Feeling incompetent after phoenix session!

[GravityKills]

use a jetcopter, N9, T-Rex 700, Vibe 90 or whatever .90 sized heli. The small ones (250 and 450) are very very difficult for a beginner. The big ones are only very difficult.

Otherwise, welcome to the club.
Single-rotor helis and coaxes relate to each other in about the same way as playing guitar in a band and playing guitar hero at home :-)

[Mart61]

A couldn't raise a woody this morning. This incompetence is a real bummer eh?

[p4ddy]

A couldn't raise a woody this morning. This incompetence is a real bummer eh?

[cyberman]

Thanks for all the advice and comments.
I will definitely be sticking with it, and will try some of the other models as advised.

As for the tx, I set it up via the advice on Phoenix (i.e. single servo etc) but will have a look and see if any other settings should be altered.

Maybe I'll have a quick go whilst the family are out shopping!!

[Brian Gifford]

I think we all feel totally useless sometimes, using Phoenix. Everything you try goes wrong. You are not alone! If I have a day like that, I just give it a miss, and try another time.

All I can say, is you WILL improve. Just keep going.

[cyberman]

Have just had a bit of a go with the easyFly50 as suggested, and it was a bit easier. Thanks for the advice.

Now I need to learn small movements, my problem is I am being a bit heavy handed and tend to end up with the heli going in some sort of craxy circle if I am not careful.
But after concentrating and trying to keep thumbs under control my 'hover' would almost stay within the landing target.

I then tried a bit of hovering practice in the tuition section and found this useful, I think I'll be returning to that quite a bit as well as general practice flying.

I am enjoying the Phoenix sim though, and do think its going to be an invaluable tool for me.
My wife is out this evening so I think I'll get my daughter to bed and then settle down for a bit of a practice session.
Thanks again for all the tips and encouragement.

[GravityKills]

...trying to keep thumbs under control

Use pinch grip (thumb and index finger) instead of thumbs only.
That's what I recommend, check out what other people think in the thumbs-vs-pinch thread

[tiddler]

Use pinch grip (thumb and index finger) instead of thumbs only.
That's what I recommend, check out what other people think in the thumbs-vs-pinch thread

I too find I have much better control using the pinch grip.
Its my recommendation as well.

[Holst]

I too find I have much better control using the pinch grip.
Its my recommendation as well.

I hate it (i used to race Rc cars) but when you are starting out you should try things like this as they might be better for you.

[Brian Gifford]

I hate it (i used to race Rc cars) but when you are starting out you should try things like this as they might be better for you.

I hate pinch, but as Holst says, try anything till you find what suits you.

[Hangar-7]

It might also be an idea to take your fingers off the sticks and see if heli will fly on its own - you may be over controlling it. Use trim control for minor adjustments.

I often taken take hands off the throttle stick as soon as the heli reaches 10-20 feet above ground and focus more on elevator and rudder (avoid using aileron control).

This you can do in Phoenix sim and may be in real life with IC engines but on electric heli you will need constant throttle input....but that will be for another day.

Hope you get some simtime this evening.

Cheers

[p4ddy]

I've also 'tried' the pinch method but it feels unatural, uncomfortable & a dam awkward. That's the beauty of a sim as you can try out anything without any risk.

[GravityKills]

oh, and one more comment: You'll make most progress between flying sessions.
Don't worry if it feels you're getting nowhere - simply try again the next day.

And, don't hesitate to turn down the simulator speed, as was already mentioned. Speeding things up happens naturally once the proper reflexes are in place.

[chally3]

Try it on a 600, once you have nailed what you want to do, try it on the 250

dont give up, I wa sliek that until the advice above - belive me it works wonders & brought my real flying along much much more quicker & stable

[cyberman]

Had a couple of half hour sessions today and its been a little more encouraging, still not pretty but far less crashes!

I am using only my thumbs as trying to hold/control joystick with thumb and finger feels uncomfortable and unnatural, but maybe I'll try again.

I have two very small and possibly very stupid questions...
1. I have notiuced during calibration that channels 1 and 6 both track each other exactly in Phoenix, I guess this is correct as I have my swash type set to single servo?
2. The Phoenix software says the TX must be set to PPM and not PCM, I cannot see any settings for this inmy DX7 so am assuming it only uses the correct mode?

But things are getting better, and I am starting to be able to input smaller adjustments and stay nearer where I want.
For now I am just trying to take off and the hover within the area of the landing circle. Most of the time I manage it (sort of) but with a sort of drunken swaying forward/backward and siedways constantly.

Its good fun though and I enjoy the sessions, although I think my wife and daughter would like me to spend less time on it now!