Quiet Lately

[bill]

Hi Guy's
Been busy lately. What with my duties with the hubs at AW and more importantly learning to fly the heli. I can just about hold a hover for about 30 secs before doing a ballet dance but I'm getting there ;D One question. I have my realism settings on easy and all sensitivities at max and 0% null zones. Is this best for a greenhorne? Anyway I will find more time for flying

All the best , Bill

[TomH]

Hi Bill,

Your control settings sound correct, except you might want to drop the throttle (collective) sensitivity to about 70%. The higher the cyclic sensitivities, the better your control will be.

Some other pointers...

• Hide the panel while you're hovering... it's very distracting and gets in the way. The biggest problem with trying to hover in FS is the lack of peripheral vision, and the panel makes it even worse!
  
  
• Concentrate on a distant point (like the end of the runway or a distant tree), not a point directly in front of the aircraft.
  
  
• Increase your torque to no more than 70% (that's about where you'll lift off the ground in most models. You'll probably need the panel visible to do this, but the more you practice at it, you'll get to know where 70% is by the feel of your throttle position, and can then hide the panel. 70% is where you'll normally leave the throttle for climbing and level flight.
  
  
• Don't grip the stick with your whole hand (as if you're flying a fixed-wing job). Use only your thumb and forefinger. Use tiny control inputs... no yanking and banking-type moves.
  
  
• When hovering... RELAX! and PRACTICE! Once you think you've got it nailed... practice some more. If you keep at it, you'll get the hang of it.
  
  
• If you get frustrated, walk away, drink a beer (or whatever's handy) and then come back later and try again.
  
  
• If you're really interested in helicopter flight, you can sign up over at Hoversafe.com (it's free) and take their training courses. Cal and Paul are both great instructors and will help get you hovering with extra hints.
  
  
• Ask more questions here, and I'll try to help you out.
  

Good luck!

Tom

[bill]

Thanks Tom I'll take what you have said onboard and keep trying.
I have sort of got the bug

Thanks again, Bill

[Wild Man]

Welcome to the Helicopter Zone ..... Once in, you will never leave ... HA HA HA HA ;D ;D ;D

Wildman

[bill]

Hey Wild Man,
Yep I'm im the zone I can get it in the air and land like a fairy elephant . But what the heck I'm learning. Might ask Tom to paint L plates on my Heli ;D.

All the best mate, Bill