I've been flying RC helicopters for 23 years. I'm not a big 3D pilot and
don't do the aggressive aerobatics that have become so common but I'm very
competent at what I can do, certainly within the realm of anything that
would mimic the capabilities of a full size helicopter. I'm also a fixed
wing private pilot SEL/MEL and I've got about seven hours duel instruction
in helicopters and two in gyroplanes so I do have some idea of the
challenges faced by an RC helicopter pilot trying to transition to the full
size birds.

This is just my opinion of course, but, while the performance shown in the
video is impressive, I think it's unreasonable to consider this a "typical"
performance. One of the problems faced by RC pilots when transitioning to
the full size birds is that they're flying by feel (seat of the pants) along
with visual info outside the aircraft while seated "inside" the aircraft.
The RC pilot flies by visual cues "only" from outside the aircraft. It
generally takes a while to make that transition. What the RC pilot gains
from his/her experience with the model, is an intuitive understanding of the
controls and their interactions that a non-RC pilot, whether they're a rated
(non-rotorcraft) full size pilot or not, would have.

Maybe there is some advantage to flying an RC model while seated in a chair
with controls that mimic the full size bird's layout as apposed to just
holding onto a couple of sticks, but they're still flying the model,
visually. I'm also assuming that you've got that RC model a discreet
distance from that chair because if the pilot does goof it up, he'll be at a
significant handicap getting out of the way of the model from a seated
position as apposed to if they were already on their feet. Having said
that, I'd also assume that you're using some kind of "buddy box" system and
instructor, at least for the first few tries, with a new student. Just
wondering?

I find your heli-chair intriguing and wouldn't mind trying it some time but
I can't help but wonder if, in my case at least, I wouldn't be just as well
off to apply that money to actual flight training.

Steve R.



"Heli-Chair" wrote in message
oups.com...
this should work

http://www.heli-chair.com/videos_pub...er_liftoff.wmv

kas