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(4) It will take a few hours of hover practice with the helicopter skids at 10 to 20 cm (4-8 inches)
off the ground in order to comfortably control the model.
Do not try to lift the model to more than 10 to 20 cm(4-8 inches) in the beginning because
then the model may tip over readily when the beginner panics and an incorrect command is
given. Once you can keep the model at one place, then it is time to slowly increase the height
a few centimeters (inches) in each flight. Soon, you will be able to hover the helicopter
confidently at few feet high. Beginners should always practice hovering close to the ground
because in an emergency panic, throttle and collective can be reduced rapidly without causing
a large drop or damage to the model. If the model was hovering at beyond one meter(3 feet)
altitude, then always descend slowly. A panic drop can damage the helicopter.
(5) Always stand behind the model helicopter when learning how to hover because then you
can watch the nose of the helicopter, and a left tail rotor command will yaw the helicopter
nose to the left, and a right command will yaw to the right. Similarly, a left cyclic command
will cause the helicopter to translate left. After you can comfortably hover the model at one
meter high without drifting, then start practice hovering while standing to either side of the
model. Eventually, you need to be comfortable
at hovering the model from any orientation,
including with the helicopter nose pointing at
you, this is challenging because all control
directions are seem backward.
(6) Once you can confidently hover a model helicopter at any altitude and at any orientation,
then congratulate yourself because you have mastered 80% of the fundamental control
movements of a helicopter.
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