Coolice Flight School :)

[Delarado]

Just got back from spending the day with Mr Contessa (Ooo-err) so thought I'd put a little post up just saying how much he's helped me

I started flying properly around february time, and since then I've spent a lot of money and time on Heli's, and I'd say I'm a reasonably competent flier when it comes to 3d stuff. I can do flips and rolls, loops etc and even throw in a few knife edge piros here and there between moves and all that sort of stuff.

However, I Completely skipped the part where I was supposed to learn how to fly around a corner. So most of my flight has involved making straight passes past the flight line with acrobatics in between, with a stall turn at either end. I had this massive hurdle I couldn't seem to get over when it came to banked turns... I'd end up either losing all my speed, gaining loads of altitude, losing loads of altitude, or just panicing completely, resetting to tail in, going into a hover and then just pointing my nose where I wanted to go and tipping the nose forward.

Today I spent most of a (VERY WINDY) day flying my 700s round in figure of 8s, which I've never done before, with Ian on the buddy lead next to me in case it needed catching. I only got mildy confused once, and he took over at that point - but for the rest of it, it was all me, and with his wise words of assistance with setting up the model properly and telling me what I was doing wrong I finally acheived what I've been trying to do for a long time, which is smoothly flying a heli round in a fast figure of 8 with pretty level and fast banked turns at either end (Despite the 18mph constant wind with 30mph gusts according to the met office)

I finally felt like I'd got to the stage today that I could "power through" the banked turns all the way around, rather than just do something with the sticks and hope it went the way I wanted to! So thanks very much Ian for your help

Top bloke, knows his stuff and watching him flying was also well worth the trip, lovely long low (blades probably about a foot of the ground for 20 meters or so) inverted auto's to land, looking forward to my next lessons with him so he can teach me to fly like he does

If any of you feel like you need lessons in anything I wouldn't hesitate to recommend our very own Coolice

[chucky21022010]

Great stuff, when I took my bmfa A test, the examiner told me that a lot of guys whom they said could do "3d", could not fly properly because they did not start with the basic flight of training which is true.

[Gav]

sounds good. Nothing like a fast smoooth banked turn lol. Getting into a smooth flying routine is quite relaxing.

:thumbup:

[coolice]

Just got back from spending the day with Mr Contessa (Ooo-err) so thought I'd put a little post up just saying how much he's helped me

I started flying properly around february time, and since then I've spent a lot of money and time on Heli's, and I'd say I'm a reasonably competent flier when it comes to 3d stuff. I can do flips and rolls, loops etc and even throw in a few knife edge piros here and there between moves and all that sort of stuff.

However, I Completely skipped the part where I was supposed to learn how to fly around a corner. So most of my flight has involved making straight passes past the flight line with acrobatics in between, with a stall turn at either end. I had this massive hurdle I couldn't seem to get over when it came to banked turns... I'd end up either losing all my speed, gaining loads of altitude, losing loads of altitude, or just panicing completely, resetting to tail in, going into a hover and then just pointing my nose where I wanted to go and tipping the nose forward.

Today I spent most of a (VERY WINDY) day flying my 700s round in figure of 8s, which I've never done before, with Ian on the buddy lead next to me in case it needed catching. I only got mildy confused once, and he took over at that point - but for the rest of it, it was all me, and with his wise words of assistance with setting up the model properly and telling me what I was doing wrong I finally acheived what I've been trying to do for a long time, which is smoothly flying a heli round in a fast figure of 8 with pretty level and fast banked turns at either end (Despite the 18mph constant wind with 30mph gusts according to the met office)

I finally felt like I'd got to the stage today that I could "power through" the banked turns all the way around, rather than just do something with the sticks and hope it went the way I wanted to! So thanks very much Ian for your help

Top bloke, knows his stuff and watching him flying was also well worth the trip, lovely long low (blades probably about a foot of the ground for 20 meters or so) inverted auto's to land, looking forward to my next lessons with him so he can teach me to fly like he does

If any of you feel like you need lessons in anything I wouldn't hesitate to recommend our very own Coolice

Morning Carl.

Thanks for the kind words buddy, I must say it was good to finally meet you in person and put a face to the name.

The conditions were far from ideal, especially for the type of flying you wanted to smooth out and learn where you were going wrong with. But as a byproduct of the extreme conditions, you got to see the more pronounced effects of wind on the model during the turns and with more stick time learnt how to counteract these effects and started flying some nice figure 8 circuits.

