FUN in the Wind -- THANKS McKrackin

[BTCat]

Hey Ern,

Just so you know your words aren't wasted. I've been reading your posts about the Helicommand, CP etc since March or before and debating paying the price. With my last melt down in July, you talked me into it and didn't even know it ;D

Man, I just flew 5 batteries through wind that I would never have though about flying in before and if I did, I would have never had fun in it. I would have been so dam tense by the time it was over I'd be sore for the rest of the day. Only about 15mph steady which some mild gusts. Not exactly a hurricane...

Today I had fun -- loads of fun just sport flying. Nothing fancy. Nothing nose in, just buzzing around at every angle and every speed I felt comfortable (which is pretty darn fast, BTW). I love getting it high and far away, turning it about 45 degrees and back on that stick, gunning the motor and bringing it back to me fast enough to produce pucker, then slam the stick forward at the last second and hear those blades G-R-R-R-O-W-L-L-L ;D ;D Love that sound!

I can't say the Copilot 2 saved me any crashes today, because I actually turned the priority down to get a better feel on the sticks, but it did allow me to relax and have some fun. Between the Copilot 2 and the Futaba Gyro, I could let go of the sticks and just watch it fight the wind for about 10 seconds before it started drifting too much. I flew every battery I own through it and am putting more juice in them now so I can do it again later today.

MAN I love days like this! Guys, even if I don't respond to your posts or if I respond with some smart azz comment, I am reading and learning. Thanks everybody!

Hey Elk! I read your post about what this hobby meant to you and I read your post on my melt down thread, too. You're exactly right! And thanks for a good deal on the CP 2 ;D

Sol and Kent, you both kept me in this hobby in more ways than one. Talked me off the edge when I was about to chunk them in the ebay trash, too! ;D

Okay, gushing is over. Back to smart azz...............

[McKrackin]

Awesome post.Almost got an emotion from me.Almost.lol....

I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself.

I also know what you are talking about with chucking it in the ebay bin.Both my helis have been down for several days and I had to almost twist my own arm to order parts last night.

Thanks for posts like this one for reigning back in my interest.

[BTCat]

This afternoon I figured out what this CP2 feels like. If I put a coaxle on my sim, I can just let go of the sticks and it straightens up. Feels almost identical to the CP.

[Solitaire]

Great attitude, BT.

Good to hear you're back in the saddle. I think everyone goes through the doldrums in this hobby and usually it's for the same reasons. "Why do I have to spend every spare nickel I have just to stay airborne?" "Why can't I master this stupid thing?"

When the frustration level overpowers the fun aspect, a little time away from it usually helps. We eventually find a new gadget or another project to get us back on the horse. And, as you've pointed out, some of the personal experiences of the forum members can provide a positive influence in combatting the doldrums.

Oh, and bring on the smart azz...we expect no less ;D

[elkmaster01]

BT,,,,great post! Ya know,,,if you never had those frustrating days,,the good days wouldn't be as appreciated.

I live in a po-dunk Mayberry-type town in the sticks of the U.P. in Michigan. I love the attention that I'm getting around here,,,these folks are just amazed with my little toys. But the days when I can go out with 3 or 5 of my toys and fly 14 or 16 flights all by myself is very rewarding,,,,a great sense of accomplishment. I love to fly. And I'm starting to get pretty good.

This BB has some great guys to help and share with,,, my life has been immensly enriched by this hobby and you folks!!

Thanks!

Randy

[BTCat]

Got a helluva backache today. As stupid as this sounds, I am sitting here debating whether to pop a couple of muscle relaxers or go out and fly first. I think I'll fly first ;D

[akent]

Great stuff, BT!
I too have had my own frustrating moments with these helis. When I see a pile of parts after a crash, I just leave it alone sometimes for a while and them I get excited about the rebuild.

I have a backache today, too. Mine is from stooping too much yesterday messing with the ES600!
I popped some aspirin and that's good enough for me!

I have 4 batteries ready for the 450, 3 for the 500, and 2 for the 600!! I'm heading down to the dry lake bed that used to have water in it... LOTS of room to fly now!

We had a cold front and it's only 85 at 1:30!!!! WOW!!!

Humm...I may have to think about a CP2 one of these days.... Sometimes it would be nice to be able to relax a little in the air.

You sure are a good guy BT. Glad to see you flying and posting!
Kent

[BTCat]

I flew two packs yesterday before my TX battery alarm went off and I had to pack it in.

