An Observation

jforkner

jforkner

Member
A recent configuration mistake (I had the elevator control reversed) I made with my quad that rendered it inoperable got me thinking why I made the error in the first place. Oh I read the instructions numerous times; but I simply read the words, I didn’t interpret what I read---I applied what I assumed was correct. My understanding of flight controls was biased by my real-world experience with airplanes.

As a former Air Force pilot and flyer of R/C airplanes, I kept trying to apply fixed-wing flight controls to my quad. Obviously that doesn’t work. To move forward in an airplane, you advance the throttle; to go up, you pullback on the elevator. These two functions are pretty-much reversed on a quad---to go up, you add throttle; to go forward, you give it down elevator.

Well, you say, “Duh!” And perhaps I’m simply trying to justify my stupid mistake . But I think if I’m going to be successful at flying multi-copters, I’ve got to erase that fixed-wing flight control concept from my head and replace it with this new one. Perhaps easier-said-than-done, but recognition of a problem is the first step toward recovery. Besides, confession is good for the soul.

Anyway, I think I have a handle on my problem now and will work hard to be a better quad pilot. Thanks for listening, and Happy New Year.



Jack
 

Bowley

Bowley

Member
Its a bit like slow flight with fixed wing.
It get a little more similar to fixed wing flight when you get into fast forward flight, like when a heli gets into translational flight.
 




matwelli

matwelli

Member
I just visualise the right stick as a pole in the middle of my multi, as essentially that's how it responds.

I came from flying RC aircraft, its taken many many flights to ge comfortable with multi, but now I find that I can swap between the two modes of flying no problem, just takes time for the "muscle memory" to develop
 


Bartman

Bartman

Welcome to MultiRotorForums.com!!
Jack,
Welcome to the site. What did you fly in the Air Force? I flunked the eye exam in 11th grade so I had to go the civilian route.
Multi's fly just like a helicopter (I'm sure someone will tell me they don't but I'm getting used to it). Right stick is pitch and roll but you pitch forward to point your lift vector forward to get moving. in a heli you'd have to throw in more lift to keep from descending as your lean forward and with a multi you do that by adding power with the motors. keep track of where the nose is pointing so your right/left/fwd/backward all continue to flow from the right stick according to what your brain desires. when the nose (yaw) gets out of whack all the right stick stuff goes to hell also.
if you lose all SA, center the sticks, climb a bit, and use some left/right or front/back inputs to see what is what. if it's crashing into the ground and you've lost SA then it's a tough situation to recover from but just make sure you get video so we can see the moment of destruction. :)
Enjoy the site.
Bart
 



Macsgrafs

Macsgrafs

Active Member
What is it with these backwards handed people :) :) :)
Right is aileron + elevator
Left is Throttle & rudder

Ross
 

jforkner

jforkner

Member
Bartman said:
Jack,
Welcome to the site. What did you fly in the Air Force?
Bart
Click to expand...

Bart, I flew KC-135s & C-130s. Thanks for the tips. I thnk my my learning curve would be shortened if it weren't for the fact that I have vision in only one eye (i.e., no depth perception). Freak accident post-Air Force.

Jack

Jack
 


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