Is my goal feesable?

[ChopChopChop]

I have just gotton into RC copters and have seen some nice videos on youtube.

This might sound crazy but I can be a clown sometimes.
Is it possible to get good enough to fly a RC copter out of a car from your hand and have it cruise above the car(while someone else drives of course) and land it back in the car? I am talking about 25-30mph.

[George M]

It is possible but very, very difficult. You have to be great pilot to do this. George

[Aztek1701]

Hi there,

Let me comment on the aspects of this one by one... 1st Hand launch. It is possible to hand launch something like a B47 twister without too much trouble, but that has a rotor span of about 10 inches and weighs about 150grammes. (Yes I know Im mixing metric and imperial lol). The problem is that to get a heli capable of doing 25 - 30 mph you need something like a T-rex 450 or bigger. They wiegh about 800 grammes and have a nearly a 19 inch rotor span so hand launching one is a much more scary proposition, the chances of getting hit in the face by the blades which are spinning at 2000rpm is VERY real.

2nd Speed. You need to add to that the factor that this heli is going to be moving forward at 25 - 30 mph (which is fast for a trex 450) at lift off time so your not lifting off into a hover, your lifting off into fast forward flight. The option is to lift into a hover and let the car go past but that means that the heli that was traveling at 25mph is going to suddenly be going to be subject to massive deceleration the second you let it go

3rd Airflow. You also need to factor in the dynamics of the airflow around the car which are likely to be very turblent which the heli is going to have to fly through to get to clean air so that it can cruise above the car.

Oh yeah and to recover the heli, youve got to reverse all this.

If you can get a Seriously good pilot like maybe Alan Szabo and you have a smooth road and you reduce the speed from 25 to about 10 - 15 mph and you have a seriously brave (or stupid) launcher, it MIGHT be possible (Ive seen the video of a raptor flown in a flat) but I think the chances of pulling a stunt like this off are about 99% no 1% yes

Take care... Azzy

[hawkman]

The risks increase with the size of the heli....personally I wouldnt bother trying something like this....but thats me.

However....if you have a burning desire to try it....then do so at slow speeds....and see how you get on....then increase the speed little by little.

Do be aware...a TRex has enough energy to rip your face open....not to mention serious cuts on fingers etc.

I heard of a guy who tried starting a 30 size heli....in His living room....luckily it wouldnt start...He was drunk and showing off to His mates.

Rob

[Aztek1701]

Hi Hawkman,

Ive actually got a Video of some ***** hovering a Raptor indoors. Dont think its too huge, if you like I'll try to post it somewhere you can looky.

Take care... Azzy

[vlam67]

This is hypothetical scenario is very interesting...imo a hand launch is definitely death wish material. Consider,You have to use two pliers and considerable force to bent/ straighten the tranverse shaft in the head, but the heli in a crash bent mine in to a banana in fraction of a second! If a pair of 50 grams foam blade going at 200kph at the tip can do this to steel, what chances have your face...or throat???

I'd rather suggest you try it on an a flatbed utility, or a truck...maybe control it from a second ute going paralel with the first. But the chances of success may be slim. Even Navy chopper pilots don't take off and land from ships and carriers going at 30mph, afaik.

Have fun!

Vinnie

[hawkman]

Yeah....totally agree....the safety considerations must be taken into account.

The hobby has an element of risk as it is....why multiply those risks?

Rob

[bigdog714]

I watched a special effects guy do something similar , he needed footage of what a missle would see while chasing its target , so he flew a heli will chasing it in a heli , it was wild