Wanted: More Heli Pilots

[bassplayinDude]

Originally Posted by HeliG

Wow! No heli posts... I sure hope you are all out flying this weekend. I haven't seen a heli lull like this in a while. I'm here at work so I'm not flying so I'd like to talking to you guys.

Have fun and stay safe.

Warren.

I was on my club's field last Saturday for about 4 hours. Guess everyone was doing the holiday thing as I had the whole place to myself for over 3 hours.

Unfortunately I crashed my HBK2 while trying to iron out some setup issues (I'm not liking this heli) so I didn't get any hovering practice in. Have to get the tail on my B400 tuned up this week and hope for good weather next weekend so I can hover that.

[Buzz]

Ok, checking in.... I'm a helicopter chronic! I fly every evening on my property. At the moment, not counting the micro stuff, I've got 7 heli's flying. I don't ever fly indoors.
I like to fly as high as I want.... and I do some aerial video with a small camera mounted on the heli. I'm still flying dual rotor machines... My latest is a Hughes 500 body on a Lama 4 drive train. I also fly with floats and land/take off in the swimming pool. I didn't even know this thread was here until I stumbled across it.
I'm about ready to move up to a Trex... If you're interested in the videos, I can post links to them here.

Remember, the day is not complete without at least one heli flight. I've been flying them for about a year. I flew single rotor many years ago. But, I really like these little dual rotor machines. They're cheap, fun and easy to maintain.

Videos later if you want them!

Cheers!

Buzz
Daytona Beach, FL

[HeliG]

Buzz,
Welcome to the thread. I started this a while back. It just doesn't seem that there are enough of us heli pilots around. We are such a small group that we need to stick together and battle the forces of the dark world (fixed wing). But seriously, this is a great hobby. I love my Trex although I haven't flown it in about a week. I had a couple of inverted mishaps and after the bulk of the repair, I've had a couple other issues to deal with. I'm sick and it's raining today so flight time doesn't look good for today either (except on G4).

If you want to show us a vid, please feel free. We are all about heli stuff here. Incidently, have you seen the Air 2 Air video that was posted a couple days ago? Pretty cool. I wish I had some heli friends locally.

Warren.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by HeliG

Buzz,
Welcome to the thread. I started this a while back. It just doesn't seem that there are enough of us heli pilots around. We are such a small group that we need to stick together and battle the forces of the dark world (fixed wing). But seriously, this is a great hobby. I love my Trex although I haven't flown it in about a week. I had a couple of inverted mishaps and after the bulk of the repair, I've had a couple other issues to deal with. I'm sick and it's raining today so flight time doesn't look good for today either (except on G4).

If you want to show us a vid, please feel free. We are all about heli stuff here. Incidently, have you seen the Air 2 Air video that was posted a couple days ago? Pretty cool. I wish I had some heli friends locally.

Warren.

Thanks, Warren! I believe I've raced, flown, sailed, driven every type of r/c vehicle made! Ha! I do fly fixed wing... but I was drawn back to the light after buying my first little Lama II heli. When I flew single rotor helicopters years ago....there weren't any gyros available. We just flew them like wild men and crashed a lot. Then, I kind of got away from flying and got into high speed car racing. That was fun, but it didn't last long. So, then I went to r/c sailing.... I sail a real boat, and found r/c sailing to be quite a bit of fun too. But, I went back to sail planes and soaring for a couple of years and one day a fellow brought out a dual rotor heli. I was amazed at how well it flew.... and when I got a chance at the controls, I found it to be so much more fun than the old ones... I had to have one.
Now I have a lot of them! I've also got two of the larger Twister Chinook helicopters. They are incredibly stable...

I didn't see the aerial video you mentioned. That's what I get for not reading the entire thread.

Here's a recent one with the Lama III equipped with floats. Like I said, I like to fly them high! I video my own flights by fastening my little "5 in 1" camera to a pair of glasses with no lenses.

Lama III at 100ft.

I have some more to post later....

