Beginner's Tips:
Your First Day...
Alright, you've built your model, you've programmed your radio, and tomorrow is the big day. You're going to fly your heli for the first time.
It's normal to be a bit nervous, you've spent a lot of money on your new heli, and a lot of time building it. OR perhaps you bought a ready
to fly model, no matter it's new, and you spent your hard earned money on it! Here's some tips to have success with your first flight!
1: Charge those batteries!
That includes your receiver pack, and your transmitter. Whether your model is electric or nitro, it is really important to have your
batteries fully charged. Nothing's worse than watching the day pass you by when you sit and charge! It's a great idea to charge your batteries the night before,
that way you don't have to spend a bunch of time waiting at the field for them to charge, plus most transmitter and receiver batteries do much better with a slow
overnight charge.
2: Pack up and don't forget stuff!
While at the field you'll want a tool box with the tools you used to build your helicopter. Ideally, if you built your model perfectly
you wouldn't need any tools, but you'll want them there just in case. Don't forget your Transmitter, Your glow igniter, your fuel, your fuel pump, your starter, and of course your
Heli! It's also a good idea to bring the manual for your Heli, Transmitter, and gyro! Chances are you'll be doing some fine tuning and the manual may help. If you've never
flown before, it would be a good idea to bring the training gear or rotopod.
3: Setup all your gear!
Pick a spot at the field where you can set all your gear, HeliProz recommends flying at a sanctioned AMA flying site, so be sure you follow the clubs procedures regarding
your frequency, some clubs still require you to pull a pin even if you're operating on 2.4GhZ. If there are any knowledgeable heli guys at the field already, see if any of them would
be willing to help you out with your first flights. Most people are happy to help a beginner, as long as you don't request that they fix a bunch of stuff on your heli. WIth their help, check the basics, a range check should be performed each day before flying. Check that your servos are all operating correctly, and that the batteries are still charged.
4: Perform a pre-flight inspection!
Perform a Pre-Flight inspection of your model before you start it. Check your ball links, screws, nuts, blades, and all moving parts on your Heli. The more careful you perform
the pre-flight inspection, the better chance you have of catching a problem before it causes a crash!
5: Turn on your equipment!
Turn on your transmitter, then the model, and start your heli, or if it's electric plug in the battery. Carry out your helicopter to the line watching to be careful that you're not getting in the way of any other modelers. Spool it up, and do your thing, fly circuits, or hover. Remember to be safe, and follow the established club rules. In most clubs safety is a BIG deal, and it should be a big deal to you too. When your helicopter is nearly out of fuel, or battery becomes low, land safely. Stop the engine, and when it is safe, meaning no other models are buzzing around your landed model, quickly walk out and retrieve your model.
6: Post flight inspection!
Return to the bench where you started your model, turn off the receiver, and then turn off the transmitter. If you grabbed a frequency pin, put it back so anyone waiting to use your frequency has a chance to fly. REMEMBER, DO NOT turn on your transmitter if you don't have the pin! Now is a great time to perform a post-flight inspection. Similar to the pre-flight inspection, check for worn or loose parts. It's a good idea to perform a pre-flight check, before every flight, and a post-flight inspection, after every flight. Nothing's worse than crashing the model because of a loose or worn out part!
7: About the batteries!
Make sure you keep an eye on the condition of your receiver and transmitter battery. You will probably get two to five flights off of your receiver battery depending on the capacity. If you have a field/fast charger, you can charge and continue to fly. Otherwise, you're done for the day!
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