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3D BASICS ........... More to come ........ Inverted, Sideways flight ...... etc

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I have called this the 3D Basics section, but don't underestimate how difficult some of the following manoeuvres are. Time spent on these, working on good positioning and all orientations (to avoid becoming handed) is time well spent.

Manoeuvre Description Picture
Hovering T So you think you can hover ???(Part1)

I often get asked 'What is the hardest trick I can do??'. My reply is usually, 'The hardest thing I have learnt to do is HOVER 'properly''. I then explain the importance of being able to Hover in ALL Orientations for 3D flying.

So to improve my own hovering skills I followed the advice of Curtis Youngblood from his Q&A book. This involves the Hovering T.

Picture shown in the BIRDS EYE VIEW

1 - Start with the model in a stationary hover infront of you, tail-in.
2 - Then move out to the right (slowly, this is a hovering manoeuvre remember), while keeping the nose pointing north at all times. After about 5-10m stop the sideways motion and bring the model back into the hover. You will now be looking slightly sideon to the model.
3 - Bring the model back towards the middle by moving the model left and then into a stationary hover.
4 - Now move the model forwards about 5-10m, then bring the model back into the stationary hover.
5 - Bring the model back towards the middle by moving the model backwards and then into a stationary hover.
6 - Now move the model left about 5-10m, then bring the model back into the stationary hover. You will now be looking on the opposite side of the heli from (Part2).
7 - Bring the model back towards the middle by moving the model right and then into a stationary hover.
8 - Land and take a breather.

In this example the nose is on a constant heading, north all the time.

The idea now is to start with the nose pointing west, then east, then south (nose-in) and perform the hovering T with each of there variants.

I also found it useful to make the T into an E as shown by the dotted lines. I found this gave an extra challenge.

You could also but some cones/flags on the ground, in a T, so that you have points to stop over, like the FAI boys.

What you are looking to achieve is a consistant height and speed throughout the complete manoeuvre. If your height or speed starts to wander at a particular point of the manoeuvre, you have just found a weakness in your hovering that you can now work-on.

That is the main reason for doing the Hovering T, it will show up your weaknesses aswell as improve your hovering.

My little moto, 'The secret to flying a heli, is being able to hover it'
Hovering T - Inverted So you think you can hover ??? (Part2)

Perform the above Hovering T, but this time inverted

Once you can perform the Hovering T, Normal and Inverted in the 4 orientations, it is safe to say, you are well on the way to becoming an advanced 3D Flyer.
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Hovering T - Pirouetting So you think you can hover ??? (Part3)

Perform the above Hovering T, but this time pirouetting (left and right rotation), normal and inverted

Hang on a second, this isn't very Basic anymore, but you get the idea. The hovering T can really help you develop your orientation of the Heli.
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Hovering T - Metronoming So you think you can hover ??? (Part4)

Perform the above T, but this time Metronoming. The list of orientations is HUGE for this one.

Hang on a minute, we've gone even further past the basics now.
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I have covered the Hovering aspects of 3D Flying above. The following looks at 'flying' manoeuvres, too help develop the basics of 3D Flight. Work on good positioning of the heli. Also try to perform the maneuvres in both diections Left to Right and Right to Left, this will stop you becoming handed.

Manoeuvre Description Picture
Cuban 8 See Pic. 1/2 rolls are used in the centre of the move. For clarity, only the 1/2 roll is shown in the left to right portion of the cuban 8.

The most basic example is shown. To add a 3D twist to the move, perform it backwards inverted or with sideways loops.