mydartswinger
Heliman
Location: Fort Bragg, NC - USA
My Posts This: Topic Forum | I, too, fly both fixed and rotary wing RC. I started first with small electric helis, then took a break to take up fixed wing glow, then got back into helis hardcore, now flying a Shuttle 30 and Raptor 50 in addition to my planes. I, of course, fly my helis more due to wind, the enjoyment I get out of helis, and the satisfaction of flying something that not everyone can fly. I enjoy both, and fly them both every chance that I get.
When first looking for a club or group to fly helis with, one of the local fixed wing fields had no welcoming comments on the helis, and the group of heli pilots in the area are difficult to get up with. I found my current club when I decided to make the jump to fixed wing, as it is something that I had always wanted to get into.
My current club is a predominantly fixed wing field, but does not shun helis. A few of us fly helis, some less often than others though. Instead of shunning helis, helis are met with interest, but some degree of fear. Since I have learned to fly fixed wing, and got into FF with my helis, there has been a bit of an increase in heli interest (though not a great increase, but an increase nontheless). One of the ways to gain a fixed wing pilot's respect, is to share the sky. Helis and planes CAN share the sky at the SAME TIME. If the heli pilot flies as though he's flying a fixed wing, by not spending more time over the runway than necessary and flying the pattern WITH the airplanes. Once you're out in front of you on the "downwind" leg (you can go upwind at this point as long as you are not "in the pattern" , you can do your aerobatics and 3D. Yes, I understand that it's not quite as cool or impressive when done at altitude, in addition to the added difficulty of orientation at that distance. However, the fixed wing guys WILL grow more comfortable of it, and welcome the helis regardless of their personal preference, stereotypes, or grudges. I've even had a few fixed wing pilots trying to chase my heli with their planes. That usually ends up with the fixed wing pilot giving up because I was flying below his stall speed.
Since helis are the red headed step-children of RC, we need to "mingle" with caution. That is, when we show up at a "fixed wing only" or "primarily fixed wing" field, don't just show up and start 3Ding. If you have and fly fixed wing, start with that, then break out the heli. Once on the heli work into it by flying the pattern with the fixed wing guys. Once they get used to your presence like that, start working in some sport aerobatics like loops, rolls, back flips, stall turns, etc... If/when they get comfortable with that, then move into 3D at a distance and gradually bring it in closer for short periods of time, working your way to full flights in close (as long as you're not getting in the way of the fixed wing guys).
| Quote |
| Hang in there all those old grouchy plank guys are slowly dieing off.
|
That may be true, but there will always be a new crop of grouchy old plank guys. We may also end up being the grouchy old heli guys when our grandchildren are out there with their RC UFOs or flying cars.
Stop Playing Lawn Darts!!! AMA #909181
http://www.davisbridgeaeromodelers.com |
