MD Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Good evening all. Firstly introductions. I'm one of the ex-modellers who follow the forum due to a feeling that it would be nice to start again. My last radio flight was in aboout 1988 with an MFA Hummingbird. An early electric type with ex-buggy motor, batteries and radio (2 channel, rubber & elevator). Flight profile was: motor on; good hard throw; just about time for one circuit; motor battery died; glide in. Using "glide" in quiet a broad definition. It made the space shuttle look like a sailplane. I still have it so one day it may modern power & controls. Anyway, to the quesion. I'm playing with a Blade MCX2 co-axial minihelicopter and a DX6i radio with default helicopter program. This is my first helicopter experience. I've managed to trim it to fly 'hands off' with stability in all three axis (role, pitch & yaw). But, it' also moves in a near perfect circle around a center point. The question is: is this a characteristic of helicopters that has to be flown out, or a sign of something not quiet right in the set up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garbo Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 It's probably the coriolis effect, but don't let it upset your enjoyment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolstonFlyer Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Every co-axial helicopter I have flown does that. Especially the tiny blade scout.Also single rotor fixed pitch with "Bell-Hiller" configuration fly-bar machines have a similar behavior. Their desire to self stabilize causes what is called "toilet bowl effect" ie, fly in circles around a centre point when hovering.One you start flying in forward flight you will notice the effect much less. The best thing would be to progress onto a more modern flybar-less collective pitch design like the MCPX v2 or the new "Nano CPX" when it is available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 Thank you for your replies and sorry for the delay in getting back but my broadband went down. I wouldn't say it was upsetting my enjoyment, and upgrades are likely; it's just nice to know how normal these effects are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.