Tethered first heli flights - barking or not?

[David]

I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the Heli
cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to hover
and back again - does this sound mad or what?

Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli could
sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the ground,
that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)

David

[Gordon Dunn]

Does not seem like a good idea to me- you would be better buying sim (Eg
CSM 10) for a bit of practice before trying the real machine. - or using a
Hoverfly electric
You should be able to learn to hover without the sim though- all you need
is the training undercarriage. Are you sure your heli is set up correctly?
have you had it checked? A perfectly set up heli is easy to hover, in fact
on a very calm day you can take your fingers off the sticks momentarily.


GD


"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
>
> David
>
>

[Philip Martin]

"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
>
How about a sim, that way you can practice as much as you want without it
costing money every time the heli 'grounds out'. I used the likes of FMS to
get me going, all that will cost you is an interface unit, if money is
tight.

As for tethering, I would suggest that even if the tethers were fairly short
a good heavy bump on the ground would still cause a boom strike, and if they
are a bit longer you can still tail it in! If tethering was such a good idea
we would all be doing it to learn the basics. Sim time and careful practice,
you will soon be able to dig an even bigger hole in the field;o)

Phil Martin.



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[said]

Xref: news.newshosting.com rec.models.rc.helicopter:48430

There was some kind of stand available for this purpose maybe someone knows
the name but I know you can't buy it anymore I think Tower hobbies stocked
them but it has been taken off the market even better invest in a flight sim
like G2 or download FMS from the net
----- Original Message -----
From: "David" <david@noname.bt.com>
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc.helicopter
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 6:05 PM
Subject: Tethered first heli flights - barking or not?


> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
>
> David
>
>


"Gordon Dunn" <mail@NOSPAMgordondunn.co.uk> wrote in message
news:b69t36$6j2$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Does not seem like a good idea to me- you would be better buying sim (Eg
> CSM 10) for a bit of practice before trying the real machine. - or using
a
> Hoverfly electric
> You should be able to learn to hover without the sim though- all you need
> is the training undercarriage. Are you sure your heli is set up correctly?
> have you had it checked? A perfectly set up heli is easy to hover, in
fact
> on a very calm day you can take your fingers off the sticks momentarily.
>
>
> GD
>
>
> "David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
> news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> > Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> > undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
> Heli
> > cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far.
That
> > way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and
away
> > from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> > keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
> hover
> > and back again - does this sound mad or what?
> >
> > Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
> could
> > sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
> ground,
> > that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
> >
> > David
> >
> >
>
>

[Chuck W]

Seems to me that tethering the bird would get you used to weights and
pulling forces that are not going to be there when you "fly for real". I
would nix the option just for that. No sense learning to rely on a crutch
that's not always going to be there for you.

-Chuck W

"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
>
> David
>
>

[Gordon Dunn]

One thing I would empahsise is- Only invest in a simulator which has a
realistic flight behavuoural model. All too often I see people
downloading/purchasing sims that have photorealistic 3D enhanced graphics,
but don't fly like the real thing at all. I know a lot of people complain
about the graphics on CSM 10, but it has an amazingly accurate flight model
..
Also if you intent to drive a sim with anything other than your transmitter
via an appropriate interface you are wasting your time.
I had been learning to hover for approx 6 months and hit a mental barrier on
the learning curve- I did not have the experience or confidence to try
circuits- so I put the heli aside for 2 weeks and practiced on CSM10. At
the end of the 2 week period I took out the Shuttle and fired her up. Just
a few seconds into the first hover I can recall remarking- 'Wow-this is just
like the sim!' I flicked on idle up and took the heli into a 'lazy 8' then
went and did 2 consecutive circuits and landed- not perfect circuits but a
start!!



