is it really this hard in real life ?

[Andy_Peace]

Hello guys...
Ive been flying my Lama V3 for about a month now and probably have gone as far as i can with it and i have just aquired my sim,the Reflex XTR,to help me towards my goals of the Logo 10 for A.P.

Tonight is the first time i have used any Sim of any kind,i have just updated it also to Version 5.03,
My Question is are Single blade Heli's really this hard to fly or even hover in real life ?? . My god i cant even keep this thing in the air for more than a few seconds without it tipping over or crashing!,Am i doing something wrong or is this the reality after the Lama, I didnt imagine 'real' Heli's would be this difficult.

It appears even the slightest touch of either stick sends it way of ,like its really sensitive, Is this Normal...
Please help guys,Ive taken a knock back :(

Thank you

Andy

[Malc C]

Lama's are more stable by design than "traditional" heli's, which do respond to small stick movements.

Practice makes perfect... just try setting the rates down on the TX a little, might help until you get the feel for it

[Andy_Peace]

just try setting the rates down on the TX a little, might help until you get the feel for it

Thanks for the reply,but how do i set the rates down,sorry ,ive only just got the sim ?
Thanks
Andy

[Towser]

Welcome to the grown ups world Andy! :p Lamas are way too stable compared to normal helis.

Cant help you with regards to your transmitter rates (i'm guessing your using the standard one that comes with the Lama? If you are then you'll be out of luck, as you'll need a computer tx to alter the rates and expo.)

i dont use that sim, but you might have an option of setting up expo so the heli is slower to react around mid sticks.

Regards

Towser.

PS - Sims are way easier than the real thing. And I mean about 100 times easier! :eek:

[gregw]

You can make it easier to fly by changing the time expansion factor to 1.1 or higher... Press "F6", then click on "General" and change the number under "Time Expansion Factor".

My real Logo seems harder to fly than the sim, but I think it's really the "cringe" factor of crashing the real heli rather than anything else... :D

[Malc C]

If you transmitter has the facility to adjust the servo movement via a rate switch / setting then this is easier than fiddling with the sim settings. If you are using a basic transmitter without such functions then you will need to do this in the software, normally in the interface config pages (sorry been a long time since I used XTR)

In reallity helicopters are harder to fly than on a sim. The main reason is the fear factor is removed. In a sim I can flip, invert and loop a logo etc, but in real life I stick to hovering or lazy "8"'s as I don't want to crash me Eco 8 !

[Andy_Peace]

Thanks for your info guys....
Blimey,i thought i was making good progress until this :eek:
I saw a guy flying a Logo 10 like it was nothing,was so stable,beautiful in fact,I sallut him !!!!

Yeah your right im using the stock Lama (e-sky) tx so no adjustments possible im afraid....
Im wondering if i shud carry on this hobby,being able to fly seams a million miles away,

Not sure what to do at the moment,but ill carry on for a while i think to see if it becomes easier or if im going to be a no hoper !!!!

Thanks

[Malc C]

Andy, we all went through that phase of thinking that it will never happen, its not one of the dark arts, its just practice and more practice, and a sim will help you get the basic stick control.

I started with a Piccolo (seems like ages ago) which are harder to fly than most 30 sized helis, but the consensis in them days was that if you manage to fly one of those you could more or less fly anything ! - i kept crashing, repairing and crashing again, and I too thought its not worth it as I would never be able to hold a still hover for an entire pack like the other guys I flew with could. Then one day it just clicked, and I managed to keep it in the air for a an entire pack.. OK I used all the available space in the hall to do so, but I did it none the less.

keep at it, don't give up and keep practicing...

[Towser]

Yep dont give up - suddenly it will all click into place! I've been flying helis for a year now, and been using a sim for 6 months. This is my progress... and it's one of my first outings with a proper heli after my fixed pitch bird. It just shows what can be learnt on a sim first before any serious flying...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a7/Timhowells/DSCF0198.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a7/Timhowells/?action=view&current=king_0003.flv)
just dont give up!!

[Andy_Peace]

Ohh Nice....
I get the idea of the pic,but it also looks like its crashed on the floor upside down :p

No really, well done and im going to carry on as i love it,knock backs and all.

Cheers

Andy

[Towser]

click on the pic and it'll take you to a video - the first 1.5 minutes is just crap for another forum - but the video shows what can be done with 85% sim time 15% fly time. :)

[sideburn]

I'm finally getting the hang of hovering.

One thing I think helps alot is the area you watch while flying. Don't watch the tail. Keep your eyes on the mast/swashplate/flybar. they are the first to react to your moves so you can make corrections quicker. if you watch the skids or the tail you end up chasing the helis movements and trying to catch up with it and the thing will start swinging back and forth and you'll lose control.

also, work on keeping the tail facing you wih your rudder control.