My first shot of Phoenix, and a cp query...

[Motomikey]

Hi all.

Last night I started using Phoenix (latest update) and my new DX6i for the very first time. So I set up a new model on the TX just for Phoenix (as advised by many on here) and so far it all seems to work as I would expect - Perhaps a bit twitchy, but I'm sure that's just my inexperience and I've also still to set up the EXPO and SWASH TYPE defaults.

Anyway, my only flight experience before now has been with a fp Buzzfly, so this collective pitch malarkey is all new to me and there is some basic info I just wanted to know a tiny bit more about...

Now, I know I'm getting waaaaaay ahead of myself here, but I was messing about in pheonix (as you do with a new toy) trying some inverted flight and I found in some instances I could maintain a fairly steady inverted hover...

What I discovered though (and it wasn't quite what I expected) is that when I increase the negative pitch (stick down) to the fully down position the throttle cuts off and my inverted flight comes to a very abrupt end with bits of my heli scattered all over the tarmac. So, to maintain an inverted hover I absolutely have to avoid the fully down position. Is this right? or have I not set something up properly?

I also noticed that, while inverted, I can't make the heli gain altitude nearly as quickly as it does when it's upright with positive pitch. Is this normal too?

Sorry for all this noob stuff, but I'm just keen to understand and make sure that I'm experiencing 'normal' heli behaviour before I start getting use to it and learning bad or irreversible habits.

Cheers,
Mike

[unwind-protect]

Most of the helicopters in Phoenix use a rotor speed governor, and so essentially ignore the throttle curve (as long as it is bigger than some small value) and supplies sufficient power to the rotor to keep it at a constant speed. This lets you fly with a reasonable amount of negative pitch, but as you discovered, reducing the pitch/ throttle further cuts the engine!

The solution is either (a) in the Phoenix setup bind a key to "idle up" to stop the motor stopping or (b) change your idle up throttle curve on your radio not to go down to zero at bottom stick. In the real world you'll probably not be using a governor, and will probably use a 'V' shaped throttle curve of some sort.

The other thing is only the "3D" models are set up to have equal positive and negative pitch, which combined with you lack of idle up explains why you can't climb inverted very well with most models.

[opc]

Hi
Have you set an idle up?

[mattydred]

idle up is the number 3 button - the 3 below the f2 key ;0)

cheers

matty

[Motomikey]

Hi troops, and thanks for the quick answers.

Although I don't fully understand the technicalities of these "adjustments", it's heart-warming to know the problem is probably just my lack of understanding and that there's people like yourselves ready to point people like me in the right direction

No I haven't set an "idle up", and unfortunately I'm not sitting with Phoenix in front of me just now so I'll have to look at it when I get home tonight. Is there an 'obvious' idle up setting I should use?

Thanks again! and lots of questions to come I'm sure. In fact, here's one now...

Does anyone know if there is some kind of glossary of terms on this forum? I really could do with swatting up on all the abbreviations and technical terms used in the heli world.

Cheers,
Mike

[unwind-protect]

Does anyone know if there is some kind of glossary of terms on this forum? I really could do with swatting up on all the abbreviations and technical terms used in the heli world.

I would (of course!) point out that this is one of the intents of RcHeliWiki---for example:

http://www.rcheliwiki.com/Idle_up_mode

[Motomikey]

I would (of course!) point out that this is one of the intents of RcHeliWiki---for example:

http://www.rcheliwiki.com/Idle_up_mode

Good shout my friend. I'll be checking that out