6
Instruction Manual
http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk
http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk
7
Instruction Manual
http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk
STEP 5–HOVERING AND
MANOEUVRES
By now you will have realised that in order to
maintain flight, brief control inputs or 'nudges' are
required–plus enough practice to manage operation
of all the primary flying controls successfully
together.
As your co-ordination and anticipation improves,
you should be able to reduce forward speed when
making 'hops', thereby bringing your helicopter into
a hover.
Practice hovering until you feel confident with the
basic handling of your helicopter.
Next, you should start experimenting at rotating
(yawing) the helicopter slightly to the left or right
using the tail rotor (yaw) controls–but only proceed
to this stage when you have mastered the hover!
From the hover, yaw the model a few degrees
left and then back to straight ahead–always
remembering to watch the nose. Practice yawing to
left and to right until you feel confident.
Next, practice crabbing your Twister to the right and
left using cyclic controls. Proceed as follows:
From the hover, briefly 'nudge' a small amount of
right roll. Your Twister will start a drift to the right.
Put in a small amount of opposite roll to halt the
drift, then a small amount of left roll to start a drift
to the left. You will probably need to keep the tail
straight using tail rotor whilst doing this. Always
be ready to correct the drift by using opposite roll.
If you get into trouble at any stage, reduce the
throttle, land, change you trousers and try again.
STEP 6–BEYOND THE HOVER
As you become more proficient with your helicopter
you will want a larger space so you can really start
to fly around instead of hovering about all day.
If you do fly outside, please remember that any wind
will affect the performance of your Twister. Please
keep this in mind if you do fly outdoors and don't be
too surprised if, while flying your model, it suddenly
climbs or drops without you making any input. This
can be caused by a slight breeze or even a 'thermal'
coming through.
A training undercarriage can be a huge help by
providing your Twister with a wide track and a
degree of cushioning to aid stability and therefore
help prevent 'tip-overs'. See the parts listing at
the end of this manual. Another useful training aid
is a computer flight simulator which can greatly
enhance and speed up the learning process. In
addition a simulator is great for teaching you
“nose in”. This is when the nose of the helicopter
is pointing at you and where some of the controls
become effectively reversed–which can catch out
both experienced and novice pilots alike!
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY FLYING!
TROUBLESHOOTING
VIBRATION
Solution 1 – Out of balance main blades
If vibration of tail boom or undercarriage is
noticeable, the most likely problem will be
out of balance main blades. To cure this,
balance the blades as follows: Remove the
metal pin retaining the complete rotor head
onto the main shaft. Turn the head upside
down and support it on 2 glass tumblers or
similar. Observe which blade falls lowest
and add tape to the undersurface tip area of
the higher blade. Adjust until the blades are
level and re-attach rotor head.
Solution 2 – Bent main shaft
The tail boom and undercarriage will vibrate
if the main shaft is bent. Replace the main
shaft and gear unit if you suspect a bent
main shaft
Solution 3 – Main blades not aligned correctly
The main blades must be at 90 degrees
to the flybar. If they are not straight,
the helicopter will vibrate and/or 'nod'.
Straighten the blades out to the flying
position and try again.
Solution 4 – Blade tracking is out.
Sometimes, the rotor blades will fly at
different heights and this will cause
vibration. When the helicopter rotor disc is
viewed in flight, the white-tipped main blade
may fly at a different height to the other
main blade. The blades are running 'out of
track'. Note which blade is higher. Land the
helicopter and physically twist the outboard
half of the lower flying blade to a higher
flying angle by firmly grasping the blade at
the half-span point and twisting clockwise
from the blade tip. The idea is to increase
the angle of attack which causes the blade
to fly higher. Be careful you do not damage
any parts. Test fly and check tracking again.
Adjust again if required until the blades run
'in track' as closely as possible.
Solution 5 – Flybar paddles out of balance.
Check that the distances from the rotor
hub centre out to the flybar paddles are the
same for both paddles. Adjust the flybar
position by loosening the flybar control plate
grub screws, re-centring the flybar, then
tightening the grub screws. N.B. A small
Allen key will be required.
MAIN ROTOR DOES NOT TURN
Solution 1 – Check throttle stick and trim lever
are in the fully down position.
Solution 2 – Check all electrical connectors
and that the '4-in1' receiver crystal is seated
securely in the socket in the '4-in-1' unit.
