Hi all,

I recently purchased my NeXt programme to assist in my learning process from my flying lessons. My teacher installed the software with the RX2SIM and I use my Jeti DC14 for virtual and real flying. I have continued with the setting up process and getting used to the workings of the software. I watched the setup videos for the transmitter...... very useful! Now for my query:

My real training helicopter (T-Rex550) and my teacher's helicopter (SAB 700) are capable of lift-off without the need to touch the cyclic stick and to hold a reasonably stable hover with only minor adjustment to correct a slight drift to the left. The simulator's SAB 700 almost does its own thing and flies all over the flying zone. The worst problem is its forward motion on lift-off. If my real helicopters did this I would be taking them apart and checking the swashplate alignment.

During my NeXt learning process, I increased the 'Output Period' in the receiver from 17ms to 20ms as recommended by the video although the presenter offered no explanation as to why. I now have a setting of 22ms and the simulated helicopter appears better but still requires constant inputs just to hold it still. I have made all sorts of changes elsewhere but still haven't been able to achieve my usual training period of 10 minutes without crashing.

Thanks in anticpation, I really need the simulator to get me through the winter period.

Hi there Klaus,

Thanks for your prompt feedback. I'm afraid that my teacher is from the old school and doesn't work with settings other than -13 degrees to +13 degrees and 100% D/R contrary to my own thinking, which is in line with yours. For normal flight, I use a 3-point 'curve' of -3.5 degrees, take-off +4.9 degrees at 50% stick and +8 degrees at 100% stick. This keeps the helicopter rate of climb reasonable to an altitude that still allows the helicopter to remain visible. My flying club limits helis to 60m maximum altitude

As there seems to be no adverse effect from 20ms, I'll change to that for now as per the video.

Since mastering the mechanical setting up of helicopters, I experience no tendancy for the heli to fly forward even with the forward tilt that exists with the landing gear (I have a forward tilt of approximately 3.5 degrees on all my helis). As pitch increases to the lift-off value of 4.9 degrees, the rotor lifts the heli into the air with the rotor and tail boom parallel to the ground with no noticable forward momentum. My teacher demonstrated this to me on the second lesson when I queried him about it and he didn't even touch the cyclic stick. After this demonstration, I returned to my swashplate leveling and was successful.

Sideways drift is caused by the rotation of the main rotor - in my case clockwise, so drifting slightly left. As you say, adjusting the tail to the right counters this well if one wants a stable hover.

Regarding the settings in the software, which takes priority, the software or the transmitter? I have my pitch set in the transmitter and this seems to take priority. I set the D/R and Expo in the software, although the pre-set Expo values seem very high to me and I don't go above 15% normally. I'd welcome any suggested settings from your good self or others.

Many thanks,

Heliman_880

Hi again Klaus,

Thanks for your continued feedback. I'll get back to practicing. The weather's looking good during this week for some time at the helipad.

Best regards and a happy Xmas.

Heliman_880