GD



"said" <said@mweb.co.za> wrote in message
news:3e8882dd.0@news1.mweb.co.za...
> There was some kind of stand available for this purpose maybe someone
knows
> the name but I know you can't buy it anymore I think Tower hobbies stocked
> them but it has been taken off the market even better invest in a flight
sim
> like G2 or download FMS from the net
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David" <david@noname.bt.com>
> Newsgroups: rec.models.rc.helicopter
> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 6:05 PM
> Subject: Tethered first heli flights - barking or not?
>
>
> > I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> > Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> > undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
> Heli
> > cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far.
That
> > way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and
away
> > from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> > keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
> hover
> > and back again - does this sound mad or what?
> >
> > Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
> could
> > sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
> ground,
> > that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
> >
> > David
> >
> >
>
>
> "Gordon Dunn" <mail@NOSPAMgordondunn.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:b69t36$6j2$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > Does not seem like a good idea to me- you would be better buying sim
(Eg
> > CSM 10) for a bit of practice before trying the real machine. - or
using
> a
> > Hoverfly electric
> > You should be able to learn to hover without the sim though- all you
need
> > is the training undercarriage. Are you sure your heli is set up
correctly?
> > have you had it checked? A perfectly set up heli is easy to hover, in
> fact
> > on a very calm day you can take your fingers off the sticks momentarily.
> >
> >
> > GD
> >
> >
> > "David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
> > news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > > I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> > > Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the
training
> > > undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that
the
> > Heli
> > > cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far.
> That
> > > way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and
> away
> > > from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate
on
> > > keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
> > hover
> > > and back again - does this sound mad or what?
> > >
> > > Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
> > could
> > > sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
> > ground,
> > > that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Beav]

"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?

It does indeed :-)

Boom strikes are usually as a result of having sme back stick held in when
the heli's skids touch the floor after the heli's been off the ground. It
only takes a midges dick's worth and you're off to the shop for a new boom
and other bits.
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)

They have done. It's called a simulator :-))


--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[David]

Thanks Guys.
Looks like a simulator it is, as mentioned it is cheaper in the long run.
David

"Gordon Dunn" <mail@NOSPAMgordondunn.co.uk> wrote in message
news:b6a1od$so6$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> One thing I would empahsise is- Only invest in a simulator which has a
> realistic flight behavuoural model. All too often I see people
> downloading/purchasing sims that have photorealistic 3D enhanced graphics,
> but don't fly like the real thing at all. I know a lot of people complain
> about the graphics on CSM 10, but it has an amazingly accurate flight
model
> .
> Also if you intent to drive a sim with anything other than your
transmitter
> via an appropriate interface you are wasting your time.
> I had been learning to hover for approx 6 months and hit a mental barrier
on
> the learning curve- I did not have the experience or confidence to try
> circuits- so I put the heli aside for 2 weeks and practiced on CSM10. At
> the end of the 2 week period I took out the Shuttle and fired her up.
Just
> a few seconds into the first hover I can recall remarking- 'Wow-this is
just
> like the sim!' I flicked on idle up and took the heli into a 'lazy 8'
then
> went and did 2 consecutive circuits and landed- not perfect circuits but a
> start!!
>
>
>
> GD
>
>
>
> "said" <said@mweb.co.za> wrote in message
> news:3e8882dd.0@news1.mweb.co.za...
> > There was some kind of stand available for this purpose maybe someone
> knows
> > the name but I know you can't buy it anymore I think Tower hobbies
stocked
> > them but it has been taken off the market even better invest in a flight
> sim
> > like G2 or download FMS from the net
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David" <david@noname.bt.com>
> > Newsgroups: rec.models.rc.helicopter
> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 6:05 PM
> > Subject: Tethered first heli flights - barking or not?
> >
> >
> > > I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> > > Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the
training
> > > undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that
the
> > Heli
> > > cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far.
> That
> > > way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and
> away
> > > from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate
on
> > > keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
> > hover
> > > and back again - does this sound mad or what?
> > >
> > > Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
> > could
> > > sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
> > ground,
> > > that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > "Gordon Dunn" <mail@NOSPAMgordondunn.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:b69t36$6j2$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > > Does not seem like a good idea to me- you would be better buying sim
> (Eg
> > > CSM 10) for a bit of practice before trying the real machine. - or
> using
> > a
> > > Hoverfly electric
> > > You should be able to learn to hover without the sim though- all you
> need
> > > is the training undercarriage. Are you sure your heli is set up
> correctly?
> > > have you had it checked? A perfectly set up heli is easy to hover, in
> > fact
> > > on a very calm day you can take your fingers off the sticks
momentarily.
> > >
> > >
> > > GD
> > >
> > >
> > > "David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
> > > news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > > > I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover
my
> > > > Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the
> training
> > > > undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that
> the
> > > Heli
> > > > cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very
far.
> > That
> > > > way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and
> > away
> > > > from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate
> on
> > > > keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground
to
> > > hover
> > > > and back again - does this sound mad or what?
> > > >
> > > > Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the
heli
> > > could
> > > > sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
> > > ground,
> > > > that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
> > > >
> > > > David
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Mike]