Buzz

[pooptruckdriver]

Yes, we need more Heli pilots.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by pooptruckdriver

Yes, we need more Heli pilots.

I think we need more people to post flying pictures or videos. That may draw more people in here. I know there are more heli pilots on Wattflyer. There are other forums about them.

I have an insane video to post as soon as I finish editing it. My videographer has nerves of steel! I don't think we'll do this one again!

I'll post it shortly.

Buzz

[neilg.]

my air time wouldn't get you 30 seconds of video

if it was a mechanics video, plenty to demonstrate

[Figure.N9ne]

i need to stop being lazy/cheap and fix my trex. its been sitting for almost a month now.

[HeliG]

yeah, quit being lazy and cheap. Where have you been? We haven't heard from you in a while.

[Figure.N9ne]

Originally Posted by HeliG

yeah, quit being lazy and cheap. Where have you been? We haven't heard from you in a while.

i crashed a few weeks back doing some low rolls over asphalt. i have all the parts here to fix it, but they're the last of my spares and i know after i crash again i'll ave to buy more spares. i've been trying to save money, and not fixing the heli has substantially increased my bank account.

[bassplayinDude]

I'm in the same boat. I've finally repaired my Blade 400 (I think). After all the effort I've spent tweaking and everything, I'm not mentally ready to dump it into the ground again.

[BoysToys]

Both of my T-Rex's 450 & 500 are currently operational. I would try to get some video but it would be really boring compared to other stuff out there. I am just a sport flyer with some 8's, circles, loops, rolls, and the ocassional nose down funnel thrown in.

I am currently attempted to master inverted hovering and move on to inverted figure 8's. My goal is to be able to complete an inverted circuit by the end of the summer.

The only thing holding me back are my planes. I just built a 3D Hobby Shop Extra and want to fly the snot out of it. I am finding it much easier to learn 3D on a plank than my helis.

[HeliG]

Of course planes are easier to move into 3D but is it as fulfilling?

[Buzz]

Well, I think I've been flying dual rotor long enough. I want to stay electric... but I don't know what to buy for a larger single rotor heli. I know the TRex is a good one, but I don't know if I want to spend that much money. Any suggestions?

In a post above, I promised to post a fairly crazy video. This is dangerous! I don't recommend it unless you have a very brave video person.

R/C Helicopter Camera Tag

Well, I can't open that link! Maybe if I delete the "media" tags....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QcrTpsFoTI
Buzz

[HeliG]

Holy crap Buzz. Was he supposed to catch the heli in his teeth?

Dangerous is right. The small helis probably won't kill you but they will still hurt. I can't imagine getting hit in the face with one.

As far as getting yourself another heli, price is a BIG factor. I bought a T-rex 450SE V2. With all the stuff to get going, I dropped about $1200 (including some spare parts). It is a great heli but there certainly is a cost.

If you are interested, I have a CP Pro posted for sale on WF. I don't think you can beat the price with all the extras that come with it. It is an excellent little heli and tons of people have started their flight experience on one.

[Figure.N9ne]

Originally Posted by bassplayinDude

I'm in the same boat. I've finally repaired my Blade 400 (I think). After all the effort I've spent tweaking and everything, I'm not mentally ready to dump it into the ground again.

for me its definitely not a mental block. i've dumped the heli 3 times in a single day learning low inverted hovers or trying piro flips. i dont mind crashing at all. i just dont want to spend money right now. the reset button is running low on funds (my wallet)

[BoysToys]

Originally Posted by HeliG

Of course planes are easier to move into 3D but is it as fulfilling?

I have been flying helicopters for a little over a year. That year has been filled with many ups and downs. I have learned a bunch and my wallet has shed lots of $$$$. My friends can't believe how much time and money it has taken me to get where I am with helicopters.

Because of this, Right now the planes are very fulfilling. I have only been flying fixed wing for about 3 months and am having a blast with them.

I don't want to get into a debate about which is better because they both have their place and I enjoy both.

