Carbon Fiber Blades

[Dilbeck]

Question, Crashed and broke my wood 550mm blades and all the hoppy shop had in stock were 600s so purchased them and they seam to make no diff to the 550 except a lot more stable flight . Running a os37 has no problem spinning them at all. Is their anything wrong with using blades for a 50 size chopper? Mines a Hawk Pro 30.

[hawkman]

Nope....no problem at all. The OS 37 would be more than enough to do this...I would reckon an engine like the OS32 might struggle a bit.

Its when you shorter than the proper length...thats when you hit problems.

You see, blades on real helis have some twist to them...Washout...this distributes the lift...so the closer you go to the rotor head the greater the pitch angle..most model helis with collective pitch dont have this washout arrangment...maybe its to do with costs of producing such blades or something....whatever. The last third of an RC heli blade is very critical to performance....loose an inch or so and the heli can be hard to fly...you can increase the headspeed...and alter the pitch but this has its problems.

Use the 600mm blades....Are they carbon? they will be more slippery so should run that much faster. I have 710 mm carbons on my Predator Gasser...really nice blades...quite heavy too...plenty of reserve for autorotations should the need arise.

Rob

[Dilbeck]

Thanks, Yes they are carbon. I did not know about the twist on real helis blades. That would make explain what i was told about using the pitch angle tool on the last 1/3 of the blade because thats where most of the lift is. I hope this person was correct on this. It has worked great. For a stable hover i like to keep the headspeed even on the throttle curve after 5.6 pitch or so, the highest being approx 60%. Sounds like you have a great knowledge of the subject. Been flying the hawk pro for 30 days now, burnt up 2.5 gallons of nitro. Mostly hovering 10-20 feet above ground and fast forward flight. Purchased a simulator yesterday on sale (great plains Real Flight 3.5) because i am having trouble with stable control if the heli is looking right at me. Flying everday though because i just cant help it! May have to seek prof help or go to the betty ford clinic for heli junkies Ha HA.

[hawkman]

I understand you 'illness' I am the same...got loads of time under my belt...and still check the wind conditions before rushing out with the Trex for a quick 'fix'....there are far worse 'afflictions' in this world...My Woman doesnt complain about RC helis at all!

With the pitch angle tool you can place this pretty much anywhere along the average RC heli blade...the washout applies to real full size helis...and small rc fixed pitch helis as well.

I use the blade tip for my pitch measuring...just makes it easier to sight along the tool and the flybar.

My Knowledge isnt that great...Its just like anyone else who has been involved in the hobby for a while...you pick things up as you go...and learn too. You should check out the Predator gasser sometime...this is like the Hawk...on steroids!!!! I really liked my Hawk...darn good little heli...had many hours of fun with it.

If you struggle with attitude of the heli...try not to panic...the heli will stay upright...mostly...just make small movements with the sticks...your brain will register which is the correct movement.

A good tip:

if you are getting nervous..just hold off a while...and try the move again...always try to have a 'get out' clause...usually a left or right rudder movement. If the heli gets too far away...and you cant discern which way it going...try to hold a hover...and gently move the rudder from side to side...again you will 'click'...if not..keep hovering and walk carefully toward the heli...till you sort it out.

I find the skids can confuse me...they can give an illusion that the heli is banking one way...when its the other way...I might try some contrasting colours to sort this out.

Rob

[Dilbeck]

What is a gasser? Ive heard this term somewhere before and i am assuming its not nitro?