I've tried 'tethered', and it doesn't really work. Just as you are getting the
hang of it, the rope drags it over.
I'm not sure a simulator will do the whole job either. It's great for
orientation problems, control responses, etc but not necessarily good
preparation for when your pride and joy is getting light on the skids and
threatening to do its own thing unless you tell it not to.

The trouble with hovering is that there is very little time to react if
something goes wrong. By the time you have recognised that there is a problem
the heli is usually off like a scalded cat...so its instinct to panic and dump
the thing rather than lose it.

The trick (or tricks).... make sure the helicopter is as stable as it can
be...headspeed should be right, so it isn't too jumpy or slow (or scary!), and
that all your controls work smoothly.
(so get an expert to fly it for you if you can)

You shouldn't have much, if any, negative on your blades, and the engine speed
should die away fairly quickly when you drop the throttle, so your throttle
curve should drop sharply at the bottom end.

Use a training aid. The four sticks in a cross with plastic balls on the ends
is the way to go.

Don't fly when you are tired, something that often gets overlooked.

Don't fly in a confined space. Walls look very intimidating and tend to induce
panic.

Take off with the intention of landing again. Only keep the heli in the air for
one or two seconds, then land it again. Only go up to about a foot then land.
Repeat until you can do this perfectly.
This 'bunny hopping' is usually an easy intro to hovering...if you can't do it
then practice until you can.

Then extend the duration but not the height. One or two seconds become 5 or
six.

When you can do over 10 seconds in one place, then go up a bit, but no more
than about two feet or your training aid will struggle to save the model.

Sooner or later you will get to the point when hovering gets easier, and you
can start to move around a bit.

Hope it helps

[Tim Spracklen]

There is a stand made for learning to fly - as someone in this thread
mentioned. It is still very much available although it costs over
£200.

Have a look

http://www.activedistribution.com/

Tim

mikespruce99@aol.comnospam (Mike) wrote in message news:<20030401024525.10669.00000062@mb-cq.aol.com>...
> I've tried 'tethered', and it doesn't really work. Just as you are getting the
> hang of it, the rope drags it over.
> I'm not sure a simulator will do the whole job either. It's great for
> orientation problems, control responses, etc but not necessarily good
> preparation for when your pride and joy is getting light on the skids and
> threatening to do its own thing unless you tell it not to.
>
> The trouble with hovering is that there is very little time to react if
> something goes wrong. By the time you have recognised that there is a problem
> the heli is usually off like a scalded cat...so its instinct to panic and dump
> the thing rather than lose it.
>
> The trick (or tricks).... make sure the helicopter is as stable as it can
> be...headspeed should be right, so it isn't too jumpy or slow (or scary!), and
> that all your controls work smoothly.
> (so get an expert to fly it for you if you can)
>
> You shouldn't have much, if any, negative on your blades, and the engine speed
> should die away fairly quickly when you drop the throttle, so your throttle
> curve should drop sharply at the bottom end.
>
> Use a training aid. The four sticks in a cross with plastic balls on the ends
> is the way to go.
>
> Don't fly when you are tired, something that often gets overlooked.
>
> Don't fly in a confined space. Walls look very intimidating and tend to induce
> panic.
>
> Take off with the intention of landing again. Only keep the heli in the air for
> one or two seconds, then land it again. Only go up to about a foot then land.
> Repeat until you can do this perfectly.
> This 'bunny hopping' is usually an easy intro to hovering...if you can't do it
> then practice until you can.
>
> Then extend the duration but not the height. One or two seconds become 5 or
> six.
>
> When you can do over 10 seconds in one place, then go up a bit, but no more
> than about two feet or your training aid will struggle to save the model.
>
> Sooner or later you will get to the point when hovering gets easier, and you
> can start to move around a bit.
>
> Hope it helps

