ffejdraga 0 #1 March 26, 2007 My burning desire is to fly helicopters. One day I will get there, but in the mean time I am building up my time in fixed-wing. Helicopter training is expensive, and to me RC doesnt cut it because using your thumbs is way different from using all your limbs. So, my neighbor, who is a very gifted design engineer, built a cockpit for flying RC helicopters with a cyclic, collective, and anti-torque pedals. He built it to the specs of a Robinson R-22 Beta. It uses real air and real controls. I am just starting out with it (about 1 hour or so total), and it is probably not ideal for 3D flying. But as far as simulation, muscle memory, and getting used to all limbs for controlling a device, I think it is a great tool. The real test will be once I get good enough to get in a Robinson and see if I can hover it. Helicopter folks tell me the hardest thing to do is learn to hover. So I figure i will get the hardest thing out of the way, for free. I put a video up on Youtube HERE Sorry about the low quality, and shakiness of the video, but it is enough to get the idea. We chose an E-flite Blade CX, but the way this thing is designed, any radio for any helicopter can be integrated. This thing is so much fun! let me know what you think jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sioux 0 #2 March 26, 2007 Wow! Cool! I have about 20 hours in an R22-beta. Hovering is difficult, but once you get it, you get it. For me the difficult part now is landing approaches (I'm always too high in my downwind/final), and autorotations. You have a truly awesome neighbor. I wish I had something like that to practice in I haven't seen such convoluted lines of conversation and such expert chronicling thereof since my days of all day bong marathons in college. ~ Lindercles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #3 March 26, 2007 That's pretty cool. But if you want to get some chopper training then join the army and fly. Just be warned that you're not going to be able to get out and just pick up a gig as a chopper pilot. There are a million retired warrant officers with tons of hours who will take the position before you do. You're then left with having to buy a helicopter for yourself."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sioux 0 #4 March 26, 2007 QuoteThat's pretty cool. But if you want to get some chopper training then join the army and fly. Just be warned that you're not going to be able to get out and just pick up a gig as a chopper pilot. There are a million retired warrant officers with tons of hours who will take the position before you do. You're then left with having to buy a helicopter for yourself. It's true. But if just flying a helicopter is enough (as it is for me), it's sooooo fun to learn! Expensive and impractical, but still a blast. I haven't seen such convoluted lines of conversation and such expert chronicling thereof since my days of all day bong marathons in college. ~ Lindercles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #5 March 26, 2007 No doubt, and I can't wait to do it. But until some money comes flowing my way, I will have to stick to the little cockpit and RC. There is no subsitution for the real thing, but in the mean time, I am doing what I can. I am coming up on 1000 hours fixed wing, and adding a rotorcraft rating will not be too hard or too expensive as all I need to do is learn the heli specific stuff. I can't wait. But I have to. jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sioux 0 #6 March 26, 2007 QuoteI am coming up on 1000 hours fixed wing, and adding a rotorcraft rating will not be too hard or too expensive as all I need to do is learn the heli specific stuff. In your defense... I know a couple of FW pilots that did some helicopter training and they picked up how to hover in the FIRST lesson. I was humiliated by that, since I seem to be a bit retarded when it comes to hovering....... I haven't seen such convoluted lines of conversation and such expert chronicling thereof since my days of all day bong marathons in college. ~ Lindercles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #7 March 26, 2007 my brother has a license.. and if i'll ever get to get the skydiving one myself, i'll be jumping his turbine- or engined chopper myself.. i ddi some training session with a dedicated RC-pilot myself, and let me tell you what, it was friggin'difficult to do so..“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #8 March 27, 2007 Quote they picked up how to hover in the FIRST lesson. I was humiliated by that, since I seem to be a bit retarded when it comes to hovering....... hey sounds like you could use what we have. let me know, we'll build one for you for $300. jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #9 March 27, 2007 QuoteQuote they picked up how to hover in the FIRST lesson. I was humiliated by that, since I seem to be a bit retarded when it comes to hovering....... hey sounds like you could use what we have. let me know, we'll build one for you for $300. jeff D-16906 I can't believe adela lets you fly that thing in the house.....Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #10 March 27, 2007 Steve, Don't believe it. That is my neighbor's house jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #11 March 30, 2007 I flew some more, now working on my pinnacle landings A cooler makes a nice pinnacle for RC. too much fun, just thought I would share with you all. jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #12 March 30, 2007 one of these days you gonna grow up... Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #13 March 30, 2007 I hope not Steve! but, one of these days, i will fly a real helicopter, and it shouldn't be too hard. jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tomleone 0 #14 March 30, 2007 Expensive and impractical is what skydivers are all about... I with ya man. have a blast...Take risks not to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping ~ Author Unknown (but I wish I knew) YouveGottaTryThis.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawndiver 0 #15 March 30, 2007 Quoteone of these days you gonna grow up... Seen On A T-shirt at the Reno Air Races: "I told my parents I wanna be a pilot when I grow up... and they said I couldn't do both!"_________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #16 April 1, 2007 QuoteExpensive and impractical is what skydivers are all about... I with ya man. have a blast... Yeah man, exactly! It is a mantra! jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tomleone 0 #17 April 1, 2007 Heck yeah!Take risks not to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping ~ Author Unknown (but I wish I knew) YouveGottaTryThis.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
