Newbie Hoverfly II question

[James Luff]

Hi,

As someone totally new to RC flight I have decided to get myself a Hoverfly
II to learn basic control etc.. I figured it would be cheaper than getting a
full size heli which when I crash will be out of commission until I am able
to repair it and probably cost me 10x more. Anyway, now that I have made the
decision who wants to tell me it's wrong and I should go for a full size
model? I expect someone here thinks that's the way to go.... anyway, that's
not the point of my post. I am wondering as a complete novice how long from
opening the box should I expect it to take me to learn to hover and gain
control of the heli while airborne? I'm not expecting it to be instant
obviously these things take time to master, however, what would you consider
an average amount of time to obtain the skills needed to fly this model? A
few hours, a few days, a few weeks? I have no idea what to expect. Also, the
hoverfly II is supplied with a simulator, has anyone any experience with
this? Is it a good learning aid and is it compatible with Windows XP? Thanks
in advance.

--
regards,
James Luff
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[Andy Carpenter]

The problem with little helis is they really get affected when in ground
effect. In my experience for the HoverFly you need to get the thing out of
ground affect ASAP - and that is on take off and landing. Problem with this
is it typically goes against what a newbie wants to do which is get a bit
light on the skids and get a feel for things.
I don't think there is any such thing as an average amount of time. I think
the best advice would be to get a good feel for things on the sim first, and
then have a go with the 'fly.

Good luck

--
Carps.

[ http://www.carps.co.uk ]

"James Luff" <james.luff@nospam.dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:3e30234f$0$235$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com.. .
> Hi,
>
> As someone totally new to RC flight I have decided to get myself a
Hoverfly
> II to learn basic control etc.. I figured it would be cheaper than getting
a
> full size heli which when I crash will be out of commission until I am
able
> to repair it and probably cost me 10x more. Anyway, now that I have made
the
> decision who wants to tell me it's wrong and I should go for a full size
> model? I expect someone here thinks that's the way to go.... anyway,
that's
> not the point of my post. I am wondering as a complete novice how long
from
> opening the box should I expect it to take me to learn to hover and gain
> control of the heli while airborne? I'm not expecting it to be instant
> obviously these things take time to master, however, what would you
consider
> an average amount of time to obtain the skills needed to fly this model? A
> few hours, a few days, a few weeks? I have no idea what to expect. Also,
the
> hoverfly II is supplied with a simulator, has anyone any experience with
> this? Is it a good learning aid and is it compatible with Windows XP?
Thanks
> in advance.
>
> --
> regards,
> James Luff
> remove "nospam" to e-mail
> =====
> There are 10 types of people in the world:
> Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
> =====
>
>

[James Luff]

> The problem with little helis is they really get affected when in ground
> effect. In my experience for the HoverFly you need to get the thing out
of
> ground affect ASAP - and that is on take off and landing. Problem with
this
> is it typically goes against what a newbie wants to do which is get a bit
> light on the skids and get a feel for things.
> I don't think there is any such thing as an average amount of time. I
think
> the best advice would be to get a good feel for things on the sim first,
and
> then have a go with the 'fly.

Thanks, does the sim recreate the ground effect properly? Also, have you any
idea on compatibility with WinXP?

--
regards,
James Luff
remove "nospam" to e-mail
=====
There are 10 types of people in the world:
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=====

[Smog \(JBPhonetech\)]

Hi James.

I have a hoverfly and thoroughly enjoy it. It has kept me in practice
during the winter anyway.

If you are using a com port or LTP printer type port based sim (not sure
about the HF sim set-up ?) Then you will need to down load a little program
called UserPort. http://www.jbphonetech.fsnet.co.uk/UserPort.zip
This will enable you to gain access to your ports while using XP.
Unzip the file and once installed, add your com & LPT addresses from device
manager and click start.
You may have to do this each time you start the sim program.

Sim first, Fly next then the RC version, that's the safest way for your
wallet. Get someone local to help you with the RC version if you are still
a bit sceptical when you eventually get one.

##### Does anyone know whether the sim is downloadable anywhere on the net
as I bought my HF 2 S/H and didn't get one with it ?

