Idle Up?

[SKMoss]

On my Axe CP i have the option to use Idle Up.

Does it make sense to use it? Will I get more control? My thought, and I'm sure I'm wrong, is that with the idle up in the off mode, I'm applying throttle and elevator pitch at the same time to get off the ground. Small movements on the gimbals is adding lift in large increments. If I give it just enough to raise off the ground, I go up, and come back down. A smidge more and I just keep going up.

If I go to idle up, will I be adding the same amount of lift, or lift in smaller increments?

[hawkman]

Idle up setting involves both collective and power channels.....the pitch range can remain the same...eg -9 0 and +9 degrees of pitch range....but the power curve might look different...you can set up a 'V' curve so you can fly upside down....typically you would use normal mode for starting up and taking off....and then you flip the idle up switch....and you can then do loops and other stunts....as you bring the stick to mid position the power would go to 50 percent....bring the stick lower and the power starts to increase again...but with negative pitch so the heli can fly upside down....the power curves might be revised too....you need a decent headspeed to do flips etc...or to get upside down in the first place.

Golden rule: when you land dont bring the stick down too fast....you might have forgotten to select normal mode...always double check.

Rob

[SKMoss]

Thanks Rob. I didn't know about the collective also part of the idle up. Documentation just mentions throttle. My assumption was to get the heli going, center the throttle, flip on IDLE UP, and then lift off. Thinking that building habbit around centering the throttle, instead of bringing it down would be a good idea. I'm concerned about building a habit now, that will be hard to break later.

[hawkman]

You should be ok if you take it easy....I have landed before with a Nitro heli and brought the collective down only to find the engine revving up...because of me forgetting to switch the idle up back to normal mode.

It depends on the radio system you have...regarding collective settings in idle up mode...most computer type radios would offer this...but I am not sure about your heli...maybe its power/throttle only in idle up mode?

Some flyers have a seperat pitch setting range for throttle hold...so they can do auto practice....I have never seen the point...opting for the same pitch range regardless of modes.

Rob