Why are back flips easier than forward flips?

[PeteStewardson]

Ok maybe this is just me and I'm odd but does anyone else find a back flip easier than a forward flip? I've been practicing flips today and figured I'd try a backwards one ( I've never really tried before ) and to my surprise got it right. Just to prove it wasn't a fluke I did a few more and sure enough the heli stays pretty much in the same place flipping on the spot. I rarely get a front flip right and the heli stay on the spot.

Presumably it's just collective timing but why would it be easier backwards than forwards?

[swale]

no physical reason to my knowledge as long a the CG is as it should be.....think its a mental thing for some

[Delarado]

yeah, might be to do with visibility of the tail?

[KnifeEdge]

Just as easy but I think its a mental thing. Heli nose up vs forward flip it's heading towards the deck !

[JoeBailey]

The same reason that it's easier to role right then left.
Your fingers find that direction more comfortable.

Joe

[PeteStewardson]

Just as easy but I think its a mental thing. Heli nose up vs forward flip it's heading towards the deck !

Maybe, although I normally end up with the heli shooting backwards when I forward flip which means it's coming towards me eeek. lol

The same reason that it's easier to role right then left.
Your fingers find that direction more comfortable.

Joe

It can't be because collective is exactly the same unless you fly something other than Mode2

[gorber]

I find fwd flips easier.

[sacko]

Definitely a mental thing, I find front flips easier.

[PeteStewardson]

Oh god so this must mean my brain is wired up backwards

Actually I do find nose in inverted a lot easier than nose in upright, I'm seeing a pattern lol

[Si_B]

I think it depends a lot on how you hold the sticks and the transmitter. I fly with thumbs and I always roll to the right as I find it easier to move the stick that way compared to pushing it to the left. With a flip, again I find it easier to pull the stick back accurately with out adding a roll input, compared to pushing it forwards where, for myself, its very easy to wander off and add some aileron.

[snotvis]

I think it is because when you back flip you initially gain altitude and when you forward flip you initially lose altitude. I prefer forward flips because the heli moves away from me rather than towards and I am s**t scared of it!!!!

[PeteStewardson]

I think it is because when you back flip you initially gain altitude and when you forward flip you initially lose altitude. I prefer forward flips because the heli moves away from me rather than towards and I am s**t scared of it!!!!

Yeah but you don't really, if you hold the collective the same, then both will gain/loose altitude in the same way, because all you're doing is pivoting around the rotor disc. Or at least that should be the case. I didn't do a back flip until now because of exactly the reason you state, it's coming towards you if you start tail in, but I've found my collective timing must somehow suit a back flip as the heli doesn't come flying towards me, but when I front flip I tend to find I get it wrong and the heli does come towards me at the end.

It's got to be a timing thing on collective, I just can't work out why, it "should" be the same in both directions.

[Mikej]

The same reason that it's easier to role right then left.
Your fingers find that direction more comfortable.

Joe

That's funny - I was just about to say that it was the same reason that it's easier to flip left than right

I think it is to do with the gaining / losing height thing plus familiarity - I started with back flips and left flips, forward and right have come later.

Cheers,
Mike.

[NEAGRON]

Being dumb,would it have something to do with the torque of the rotor,I personally prefer left roll's and forward flips,yours,Marty.

[NiceBlades]

I think its a mental thing as i used to just back flip and was scared of forward flips, now I can do both with no preference, left and right roll are the same, just think you have to keep doing them. I did prefer the heli on my right side infront of me for the longest time instead of the left, I think your just initially comfortable with a set orientation until you work through it, just my 2pence worth, I still crash now and again!