--

Jim Burrill

# www.jbphonetech.info
# Mobile phone LED backlight colour changing, supply & fitting service.
# Unlocking, Liquid damage repairs, Solder pad repairs.
# leds@jbphonetech.info

"James Luff" <james.luff@nospam.dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:3e303c1e$0$227$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com.. .
> > The problem with little helis is they really get affected when in ground
> > effect. In my experience for the HoverFly you need to get the thing out
> of
> > ground affect ASAP - and that is on take off and landing. Problem with
> this
> > is it typically goes against what a newbie wants to do which is get a
bit
> > light on the skids and get a feel for things.
> > I don't think there is any such thing as an average amount of time. I
> think
> > the best advice would be to get a good feel for things on the sim first,
> and
> > then have a go with the 'fly.
>
> Thanks, does the sim recreate the ground effect properly? Also, have you
any
> idea on compatibility with WinXP?
>
> --
> regards,
> James Luff
> remove "nospam" to e-mail
> =====
> There are 10 types of people in the world:
> Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
> =====
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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[James Luff]

> Sim first, Fly next then the RC version, that's the safest way for your
> wallet. Get someone local to help you with the RC version if you are
still
> a bit sceptical when you eventually get one.

What do you mean by fly next? Are you referring to the Hoverfly and then a
full size RC heli? That was the route I had intended on purely for financial
reasons, although buying a Hoverfly and full size heli may possibly work out
more expensive I feel it's a safer route. It will also give me an extra
option if I have a Hoverfly!

> ##### Does anyone know whether the sim is downloadable anywhere on the
net
> as I bought my HF 2 S/H and didn't get one with it ?

I've only recently been looking but there are 2 versions of the Hoverfly
available. The first doesn't include the sim or Tx controller and the other
does. Looking at http://www.snelflight.co.uk/ the one without is about £20
cheaper. The Hoverfly II is £153.15 and the Hoverfly TXI is £176.98. If you
didn't get the simulator that is a separate purchase from
http://www.snelflight.co.uk/shop/page7.html for £36.94 and this includes the
Tx Controller.

While I'm on the subject, is it advisable to use the supplied controller or
should I purchase a separate Radio Transmitter?

--
regards,
James Luff
remove "nospam" to e-mail
=====
There are 10 types of people in the world:
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
=====

[Smog \(JBPhonetech\)]

> What do you mean by fly next? Are you referring to the Hoverfly and then a
> full size RC heli?

Yup.

> While I'm on the subject, is it advisable to use the supplied controller
or
> should I purchase a separate Radio Transmitter?

If funds can stretch James, It would be more advisable to buy the TX that
you intend using with the full size RC heli then you will get a feel for it
but it is not entirely necessary.
--

Jim Burrill

# www.jbphonetech.info
# Mobile phone LED backlight colour changing, supply & fitting service.
# Unlocking, Liquid damage repairs, Solder pad repairs.
# leds@jbphonetech.info

"James Luff" <james.luff@nospam.dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:3e31ef93$0$227$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com.. .
> > Sim first, Fly next then the RC version, that's the safest way for your
> > wallet. Get someone local to help you with the RC version if you are
> still
> > a bit sceptical when you eventually get one.
>
> What do you mean by fly next? Are you referring to the Hoverfly and then a
> full size RC heli? That was the route I had intended on purely for
financial
> reasons, although buying a Hoverfly and full size heli may possibly work
out
> more expensive I feel it's a safer route. It will also give me an extra
> option if I have a Hoverfly!
>
> > ##### Does anyone know whether the sim is downloadable anywhere on the
> net
> > as I bought my HF 2 S/H and didn't get one with it ?
>
> I've only recently been looking but there are 2 versions of the Hoverfly
> available. The first doesn't include the sim or Tx controller and the
other
> does. Looking at http://www.snelflight.co.uk/ the one without is about £20
> cheaper. The Hoverfly II is £153.15 and the Hoverfly TXI is £176.98. If
you
> didn't get the simulator that is a separate purchase from
> http://www.snelflight.co.uk/shop/page7.html for £36.94 and this includes
the
> Tx Controller.
>
> While I'm on the subject, is it advisable to use the supplied controller
or
> should I purchase a separate Radio Transmitter?
>
> --
> regards,
> James Luff
> remove "nospam" to e-mail
> =====
> There are 10 types of people in the world:
> Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
> =====
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.445 / Virus Database: 250 - Release Date: 21/01/2003