Any RC Helicopter Pilots here? - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C

12/11/2007 07:01:33 PM · #1

Hey...

If you know:

How do you steer the "co-axil" (twin rotor) helicopter? The tail rotor is non functional so how do you steer with the controller?

Also...is the co-axil the best to learn on?

Oh....electric...battery is my choice.

Thanks.

Skid

BHuseman

Nikon D750

12/11/2007 07:13:53 PM · #2

I bought one about two weeks ago. I did so much damage to it trying to fly it that it is sitting in pieces on a shelf until I am willing to spend the money to repair it again. The spousal-unit is not very happy with me over it. I think it is funny though.

Good luck learning!

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

12/11/2007 07:29:22 PM · #3

I hope they are the correct ones to learn on as I just purchased one for my son (he's not a kid, 28) who wants to get into RC Helio Flying. This site, whom I've done quite a bit of business with concerning RC cars, seems to think they are the way to learn.

Take a look:
Horizon Hobby

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

12/11/2007 07:37:01 PM · #4

Our local HobbyTown USA has a couple really cool simulators set up in the store. They're expensive, but geez, I wish I had one! I'd probably still have a few extra RC planes had I not crashed them so often.

I don't remember what the name of the simulator program was, but you could use it to simulate numerous helicopters and planes, and it's remarkably realistic (and uses a USB controller just like a regular control).

EDIT: I think this is the one.

Message edited by author 2007-12-11 19:37:54.

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

12/11/2007 07:50:33 PM · #5

Originally posted by BHuseman:

Years ago I had a friend that was learning, he said the first time you start one up the cost is ussually a hundred dollars minimum..... I know the flight simulators are supposed to really help and agree that may be worth looking into.

eamurdock

Pentax KP

Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited AF

12/11/2007 08:12:58 PM · #6

I'm not an RC pilot but I'll explain it as I understand it:

In a traditional (single rotor) heli the motor applies torque to the main rotor, which induces a countertorque on the body of the aircraft. Balancing this countertorque is most of what the tail rotor does, but by adjusting either its speed or blade pitch it can also steer the aircraft (yaw control).

In a coaxial design, there are two rotors turning opposite directions. In stable flight, their torques on the body cancel each other out. For yaw control the relative speed of the two rotors is adjusted, putting the torques out of balance and causing the body to rotate. There is, then, no need for a tail rotor.

There are also designs where the coaxial rotors go at the same speed always, and a tail rotor is there for yaw control only.

As always, there's wikipedia:

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_rotors

3DsArcher

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

12/11/2007 08:35:54 PM · #7

Once you get good at RC helicopters, one of these will take your photography to a whole new level;

dmadden

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-35mm f/2.0 DG HSM A

12/11/2007 08:41:20 PM · #8

I'm gettin one too :) I've been using the 2 channel micro thing by air hogs for $21+shipping. I see now its going for $89, must be a christmas thing. It works pretty well, after some minor trimming and i put some sticker thing on the front so it could pitch properly.

So the one I'm going to get now is the esky coco lama training copter, which is the coaxial. U can also get a usb cable to use with the actual controller. It connects at the bottom and comes with a simulator. I'll wait till after christmas when the rush dies down, maybe I'll get it cheaper :)

dmadden

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-35mm f/2.0 DG HSM A

12/11/2007 08:49:47 PM · #9

Also! the reason i'll get into it now is because it's affordable compared to the previous gas models which ran u into the hundreds. A good model i see goes for around $150 and the electric carries less and cheaper components.

Model type I would look for as a beginner is RTF

KIT: helicopter completely unassembled

ARF: almost ready to fly

RTF: ready to fly

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM for Canon

12/11/2007 11:33:30 PM · #10

Thanks all !

I have been flying a cheapie...$20 for about a week. Very minimal controls. Up/down - Left/right. It is so light that when it falls from the sky it is not damaged.

I ordered a 6 channel "honeybee". I also ordered the $20 trainning cable and software. You hook your actual radio controller to your PC and run the software. You fly a virtual chopper using your actual controls. I'll do this until I'm ready !