After flying my helicopters my hands are very sweaty and I am breathing quickly. They are a HUGE rush. After flying my planes I am very relaxed. Because of this, I typically fly a plane first to get warmed up a little. Then fly each of my helis at least once and then rotated between the two while finishing up with a plane before heading home.

Right now, I am just waiting for the wind to die down so I can go out and fly. I will definitely fly both packs through my 500 and at least 2 in the 450 before returning home. I will most likely fly 2 packs in both my Exta and Mini Pulse.

I don't discriminate. I WANT THEM ALL!!

[HeliG]

My wife won't let me have them all. BUT she just let me buy a cruiser for my motorcycle fix.

[bassplayinDude]

Originally Posted by Yaniel

for me its definitely not a mental block. i've dumped the heli 3 times in a single day learning low inverted hovers or trying piro flips. i dont mind crashing at all. i just dont want to spend money right now. the reset button is running low on funds (my wallet)

Yea, I meant to say the money thing is an issue for me as well. Been flying a freebie helicopter sim the last couple of days and it just reinforces the fact I'm not really ready if my heli isn't tail in.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by HeliG

Holy crap Buzz. Was he supposed to catch the heli in his teeth?

Dangerous is right. The small helis probably won't kill you but they will still hurt. I can't imagine getting hit in the face with one.

As far as getting yourself another heli, price is a BIG factor. I bought a T-rex 450SE V2. With all the stuff to get going, I dropped about $1200 (including some spare parts). It is a great heli but there certainly is a cost.

If you are interested, I have a CP Pro posted for sale on WF. I don't think you can beat the price with all the extras that come with it. It is an excellent little heli and tons of people have started their flight experience on one.

Haha! No, it's not as dangerous as it looks. The video is done using a small 5 in 1 camera...about the size of a Bic lighter. My wife stands in the yard and holds it at arm's length in front of her. It just looks like it's in front of her face... The only real danger is that I'll hit the camera with a rotor blade and shatter it. I also do a trick where she holds the camera out like that and I get close to it, nose in....and she turns in a circle. I have to try to maintain the nose in hover as we go around 360 degrees. But, I certainly don't get this close to her. In this video, her hands and the camera are safely below the rotors....uhhh, except for the one time that I did knock the camera sideways. It's only dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. That's why I don't recommend trying it unless you have been flying for a while.

I'll take a look at your CP Pro... but, I used to fly huge helicopters... way back in the day when there were no gyros. I had a Hughes 300 that was almost 5 ft. long....powered by a nitro burning weed whacker motor.
Now, you want to talk about dangerous! At full throttle and no pitch, I had to run it up wide open, then someone had to crawl under those screaming rotor blades on their stomach and tweak the needle valve on the carb. We finally wised up and started taking off from a card table.

Thanks for the comment!

Buzz

[Figure.N9ne]

buzz i just hope she's wearing eye protection of some sort, if the blades hit the camera and one decides to break it could end badly.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Yaniel

buzz i just hope she's wearing eye protection of some sort, if the blades hit the camera and one decides to break it could end badly.

Thanks for the comment, Yaniel. I'll have to get pictures of how we do those close in shots safely. In most cases, she is wearing eye protection, but sometimes we tape the little camera on a stick that she holds up. I've even put a stick into the ground with the camera taped to it....and you get the same results, but after the camera tag... the camera can't follow the helicopter. Shattering a blade is really the biggest danger. But, since she's holding the camera...she can see the blades and move the camera and herself accordingly. And once again....DON'T try this unless you are experienced! How do you get the experience? Put a stick in the ground and when you can nose into it ....touch it and back away repeatedly... then you might be ready to try the camera trick. I'll do another one later with my Chinook. That big thing coming in with 4 rotors blasting sounds like the end of the world!

[SkunkyMagoo]

So helig, what should I get

[Alpea42]

A Zoom 400 http://www.protech.be I think it's discontinued

[HeliG]

Magoo,
What do you want to spend (or how much do you have to spend )?