Learning to fly a Helicopter

“Hovering”

All flights begin and end in a hover –

Invite an experienced pilot to assist you in checking over your setup to insure it is ready for flight.  Don’t get in a hurry, force yourself to take and master small steps.  Purchase and practice on a flight simulator like a Real Flight G3 or an XTR Reflex to get acquainted with controlling an R/C helicopter.

 I would suggest asking a qualified R/C Helicopter pilot to test fly and check out the aircraft as well as make the needed trims and adjustments.  This will insure that you are learning with a machine that is in trim and in theory on a calm day, lift off and track smoothly with little side to side drift.  It is also a good idea to use training gear attached to the skids to reduce the chances of early crashes by tipping the aircraft over.

 Okay - Let’s assume you have read some articles and talked with some heli pilots as well as spent some time on the flight simulator becoming familiar with the cyclic, rudder and pitch / throttle controls. 

 At the field with assistance or on your own …

 Preflight the helicopter –

• Fueled up
• Battery charged and tested
• Linkages checked and visual inspection of the mechanics
• Frequency (Channel) clear?
• Transmitter on
• Receiver on
• Range check
• Double check transmitter settings for proper model selected and in the start (idle) position to avoid a hot start or runaway.

 Starting

• Igniter
• Start the machine while holding the rotor head firmly
• After smooth idle walk the aircraft with the transmitter to the practice area
  • Generally the helipad for hover training
• Place helicopter nose into the wind and stand 15 or more feet behind and a bit to one side

 Let’s practice

• Slowly raise the throttle / collective to spool up the helicopter, it should get light on the skids and approach a lift off at mid stick
• As you lift into the air concentrate on making the needed corrections to maintain a steady in place hover
• This is a taxing mental state as you try and transform visual cues to your radio’s controls, it takes time, and it will become almost automatic.
  • Remember “all heli pilots have been where you are”
• Keep the aircraft close to the ground as you master the fore and aft and left and right cyclic corrections and remember corrections need to be small and made to correct and then return –
  • EX: if you are starting to drift to the right and forward – put in a small back and left correction until the movement is arrested and then re-center the cyclic stick
  • EX: if you are nervous and apply too much throttle and the helicopter climbs out 1 – 2 or more feet you will be tempted to slam the throttle down, try to think about this scenario and condition yourself to SLOWLY pull the throttle back
• Before long and too many tanks of fuel, you will see the aircraft staying where you want it, climbing and descending under power and control.

 Be patient – have fun – ask for help :-)

 Next article will talk about more advanced maneuvers to prepare for forward flight.

 Ron Keith