Thanks for the lesson on the "co-axil" also.

coronamv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/12/2007 12:23:34 AM · #11

I have the Blade CX2. First thing I will tell you is go ahead and upgrade all components in the drive train, Battery Carrage and Tail to the aluminum upgrades. It will save you the time and money of the plastic parts. Then Buy the wind sweep back option this will almost eliminate blade breakage. Add the heat sink and grab a spare battery. Start off slow in a open area indoor preferably but if your outdoor NO WIND. Your going to spend the first few days trimming out your controls and learning how to do 4 things in unisen. Preferably Join a Club and they can buddy box with you to allow them to recover a doomed flight. PS the Real Flight Sim you see in the stores will never prepare you for the actual flight. Even though it is fun software

12/12/2007 12:38:31 AM · #12

I have been flying R/C helicopters for the past 17 years. Its a takes time and practice, simple as that.. Someone suggested the honeybee, which is a great CCPM starter helicopter. Once set up right this would be a nice low cost trainer (Electric.) Wish this was around when I first started out, all that was available was .30 engine stuff (mainly Kyosho) Crashing sucked getting it dialed in, just to hover. Follow the instructions close, leave it on the begineers settings and learn to hover first. Practice, Practice...

12/12/2007 12:58:04 AM · #13

Too the OP.. Check this Vid out: NightFlyyer This guys got tons of vids with info

FireBird

12/12/2007 07:19:19 AM · #14

Originally posted by BHuseman:

The spousal-unit is not very happy with me over it.

This should help her become more comfortable with your camera and lens purchases. Most of us don't destroy them immediately. :)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

12/12/2007 10:11:41 PM · #15

Hello Mquinn and all others...

Mquinn..I was wondering about the "begineers settings" on the RC...what is it? A switch that kills some of the steering options? I can't seem to dig up any info on this.

Originally posted by MQuinn:

surfdabbler

Canon EOS-5D

12/12/2007 10:38:36 PM · #16

Had RealFlight for about a year now, but I haven't taken the next step on to buying a real machine yet. Being a kiting/paragliding nut, I mostly muck around with the non-powered gliders in the software. Haven't had much time to figure out how to use the choppers yet, but I think I'd probably find that more fun in real life. I love the idea of hanging a camera underneath too, but mabye not my DSLR. Something cheaper and lighter would be better, I think. :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

12/12/2007 11:02:35 PM · #17

Originally posted by kenskid:

Not a switch, its just how you set up the servos, how far out you put the throws. The Honeybee is a full functional 3d Heli, max throws on the servos works great for that, but make it nearly impossible for a beginner to learn since its so twitchy. The instructions that come with the honeybee shows the different placings for the throws of the servos.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

12/12/2007 11:11:02 PM · #18

Not to hijack the thread, but my nephew put a Fuji S3 Pro camera on one, and it came loose and dropped about 300 ft. He was shooting a golf course for ads for a new development in South Florida. He said that he was on the phone ordering another S3 before it hit the ground. The replacement camera is the camera that I use now. He has since switched to Canon Mk 11.
Ok, back to your regular programming, pretend this post didn't happen.

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

12/13/2007 12:48:25 AM · #19

[thumb]622042[/thumb]
This crew shot for 8 days, an endurance ride on horseback in Spain. One guy flew, another handled the video. It was amazing to watch in action. It could even fly inverted! ETA: inverted without the video cam. :-)

Message edited by author 2007-12-13 00:49:13.

12/13/2007 12:14:16 PM · #20

I see now...so it will explain how to make it less "risky" to fly? When you're ready to move up in flying you can re-adjust for more "stunt" type flying?

Is adjusting the servos a complicated thing to do?

Originally posted by MQuinn:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Hello Mquinn and all others...

Mquinn..I was wondering about the "begineers settings" on the RC...what is it? A switch that kills some of the steering options? I can't seem to dig up any info on this.

Not a switch, its just how you set up the servos, how far out you put the throws. The Honeybee is a full functional 3d Heli, max throws on the servos works great for that, but make it nearly impossible for a beginner to learn since its so twitchy. The instructions that come with the honeybee shows the different placings for the throws of the servos.

12/13/2007 08:29:07 PM · #21

Basically you just move the pivot point further out giving you more throw. But like I said not for something for someone learning the basics of RC heli flight. You want to get down the hover, controlling pitch, simple nose ins, stuff where you learn the feel of flying the heli. Flying an RC Heli is about the hardest to do, you have to master the simple stuff before moving on to the next skills.

With lots practice you could be like this guy:
Alan Szabo jr

12/13/2007 10:44:51 PM · #22

Thanks again for the info and links.

Broke down a purchased a Blade Co-Axil "CX2". Local hobby shop purchase. Flew the sim and then the real thing in the store.

Check this out !