Proper Pitch

[rcklimr]

Hey everyone. Well I'm fairly new to flying helicopters. about 17hrs so far. I'm having a difficult time maintaining proper pitch during my flights and was wondering if anyone had any advice for this problem. Here where I've been training it's been pretty crappy weather making it hard to see the horizon so that is no help as of yet. Thanks for any advice.

[HelliBoy]

What type??

[rcklimr]

R22

[Eric Hunt]

Look across at the horizon, where it crosses the canopy bow.

 

The R22 has the predictable characteristic of Attitude=Airspeed. At 60kt, the horizon is at a certain rivet. At 80kt, the nose is lower. The hover attitude is also pretty constant. Set the attitude, and wait for the airspeed to settle.

 

ATTITUDE IS INSTANT, PERFORMANCE TAKES TIME

 

and

 

Power + Attitude = Performance

 

and

 

Prior Preparation Prevents P155 Poor Performance

[Witch]

I just look at the speed-o-meter and nothing else.

 

Try scanning and when you look at the airspeed, correct as necessary. Oh, and don't move the cyclic too much.

 

Sometimes the speed goes up and down a lot for myself, other times it stays stable. Constantly adjusting is all I can suggest.

 

Later

[rcklimr]

Thanks for the tips. That's pretty much what I do. It just hasn't seemed to be working exceptionally well especially in turns.

[Eric Hunt]

Oh, Witch, how can you say, "I just look at the speed-o-meter and nothing else."

 

You will end up chasing performance, hunting airspeeds, and the attitude will be all over the place, and so will your passenger's breakfast. A rough ride is guaranteed.

 

As I said before, select an attitude, hold it, and wait for the performance to settle. If the speed is slightly off, select a new attitude, HOLD it, WAIT..... and if the power is correct, you will get the performance you want. When you eventually get to fly instruments, your instructor will be beating you up if you take your eyes off the AI for more than it takes for a mini-scan of performance instruments. Attitude IS airspeed.

 

The best thing to do with a student who flies like you do (watching the knot-o-meter) is to cover the ASI up and force them to fly the attitude out the front.

 

If you don't hold a steady attitude, you will post statements such as:

 

"Sometimes the speed goes up and down a lot for myself, other times it stays stable. Constantly adjusting is all I can suggest."

[ChprPlt]

I'm working on instrument now but this would apply to private. Find out how much manifold pressure it takes to go staight and level. Set your mainfold pressure and dont adjust it (for straight and level). Cross check your VSI. Make small adjustments with the cyclic for attitude but not more then 100 fpm on your VSI.

 

In turns you will need to add some power but dont forget to reduce the power when you roll back to level.

[Linc]

Oh, Witch, how can you say, "I just look at the speed-o-meter and nothing else."

 

You will end up chasing performance, hunting airspeeds, and the attitude will be all over the place, and so will your passenger's breakfast. A rough ride is guaranteed.

 

As I said before, select an attitude, hold it, and wait for the performance to settle. If the speed is slightly off, select a new attitude, HOLD it, WAIT..... and if the power is correct, you will get the performance you want. When you eventually get to fly instruments, your instructor will be beating you up if you take your eyes off the AI for more than it takes for a mini-scan of performance instruments. Attitude IS airspeed.

 

The best thing to do with a student who flies like you do (watching the knot-o-meter) is to cover the ASI up and force them to fly the attitude out the front.

 

If you don't hold a steady attitude, you will post statements such as:

 

"Sometimes the speed goes up and down a lot for myself, other times it stays stable. Constantly adjusting is all I can suggest."

Sounds like how I learned it and how I do it now. I can go 80 knots almost without looking at the reference even.

[Witch]

Eric, I'm kidding. Notice the "Speed-O-Meter"?

 

Call it an attempt at being silly?

 

Later

 

Oh yeah, lighten up.

[coyote chaser]

I fly 300s set the manifold pressure don't change it for cruise setting. then adjust attitude of helicopter with the cyclic to the point of not descending or climbing then your set if your to fast lower the mp or vice versa.

you will then hold altitude and airspeed if trim correctly. make minor adjustments mainly with the cyclic for altitude and airspeed when you notice a change. collective is for setting power like stepping on a throttle. don't think of it as anything more. if you get an airspeed callout and your climbing lower the collective by 1 then wait and see. Just try it you'll be surprised.

[Gomer Pylot]

When you bank into a turn, you will have to either increase power or slow down in order to maintain altitude. Turning requires more power, and the more you bank the more power it takes. You will eventually learn to raise the nose slightly when you enter a turn - how much depending on how much you bank. It will become instinctive, just like riding a bicycle, but for now it has to be learned. Nobody flies a helicopter instinctively from the start, it has to become muscle memory through lots of practice. Don't sweat the details too much, just make the aircraft do what you want it to do, whatever it takes.

[rcklimr]

thanks guys I appreciate all of the help.