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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / July 2007



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Trouble trying to hover

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TIM - 24 Jun 2007 03:10 GMT
I have a Trex 450 SA.

As the heli leaves the ground the head stays pointing in one direction
and it stays level.

The heli goes left, stays level and pointing straaight. Just like
straffing in a video game.

No yaw, no roll, not pitch - just left.

Eventually the heli makes a circle.

I can't figure out how to correct this.  I have a gyro but not a
heading lock.

Thanks

Doug
funfly3 - 24 Jun 2007 09:32 GMT
> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Doug
right trim I should imagine, if you're looking at the skids and trying
to trim all helicopters even full size hover with one skid lower than
the other
Steve R - 24 Jun 2007 14:15 GMT
>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> trim all helicopters even full size hover with one skid lower than the
> other

Absolutely!  The tail rotor is producing a thrust to the left as it counters
the torque reaction from the main rotor.  If the main rotor is perfectly
level, there will be no counter force to prevent the model from moving in
the direction of the tail rotor thrust.  The 1:1 scale pilots call this
"translating tendancy."
funfly3 - 24 Jun 2007 16:56 GMT
>>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> the direction of the tail rotor thrust.  The 1:1 scale pilots call this
> "translating tendancy."

ah I knew they did but was unsure why, makes perfect sense now
Steve R - 25 Jun 2007 00:00 GMT
>>>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>> call this "translating tendancy."
> ah I knew they did but was unsure why, makes perfect sense now

Yup!  :-)  Clockwise rotor rotation will always tilt slightly to the right.
Counterclockwise rotation will tilt slightly to the left in a stable hover.
It all has to do with which way the tail rotor is blowing!  ;-)

On the 1:1 scale pilots, you have to be carefull about refering to rotor
direction as clockwise or counterclockwise.  I got my arse hopped about that
by one of them once.  From their point of view (sitting in the bird), what
we call a clockwise rotation is a "left to right" rotation because the rotor
blades come into view from their left and move right.  Our counterclockwise
rotation will do the opposite.  It's not a big deal one way or the other,
just a bit of trivia info that I've come across through the years.

Fly Safe,
Steve R.
The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 25 Jun 2007 20:39 GMT
>>> Absolutely!  The tail rotor is producing a thrust to the left as it
>>> counters the torque reaction from the main rotor.  If the main rotor is
>>> perfectly level, there will be no counter force to prevent the model from
>>> moving in the direction of the tail rotor thrust.  The 1:1 scale pilots
>>> call this "translating tendancy."

So do we model pilots.  :)  (Oh wait, I do both, so, um..  yeah!)

>On the 1:1 scale pilots, you have to be carefull about refering to rotor
>direction as clockwise or counterclockwise.  I got my arse hopped about that
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>rotation will do the opposite.  It's not a big deal one way or the other,
>just a bit of trivia info that I've come across through the years.

What tight-assed chopper driver gave you crap for that?  I've never
used the term "right to left" or "left to right" in any of my hangar
BS sessions (or in all of my studies)  I've always used clockwise and
counter-clockwise (or anti-clockwise when speaking to Eurocopter
pilots)
Steve R - 26 Jun 2007 14:54 GMT
>>>> Absolutely!  The tail rotor is producing a thrust to the left as it
>>>> counters the torque reaction from the main rotor.  If the main rotor is
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> So do we model pilots.  :)  (Oh wait, I do both, so, um..  yeah!)

I only brought it up because most RC pilots I've met have never heard the
term before.

>>On the 1:1 scale pilots, you have to be carefull about refering to rotor
>>direction as clockwise or counterclockwise.  I got my arse hopped about
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> counter-clockwise (or anti-clockwise when speaking to Eurocopter
> pilots)

It was a long time ago.  I don't remember where or when I met the guy but we
were talking helicopters in general and I, of course, was speaking from the
RC pilots point of view and I remember mentioning something about the rotor
system on my model turning clockwise.  His response was something like,
"What?  Where do you get that from?"  I explained that it was the direction
the rotor system appeared to be turning when viewed from above, like when
it's on the ground and we're spooling up for take-off.  He responded that my
point was irrelevant for "him" because from his point of view, he's not
looking at it from that perspective.  I don't think he was trying to be a
horses arse about it but he was "very" matter of fact about it, almost to
the point of being terse.  I remember thinking, "yeah, right, Ok guy,
whatever you say," but I didn't argue the point.  It's just something that
I've always remembered and it has altered the way I talk to 1:1 scale pilots
when I've had the chance.  I've never had a problem with any others I've
talked to.

There are a few of things that I've always found interesting, sometimes
scary, when talking to 1:1 scale pilots.

