Lesson 6: Outdoor and Faster Forward Flight
Outdoor flight at 20 feet up
In this lesson you will learn how a helicopter handles at higher speeds. This is when the full limits of your heli will get pushed.
In this last lesson you will learn about translational lift and how to control your heli when it's moving fast. This is the last lesson: after completing it, you should be able to fly almost anywhere - assuming of course the wind isn't too strong :)
On the whole wind note, let me remind you that, depending on your heli type and size, this lesson may be outside your helicopter's potential. If you have a micro coaxial, in particular, do not attempt this lesson or at least do not fly outdoors or you will lose your heli if any wind comes at all! In addition, IR Helis cannot fly in sunlight. To determine how much wind you can't have while flying this lesson, click here and scroll down to "Flight and Wind when Learning" at the bottom of the page.
In this last lesson you will learn about translational lift and how to control your heli when it's moving fast. This is the last lesson: after completing it, you should be able to fly almost anywhere - assuming of course the wind isn't too strong :)
On the whole wind note, let me remind you that, depending on your heli type and size, this lesson may be outside your helicopter's potential. If you have a micro coaxial, in particular, do not attempt this lesson or at least do not fly outdoors or you will lose your heli if any wind comes at all! In addition, IR Helis cannot fly in sunlight. To determine how much wind you can't have while flying this lesson, click here and scroll down to "Flight and Wind when Learning" at the bottom of the page.
Understanding FF and Translational Lift:
It is vital to your success in this lesson that you understand FF and Translational lift, otherwise you will crash. Click on each term to understand it.
Translational Lift Practice:
To begin this lesson, let's start out by practicing entering and exiting translational lift. This will seem similar to the level forward flight exercises in lesson 5, except instead you will be decreasing throttle when moving, not increasing. You'll want to fly outside today so that you have adequate room to move at higher speeds than you ever have before.
Start off by hovering about 5-10 feet in front of you, then turn and move 15 feet to the left at about 5 mph. You will notice that the helicopter gains altitude even though, from lesson 5, you know that it should be loosing lift. Yep, this is translational lift at work.
Come back to straight in front of you at about 5 mph and this time try to keep the helicopter at the same altitude the entire flight. This will require a decrease in throttle when translational lift kicks in and an increase in throttle when you stop moving. Practice makes perfect with this; keep it up until you naturally anticipate translational lift or the lack of it whenever flying or stopping.
You may notice, depending on which way the wind is blowing, that to move fast in some directions requires a large reduction in throttle, while to move fast in other directions may require an increase. Why is this? Basically, the windspeed relative to your helicopter is the real determinant of how much translational lift your helicopter experiences. If you are flying into a 5mph wind at 5mph, your translational lift is effectively the same as if you were flying at 10mph on a dead calm day. However, if you turn around and then fly with the wind at 5mph your translational lift will be zero, and thus your helicopter will drop as normal when moving at lower speeds. In fact, when flying in the same direction and with the same speed as the wind, your lift will be less than if you were hovering on a windless day.
Anyways, when you are comfortable with maintaining altitude regardless of speed or wind, move on to Circuits below. On that note I'll remind you that if you can't maintain your altitude while doing this simple flying, then you will crash when attempting FF or circuits, because you will either ascend too high and possibly loose control or you will smack the ground when flying with the wind or stopping fast flight.
Start off by hovering about 5-10 feet in front of you, then turn and move 15 feet to the left at about 5 mph. You will notice that the helicopter gains altitude even though, from lesson 5, you know that it should be loosing lift. Yep, this is translational lift at work.
Come back to straight in front of you at about 5 mph and this time try to keep the helicopter at the same altitude the entire flight. This will require a decrease in throttle when translational lift kicks in and an increase in throttle when you stop moving. Practice makes perfect with this; keep it up until you naturally anticipate translational lift or the lack of it whenever flying or stopping.
You may notice, depending on which way the wind is blowing, that to move fast in some directions requires a large reduction in throttle, while to move fast in other directions may require an increase. Why is this? Basically, the windspeed relative to your helicopter is the real determinant of how much translational lift your helicopter experiences. If you are flying into a 5mph wind at 5mph, your translational lift is effectively the same as if you were flying at 10mph on a dead calm day. However, if you turn around and then fly with the wind at 5mph your translational lift will be zero, and thus your helicopter will drop as normal when moving at lower speeds. In fact, when flying in the same direction and with the same speed as the wind, your lift will be less than if you were hovering on a windless day.
