When you execute an automatic takeoff the prop speed will increase and the helicopter
will come up off the ground and settle at an altitude of about 1 meter or 3 feet. In this
manual we have talked about “staying ahead” of the aircraft so keep in mind that as
soon as the helicopter comes up you’re flying the helicopter. You will need to control
pitch, roll and yaw to maintain a stationary hover as the helicopter comes up to it’s
target takeoff altitude.
During takeoff the throttle control is basically locked out until the aircraft reaches the
target altitude. Often you’ll see the helicopter bounce a little or make a subtle movement
when the time out expires and at that point you can increase altitude.
Get some altitude
By default the helicopter is flying in altitude hold mode. The autopilot uses barometric
pressure to sense altitude so when you increase the throttle, what you’re really doing is
requesting the autopilot to increase and set a new altitude.
Bring the aircraft up to a comfortable altitude somewhere around chest height and keep
the aircraft in a steady hover to get a feel for the aircraft and conduct a secondary
preflight to make sure all the controls are functioning properly.
Landing and disconnect
For this first flight let’s bring the aircraft down for a landing. Keep the helicopter in a
stationary hover and slowly decrease altitude. As the skids near the ground the
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Special notice:
Understand when the aircraft comes up off the ground you are “Flying the
aircraft”. The autopilot is controlling altitude during takeoff but you are
controlling the pitch, roll and yaw to maintain a hover.