1.  I've always been surprised by the number of them I've met that didn't
even know that the RC versions exist.

2.  Of those that knew that RC model helicopters exist, it's amazing how
little they know about their capabilities.  As an example, a friend of mine
just got back from a vacation in Florida and he had the opportunity to spend
a significant amount of time with some local military heli pilots and he
said that several of them were convinced that he was totally BSing them when
he was talking about our models aerobatic capabilities.  A couple of them
were convinced that there was no way a helicopter, "any" helicopter, could
fly in a sustained inverted mode.

3.  While I'm no expert in rotorcraft dynamics, I have done a lot of reading
through the years and I think I've got a pretty good grasp of how
helicopters fly and why things like translational lift, settling with power
(aka, vortex ring state), translating tendency, etc., occur.  I've met a
number of 1:1 scale pilots that didn't exactly give me the impression that
they were on top of it with regards to such things.  I could be wrong about
that.  :-)

Fly Safe,
Steve R.
The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 27 Jun 2007 01:36 GMT
>I only brought it up because most RC pilots I've met have never heard the
>term before.

Yep.  I'm amazed how bass-ackwards a lot of RC heli pilots are when it
comes to the aerodynamics of the models.  I've literally had people
physically threaten me over things like THEIR perception of ground
effect when I've tried to explain and educate them.

>It was a long time ago.  I don't remember where or when I met the guy but we
>were talking helicopters in general and I, of course, was speaking from the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>when I've had the chance.  I've never had a problem with any others I've
>talked to.

Damned heli pilots..  All ego.  :)

>There are a few of things that I've always found interesting, sometimes
>scary, when talking to 1:1 scale pilots.
>
>1.  I've always been surprised by the number of them I've met that didn't
>even know that the RC versions exist.

Too much Jet-A fumes or something..  Hey..  Av-Gas *IS* leaded.. :)

>2.  Of those that knew that RC model helicopters exist, it's amazing how
>little they know about their capabilities.  As an example, a friend of mine
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>were convinced that there was no way a helicopter, "any" helicopter, could
>fly in a sustained inverted mode.

Sounds like a good opportunity for making some money with "bar bets"

>3.  While I'm no expert in rotorcraft dynamics, I have done a lot of reading
>through the years and I think I've got a pretty good grasp of how
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>they were on top of it with regards to such things.  I could be wrong about
>that.  :-)

I've met a few CFI-H's who didn't have a grasp of the basics and a few
that knew their stuff, but couldn't explain it well enough to teach
anyone.
Steve R - 27 Jun 2007 06:01 GMT
>>3.  While I'm no expert in rotorcraft dynamics, I have done a lot of
>>reading
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> that knew their stuff, but couldn't explain it well enough to teach
> anyone.

And that's what blows me away.  I can't understand how a person earns a CFI
rating "without" having at least a basic grasp of such fundamentals.  It's
not "that" complicated when you get down to it and personally, I firmly
believe that knowing what's happening to the rotor system helps when it
comes time to control it.
The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 28 Jun 2007 23:07 GMT
>And that's what blows me away.  I can't understand how a person earns a CFI
>rating "without" having at least a basic grasp of such fundamentals.  It's
>not "that" complicated when you get down to it and personally, I firmly
>believe that knowing what's happening to the rotor system helps when it
>comes time to control it.

This is part of the reason I've "stalled" my full scale training.  I
can't find an instrument instructor worth a damn.  They're either
tattooed and pierced kids who have the cert, but no experience, or
experienced but can't teach 'cuz they've forgotten the basics.
Steve R - 29 Jun 2007 06:55 GMT
>>And that's what blows me away.  I can't understand how a person earns a
>>CFI
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> tattooed and pierced kids who have the cert, but no experience, or
> experienced but can't teach 'cuz they've forgotten the basics.

On the latter group, maybe you could trade some time with them.  You teach
them the aerodynamics and they get you through the IFR proceedures!  :-)
TIM - 25 Jun 2007 23:28 GMT
Thanks for the info.  got stuck in the grass, thought it was a rocket
then a rock.  Parts on order.

>>>>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
>Fly Safe,
>Steve R.
TIM - 25 Jun 2007 23:28 GMT
Thanks for the info.  got stuck in the grass, thought it was a rocket
then a rock.  Parts on order.

>>>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>>
>ah I knew they did but was unsure why, makes perfect sense now
TIM - 25 Jun 2007 23:28 GMT
Thanks for the info.  got stuck in the grass, thought it was a rocket
then a rock.  Parts on order.

>>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>the direction of the tail rotor thrust.  The 1:1 scale pilots call this
>"translating tendancy."
TIM - 25 Jun 2007 23:27 GMT
Thanks for the info.  got stuck in the grass, thought it was a rocket
then a rock.  Parts on order.

>> I have a Trex 450 SA.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>to trim all helicopters even full size hover with one skid lower than
>the other
Magenta - 21 Jul 2007 02:37 GMT
How about trying the radio??

>I have a Trex 450 SA.
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>Doug
 
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