Radio Control: Helicopters
Paul Tradelius, 4302 39th St. West Apt. #5, Bradenton, FL 34205
After You Can Hover
Next steps after hovering
I have received many questions asking what the next step in the learning process is once the new flier has mastered hovering. Although there isn't one right answer, there are several alternatives depending on your situation, desires, and whether you have an experienced flier to help you.
Flight simulators
One of the best teachers is the flight simulator, because it lets you practice in the comfort of your home at any time, in any weather, and without fear of crashing. If you have been wondering whether they are useful and worth the money, the answer is a definite yes.
There are several simulators on the market, and their programs are always improving, so you can likely find one with the features you like for your PC. I like the NHP simulator because I can use my own transmitter, but other fliers and your local hobby shop can also make recommendations.
Buddy-box instruction (experienced flier)
Just as important as a simulator — and maybe even more so — is having an experienced flier help with your progress. If you are using compatible radios and he has experience as an instructor on the buddy box, he can be a big help getting you safely away from the ground and into forward flight.
However, be careful and make sure he has experience as a buddy-box instructor, because you are relying on his skill and judgment to keep you out of trouble. If you can find such a person, here are a few points to go over before flying:
- Before asking for help, watch him fly his own helicopter and make sure his flying technique matches what you're comfortable with. Some people fly very fast and very high by preference, which can make it hard for a novice to see and control the helicopter.
- The master and slave transmitters do not have to be on the same frequency, but make sure they are matched as far as their setups are concerned. Transfer control between the two transmitters and check the helicopter to make sure there are no unintended control movements as the switch is moved.
- Before starting the helicopter, talk with the instructor about how he will change control of the helicopter. Will he rely on you to say "You have it," or will he take control as he deems necessary? What terminology will be used between the two of you to transfer control? This may sound trivial, but I have seen a student and instructor on the buddy box, and each thought the other had control of the helicopter — as it was flying away.
- Discuss the coming flight. Who will perform the takeoff? What type of patterns or maneuvers will be practiced? What are the problem areas for each pattern or maneuver, and how can you avoid or recover from those problems? Both of you should be well-briefed prior to the flight so each knows what to expect.
Instructor positioning and environmental considerations
I like to be slightly to the side and slightly behind the student so I'm out of his direct view, which gives him more of a feeling that he's flying alone. Also consider wind and sun.
Ideally have the sun at your back as you face into the wind. This way the wind will help bring the helicopter back to you if you become slightly disoriented during downwind. I have seen some people practice downwind and the helicopter can shrink to a small dot in a hurry when it gets away from you.
There comes a time when all the talking or writing in the world must end, and you will just have to try for yourself.
Practicing Without a Simulator or Instructor
Preparation and safety
But what if you have neither a flight simulator nor an experienced flier to help with the post-hover stage? You feel very comfortable with hovering and doing small figure 8s in front of you, but the thought of getting the helicopter well away from the ground (and, more important, getting it back safely) leaves you less than confident. Here are a few techniques that should help:
- If you fly at a field with other helicopters or airplanes, wait for a period when there is very little flying activity before trying your first circuit. Although you should never fly entirely alone for safety reasons, you will need all the airspace to yourself so you won't have to worry about others in the sky.
- Wait for a nice day, in the morning or afternoon, when the wind is blowing toward your face at a steady 5 to 10 mph and the sun is behind you and not very high. The slight wind will provide translational lift to reduce ground speed; having the sun at your back will keep it out of your eyes during flight.
- Hover the model for a tank or two to get "warmed up" before attempting your first circuit. Make sure the engine is set correctly, the helicopter feels good and is trimmed properly, and start the circuit with a full tank of fuel.
Orientation aids
One reader (who was also a fixed-wing pilot) told me his technique: strap a small aluminum pole across the skids with rubber bands to help maintain orientation during flight. He used the aluminum pole from a flag kit (others are available from hardware stores) and painted one end red and the other green for better visibility.
Another idea is to add a three-inch piece of colored tape to each main rotor blade near the tip, with another piece about six inches down the blade. These pieces of tape form a "bull's-eye" with the rotor disk during flight, making it easier to see.
Flying techniques
Try making a racetrack pattern or ever-increasing figure 8s to get the helicopter away from you, but remember:
- Speed is controlled by the nose-up or nose-down position of the right stick.
- Altitude is controlled by the collective pitch.
- Keep the helicopter in slow flight and pay particular attention to the orientation of the tail so you don't get into a nose-in situation.
As the helicopter turns from left to right, turn your body to stay oriented with its flight path.
Landing
When descending for landing, always do so into the wind with the sun at your back, planning to arrive in a hover well out in front of your position so you won't be looking at the nose. If the approach doesn't look good, add power to fly around and try again.
The more you think about your first circuit, plan how the helicopter will look, and rehearse what control inputs you will make, the better your chance for a successful first flight.
Conclusion
This is one of the most thrilling times in helicopter flying. I hope to hear from you about your successes and any other pointers you come up with that I can pass along in later columns. Good luck!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
