Sunday, May 23, 2010

How to Fly Helicopters


Helicopters are one of the most difficult aircrafts you can fly. Flying a helicopter is unlike flying a conventional aircraft as it requires a completely different set of skills. It is extremely important to remain clam and focused while controlling the three main controls of the helicopter.

Instructions

  1. Step 1

Start the engine, and check the oil pressure and amp meter. Stop the engine if the oil pressure is not the recommended oil pressure for your helicopter. Confirm the battery is charging on the amp meter.

  1. Step 2

Increase the throttle to rev the engine to 2000 rotations per minute or RPMs and engage the main motor blades. Turn off the left magneto and then the right magneto. The engine should never drop below 125 RPMs.

  1. Step 3

Use one hand to control the collective lever and ascend or descend while simultaneously controlling the throttle. The collective controls the helicopter's engine power. Increase the throttle on the collective to 2700 RPMs.

  1. Step 4

Pull the collective lever up until the helicopter becomes light on its landing skids, slowly rising from the right skid and then the left.

  1. Step 5

Maneuver the cyclic stick with your other hand and move the helicopter forward, backward, left and right. Move it forward to point the nose up or back to point it down. Move it left or right, and the helicopter tilts in the corresponding direction.

  1. Step 6

Adjust the pedals on the floor and control the angle of the tail rotor. Holding the left pedal down increases the angle and turns the helicopter left. Holding the right pedal down decreases the angle and turns the helicopter right.

  1. Step 7

Let the helicopter rise to approximately 6 feet above the ground while moving forward to approximately 45 miles per hour or MPH. Pull the cyclic stick back, and the helicopter will climb at approximately 1000 feet per minute. Maintain your forward speed to approximately 70 MPH until you reach your desired altitude