Radio Control: Helicopters

RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS LAST MONTH ideas help progress flying after hovering proficiency attained some fliers suggested discussing basics should actually considered prior hovering proficiency since snow starting melt parts country least hope will taking new helicopter have assembling winter out its first test flight Although helicopter assembly manuals very good now have improved greatly throughout years still some setup basics check understand before initial hovering attempts little work bench now will save time aggravation later flying field Have good basic setup instead using functions computer radio servo arm center neutral position should perpendicular pushrod pushrod should connected appropriate hole arm Use hole closer center servo arm decrease servo throw rather decreasing servo movement electronically Setup guidelines should helicopter instructions reserving small control changes radio suit particular flying needs Servo direction set throws 100% have seen new helicopters fields ready maiden flights servos wrong direction basic its something should checked prior flight after other adjustments have made Have throws set 100% dont forget right left throw helicopter will react equally both directions times people have come complaining helicopters would turn properly way other find servo throw reduced direction Use balls links servo belicranks vs Z bends reduce slop control system Some manufacturers recommend Z bends pushrods because its easy saves cost balls links big problem size hole wears time hole servo arm large enough pushrod will bind hole too big will slop whole control system Bundled wires carefully kept away moving parts side frames vibration could cause problems initially mounting servos etc pay little attention will eventually route excess wires Although helicopter instruction manuals usually show servo layout great detail seems always need place on/off switch different location move battery pack adjust center gravity have learned things needed make aircraft look neat possible initially use tie wraps available local electrical supply store secure wires side frame needed extra wires servos battery etc folded over held together ties wires tidy can make turn helicopter move controls extremes look anything rubbing against wire bundle Unfortunately close friends Texas recently lost helicopter because wire bundle rubbing against side frame eventually cut wire two antenna wire probably last wire secured helicopter people seem give very little thought Some fliers believe standard wire antenna supplied receiver best source good signal reception wire must stretched out secured helicopter avoid getting way moving rotor system hot engine parts common technique secure antenna wire stretch bottom helicopter bottom vertical fin horizontal fin tip rubber band keeps tension wire its attached either fin However take care use too knots wire fold wire over itself because doing either can cause antenna circuit become detuned Using rubber band secure antenna wire presents problem rubber band breaking allowing antenna get tangled rotor system little thing like securing antenna wire can cause difficulties done properly first place take extra time look particular helicopter antenna wire arrangement make sure wont give problems later flight Properly adjusting tail rotor pitch possibly biggest problem novice has building new helicopter People call saying helicopter just spins ground no matter what control input make just wont stop spinning problem can caused following 1 Reversed tail rotor servo 2 Tail rotor pitch set properly radio throttle stick midrange position should about five inches positive pitch tail rotor clockwise-rotating main rotor blades tail rotor should trying pull helicopters tail left 3 Reversed gyro check move tail rotor stick right see way servo moves Now pick up helicopter swing nose left tail rotor servo should move slightly same right direction trying bring nose back right gyro reversed look reversing switch gyro electronics available mount gyro upside down cure problem Main rotors wont come up speed could caused rich engine producing enough power usually caused too much rotor blade pitch throttle stick midrange position main rotor blades should have about four inches pitchany will produce too much drag engine handle since engine producing full power midstick closely following helicopter radio instruction manuals considering points think common problems can avoided can really enjoy challenging rewarding hobby 1063 Lorain Ohio 44055 Phone 216 282-8354 Big Flying Scale Kits Over Two Foot Span * Piper Cub$1895 * Stinson 125$1895 * Piper PA-le$1895 * Jodel$1895 Semi-Scale Kits c02 Rubber Power 22 Span * Taylorcraft 195 * Stinson Voyager$1195 * pc-s Porter 195 Contest-Sport Kits * Hornet Embryo .$1 195 * Hornet P-30 795 Fits P-30 & Pee Wee Rules * NEW Hostonian KnightSIIt5 Outdoor Peanut Scale Kits 13 Span * cub$995 * Stinson 125$995 * Vagabond$995 * Farman$995 * Jodel$995 *Fike$1095 1/2 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