Micro Helicopters advice please ??

Thought I should add that (especially if you're interested in going above indoor size heli's) join a flying club. Perhaps it's been mentioned before, if so good to reiterate.

Sorry if it sounds like a public service announcement, but it's important to note.

With a flying club, you get enthusiastic help from other flyers and a SAFE place to fly.

Even with the 450 size, you are getting into a region where the heli is a flying buzz saw.

Never go to a public park with something like a 450 or larger without lots of experience (and even if you have experience, an rc field is where you should always go).

Safety, safety :)
 
Ok I recieved my Buzzfly BE about an hour ago, and have had an attempted test flight.

Initial thoughts are, build quality looks good on the heli itself, not sure about the transimitter it comes with.

I have the trainer fitted and at present cant really even get it more than a few inches off the ground without it going all over the place.

Going to my friends house now, as he reckons it needs trimming. TBH i think its a great heli although I think its too advanced for me....

I'll update after ive had it trimmed, and also got the professionals opinion on it.
 
GreatWaves said:
Thought I should add that (especially if you're interested in going above indoor size heli's) join a flying club. Perhaps it's been mentioned before, if so good to reiterate.
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I looked at a local club and they require you to have passed the helicopter test. I looked at the test and it basically is outdoor flying of a specific set of manoeuvres - hover, flying figure of eight within boundaries. Would love to learn but I can't at the moment. Nothing sounds better than a jet heli :D
 
Meds said:
Ok I recieved my Buzzfly BE about an hour ago, and have had an attempted test flight.

Initial thoughts are, build quality looks good on the heli itself, not sure about the transimitter it comes with.

I have the trainer fitted and at present cant really even get it more than a few inches off the ground without it going all over the place.

Going to my friends house now, as he reckons it needs trimming. TBH i think its a great heli although I think its too advanced for me....

I'll update after ive had it trimmed, and also got the professionals opinion on it.
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A couple of quick tips:

Don't try to lift off slowly.

Once you think it's about to lift off, give the throttle a good pump so it jumps of the ground about a foot. As you do this, you'll need to give a touch of right cyclic as the heli will automatically drift left as it leaves the ground. Don't worry. It won't shoot up in the air as 100mph.

Watch the mast of the heli. This is the first part of the heli to move and you'll see movement here first which you can correct to maintain a hover. Oh, and keep the tail pointing towards you, or you'll quickly become confused by the controls.

The main thing that will need trimming on this heli is the yaw (rotation), and possibly a little bit of right cyclic trim to minimise the drift to the left.
If it's constantly rotating clockwise, you'll need to move the rudder trim to the left to compensate. This (rudder) trim level is reset every time you turn off the transmitter, so make sure it's in the centre when you power on as it takes the position it's in at power up, as centre.

It took me about 5 batteries to get into a hover for about 30 seconds, and the next day I could do a full battery (it was my 1st single rotor heli so I had the controls down before hand). The first two batteries it crashed less than two seconds after takeoff.
 
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NickK said:
I looked at a local club and they require you to have passed the helicopter test. I looked at the test and it basically is outdoor flying of a specific set of manoeuvres - hover, flying figure of eight within boundaries. Would love to learn but I can't at the moment. Nothing sounds better than a jet heli :D
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Ok so before actually passing that test, you would be required to arrange to meet with a designated instructor to practice. Once you pass you get the all clear to come any time.

Until you find time to start doing that, get a good heli simulator. One of the best heli sims out there is the UK homegrown Phoenix simulator.

If you can afford a Jet Copter, then you can afford to get the ideal starter heli. In my opinion that would be a 500 class electric, but ask around. It's large enough to offer significant stability but not so large that it's too scary. But make no mistake a 500 size is not to be trifled with :cool:
 
NickK said:
I looked at a local club and they require you to have passed the helicopter test. I looked at the test and it basically is outdoor flying of a specific set of manoeuvres - hover, flying figure of eight within boundaries. Would love to learn but I can't at the moment. Nothing sounds better than a jet heli :D
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They normally only require you to have taken the test to fly at the field unsupervised. If there are other club members there, then you normally only need BMFA insurance, which you can get my either joining the BFMA directly, or joining a club.

If it wasn't that way, how are you supposed to learn and pass the A certificate test?
 
Bigpops said:
They normally only require you to have taken the test to fly at the field unsupervised. If there are other club members there, then you normally only need BMFA insurance, which you can get my either joining the BFMA directly, or joining a club. ....
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Yeah it depends on the club. Many clubs in the U.S. for example supposedly are very strict and require an official "instructor" to be there for practice sessions.

But the insurance you want to get from the start.
 
Really? I thought the US were less strict. The way I see people flying Nitros and 600 size electrics in the streets and parks on Youtube defies all common sense.
 
Bigpops said:
Really? I thought the US were less strict. The way I see people flying Nitros and 600 size electrics in the streets and parks on Youtube defies all common sense.
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Well yeah out of sight of the clubs. A lot in the states defies common sense :p ed: And the U.S. is one of those places with many regions with vast open spaces all over... makes rc peeps drool.
 