Hope to see you again soon mate.
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[Vikki]

Where are you based Mr Ice? I'm starting to get the hang of banked turns but some of them (most) end up being a u-turn or loss of speed bail out. They were better than the ones I did Thursday. I'm starting to monitor rudder, aileron and elevator now and trying to correct as needed but it's tough. Slow is even tougher.

Del: Well done my friend, well done. Sounds like you had a great time and cracked something that will allow for greater progress.

Oh, I live in Portsmouth but I'm not averse to getting a train somewhere to go for a lesson or two

[coolice]

Where are you based Mr Ice? I'm starting to get the hang of banked turns but some of them (most) end up being a u-turn or loss of speed bail out. They were better than the ones I did Thursday. I'm starting to monitor rudder, aileron and elevator now and trying to correct as needed but it's tough. Slow is even tougher.

Del: Well done my friend, well done. Sounds like you had a great time and cracked something that will allow for greater progress.

Oh, I live in Portsmouth but I'm not averse to getting a train somewhere to go for a lesson or two

Hi Vikki.

I am based in Northamptonshire, Rushden to be more precise. Our closest railway station will be Wellingborough station, about 10/15 minutes from my house and the private strip I use for lessons.

Your situation sounds just like Carls, in that you are just losing the forward speed and perhaps wary of the model banking over during the turns.
I would instruct you in the same way I did Carl yesterday and while with you on the buddy lead, prompt you in what I see is going wrong and giving you pointers along the way. We'd even perhaps make adjustments to your setup, as I did on Carl's models, to make them more forgiving would probably be a good word to use, but at the same time still as capable as you need them to be for where you are aiming with your flying.

A lot of the problem is confidence and having someone who is able to pick out the areas where you are perhaps going wrong and then actually being able to convey this information to you in an easy format, so that you can make changes to your stick movements and move forward.
Of course having a competant flier on the end of the buddy lead ready and waiting to take over should it go a bit wrong is a great confidence booster, which allows you to relax more and thus concentrate on practicing the manouver you are trying to perfect.

I am sure that I could pick you up from Wellingborough station and with prior notice I can try and source a bigger vehicle to get all the models in easier.
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[Vikki]

Thank you, Coolice. You're right, of course, I am cautious of the bank collapsing. I'm not turning them into u-turns so much now.

Shame your so far a way really. I'm going to have to go local. Nearest to me that I know of is 2 hours and 2 train changes away. Paul Heckles?

I'm starting to watch my tail and I'm correcting that, I'm starting to watch aileron and correcting that and I'm trying to keep an eye on elevator and correct that. It's elevator I lose my eye on first followed by aileron. But, I'm doing better than I was a week ago. I think a two hour lesson with a tutor will really help me advance past this stage.

[coolice]

Thank you, Coolice. You're right, of course, I am cautious of the bank collapsing. I'm not turning them into u-turns so much now.

Shame your so far a way really. I'm going to have to go local. Nearest to me that I know of is 2 hours and 2 train changes away. Paul Heckles?

I'm starting to watch my tail and I'm correcting that, I'm starting to watch aileron and correcting that and I'm trying to keep an eye on elevator and correct that. It's elevator I lose my eye on first followed by aileron. But, I'm doing better than I was a week ago. I think a two hour lesson with a tutor will really help me advance past this stage.

Hey Vikki.

Yes, I am a fair trek from yourself unfortunately. I know Paul Heckles from years ago and a very capable tutor so you will not have any problems there. Likewise the rest in the recently posted list in that neck of the woods, are all excellent options. It's easier for me to cater for people who are either in my general area or are able/willing to travel to see me.

The problem with helicopters is all channels need to watched and adjusted at the same time, so while you're learning that new manouver and concentrating it's easy to forget other important control inputs.

Please keep us posted on your progress and visit to Paul.
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[SaneAdam]

Massive respect to you Coolice. I don't think i am aware of anyone on this forum as helpful and as patient as you are. You deserve some sort of award for your contributions.... thats what i think anyway.

[Sheldrake]

+1 on that, really patient, helpful, friendly and Kim makes a great lunch!

[Vikki]

I'm aiming for that magical region where what your eye sees moves straight to your thumbs by bypassing the thinking side of the brain. I'm aiming at getting the same function that I get when I read Em on a music sheet and my left hand automatically forms the correct pattern and strikes the keys for an E minor chord without me even thinking about it.

