fixed pitch

[jcslaten]

I am new to heli's but not flying i have been flying air planes for a year.
What i like to know is, what is fixed pitch vs non fixed pitch? I am not sure witch one to get being new to heli's.

Thank you for your help. jcslaten

[lebobbus]

FP fixed pitch = blade angle remains constant ; ascent and descent achieved by increasing/decreasing throttle

CP collective (non-fixed) pitch = blade angle changes to achieve ascent and descent

if completely new to helis, go with a multi-rotor to learn basic handling skills

after that, people disagree on whether to do FP then CP or go straight to CP; you'll need to choose what path is best for you

[jcslaten]

Thank lebobbus,when you mean mult-roto you mean like the coaxial the cx-2
right?

thank again. jcslaten

[Skarn]

Yep, multi-rotor or contra-rotating like the CX-2 or Llama.

As lebobbus pointed out, some disagree with the next step after that, but let me offer my opinion and experience:

So, here is what I recommend, but the caveat is that I do understand money can be an issue and prohibitive:
If you want to learn without major frustration....if you want something that is easy to learn on... get a heli at least 450 size or larger. The difference in stability is like night and day. The minimum I would get is a Blade 400...it comes with everything you need. But the downside to the B400 is that it's a RTF heli and you won't get the build/repair experience for when you crash. If you truly believe you will stay in this hobby, I recommend you get a Trex 450 (or clone) or Mini Titan or Dragonus 450, etc. You will build it yourself and put your own electronics in it. Yes, the initial cost will give you sticker shock, but it is well worth it. You will not be as frustrated, you won't have to upgrade anything, and you will crash less! Also you will hear people talk about the complexity in setting up a CP heli....yes they are more complex than a FP heli, but it's not rocket science! With the Finless Bob video's and others out there, they walk you through everything from building, to setting up the CCPM head, to the gyro to radio programming and even actual flying! Many have started with a 450 or larger CP heli and have been VERY successful! I can tell you from PERSONAL experience as well as many posts that many have also quit the hobby out of frustration trying to learn on a small micro heli.

So in summary, just to make it clear, I have nothing against a FP heli, but do NOT recommend ANY micro motor-driven tail heli CP or FP!

I also highly recommend a simulator...Phoenix is generally the preffered one for heli's but Realflight isn't bad either. There's a basic free one over at helifreak as well in the simulator section. Lastly do a search on RADDs School of Rotary Flight and folllow it to a 'T'.

Do your own research and decide what's best for you.

Good luck,
Skarn

[grnbrg]

I'd suggest that if you are seriously considering a collective pitch helicopter as a first helicopter, spend some time (at least an hour or two) on a sim before pulling the trigger on a $400-$1,000 helicopter. It will give you a good idea of how difficult they are to fly.

If you're not having any fun trying to keep it in the air in the sim, or are concerned that each hard landing you make in the sim will cost you $10-$20 in real life, then it's better to look at fixed pitch or co-ax.

My first heli was a CP model, and I'd go the same path again, but I'd put in far more time with HeliSim before I tried to maiden the real thing. But I also enjoy the fixing and tweaking as much or more than the flying...


grnbrg.

[jasmine2501]

Dave explains it all :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktX6p7HASxA

[Blade_Killer]

I'm one of the FP after coax types, I believe they are WAY cheaper to learn on and will teach you all the basic skills you need to move up to a CP someday if thats your goal. A CP is expensive to learn on, a simple hard landing or tip over can cost $30-$50 and down time replacing parts and setting up again, sometimes weeks at a time if you dont have the part on hand and have to mail order, when you crash a FP usually there is no damage at all and you can fly again right away and if there is damage it take a few min to replace and set up, sometimes, thread and CA can fix the part as good as new and this speeds up your learning with more stick time.

But as said before, it's a constant debate as to whats best...I started with a Blade CP (probably one of the worst CPs to start on) and it cost me a fortune in time and money, I got a Honey Bee FP and was hovering right out of the box.

[osterizer]

It also depends on what experience you already have. I wouldn't suggest to someone that has been flying fixed-wing that he should get a coax. A good amount of time spent on a sim would probably be enough acclimation to move on to Radds and a decent CP. A feep would help along the way, but I don't know if it's mandatory.

[1320fastback]

I've been flying fixed wing for awhile and got a FP heli as a present this last Christmas. The change to heli hasn't been as dramatic as when I first started flying planes. I'm sure it helped that I had experience with RC flight and that I am also from the Nintendo generation.

As far as FP or CP, if you have no RC flight experience I say get a FP, or if you are confortable with a controller with alot of switches and are not intimidated by it get a CP.

[Lamedico]

My goal is to get into fuel driven (gas, nitro, or kerosene (jet)) CP copters relatively soon. Fiortunately I have a friend who is an expert on fuel driven copters and can give me assistance, However, I feel that the electric coaxial is an invaluable learning experience. I might even get an electric CP copter before I invest in a fuel CP copter. Of course it's also a matter of money. the economy and my employment status is the ultimate dictator of what I get and when or if I can get it.

[osterizer]

Well, in the end it's up to what the individual is comfortable with attempting, isn't it? At $90 or less, a Lama 3 or similar is a pretty low cost/low stress way to learn the basics of which stick moves what. OTOH, a heck of a lot of people have learned to fly on .30 or .50 glow helis, too. <shrug> There are too many people and situations and backgrounds to say that any approach fits all, at least IMO.

[hypnolobster]

Dave explains it all :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktX6p7HASxA
This guy is great. I strongly recommend spending a while being amused while watching him do hooligan-esque things.

[Lamedico]

Well, in the end it's up to what the individual is comfortable with attempting, isn't it? At $90 or less, a Lama 3 or similar is a pretty low cost/low stress way to learn the basics of which stick moves what. OTOH, a heck of a lot of people have learned to fly on .30 or .50 glow helis, too. <shrug> There are too many people and situations and backgrounds to say that any approach fits all, at least IMO.

In my case it's the type of flying I want to do. I want something big, powerful, fast, that can take wind, precipiation, and harsh or bad weather. Ultimately I am going to have to go to fuels to deliver that kind of performance But uin the meantime I have to start somewhere and I'm enjoying electric coaxials immensly.

[osterizer]

In my case it's the type of flying I want to do. I want something big, powerful, fast, that can take wind, precipiation, and harsh or bad weather. Ultimately I am going to have to go to fuels to deliver that kind of performance But uin the meantime I have to start somewhere and I'm enjoying electric coaxials immensly.

Then enjoy :). I think you'll find some dispute of the point that 'wet' power is greater than electric, though. My Logo 600 has a 3.25 HP electric system that weighs about the same as a .50 setup that would deliver only a little more than half the power.

[jasmine2501]

Trex 700 ELECTRIC - kinda pricey for batteries, but the rest of the setup is about the same as any other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rd1dlnazKk

[osterizer]

:) I still think of a glow heli now and then, but not for power. I just like to play with engines.

[Greybird]

Then enjoy :). I think you'll find some dispute of the point that 'wet' power is greater than electric, though. My Logo 600 has a 3.25 HP electric system that weighs about the same as a .50 setup that would deliver only a little more than half the power.
:eek: Holy Crap! What is that set-up? Osterizer, I also agree with your other point. I like messing with engines. I will have a nitro or gasser here eventually.

[osterizer]

:) 10S, Scorpion 4025, Castle HV110. It puts out 2000-2500 W and makes for some lovely punchouts. It could generate more power, but the heli isn't heavy enough.