But today, I flew all 5 packs and I did more side in than I have ever done. I did 2/3 circles but not complete. I did a few piros, but frankly I don't get much out of piros I did figure eights finally, but I avoided my nose in blind spot . Only once did I center the stick for some CP2 help and I probably didn't need to then. Now I need to learn to complete my circles and reverse my figure 8's.

Honestly, I was glad when I was finished with the last battery. Too much pucker factor for one day ;D ;D Dam, I'm tired...

[akent]

That was as good news as my own flying, BT!

I flew and flew all of my helis, and then messed with the ES600. That is a strange beast.
The ES600 has a strange thing going on, where it initially is vibration free, then once you fly for a couple of minutes, it starts up.
Normal and idle 1 start up at 2200 rpm headspeed even at 50% throttle! After a minute or two, if you go to idle 2, it will be the same and then when you go back to idle 1 or normal, the rpm's drop WAY down, to where they should be in the first place.
Ok. Crappy Mystery 100a ESC, it sounds like to me. I had a feeling that this would be crap.

Why is crap mentioned so much around here? Ugh.
Kent

[Solitaire]

Kent, in all honesty, I was really surprised when you mentioned getting the Mystery ESC. After your problems with the Align and the good feel with the HW, I figured you'd go that way.

[akent]

Sol, you are right.
Every time I try to save a buck and try something new, it comes back to bite me.

I'll get another Hobbywing. Those are wonderful.
===
And hey, BT, sorry about going on about my problems. Your flying sounds great!
I too still have a 'blind' spot near nose in. I can do it high up, but I still don't feel comfortable low.
It's great your heli is flying well!
Kent

[flyinghigh]

BT, sounds like you're getting some great flying in. Very cool!! ;D I wish my CPII would get here already. I order on the 22nd but paypal put a hold on the payment to the merchant. It still has not been shipped as of yet, ...its supposed to be shipped tonite, I finally called FMA today. I MIGHT get it on Friday, if not till Tuesday with the long weekend.

I figured I would have it last weekend and ready to use this long holiday weekend, maybe I will get lucky and have Friday. I don't like PayPal, I never have, and I dont use it, but had to use Visa thru PayPal...

[akent]

Hey Sol:
I finally found a document on how to setup that Mystery Pentium 100a esc.
Well, I got it into programming mode and set the lipo cell size, and it decided to catch on fire when I saved the setting!!!! I guess it didn't like me trying to set it up.
It beeped when it saved the setting and then proceeded to make a really long beep that kept getting lower and lower in pitch. It got so low that it started to twitch the motor around. Then smoke. Then MORE smoke and a sizzling flame came out of it!

I kid you not! Now my entire work area stinks. It just left a scorch mark on the heli. It was a 'small' fire with a LOT of smoke!

Hey everyone, stay away from Mystery ESC's!!!!!!!
Kent

[BTCat]

Sept 1, 2009 13:54:41 GMT -6 akent said:

Hey Sol:
I finally found a document on how to setup that Mystery Pentium 100a esc.
Well, I got it into programming mode and set the lipo cell size, and it decided to catch on fire when I saved the setting!!!! I guess it didn't like me trying to set it up.
It beeped when it saved the setting and then proceeded to make a really long beep that kept getting lower and lower in pitch. It got so low that it started to twitch the motor around. Then smoke. Then MORE smoke and a sizzling flame came out of it!

I kid you not! Now my entire work area stinks. It just left a scorch mark on the heli. It was a 'small' fire with a LOT of smoke!

Hey everyone, stay away from Mystery ESC's!!!!!!!
Kent

Well, that's one way to diagnose a problem ;D

[BTCat]

Dam it Ern! Why didn't you make me get one of these months ago! Do you know how much money you could have saved me and how much fun I would have had?

No, seriously, I have made more progress in the few days with the Copilot than I have made in a long, long time. Today it was more of the same without the pucker factor this time. One thing I did learn, though. Never go flying without your glasses Messed up my depth perception, but I still didn't crash and I only centered the sticks once to get out of a bind. That 'optical illusion' is weird when you can't tell which way the heli is facing.

I do find myself screwing with the CP2 trying to see how fast it corrects. I suppose I had it at 45 degrees or better a few times just to let go of the sticks and watch it correct.

Any of you guys have chimney swifts around your fields? Also know as 'skeeter hawks' by the old timers (Dave ;D)? I had to go to a different field today because of people multiplying like Chinese people after a Viagra spill in their water supply ;D ;D. The field I went to was full of chimney swifts. I almost wrecked into them a couple of times. The swoop down, under, over and around the heli with no fear. Now that would be a heli sky kill. I think it would kill the bird and the heli...