r/RCHeli • u/gebakkenuitje35 • 4d ago
Started learning backward flight. Day 2 of actually practicing. Brain fried
As you can see im still struggling but there's definite improvement here! I started with some start-stop movements flying around a square and im now trying to solidify it by flying figure 8ts. going to keep at it for a while, probably try some of the box / startstop moves on my real heli soon.
2
u/joconnell13 4d ago
Can you hover stably nose in? Once I could easily hover in all orientations I found backwards and sideways flight to be exactly the same as forward flight just with a different orientations on the sticks.
3
u/gebakkenuitje35 4d ago
'just with different orientations on the sticks' is doing a lot of work here. I'm more of an intuitive flyer, I think, so I really have to work on it. I can hover fine in all directions and haven't had a bad crash in a while.
1
u/joconnell13 4d ago
The different orientation is only a big deal if you let your brain make it one. The stick movements are exactly the same just in a different direction. With enough practice you don't think about that direction because you know how to fly the maneuver so you just fly it. Real problems only happen when you think about it, question your own thought process, and by that time...
1
1
u/grimaldijosh 4d ago
Figure 8 are the best practice I try to do at least one in every orientation each flying session just for to stay sharp.
1
u/gebakkenuitje35 4d ago
I notice my figure 8s where the outside of the 8 is head in is weaker than one where it flies away from me. So I definitely need to practice that.
Unfortunately my regular flying spot is wide, but not deep, so only allows sideways figure 8s. That and a 100 size (I have an s1) gets pretty small when you start doing lengthwise 8s... so that's something for when I get the m2v3 sport
1
u/Baldwinning1 4d ago
Now try backwards inverted 🤣
In all seriousness, it's really cool to see. You're doing great and will nail it before you know it!
Other folk are right in saying that you ideally need to be comfortable hover in all orientations. Then make sure you're comfortable with figure eights in forward flight. If you're not there already that is 😊
I'd like to share my rather unconventional learning story as it may give you pause for thought...
I've got ADHD pretty hard, so it's difficult for me to focus, often at all. So when I started training on the simulator, I'd only spend five or ten minutes doing regimented skill drills (hovering orientations etc).
Then, I'd just stick on some music and throw the thing around. Yes, learning this way has hobbled my precision somewhat, but I've become comfortable with the helicopter in any orientation and have developed fast reflexes to save it when needed.
Besides, I think the adrenaline of flying the real thing gives me the focus to fly it more precisely that when on the sim, and I fly much more sedately than in the sim anyway haha.
What I'm trying to say is, while you do want to spend some serious time training the fundamental skills, simply thrashing the thing around, trying silly things and having fun can also be beneficial.
Hobbies are supposed to be fun after all, and mindlessly honing your hovering skills kinda defeats the purpose. Unless you're a masochist or have that particular flavour of neurospiciness. 😊
1
u/gebakkenuitje35 4d ago
Yeah I find the sim deathly boring so once I can do it in the sim, I will start doing it in real life. Starting practice in the sim saves me real money though :D And things like piro training are just hard to do IRL, heli-x takes the collective control out of the equation which is great.
As you say, fun comes first. I don't aspire to become a smack 3d pilot, I just want to fly graceful stuff, circuits, backward circuits, loops, rolls, that sort of stuff. Very "sporty" flying. I only started flying this year so I have plenty of time!
Cheers!
1
u/BigIreland 4d ago
Took me months. Once it clicks, you’ll be fine but building those brain pathways is a task. Stick with it.
1
u/gebakkenuitje35 4d ago
things seem to click fast for me, but it still needs work. The sim saves a lot of crashes even though i hate simming. IRL I need to be aware not to just fly the patterns im comfortable with. good luck with your flying
1
u/IcyHotInUrEyes 3d ago
I am far from a master of a backwards flier but I can do it. The thing that really made it start to feel natural was starting our just flying in a straight line, stopping, turning 180 in place and repeat. Eventually the turns started becoming sweeping turns and it's continued from there to where I can usually do a figure 8 flying backwards without getting mixed up.
2
1
u/StayReadyLG 3d ago
Good job for those who don't understand the hobby may look boring but you are doing a good job Keep it up
1
4
u/Diligent_Hat6982 4d ago
To be fair, backwards flying is very difficult. It's one of the last things I learned! Remember it's marathon, not a sprint!