May 2007 125
WELCOME BACK to the helicopter
column. This is the place you go when you
are beginning to question your sanity.
It is common knowledge among the RC
masses that helicopter pilots are just as
unstable as their machines. I’m not
claiming there are no well-grounded,
practical, high-functioning people in this
side of the hobby; I’ve just never met any.
Ha, ha.
I thank you all because I got some great
feedback from the last few writings. In one
of the early columns I wrote about all the
young pilots who are taking up
helicopters. It is a great indicator of the
health of our hobby when the youth return.
However, I was reminded not to forget
about our senior pilots. Many seasoned
fliers are taking up helicopters too. This is
exciting because it is not easy for people
to try new things after a long period of time. It is human nature to
stay with what is comfortable.
This speaks volumes for how attractive and attainable modern
helicopters have become. When you see someone flying one of
the new machines, he or she usually has a big smile on his or her
face and loves it.
I attended another local indoor event recently. It was at the
Anderson, Indiana, airport—the same site I mentioned in an
earlier column.
It looked like everyone was having a great time when I noticed
that only helicopters were flying; there were no airplanes in the
Anderson, Indiana, indoor event report
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Helicopters Mark Fadely
Also included in this column:
• The mature helicopter pilot
• Let’s all do the Funnel!
Steve Maxwell loves flying his T-Rex. He
still flies his airplanes, but he is getting a
big thrill out of his little helicopter.
Dennis Runge, who is learning to fly
helicopters, walks back to the pits after a
successful flight at the Anderson, Indiana,
indoor event.
The student becomes the teacher: 17-year-old indoor 3-D
champion Nick Maxwell helps AMA President Dave Brown.
Longtime RCer John Zankle hovers his Blade CX in the background.
The flying St. Johns (L-R): Wayne, Lanie (13), Landon (10), and
Logan (10) fly their Blade CX2s together.
air. There must have been roughly 10 helicopters flying in various
areas of the building.
It seems that in a short amount of time many airplane fliers
have also picked up a helicopter or two. That is exciting! Men,
women, girls, and boys were flying together like one big, happy
family. Actually there was an entire family flying together.
The St. Johns make RC helicopters a family affair. I caught
four of them taking off on a mission with their E-flite Blade
CX2s. Father Wayne and his three protégé pilots—Lanie, who is
13, and her twin brothers Landon and Logan, who are 10—were
airborne in no time.
A family that hovers together stays together—or something
05sig4.QXD 3/26/07 9:55 AM Page 125
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf with his daughter Heather,
who is learning to fly the new AXE EZ from Heli-Max.
like that. What a cool sight to see them having so much fun with
each other. Lanie was just getting her “wings,” but the twins had
their twin-rotor helicopters under complete control.
As I was snapping a few pictures of the St. Johns I couldn’t
help but notice another father-daughter team in attendance:
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf and his daughter Heather,
who is learning to fly and is taking part in a test program Steve
is running.
The idea of the flight test is to see how long it takes someone
who has never flown to become proficient on a new, super-easyto-
fly Heli-Max AXE EZ helicopter. Heather was doing
Moreover, she had a big smile on her face.
Steve has flown helicopters for a long
time, and it was nice to see them enjoying the
hobby together. I think the test is going to go
very well indeed.
The Mature Helicopter Pilot: “It’s nice to
see so many young people getting into
helicopters, but don’t forget about the more
mature pilots,” wrote an anonymous senior
flier.
I asked you to write me with concerns,
and you did. Thanks for that! I learned that
many pilots are in the 50-and-older age
category. I’m happy to know that the
numbers are so large. Frankly, I didn’t expect
that.
Since I received those E-mails I have done
a little research by interviewing helicopter
pilots in that age bracket. I learned that most
have flown airplanes for a long time and still
do, but they were intrigued and wanted to try
helicopters since they’re so much more userfriendly
now. Most own a simulator and
practice flying helicopters and airplanes.
