Not too bothered about going for cert A yet, just want to get better at forward flight.

Adam Jelly has scared the crap out of you hasnt he.

Your worried sick he is getting better than you arnt ya.

Seriously I will give you some tuition next time your over here Richard, Getting those turns correct is collective managment as quoted, Just need to control that better and the 8's will come nicely.


PS: Jelly for the win doing loops and rolls before you.

[Richard H]

Adam Jelly has scared the crap out of you hasnt he.

Your worried sick he is getting better than you arnt ya.

Seriously I will give you some tuition next time your over here Richard, Getting those turns correct is collective managment as quoted, Just need to control that better and the 8's will come nicely.


PS: Jelly for the win doing loops and rolls before you.

Dam it Tim - you have sussed me out haha.

Adam is not getting ahead lol and won't be winning that wager. Especially when I link my TX upto his Raptor :-)

[Huskyboy]

I'm struggling to get lazy 8's but I seem to be fine at fast forward lfight with turns, loops, rolls and stuff like that... tough to concentrate on practising the slow basic stuff, but I know it'll pay dividends in the long run!

The tuition on the simulator (Pheonix 2.0) is pretty good, so I'm using that to get the basics right. It's tough to keep something like the Blade400 in one place long enough to do lazy 8s etc, although the CX3 is fine.

Practice practice practice!




I might just pop out for a little hover of the real thing though...

[Dougie]

Richard dont worry yourself about them turns tim will teach you how to do them. when you have done a couple of them land your heli put your TX down cos you will want to jump up and down like a 5 yr old lol

keep it high and listen to tim and you will have it in the bag by the end of the day mate