autorotation

[Gyrohead]

Please educate me
On the Blade 400 the minimum blade pitch is zero in normal flight mode. Does that mean that it won't autorotate in normal mode?
Do I have to switch to F mode and bring the throttle/pitch down to give the blades some negative pitch before it will autorotate?
I've never used F mode in flight yet (cluck cluck), and advice seems to be mixed: is it best to switch modes while on the ground or in the air?

In anticipation of a Raptor and an engine failure.

Many thanks.

(Civil Service joke #364: Round objects! Who is Round and to what does he object?
Water Board joke #1: "All the water has been personally passed by the management".)

[tourerjim]

You can use ether but must have negative pitch for example:
norm mode, throttle 0,90,90,90,90 pitch 25,25,50,75,100. suitable for loops/rolls with small amounts of inverted.
Idle up/f mode throttle 90,90,90,90,90 pitch 0,25,50,75,100. suitable for inverted 3D stuff.

[Kwickkwack]

The numbers tourerjim refers to are the percentages on the curves.
You should have a pitch range both positive and negative, I have +-10 as measured with a pitch gauge using on my Titan (check the range suggested for the Blade) this would be if the pitch curve was 0 25 50 75 100 you can then adjust the pitch a low stick position by adjuting the curve. 25 25 50 75 100 would give you (approxinmately) -5 -5 0 5 10, you can tweak the curve to suit your own needs, but dont forget that you will need to adjust the curve in "hold" as well.
I hope tyhis helps

[GravityKills]

IMO the best solution is to set up "throttle hold" mode for the maximum pitch range the heli can manage. The trick is to remember to switch to throttle hold, when the engine stops, the gear strips, the motor shaft breaks etc.
Remembering to flick the switch is surprisingly difficult when it happens without warning.

You can check the pitch range by folding the blades back, and holding the flybar. At max. collective stick, they form a "V". You should see a similar "V" (just the other way around) at the bottom end of the stick range, then you have symmetrical positive / negative pitch.
Most people set up 3D helis this way, because the mechanics are usually symmetrical.

A good recipe for autos without practise is to simply go down with full negative stick. As long as the disk is spinning, the heli still "floats". But if the pilot experiments, screws up and the blades stop, it will drop like a rock.

[Sqwidge]

I run plus minus 8 on my blade, but normal is +8 -4 factory setting is i think -3, why you would want to auto a blade is making me curious as its not the best heli to practise this with due to light blades and losing headspeed really fast

[tourerjim]

I run plus minus 8 on my blade, but normal is +8 -4 factory setting is i think -3, why you would want to auto a blade is making me curious as its not the best heli to practise this with due to light blades and losing headspeed really fast

Use carbon blades always best to use a throttle flate line.

[Sqwidge]

I have carbon everything (minus frame and boom, just working on the missus) fitted but I still wouldnt attempt an auto unless i had too

[Rotorhead]

Good luck autoing a 400 size elec model, not that it cant be done, but expect to have to do a few repairs from time to time, you'd be much better off learning or practicing on much bigger model, really 30 size and up is your best bet, 500's are capable as well, but 400's is pushing it.

[maderdog_1024]

i have practiced on phoenix with the 400 and had a few occasions where i have lost battery/motor in mid air.

you basicaly need full negative pitch to keep the head speed up and then full positive to flare it !

i failed big time !!

[GravityKills]

...you basicaly need full negative pitch to keep the head speed up and then full positive to flare it !

yes, as an act of desperation when it hits you without warning.
The most important thing in a "real" autorotation is :
airspeed.
There are instructions on the web, where they get it completely wrong and tell you to go straight down. Just ignore them (and practise -against- the wind, it makes a huge difference).

Forget about the 400.
With the Raptor that was mentioned earlier, autos are everyday business. It's not even difficult, especially if there is enough space.

BTW, I think in Phoenix there is an instruction video available.

[Gyrohead]

Thanks everyone

Many thanks to all for the info. Much food for thought.
No particular reason for doing autos on the Blade, I was just curious to know if it could be done and if negative pitch was required.
Has anyone actually tried autorotating a Blade 400?

[richieclarkie]

Here's my advice kids. DO NOT try learning autos for fun with a 450 sized heli. The available hang time with a properly executed auto on a 450 will be around 1-1.5 seconds at the most. As rotorhead said a 30 or 50 heli is much easier.

Low level autos, i.e. a couple of foot, then maybe, but otherwise don't worry about it.

However if you do really want to have a go, then have a read of this:
http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/245087-post18.html