Specifications

Chapter 21. Forward and Backward Flight
21.1. Using idle-up mode
If you have been learning to hover in normal mode, you should now switch to using idle-up
mode for practicing forwards and backwards flight.
The idle-up mode will allow you to keep a constant headspeed regardless of the throttle stick
position, which will make the helicopter more responsive to the throttle stick. This is necessary
to perform proper banked turns during fast forward and backward flight.
Be sure to reread the Helicopter power-on procedure section to learn the proper procedure for
switching into idle-up mode.
21.2. Entering and exiting fast forward flight
Forward flight is a little tricky on helicopters. It requires simultaneous coordination of both the
throttle and cyclic to enter and exit forward flight smoothly.
To enter forward flight, it is necessary to tilt the heli forward (use forward cyclic) and simultan-
eously apply a little throttle. If you tilt the heli forward without applying throttle, the helicopter
will slide nose-first into the ground. This is because the thrust from the heli is being vectored at
an angle relative to the ground, and you lose some vertical lift because it's being converted to
horizontal thrust.
Once the helicopter starts moving, you will need to tilt the heli back a little and simultaneously
reduce throttle below hover. You will need to reduce the throttle because translational lift will
occur and you will now get extra lift. Exiting forward flight into a hover is the reverse process.
You will need to tilt the heli back (use back cyclic) to reduce forward motion, and simultan-
eously reduce throttle to prevent the heli from climbing up. After the forward motion has been
reduced, you will need to level the helicopter (use forward cyclic) and add throttle to transition
to a stable hover.
One way to practice forward flight is to pick two points a comfortable distance apart (maybe
five feet for a micro, ten or fifteen feet for a nonmicro) then practice flying back and forth
between those two points (stop into a hover at each point and turn 180 degrees).
21.3. Banked forward turns
Banked turns are also a little tricky, and require simultaneous coordination of the throttle and
cyclic.
The first phase of a banked turn is to apply left or right cyclic in the direction of the turn until the
desired bank angle is reached.
The second phase of a banked turn is to simultaneously apply a small amount of back cyclic
and rudder in the direction of the turn. The third phase is to straighten out after the turn. This
requires using forward cyclic to maintain forward motion and centering the rudder stick.
Be careful when making a turn in windy conditions. This is the main cause of beginner crashes
at this stage.
When you are flying into the wind, you will gain translational lift and the heli will rise, so you will
decrease throttle. As you perform the turn and are flying with the wind, you will all of a sudden
lose translational lift very abruptly and the heli will start to sink.
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