New Heli Pilot saying hi!

[Adam Stephens]

Hey Guys,

Just thought that I would introduce myself. I am totally new to the RC thing and went and purchased myself a Blade CP which I've been loving. I've taken it out twice now, been able to get it to hover briefly in the air at about 12' with only minor mishap... I'm sure I'll trash this thing at some point.

I'd love to hook up with other heli pilots, and if someone else has got a Blade CP specifically, I'd love to compare notes, get together and fly sometime, possibly learn things from. As I said before I'm -completely- new to the hobby and from what I've read the heli is one of the more complicated machines to fly, so I imagine I could stand to benefit tremendously from more experienced pilot's input.

[donovan Dow]

Afternoon Adam

Please mark 12 Aug down as the first annual Stetson Heli event.

see you there

don dow

[donovan Dow]

Morning Adam

Then again there is the SMALL event at the Rideau R/C Flyers site this coming Saturday, 22 July. Should be lots of electric choppers.

http://ca.geocities.com/rrcf01/

cheers
don dow

[Adam Stephens]

Hi Don,

Thanks for the information! I've taken the chopper out five times now, four of which resulted in replaced blades and some minor repairs. A notable exception to this was when I had to replace the main drive shaft and gear, it required me to strip down the central rotor assembly... Took me about 8 hours to take it down and put it together again... Learned allot about my machine though!

Broke down, bought a simulator, should be here in a couple of weeks. Even with the Blade CP I can see how without a simulator the first few steps to learning to pilot the thing can be quite costly!

Thanks for the information!

[JeffElecRC]

Hi Adam, I hope despite the crashes you are enjoying your newfound hobby. I, like yourself, started with an Esky Honeybee (Now rebadged to Blade CP). I was fortunately to have a big indoor location to learn to fly it slowly with training gear. I took baby-steps in learning how to fly (not even taking off the ground for awhile, just learning how to stay in one spot in ground-effect and rotor wash.)

Anyway, If you'd like we could meet up sometime and I could give you some help setting up the heli properly, or even buddy-box with you (Using two transmitters I control heli and give you control for awhile with a switch..then when you lose control, I can recoverl).

I will be attending the SMALL event. You would technically need MAAC insurance to fly there; however, if you are buddy-boxing it might be over-looked. (EDIT: My bad, buddy boxing with non-insured members not allowed at events.)

What simulator did you get, BTW?

[donovan Dow]

Evening All

http://www.maac.ca/view_news.php?itm=133

Please review.

thanks
don dow

[cgroves]

I will be attending the SMALL event. You would technically need MAAC insurance to fly there; however, if you are buddy-boxing it might be over-looked.

No, it won't. This is a really serious issue and unfortunately there can't be any slack on this. No MAAC or AMA membership means no flying at events. Buddy boxing works or intro flights but not for events.

[Adam Stephens]

Hi Jeff (and others!),

I'm enjoying the hobby tremendously, despite the crashes and the maintenance work.

No worries about the MAAC insurance. I don't have any yet, but will have to wait until August to get it as I've totally spent -way- over my 'play' money for the month on the little beastie. :)

However, if your offer still stands of getting together to get the thing settup and buddy-box I think I could benefit tremendously from your experience!

For those newbs out there who are in my shoes I recommend looking at this link: http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html He is scary corney but I think it's a great training program for the newly initiated.

[JeffElecRC]

No, it won't. This is a really serious issue and unfortunately there can't be any slack on this. No MAAC or AMA membership means no flying at events. Buddy boxing works or intro flights but not for events.

My apologies for the misinformation :o.

[JeffElecRC]

Hi Jeff (and others!),
However, if your offer still stands of getting together to get the thing settup and buddy-box I think I could benefit tremendously from your experience!



Adam, my offer still stands. When and where do you usually do your flying? We can set something up via PM.


For those newbs out there who are in my shoes I recommend looking at this link: http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html He is scary corney but I think it's a great training program for the newly initiated.

I followed RADD's school when I was learning. It helped me alot. I know theres that initial excitment to want to go out and launch the heli in to the air, but after the first repair, RADD seems much more appealing.

[cgroves]

No problems.
Yeah that initial excitement to go flying can be brutal. It makes you want to go out with a new model in bad conditions or try and fly on your own before you are ready. Has broken a few of my models over the years. Of course after you have to spend some time rebuilding and buying parts it makes one somewhat sober and wiser.

[Adam Stephens]

<laughs out loud> Yup, I definitely know that feeling! I thought I was all cool after my first flight didn't produce a crash and I'd managed to get it to hover about a foot off the ground. Really though, I think I got lucky.

I've sent you a PM regarding the details of getting together.

RADD's flight training program seems to be pretty good. I've don't up to battery 3 and already I find experimenting with the controls in this manner helpful!

[Adam Stephens]

Too true Corey! I've rebuilt the main drive shaft and gear twice now which has definitely sobered up the newbie pilot in me! Taking things MUCH slower now. ;)

I had an uncontrolled flight yesterday which scared the bejesus out of me. my proportional seemed to not be high enough which caused the chopper to go in a lazy turn to the right. Then a gust of wind added some impressive lift and it shot up about 30' high. My heart just about landed in my mouth as I tried to maintain a controlled climb down... VERY TOUGH! I noticed I over-corrected myself and managed to gain allot of speed no matter which way I went. As I was heading towards the ground in a forward position I think I managed to accidentally 'flare' the copter which I think broke the fall quite a bit. Anyhow. Adam's grounded now... Back to playing with rudders back and forth for a while. ;)