Radio Control Helicopters
Mark Fadely [[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
- The mature helicopter pilot
- Let’s all do the Funnel!
Anderson, Indiana, indoor event report
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 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 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-easy-to-fly Heli-Max AXE EZ helicopter. Heather was doing well.
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 user-friendly 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 buying a helicopter or trying one, go for it. It is better to try 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 the 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 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.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
