Choosing a Flying Area
When you are ready for your first flight, you will want to select a relatively
open indoor area that is free of people and obstructions. And while it is
possible for experienced pilots to fly the Blade mCX in relatively small indoor
areas with great success due to its size and controllability, we strongly
recommend an area with at least 10-feet by 10-feet of floor space and no
less than 8-foot ceilings when making your first few flights.
Once you have properly trimmed your helicopter and become familiar with
its handling and capabilities, you will be able to fly in other smaller, less
open areas.
Note: The Blade mCX is designed and intended to be flown INDOORS ONLY.
Flying the Blade mCX
Having followed the proper 5-in-1 control unit initialization and arming
procedures, confirmed proper control of the servos and motors, and found
a suitable flying area, your Blade mCX is ready for flight.
Note: In addition to reviewing the flight maneuvers outlined below,
we recommend that you watch the Instructional Video located on
the product page for the Blade mCX on www.horizonhobby.com to
see many of these maneuvers and adjustments performed by the
helicopter and pilot.
• Slowly raise the throttle stick, increasing the speed of the main rotor
blades until the model begins to lift off. Do not raise the throttle stick too
quickly as the model could climb too fast causing you to lose control or
make contact with objects above.
• Lift the model off the ground just a few inches and concentrate on
balancing the throttle stick position so that the model holds a steady
hover altitude. In some cases it may be best to make a few short “hops”
to an altitude of just a few inches until you become familiar with the
control inputs and trim settings required to maintain a steady hover and
altitude.
As you will find, the Blade mCX requires minor throttle adjustments to
maintain its altitude in hover. Remember to keep these throttle adjustments
as minimal as possible as large adjustments could result in a loss of control
and/or a possible crash.
• While attempting to establish a low-level hover, you can also check to
see if any trim adjustments are required to help keep the Blade mCX
from constantly drifting in various directions. If you find the helicopter
constantly drifts without any directional control input, it will be best to land
the model before making any adjustments to the trim settings. Additional
details regarding the location and function of the trim buttons can be
found in the Understanding the Primary Flight Controls section of this
manual.
If the nose of the helicopter is drifting to the left or right, you will need to
adjust the rudder trim.
If the helicopter is drifting forward or backward, you will need to adjust the
elevator trim.
If the helicopter is drifting to the left or right, you will need to adjust the
aileron trim.
Continue to make trim adjustments until the helicopter can hover at a low
altitude with very little drifting and directional control input. If the Blade
mCX is your first helicopter model, it may be best to have the help of an
experienced helicopter pilot to trim the model for you before making your
first flight.
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