[David]

Mike,
Thank you for an informative reply.
David
"Mike" <mikespruce99@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20030401024525.10669.00000062@mb-cq.aol.com...
> I've tried 'tethered', and it doesn't really work. Just as you are getting
the
> hang of it, the rope drags it over.
> I'm not sure a simulator will do the whole job either. It's great for
> orientation problems, control responses, etc but not necessarily good
> preparation for when your pride and joy is getting light on the skids and
> threatening to do its own thing unless you tell it not to.
>
> The trouble with hovering is that there is very little time to react if
> something goes wrong. By the time you have recognised that there is a
problem
> the heli is usually off like a scalded cat...so its instinct to panic and
dump
> the thing rather than lose it.
>
> The trick (or tricks).... make sure the helicopter is as stable as it can
> be...headspeed should be right, so it isn't too jumpy or slow (or scary!),
and
> that all your controls work smoothly.
> (so get an expert to fly it for you if you can)
>
> You shouldn't have much, if any, negative on your blades, and the engine
speed
> should die away fairly quickly when you drop the throttle, so your
throttle
> curve should drop sharply at the bottom end.
>
> Use a training aid. The four sticks in a cross with plastic balls on the
ends
> is the way to go.
>
> Don't fly when you are tired, something that often gets overlooked.
>
> Don't fly in a confined space. Walls look very intimidating and tend to
induce
> panic.
>
> Take off with the intention of landing again. Only keep the heli in the
air for
> one or two seconds, then land it again. Only go up to about a foot then
land.
> Repeat until you can do this perfectly.
> This 'bunny hopping' is usually an easy intro to hovering...if you can't
do it
> then practice until you can.
>
> Then extend the duration but not the height. One or two seconds become 5
or
> six.
>
> When you can do over 10 seconds in one place, then go up a bit, but no
more
> than about two feet or your training aid will struggle to save the model.
>
> Sooner or later you will get to the point when hovering gets easier, and
you
> can start to move around a bit.
>
> Hope it helps

[Mike]

>Mike,
>Thank you for an informative reply.
>David

You are welcome David, and thanks for the thanks! Always nice to have a
suggestion acknowledged, it makes the whole thing worthwhile :-)

If and when you get to the stage when you can hover confidently, and take-offs
and landings are a piece of cake, post again or email me directly if you want
and I'll try to give you some tips on how to progress through the next stage.

I have been experimenting with a fully enclosed cage btw, but there is a
massive disc area to cover, relatively speaking, and so far the materials I
have are too heavy or too flimsy to make it work. A carbon rod construction
might do it, but I don't have enough material to hand.
I'm sure the military have got some sort of fully enclosed 'shell' that
resembles a flying saucer. I've seen it somewhere, probably at the helicopter
museum near Andover. Not sure how they overcame the orientaton problems though.

Unfortunately I think that a good crash will soon sort out even the most robust
of cages, the downside then being that you will have even more stuff to carry
home in a black sack.

[Biggie in PA]

I taught myself to hover, and made my own training skids out of two wooden
dowels and 4 whiffle balls. The key is to start out low. Skid it around a
bit and get used to the controls. Forget altitude for a while. The only
thing the training skids do is keep you from tipping over.
Learn to keep it in one place while she's light and then, lift about a few
inches... then a foot or so. Sounds to me like you are rushing into it.
Patience!

