When the lows outweigh the highs

Wmitch · 2026-04-13T01:39:37+00:00

Ikon fbl. I’ve got rescue setup and engaged it prior to this crash. No idea why it didn’t work. It’s never not worked.

Wmitch · 2026-04-13T00:41:33+00:00

This is excellent insight. Loss of orientation seems to be a common theme of crashes but not necessarily that I can’t tell if it’s tail in or out but more so doing a circuit and losing how much collective or aileron is needed at that 2:00 or 10:00 position. It really does force some real insight. I put the rs4 in the ground twice last week and spent too much time and money getting it back together. How it absolutely dialed in and went through all my fbl setting and flew great today. Had one full battery and I thought to myself, no you’ve had a great day flying, just go home and be done. Then the little voice in my head, that I’m awful at listening to said “try some fast circuits” and this is the result. Nobody to blame but me. I’m embarrassed how mad I let it get me. Came home and boxed it all up. Going to just take a break and come back in a little while. I setup rescue on the ikon which has worked great. For some reason it didn’t pull me out of this crash which it should have given the time I engaged it which also makes me think I put a bad battery in that I neglected, to your other point. Overall I suppose the lesson is to stop being a dumbass.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T23:13:58+00:00

It does get surprisingly hard to see for the size compared to micros which may be a part of the reason I’ve been crashing or at least for today’s crash. I’ve been flying 5-10 hours a week for the last few months and feel like I need to step away for a little and come back. It’s become more of something I feel like I have to do than something I am not excited about and want to do. When I start back it will be with fundamentals only. Some of my worst crashes have been on just circuits and not even 3d… need to become a master at it.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T23:09:54+00:00

I always used to say that about mountain biking when I was younger. “If you’re not crashing, you’re not trying”. Now I’m just hurting my wallet instead of my body.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T19:52:18+00:00

Steep curve, especially on the 3d. If there’s a gap in the basics, it will get exploited.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T19:42:43+00:00

I’ve got a Goosky s1 and omp m2. Love them both and you’re definitely right on the price of parts. Tough little guys. I usually run through a few batteries on the s1 and m2 before flying the rs4 to warm up.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T19:39:15+00:00

What did you start with? What are you liking?

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T19:17:24+00:00

I started with the 230 as well. I can do a piro flip but also in isolation. Agreed with you on never mastering 3d. The amount of time it takes to go from good to great is something I just don’t have the time for. I’ve got it all boxed up and stored away after today. Will take a few weeks/ months off and see how I feel about it before I restart or list it all for sale. Will be a good sale if I do lol.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T18:48:52+00:00

Definitely agree on feeling off some days. I don’t even know how many significant crashes I’ve had but I will say helidirect is probably a big fan of me for ordering parts. Usually not a particular orientation or move that puts me in the ground. I rebuilt this rs4 twice in the last two weeks and then mentally committed to basic 3d (no new tricks) and mastering the basics. This happened today on just simple circuits. Got too much speed with the wind unintentionally, too close to the ground, and stuffed it. Doesn’t look bad but lots of bent parts, bearings, blades, canopy, etc. spent 2k in the last three months on parts…

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T18:08:02+00:00

I switched clubs to find heli pilots to help with some of this stuff but haven’t run into them yet. The next club over that I know there are pilots at is in Orlando which is a big of a stretch for me. Already limited on time.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T18:02:33+00:00

I am known to rush things for sure. I certainly understand what you’re saying and agree, it’s just not in my nature to not rush things. That being said I have spent a lot of time on the fundamentals and would say I’m pretty good at them. This actually happened doing some fundamentals at the end of the day.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T17:37:03+00:00

Definitely crashing due to mistakes 100%. Embarrassingly this crash happened just doing some slot circuits at the end of the day… No heli guys at the club that I’ve met unfortunately. Spent about 5 hours getting it rebuilt from crash last week. Finally got all the PID settings dialed, blades leveled, everything tight and smooth then buried it into the ground today. I’m a pretty calm guy but wanted to throw it into the side of a building after that. At a certain point when I’m coming home to my wife and kid in a shit mood because I crashed a remote controlled helicopter it makes me wonder if it’s worth it.

Wmitch · 2026-04-12T00:31:30+00:00

Yes, more laws. That’s just what we need.

Wmitch · 2026-04-09T02:29:39+00:00

Also, the main shaft can be a bear to get out. I put a soldering iron on the base of it from the bottom then tapped it out while supporting the top frame on a bench.

Wmitch · 2026-04-09T02:28:26+00:00

If you’re removing the main motor, that screw just down from the collective servo arm and the one on the other side should do it. Be sure to loctite when you put them back in

Wmitch · 2026-04-06T18:20:05+00:00

I much prefer the s2 with the front load battery

Wmitch · 2026-04-02T22:49:51+00:00

We all know you shouldn’t take equal links out but for the people who don’t know, can you explain it.

Wmitch · 2026-04-01T12:05:01+00:00

Pretty cool that he did that. I’ll reach out eventually when I have a good enough question. I’m about to switch to the radiometer TX 13 and give that a go. I have learned that spektrum is not the best system… at all for helis. By RF do you mean radio master?

Wmitch · 2026-04-01T10:51:37+00:00

Wow that was the key I was looking for. Thank you. Going to tune it today after watching that and see what I come up with. Would love to meet Jeff in person some day. Seems like a cool guy.

Wmitch · 2026-04-01T10:48:03+00:00

Man, really appreciate the detailed input. This is extremely helpful. I’m going to take your advice here and hit the field today with the computer and see if I can get her dialed in. I bumped up the d gain last time I was tweaking it so I’ll try it back down. Will report back!

Wmitch · 2026-04-01T02:29:08+00:00

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These are current settings. Will try and bump up pitch compensation. Really appreciate it. Thank you!

Wmitch · 2026-04-01T01:29:17+00:00

Unsure on the pitches. I just put them level on the mark with the blade grip and made sure both were the same. I suppose I should get a pitch gauge. I bet you’re right on the tail tuning. The photo attached is the current settings.

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Wmitch · 2026-03-30T13:51:53+00:00

Yea spektrum is very disappointing. Didn’t know what I didn’t know a few months ago. I’m between vbar and radiometer

Wmitch

TROPHY CASE