Who finds Nitro a bit intimidating.

[PKNEC]

Ok folks I am wondering how many of us find Nitro heli's a bit intimidating, especially when you first encounter them.

We have a raptor 30 that doesn't get flown that much and being honest it's because me and the lads just don't seem to get on with the noise/different characteristics that come with a nitro especially since our engine trouble at the weekend.
As my eldest said "electric all the way"
I know the pro's and con's of both fuel types longer stick time etc ,no smell, blah , blah.

But there is almost a fear factor involved and I was wondering from those who have encountered it did you walk away and go electric or overtime just except it and carry on.(this is not easy to admit for 3 lads. lol )

My first guess is that like the 450 we fly it quite close in and in doing so have picked up a bad habit that doesn't allow for the larger size of the raptor plus the engine noise.
When we are at the club our instructor has us hovering it above head height (for good sound reasoning)but the experience is just not enjoyable.
Any help or guidance greatly appreciated.

[Delta7]

When I first fired up my Raptor 50, coming from a 450 clone it was very intimadating as you say mainly due to the noise. Get hovering it and get used to the proceedure of starting etc and it soon become second nature and the noise did'nt even register after a few flights !

[Planehazza]

I remember my first time flying a nitro, scared be a bit. I still feel very uncomfortable flying the model too close because of the CF knives spinning at 2200 RPM!

[n00by]

ach it just takes time to get used to it, its something new, the more u do it in time the fear factor shall disappear and you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about, well that's how it kind of works for me lol

[Vikki]

I like the idea of extended flight time but I found it very intimidating. I didn't want that critter close to me at all. It truly had the feel of a flying chainsaw. I'm FBL electric all the way.

[scuba steve]

using an IC engine is just another way of providing power to your heli BUT its like most things in life we might not fully understand or are unfamiliar with.....we shy away from it and use an alternative. i would suggest making it your goal to learn about the engine and workings of your Raptor 30 and you'll soon realise the benefits of nitro and actually enjoy the smell & noise rather than finding it intimidating

[milly0812]

It concerned me until I learned to auto as I was always worried about the engine stopping be it a tuning or glow plug or in my case forgetting to put the breather back on the pipe lol

[scuba steve]

I didn't want that critter close to me at all. It truly had the feel of a flying chainsaw. I'm FBL electric all the way.

i think the FBL electric still might hurt Vikki if it hit you

[n00by]

aye still a chainsaw but electric lol

[jimmyhorns]

I think the noise is a good warning.

Electrics look very subdued, and docile, when infact there is often more power being delivered to the blades at peak power than there is with nitro.

It is a flying chainsaw, whether it is electric or nitro.

If you have your throttle set up properly, and follow a proper pre-start check (dont fire up in Idle up) I dont see the difference between the two in danger.

[Idleup95]

I find electric more intimidating then nitro..At least with a nitro you have a feeling and a bit of a warning if your engine is going to cut as i am used to the noise a nitro engine makes when it is running correctly, with an electric I think its more unpredictable, and also, if you "Hot start" a nitro, if you hold onto the head while you start the heli (which is the safe and proper way to start a nitro anyway) you will burn out the clutch before the heli hurts you or any one around you, with an electric its instant power..you have little hope of stopping your self being hurt!

[nobbycopter]

It was at first as I moved up to a Raptor 30 from a 500...it's the noise thing really and once you've taken off and moved away it's fine. I was more concerned about running the engine lean and ruining it...

Major difference is smoke with Nitro is good.....with eletrickery it's bad!!!

[Vikki]

What I mean is that I tended to fly it further away than was necessary because of the intimidation factor. I'm well aware that they can hurt, I'm not stupid

It's just - something about - an engine.

[Baldie]

I think the noise is a good warning.

Electrics look very subdued, and docile, when infact there is often more power being delivered to the blades at peak power than there is with nitro.

It is a flying chainsaw, whether it is electric or nitro.

If you have your throttle set up properly, and follow a proper pre-start check (dont fire up in Idle up) I dont see the difference between the two in danger.

Have you stood next to a 700E Spooling up ?!!!

For me I don't mind either, But from a safety point of view I have always been aware that the Large electrics can apply MASSIVE amounts of torque almost immediately A nitro needs to rev to provide the power.

It is easier to hold the head of a nitro to start and whilst its runnig, An electric needs two hands to connect.....

In a crash, Electrics don't tend to chicken dance if you hit TH,, A nitro might even if you hit hold.

If you find it intimidating, Why fly it so close ? When I started with nitro (My first large heli Raptor 30) I used to spool it up, Take off and land 15 meters or so away.

[Planehazza]

I like the idea of extended flight time but I found it very intimidating. I didn't want that critter close to me at all. It truly had the feel of a flying chainsaw. I'm FBL electric all the way.

Because an electric motor with more instant and less boggable power will hurt so much less

Just kidding I get what you mean, and the posts above raise an interesting issue. Nitro is obvious power as it's noisy and smelly. Naive passers by may look at electric as more toy like and underestimate them.