It is a magical feeling to read music and feel the left hand doing its thing pumping out chord after chord without fault. It takes practice. Lots of it. I expect this to be the same and I expect the outcome will be just as magical.

[waveydavey]

I expect this to be the same and I expect the outcome will be just as magical.

Unfortunately, as with music only for the gifted I'm afraid. All the practice in the world and I still have to think the flight through. Yes, there is an autonomous region where you don't think but I think that may be different from pilot to pilot

[coolice]

Massive respect to you Coolice. I don't think i am aware of anyone on this forum as helpful and as patient as you are. You deserve some sort of award for your contributions.... thats what i think anyway.

Thank you very much buddy, that's an awesome compliment and I greatly appreciate it! It's made my day even better.

I've been in this hobby a long time now, I have a great passion for it and get a great deal of enjoyment at the same time.
Also I get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping others, admittedly I have turned that passion into a side line business if you like, but the buzz of helping and meeting other like minded fliers is what makes this hobby so great for me.

I've been very fortunate to gain the help of sponsors along the way in my 30+ years of flying, have had a ball at the same time at F3C comps and shows and still continue to do so today.

+1 on that, really patient, helpful, friendly and Kim makes a great lunch!

Hey Ewan.

Thank you as well my friend. I'll pass on Kim's compliment also, I am sure she will say the tea's on for when you're next over to see me :-)

I hear you are doing very well, had a little hiccup recently but progressing nicely which is good to hear. I am planning on visiting your club very soon for a fly together, which I am looking forward to.
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[Vikki]

Unfortunately, as with music only for the gifted I'm afraid. All the practice in the world and I still have to think the flight through. Yes, there is an autonomous region where you don't think but I think that may be different from pilot to pilot

I can honestly say I'm not gifted at music but do have an interest in composing. I learnt by practice. I wouldn't even say I was talanted. But if you have an interest in something then you can go someways along the line from beginner to gifted. OK, some never will but bet they are the ones without an interest. Hmmm, then there's wannabe's, nope, that's not right either because they get flushed out at the start of this process. Well, I think we can all go as far as we can

[Delarado]

Just been down the field with the 500 and the 700, had a blast. A quick 2 packs through each after work, really enjoyable. I was pulling really fast banked turns and just generally having a blast. Even did a couple of autos on the 700 thanks to Ian showing me how to set up the bail out properly - that gave me the confidence to give it a go (I normally just auto the 500 but ive gone through probably 4 sets of blades now due to tip overs causing the blades to hit the grips and take chunks out of them...didnt want to chance that with 700 blades so wanted to make sure I could bail out if I needed to!)

So yeah, I've just been ripping around the skies and even did my first "Round the clock" Tic tocs I was feeling so confident. Nothing like the proper version - really high up doing a "tic-Toc" then rotating 180 degrees and doing the same, this time tic-tocing nose down. Really chuffed me that did I worry about going into aileron tic tocs (Which I can do) direct from a tail down one because I know when it comes to the "nose in" part of the aileron tic toc ill probably get it wrong and smack terra firma

But yes, today was spent bombing around the sky, rolling and looping and doing all sorts with nice big wide fast turns, rather than just stopping on the spot and pointing the nose back where I wanted to go. The blade noise of that alone is well worth the money for the lessons and Ian added a lot more value with setup tips and the like.

BTW Ian, the autorotation enable on the kontronic is just a case of setting whichever mode you want (For example mode 4 for governor) and then just flicking throttle hold after the 3 confirmation beeps. (TH set@15%)

If you did it right, youll get 3 more confirmation beeps after you flick hold and a "telephone ringing" sound which you dont normally get when just setting modes.

Both the 700 and the goblin autorotation enabled now! The 700 however is grounded - had to cut a flight short earlier as it started making a funny sound in the air, like a kind of inconsistent shreiking sound.

I auto'd it down () As quick as I could and when I landed I noticed that when you spin the motor in the reverse direction you get a funny clicking sound and some odd resistance at times as the main gear rotates. I think something is wrong with the 1 way bearing.

Thanks again for all the tips, top marks - even in 3 flights I feel like i've progressed more than I have in the last month or two (thats why I Went to Ian, I felt my flying had stalled in its progression and I Felt that was because I couldnt turn)