I met Steve Maxwell and Dennis Runge
at a local indoor fun-fly. They were
having a blast with their electric-powered
miniature helicopters. They may have
been older than 50, but they acted like kids
playing with their new “toys.”
Sometimes people will say, “I no
longer have the quick reflexes you need
to fly helicopters.” You are not
physically limited too much by age when
flying these models. Sure, things don’t
work as fast as they used to, but anyone
in moderately good physical condition
can take up helicopters.
If you have been thinking about
giving helicopters a try, go for it. It is
better to try it than it is to always regret
not taking the plunge.
The new AXE EZ is a perfect package
for a beginner. It hovers almost on its
own, and everything you need comes in
the box for less than $200. This model is
ready to fly too; no building is required.
AMA President Dave Brown was
present at the indoor fun-fly too. He is a
senior pilot with a rich RC history. I had
a nice conversation with him and found
out that he flies helicopters too. He is just
getting started, but he can already do
flips with his T-Rex.
This really shows the talent Dave has
in RC. He was a champion RC
Aerobatics pilot and brings many skills to
his newfound passion. It was cool to see
the determination and concentration on
his face as he piloted his helicopter.
Nick Maxwell was on hand, and he
helped Dave make some setup changes to
his model. It was neat to see young Nick
help Dave. It seemed like he should have
been calling him “Mr. Brown,” even
though he was the one giving the advice.
Dave Brown was not the only person
in attendance from AMA; MA Associate
Editor Michael Ramsey, MA Executive
Editor Liz Helms, and her daughter Jenna
were there. I enjoyed meeting them.
Michael flew his MX-400 in between
chatting with everyone.
Big News From E-Fest! I just got back
from the 2007 E-Fest in Champaign,
Illinois, which is the largest indoor event
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in the country. The big news is that Futaba
unveiled its new 2.4 GHz FASST—Futaba
Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology—
system: the company’s answer to the
Spektrum spread spectrum radio.
I got to try the radio in my MX-450
helicopter. I swapped out the receiver in
my model for the new one that came with
the FASST system. I took it out for a flight
and was exceptionally impressed by the
servos’ response speed and the fact that
you could fly with no frequency pin. I flew
it all weekend with no problems
whatsoever. This system is a winner!
Thanks to Frank Noll for letting me try
the FASST system. I’ll have more about it
and helicopter happenings in an E-Fest
report next month. It was a fantastic event,
and numerous exciting things happened
there.
Let’s All Do the Funnel: “I’ve been trying
to learn how to do a Funnel and I just can’t
get it right. Can you explain the stick
inputs for one?”
This maneuver can be frustrating to
learn. I think the main reason it is difficult
is that you are controlling the turn with
aileron instead of elevator. In a normal turn
you bank over with aileron and then use
elevator to bring it around. Conversely, in
a Funnel you are bringing it around with
aileron.
Your brain is programmed to use
elevator for the turn, so it feels
uncomfortable to be making corrections
using the opposite axis of control. The
level of difficulty is compounded as the
angle of the fuselage becomes steeper.
The best way to work your way into
Funnels is to start out doing flat nose-in or
tail-in remote circles. A remote circle
nose-in is a circular path in which the
helicopter’s nose is pointed toward the
center.
This is an easy version of a Funnel, and
it is not that easy. You should be proficient
at these flat remote circles before you
angle the fuselage toward the ground. If
you work into it gradually, it will become
natural.
People who want to jump into a nearly
vertical, tight, low Funnel are asking for
trouble. As with any new maneuver, start
high and work your way down.
I read many techniques on the Internet
for doing this move. Many times the
instructions will read something like, “For
a Funnel, start by flying medium speed
forward flight and then bank while turning
the tail up or down to enter the Funnel
position.”
This method is going to “throw” you
into a fast-paced Funnel for which you are
not going to be ready. You will be much
safer and learn better control by using the
gradual method I have outlined. Good
luck, and I will be back next month. MA