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buzzfly = NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!! this thing is well hard to fly!!!! I'm at a loss.....

Im about ready to pack it all in!!! can i add i also need a new tail rotor and a new frame!!

Any suggestions on how to improve, or a good site with tips for beginners???
 
Meds: Number one tip. Simulator :)

As for on the fly tips... my advise would be to make two aspects of smooth control a priority: 1) Focus on stable elevation and smooth transitions in elevation 2) Focus on keeping the tail pointing directly at you (not a degree off)

When you get your reflexes to do those two well, then cyclic and controlling drift accurately and smoothly becomes much easier.

So in a sense your left thumb is taking the lead and is a bit busier fine tuning. Your right thumb benefits.

Previously was also mentioned by BigPops to get away from the floor/ground fast. That's true because ground effect messes with stability. Do that but going right to focus #1. Cyclic is so much easier when it's not bobbing up and down so much and so fast.

When your reflexes catch up to it, it won't seem as chaotic. But small heli's are definately more jumpy and reactive.

Obviously a large area for practice is ideal as your under less pressure from space around you.
 
Thanks for the advice Greatwave, is there any simulator you would recommend in particular?

I was thinking about downloading FMS, but I still have to get the USB thing for my Transmitter.

I think a larger space would definately help me now, problem is just finding one. Maybe I'll just have to wait until summer when I can take it out.

Im trying to do hops, and have removed the trainer, as I actually find the heli is less stable with that on.... Problem is the heli goes off to one side.....

So I think the sim would definately be the best thing for me right now.
 
There are two sims which are best for heli's: Phoenix and Phoenix :) It's really good. People are opinionated about sims. That's my opinion.

FMS is free, so can't hurt and the usb cables are cheap as I understand. FMS is good for basics from what I've read. Dynamics are not as close though.

With a small heli I'm sure you could go to any not occupied inside basketball court of whatever. Ask for permission though.

That's odd that the trainer makes it less managable. Is it balanced in all directions with the trainer on? The trainer is good because it gives that wide foot print and that gives confidence because you know you can plunk it down pretty abrubtly without tipping it over.

ed: some training gear are a bit much. You could fabricate your own which works better: Not too wide. Just wide enough for a better foot print. And not angling down so much (but they need to be STIFF and not too long if they angle down less... otherwise they will resonate badly under the rotor downwash).
 
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sorry Bigpops I missed you comments above, I shall be trying to trim the heli as you have suggested and the heli definately drifts to the right. I definately need a lot of practice.

Pheonix is kinda expensive Greatwaves, but the again I guess you get what you pay for.. I shall try and fit the trainer again and see what happens.

Hopefully I'll update you guys on how I have progressed tomorrow evening, hopefully some progression will have been made.

Meds

BTW just played some more with it, and it I think my case may not be so hopeless afterall.....
 
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I have Phoenix, I just got it last Monday, but it's not cheap (£80) and you need a proper transmitter to use it. A USB one won't do, as it needs to connect through the dongle as part of the copy protection.

FMS isn't too shabby once you get some new scenery and models, but it's tricky to get working properly on anything other than Windows XP.

Another option which I've tried, is Clearview (link). It costs $40 USD, and you can use any USB transmitter (like the Esky) Real transmitter with an appropriate lead, or even a joypad or keyboard. While it's not as good as Phoenix, it's miles ahead of FMS, and runs fine on Vista or Win7. If you're going to use a sim, make sure wind is turned on.
 
would it be fair to say that if i can fly well on Pheonix then I can fly well in real life??

I have 2 choices, I can either buy something like the lama v3 to practice on or Pheonix RC sim, Im inclined to go down the RC sim route as I think in the long run it will help me, I just need to try and figure what adaptor I need to buy with it for the Buzzfly Transmitter :)
 
A sim will teach you to the stick movements needed to control your helicopter. Simple as that really. It'll take you from hovering, through to circuits, 8s, backwards flight, inverted flight, inverted backwards flight and aerobatics (piro-flips, rolling 8s etcetera), all without a crash cosing you a penny.

If you think you'll be in helicopters long term, or you want to master more than basic forward flight, then buy a sim now. I'd been flying about 8 months before I got Phoenix, and I've had 6 helis and have 4 now. I know I would have progressed quicker had I bought the sim a couple of months after I started.

Learning hovering and forward flight can be done cheaply enough without a sim, provided you buy the right heli, and have somewhere to fly it regularly.
 
Hi all,

Not read through this thread a great deal, but i'm wanting a Micro RC Helicopter for Xmas from the GF, which is the best to go for with a <£30 budget? I want to be able to fly it around the living room, and control the direction it flies in!

Many thanks :)
 
I've just bought a walkera 4#3 off ebay. I'm just waiting on postage now, but over the last week, i've been getting plenty of practice on a Walkera in RealFlight G4.5 with controller and i'm feeling very confident on flying one of these things from all angles now. I just hope the real helicopter is more stable than the one in the game.
 
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