Author: Mark Fadely
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/01
Page Numbers: 104,105,107
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Radio Control Helicopters

Mark Fadely [[email protected]]

Discipline and a desire for precision will pay big dividends

Hi everyone.

I hope 2010 has been a good year for you. As we transition into 2011, it is a good time to reflect on your involvement with RC helicopters.

Are you just getting started with helicopters or have you been flying them for years? Are you having fun? Remember that this is a hobby and it is supposed to be fun.

Helicopters are one of the most challenging and enjoyable hobbies I can think of. To truly get the most enjoyment out of these aircraft, you have to put in some effort. That is true with most things.

One topic that has received much attention lately is the progression path a pilot should follow to advance his or her skills.

Pilots have various ideals about their flying style, but most agree that complete control of the machine is one of the highest priorities. It is tempting for an advancing pilot to skip a few steps along the way while focusing on the next cool trick.

There is an organized schedule of progress specifically for RC helicopter pilots, called the Pilot Proficiency Program (PPP). It is available on the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) website—click on the PPP button when you get there.

Contest flying has seen renewed interest, as an influx of enthusiastic pilots jumped into the Nats Class I competition this year. Contest flying is the ultimate test of RC helicopter precision control.

There are four levels in which you can compete: Class I, II, III, and the FAI schedule (F3C). The FAI is the world governing body for air sports, and it represents the highest level of precision competition.

Many newcomers get excited watching 3-D videos and try to copy what they see. These pilots often become discouraged as they realize that it takes a lot of work to learn the wild 3-D maneuvers. Discipline and a desire for precision will pay big dividends as your flying progresses.

Pilots can benefit from practicing some elements of contest flying. The goal in any RC flying is to become comfortable with the machine in any orientation. Flying 3-D requires the pilot to make quick decisions responding to orientation changes. Contest/precision flying presents essentially the same orientations to the pilot, but at a slower rate. You might be surprised to learn how many good 3-D pilots struggle with orientation control in contest flying.

A good New Year’s resolution would be to practice precision maneuvering. Try doing a one-minute pirouette while hovering over a spot. If you can fly inverted, flip the helicopter over and try the pirouette upside-down. At first the aircraft will probably move around, but you should improve quickly. If you take the time to learn and practice a few basic Class I contest maneuvers, it will improve your skills.

Several fliers who entered this year’s Nats were 3-D pilots, and Andy Panoncillo was one. He signed up to fly Class I. Andy lives in Muncie, Indiana, so he did not have to travel far to get to the AMA flying site. He built a Vibe 90SG earlier in the year that he reviewed in MA. Andy has a long RC history that includes many years as a national RC Combat competitor. He has brought the same intensity to his helicopter flying.

He told me that he wanted to fly in the Nats to grow as a pilot. In Andy’s opinion, flying in a precision contest is one of the best things you can do to improve your flying.

Congratulations on your fourth-place finish, Andy!

There are classes to suit all skill levels of pilots. Not all fliers are into competition, and that is where IRCHA’s PPP can be a great alternative.

Following is an excerpt from Level I of the PPP.

E. 3/4 Rear View Hovering

  1. Take off to hover; hold for five (5) seconds.
  2. Rotate the nose of the helicopter either left or right forty-five (45) degrees; hold for five (5) seconds.
  3. Rotate the nose of the helicopter back to straight ahead; hold for five (5) seconds.
  4. Continue rotating the nose of the helicopter forty-five (45) degrees to the other side; hold for five (5) seconds.
  5. Rotate the nose back to straight ahead; hold for five (5) seconds.
  6. Land with the skids completely within the landing area.

F. Full Lateral View Hovering

  1. Same as 3/4 Rear View Hovering, but in steps 2 and 4 rotate ninety (90) degrees instead of forty-five (45) degrees.

G. Diagonal Hovering

  1. After takeoff from the landing area within the center of a 10-meter/yard box, from stationary hover, maintaining a constant heading, move the helicopter diagonally to a corner of the box; hold for five (5) seconds, then return to the center of the box.
  2. Repeat with the remaining three corners of the box.

H. Circle Hovering

  1. Tail-in Circle

a. Take off; hold hover for five (5) seconds. b. Move the helicopter to the right, keeping the tail pointed at the pilot, in a circle around the pilot until the helicopter is hovering over the takeoff point. c. Move the helicopter to the left, repeating step b above. d. Land with the skids completely within the landing area.

  1. Constant Heading Circle

a. Take off; hold hover for five (5) seconds. b. Move the helicopter to the right, keeping the tail pointed in the same direction; complete a ten (10) meter circle in front of the pilot until the helicopter is hovering over the takeoff point. c. Move the helicopter to the left, repeating step b above. d. Land with the skids completely within the landing area.

The PPP requirements are thorough. After you complete a maneuver, you are required to fly it in the opposite orientation. To be official, you must have a witness sign off on your accomplishments.

I hope this has given you some food for thought for future flying. You can use a little of this information or become fully involved by actually flying in a competition next year.

Now go fly!

That is it for this time. See you back here next month. MA

Sources:

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.