Idle Up switch and stick movement for loop

[dicharry]

Could some kind soul explain what the technique is to do a loop and a roll with a 450 size heli ? I haven't got any advanced heli pilots around to demonstrate how a loop is done and then how a roll is done. Do you flip the idle up switch and move the stick down slightly past center as the heli goes inverted then switch back to normal mode as the heli approaches upright? Maybe someone can rocommend a site that shows the stick and switch positions as the heli moves through the manuevers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDsRPBO15oo

Thanks,
Don

[sircrashalott]

hope this is ok to post here.... here is some great videos for beginners......shows stick movements

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=12337

[CSpaced]

Hey Don,

I'm going to assume you the differences between normal and idle up settings - if not let me know.

Doing rolls and loops are both best done in idle up. For a roll, it will vary slightly from one heli to another, but here's the basics. As you are going along in forward flight pitch up the nose slightly to level while reducing the collective slightly so you don't ascend. Give it the aileron input to start the roll and as you roll inverted smoothly bring the throttle/collective stick back past neutral to where you are giving it enough negative pitch to hold your altitude while it is upside down. As you continue the roll back to upright you need to reverse the throttle/collective smoothly to get it back to positive pitch as you become upright. A little practice and you will see that it all happens in one smooth motion.

For a loop, once you are in FF start to pull on the elevator and start rounding out your loop. As you go vertical and crest over the top of the loop you will be pulling back the collective to the point where you are giving it how ever much negative pitch it needs to keep it tracking straight through the loop. Then as you come back down through the last half of the loop you will reverse your collective back to positive. Again, its all in one smooth movement and you can control a lot of how the loop looks with just the collective.

I hope that helps!

[dicharry]

Absolutely great help ! The video and the description are a tremendous help. Now if I can just get up the heart to "just do it" .
I think my first move will be to practice throwing the Idup switch while I'm in a hover. I'm going to make sure I've got the heli setup properly for 3D.
Thanks a bunch,
Don

[pc_pilot]

Can the loops be done in normal mode?

[CSpaced]

Can the loops be done in normal mode?

Sure, just make sure you're up high! Remember that in normal mode as you go through the top of the loop and pull back collective you will also be reducing throttle. Make 'em fast , tight loops and give yourself some extra altitude to start off with. You may find that you wont even pull back the colletive at all :D

[dicharry]

PC Pilot, I'm glad somebody asked that question. I would like to know if the same thing applies to rolls. Of course, I'm at a distinct disadvantage because of my 63 year old eyes. Keeping oriented on the heli when it's high up is difficult for me. I plan on doing alot of inverted flying on the simulator before I try a loop or roll.
Don

[Duck Head]

Its possible to do both in normal mode, but I would recommend especially if just learning to do them in idle up. You will lose head speed and altitude pretty fast.

[Flyinfool]

As duck said, loops and rolls can be done in normal, BUT DON'T DO IT.
It can be done but is a lot harder and there is no room for error, if your timing is not perfect you will lose all headspeed and crash.
Idle up is your friend, I never leave the ground unless I am in idle up. If you keep switching back and forth it is only a mater of time till you forget to flip that switch and crash. The parts suppliers love switch flippers.
If your idleup is set up correctly, nothing at all should happen when you switch from normal to idleup while spooling up at 0 pitch or even in a hover.

[Trex Pilot]

That sounds scary. I went out and flew at the lake today and i just could not bring my self to do a loop :( but i did fly around really good i have not been that far out in the sky since i started :) it was fun.

[lextek]

I just did my first backflips with the Trex 450. It's tough getting up the nerve to try. Talk about heart pounding. Should ccpm percentages be increased for mild 3D?

[Trex Pilot]

I just did my first backflips with the Trex 450. It's tough getting up the nerve to try. Talk about heart pounding. Should ccpm percentages be increased for mild 3D?
Video Show us a video man make it a short one i am on dial up:)

[lowflyier]

HEHE I did my first backflips with trex450 yesterday I did 5 or 6 in a row ,up high (whats the saying, fly 3 mistakes high),havent got the balls to do it with a big heli yet,Did do a forced auto (first one) with raptor on sunday no damage that was defferently a different feeling when the engine went quite

[lextek]

I've been working on loops. Now my favorite. I noticed one thing. My circuit flying has improved greatly after messing with semi-3D. I can rip around the field like nothing now it must have something to do with pushing outside your comfort zone. Now when I loop or backflip I still feel the rush, but it is getting more comfortable. I guess I moved up a rung on the learning ladder.:cool:

[dicharry]

I've been working on making a tail first upright circuit. It's a challange making that tail lead the way, and I'm still not solid with it, but it is alot of fun and a great orientation tool after nose in flying.

[Ogre55]

PC Pilot, I'm glad somebody asked that question. I would like to know if the same thing applies to rolls. Of course, I'm at a distinct disadvantage because of my 63 year old eyes. Keeping oriented on the heli when it's high up is difficult for me. I plan on doing alot of inverted flying on the simulator before I try a loop or roll.
Don
Sounds like you need a bigger heli!:cool:

[lextek]

My 450 get's real, small. Real, quick. I crashed today because I was practicing loops and it just got out too far. I just lost orientation. Hit throttle hold and it plopped on it's side. Not bad. I see a larger heli in my future. No pun intended.:cool:

[nexgen]

Loops are fun, but I agree that it's best to stay in idle up as much as possible, and use th hold if it gets hairy. I used to be a 'switch flipper' as Flyinfool put it until I tried a loop in normal mode, but thought I was in idle up 1. At the top of the loop, I pulled back on collective and guess what, the motor stopped (duh) and the heli fell out of the sky. I have completed loops in normal mode, but they have been on accident thinking i'm in idle up. Now I just spool up, and then flip to Idle 1 then take off.