--

Biggie in PA
sjg1958 at hotmail dot com


"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b69p0c$abu$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> I have 'suffered' two minor boom strikes whilst practicing to hover my
> Shuttle, so I was considering a tethered test flight, where the training
> undercart is held to the ground by 4 ropes/cables and pegs, so that the
Heli
> cannot fly any higher than say 1M and cannot move laterally very far. That
> way I can practice the hover (at a point below the tether length and away
> from the ground effect) and would therefore only need to concentrate on
> keeping it in one place until I can master a transition from ground to
hover
> and back again - does this sound mad or what?
>
> Why doesn't someone manufacture a giant wire frame globe that the heli
could
> sit inside and then if it turned over it would just roll across the
ground,
> that way I could practice as much as I wanted to without worries :)
>
> David
>
>

[Beav]

"Biggie in PA" <sjg1958@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ZIqia.255$001.256778@monger.newsread.com...
> I taught myself to hover, and made my own training skids out of two wooden
> dowels and 4 whiffle balls. The key is to start out low.

It's a bloody sight harder starting high. Them hand launches?? Forget about
'em :-)

Skid it around a
> bit and get used to the controls. Forget altitude for a while. The only
> thing the training skids do is keep you from tipping over.
> Learn to keep it in one place while she's light and then, lift about a few
> inches... then a foot or so. Sounds to me like you are rushing into it.
> Patience!

The essence of learning. And ENJOY the early learning too, coz you'll onle
ever get once chance to.



--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[Beav]

"David" <david@noname.bt.com> wrote in message
news:b6fib6$7ia$1@titan.btinternet.com...
> During my initial attempts I have managed to get the heli off the ground
but
> it then skates around, either moving reasonably fast in a forward
direction
> or sideways. I have then attempted to trim the controls to correct say a
> natural inclination to move forward only to find that it then starts to
> track in reverse, it's as if it can't find a neutral position and it hunts
> from one extreme to the other - in control theory it would be categorised
as
> unstable...:)

That's the nature of heli's unfortunately (or fortunately if you like to
belong to the group known as heli flyers:-)

>
> At one stage I considered that the linkages may be too tight, such that
> servos (NE591) were not able to return the control surfaces back to their
> exact original position after a control correction, so for example, the
Heli
> started to move forward, so I corrected with reverse, let go of the stick
> and it then started to track in reverse, but wait, before that it was
> tracking forward with no stick input...

That CAN be a problem, but it's usually associated with brand new heli's and
soon wears off as the ball links bed in and smooth out, but the USUAL cause
of this trait of "continuing in the last commanded direction" is inertia,
and to overcome the "problem" one must not only remove the last command, but
input an OPPOSITE command briefly. Learning to hover is learning how much
and for how long this "opposite" command needs to be.

To clarify...

If your heli is moving forwards for WHATEVER reason, a back stick input will
raise the nose and the heli will slow down and eventually stop, but it won't
STAY stopped, it'll now begin flying in the direction last commanded. As the
last command was back stick, the heli will begin to fly backwards, so at the
precise moment the heli BEGINS to fly backwards, a FORWARD stick command is
needed. If exactlythe right amount of forward stick is used, the heli will
stop and "try" to stay stopped, but some other influence will try to move it
in some other direction, and it'll succeed. A couple of other influences to
consider are (A) the wind, (B) the trim of the heli. If the wind is blowing,
it'll blow the heli and if the heli isn't trimmed to perfection (and few
are) it'll drift in the untrimmed direction requiring flyer input to stop
it.

Repeat all the above and you're hovering. :-)

>
> So, I can't get the Shuttle to stay in one place long enough to get it
just
> a few inches off the ground without it trying to fly off - any ideas.

Find someone who can fly the heli and get him to trim it for you. At least
then you'll know it CAN hover and the "problem" is only that of little
experience. Then practice 'til your fingers hurt:-)



--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk