How long before real Heli?

[dzgruntld]

How long did most you fly on the simulator before getting a real R/C heli?
I've flying the different models at 115%. I want to get the Blade CP-Pro eventually,( I think). I have been flying the Impala trainer and switching between the downloaded Cp-Pro from Phrank. Any opinions??
Thanks
PS..Yes I am a Postal Worker,
No, I don't own a gun......

[Crizz]

I started after i´m infected by the Heli-virus w/ buying a Space FP ( Dragonfly4 ) at the bay for just a few bucks. Thought that even if it´s not worth it, i would have a sender for a sim

Two weeks later I bought a Ikarus Eco Piccolo V2, and 2 weeks after that ( and 2 little crashes later ) I bought the RF G3.5 - only a sim wouldn´t be satisfying to me

Now I have the TT Mini-Titan E325 waiting for maidenflight ( still waiting for my GY-401 gyro ). You see , how to start can be different

[HX3D014]

1 year on G2 and my thumbs still got shaky

it would have been sooner if the other half was not so worryed about things.

But now i have it and an plane.

if you can not do it in the sim without geting confused. then you will get confused in real life.

PS. learning how to adapt to different heli in the sim is an advantage. geting used to a modle that flys similar to the one you have/want is also an advantage. puting the sim speed to 115% is also going to help you, but just remember to get back to 100% for a litle while befor a maiden. just in case you get used to reaction times and begin to over feed an input in real life.

Did you try the E-Tail one. I think if you are going stock CP pro it will be important to realise and get used to the tail limitations. (There are mods one can do to increase the tail authority. but it still is limited) The stock CP pro has a Tail phenomenon that causes it to let go.

If you like i could show you in the sim with the E-Tail how the tail motor stops so as to get a left yaw, eventualy (With current tail vertical fin) resistance from the tail fin will be greater than the torque from the main blades and you will not be able to yaw left. dependant on particular manouver.

as a beginer. you will go a long way before you find this is of any set back. but it could surprise you one time, acidently

1 hr a day at 10 - 15 min intivals (Dont push the greay matter, and have time to think) and in a couple of months. you will be able to do things you aspire to now.

PS. welcome to the forums and Happy hovering.

In the sim. of that 10 - 15 min. only spend 20 -30 sec here and there hovering. the rest could be small manouvers here and there.

Push it in the sim, not in to the dirt

[opjose]

I'd say MANY months...

Once you can hover a heli inverted in G3 and perform BACKWARDS INVERTED flight you are about ready to try the real thing.

You'll find the real thing can be harder.

[cfossa]

You will know when you are ready. I flew the som for a long time, and actually got a plane first because I could not hover on the sim for more than 10 seconds. One day it clicked. Then I kept working on hovering at different orientations, and eventually forward flight. When you can do stuff w/o thinking on the sim, you are ready for the real thing,

If you have the bug and can't wait, get a Blade CX. It is much easier to fly and is the "real thing."

Carl

[opjose]

Originally Posted by cfossa

When you can do stuff w/o thinking on the sim, you are ready for the real thing,


Carl

Yup exactly!

[Crizz]

Most important is not to think , just do while flying - that takes time. Okay, I paid for beeing impatiently, crashing was programmed. But it gave me the advantage to learn more about the mechanic of a heli and understanding how it works.

And i guess one of the biggest failures esp. older ones like me do is seeing the $$-signs first time out of the sim when starting the modell, it´s anywhere deep in the back of head. The youngerones often don´t care about, that´s their advantage - they handle it with more ease

( okay, that´s only my experience - but nobody can simulate adrenaline on a sim )

[Jimmy Newton]

...make the same mistakes I made. I went out and bought a real .30 size heli
and joined the local flying club. ( So far no mistakes. ) Then with the advise of
club members strapped on a hula hoop and attempted to hover. One day in a
wind, it "sailed" on me when it caught the wind and I didn't know what to do,
the members just stood there and watched as I attempted to get it back under
control....crashed. Eventually crashed again. Both times it cost me about $300.
Back then the Shuttle by Hirobo and the Kyosho were the popular brands. There
were no decent sims except for a stick frame sorta sim that wasn't very good.
Eventually I was able to hover all except nose in, I lost interest and put them
away for 15 years. Now I'm ready to fire up the heli's again after practicing on
the RF 3.5 for a couple of months. I'm confident I'll do OK as long as I don't try
any of the 3D stuff I try on the sim. I figure that I've saved myself about $3000
in 3 months of practice on the sim. I'm comfortable with nose-in and inverted
flight on the sim, and if all goes well will try a couple of simple areobatics when
I get my Trex 600 next week. Wish me luck.

Jim

[jeffpn]

Good Luck!!!!!!!

[gayblade]

Hey Kids,
I'm a 50 yr old newbee (6 months) and totally hooked on copters. This forum is great help!
I have 4 coxals and fly them well (for what they are),I have destroyed a hobby lobby Falcon and gave up on it.(after 4 rebuilds) (trash can).
I now have a MX400 that I can hover for a few minutes at a time before it sales away and crashs.(twise) This is expensive! I'm great at fixing them now though.
So,I bought the 3.5 last week and have been using it for a couple of hours each night. I can hover various ships now (tail in only) for 5-10 minutes and get them back after they sail away. The red button is my new friend!
When should I try to fly the MX again? I haven't even attempted inverted....
Thanks in advance. Steve
(No, I have a wife and 2 kids but like the user name. LOL)

[jeffpn]

hey zorro,
I would recommend the sim until you can fly facing you. Tends to happen in the real world! (Actually, the only reason I wrote this is so I could call you Zorro)

[CHOPPERSUEY]

Can you fly outside circles Backwards , (tail in the lead) 1 foot off the deck, THen you maybe ready Grasshopper.

do this in the sim only. unless you are bill gates.

[Chopper Suey]

Hey ChopperSuey, Im gonna have to charge you royalty fees on the user name, Ive had mine for two years now!