Anyways, when you are comfortable with maintaining altitude regardless of speed or wind, move on to Circuits below. On that note I'll remind you that if you can't maintain your altitude while doing this simple flying, then you will crash when attempting FF or circuits, because you will either ascend too high and possibly loose control or you will smack the ground when flying with the wind or stopping fast flight.
Circle Circuit Flying
Now you get to fly circuits, which is probably what you envisioned doing when you got your heli. Even if this is not what you thought of, circuit flying is one of the funnest experiences of RC flight. It is also, generally, the most relaxing.
To start off, make sure that the sun is not low on the horizon, or you will get blinded by it and possibly crash. If the sun is low on the horizon, you'd better wait for a different time of day for your first circuit.
To start off, ascend to about 10 feet in the air (I know, horrifying, huh?) about 15 feet in front of you. Now, slowly fly a directional circle (see lesson 4) around you with a diameter of about 30 feet. Counter-clockwise circuits tend to be easier, but either direction works. Once you have done this, fly slowly in the other direction until you end up back where you started.
Now that you are slightly more used to seeing your helicopter far away from you, start speeding up your circle circuits. Try for about 5mph, but always stay in control so as not to crash. The most inglorious flight is the one that ends in a crash. If you are reckless and crash a lot or tend to nearly crash a lot, then imagine that you are flying yourself and two people inside of a real helicopter. That should help you to stay a little more cautious :)
Please note, a circuit is simply a higher speed directional circle, like you did in lesson 4.
To start off, make sure that the sun is not low on the horizon, or you will get blinded by it and possibly crash. If the sun is low on the horizon, you'd better wait for a different time of day for your first circuit.
To start off, ascend to about 10 feet in the air (I know, horrifying, huh?) about 15 feet in front of you. Now, slowly fly a directional circle (see lesson 4) around you with a diameter of about 30 feet. Counter-clockwise circuits tend to be easier, but either direction works. Once you have done this, fly slowly in the other direction until you end up back where you started.
Now that you are slightly more used to seeing your helicopter far away from you, start speeding up your circle circuits. Try for about 5mph, but always stay in control so as not to crash. The most inglorious flight is the one that ends in a crash. If you are reckless and crash a lot or tend to nearly crash a lot, then imagine that you are flying yourself and two people inside of a real helicopter. That should help you to stay a little more cautious :)
Please note, a circuit is simply a higher speed directional circle, like you did in lesson 4.
Projected Circle Circuits
Now that you can do centered circle circuits, its time to move on to projected circuits. Basically, now you will fly a circuit in front of you rather than around you.
Start off this time by ascending to about 15 feet, 15 feet in front of you. Now, fly a counter-clockwise circuit with diameter 30 feet turning first away from you so that the center of the circle is about 30 feet in front of you. This will expose you to all views of the helicopter, which is why you had to learn nose in flying earlier.
Fly both clockwise and counter-clockwise circuits until you are comfortable with them.
Start off this time by ascending to about 15 feet, 15 feet in front of you. Now, fly a counter-clockwise circuit with diameter 30 feet turning first away from you so that the center of the circle is about 30 feet in front of you. This will expose you to all views of the helicopter, which is why you had to learn nose in flying earlier.
Fly both clockwise and counter-clockwise circuits until you are comfortable with them.
Time for some Creativity . . .
Now that you can fly projected circuits and centered circuits, try other circuit variates, such as figure 8s, rectangles, or even stars. Or, just keep flying the simple circles you learned above.
Mission Accomplished
Congratulations, you have mastered remote control helicopter flight, and learned a ton in the process! My suggestion, since you've made it this far and obviously really enjoy flying, would be to move up to a collective pitch rc helicopter, where you can really progress in remote control flight. Click The Best RC Helicopter: You Choose to learn what to look for in a new heli purchase. But don't be rid of your handy learning heli; just because its simple doesn't mean it isn't still fun to fly!
Check out Collective Pitch Flight School to see what you're in for with a bigger investment in this amazing hobby! Congratulations!!! :)
Check out Collective Pitch Flight School to see what you're in for with a bigger investment in this amazing hobby! Congratulations!!! :)