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Domain: snelflight.co.uk

Stories and comments across the archive that link to snelflight.co.uk.

Comments · 8

  1. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by mav[LAG] · · Score: 2, Informative · on World's Smallest Homebrew RC Unit

    Could anybody who knows the physics behind this please explain how this thing will perform/behave compared to a normal RC heli, and then compared to a full size heli?

    No idea but the Hoverfly flies like its much larger brothers by using small upward facing motors on its rotors and then co-ordinating them electronically. It does have a small gyro but there are no servos since cyclic and collective are controlled electronically and the anti-torque rotor is much smaller than normal since it's not the main rotor providing the thrust.

  2. Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by mav[LAG] · · Score: 1 · on Airborne Video With an R/C helicopter
    Any advice on starter models and how steep the learning curve is?

    The two main things you need to learn are:

    • how to set up, balance, tweak and generally configure a model heli before it will get off the ground
    • how to fly it


    Both require lots of help for the beginner. The latter's learning curve is immensely shorter with the use of a simulator. Probably the best starter package is the Hoverfly. Normally beginners should stay away from small electric choppers because they traditionally are light, squirrely and very hard to learn on, but the Hoverfly's flight characteristics are deliberately very similar to larger gas models. It has lots of other benefits:
    • it comes with its own controller, saving you big bucks on a heli-capable radio transmitter. If you do have a transmitter it just plugs into the buddy cable interface
    • it runs off the mains via an umbilical cable. No money needed for super ultralight rechargeable batteries and no ten minute limit on flights either. You can't really do loops or somersaults of course but you can learn to fly.
    • Indoor flying is all-weather :)
    • It comes with a simulator already
    • It's cheap and again, doesn't force the purchase of a 7-channel helicopter capable Tx if you eventually decide model heli flying is not for you


    I've found a lot of resistance to r/c simulators in general, especially among older pilots. "It's not the same, you need to practice like we did, blah blah blah." If you experience it, take it with a grain of salt. Simulators, while not perfect and obviously not the same, are an excellent way of developing your co-ordination and reflexes to be instinctive - easily the steepest part of the curve. I've flown a powered fixed wing plane precisely once - a friend let me fly his and it was exactly the same as a sim I'd practised on. Helis and gliders are the same.
  3. A better machine IMHO... by ChrisPaget · · Score: 1 · on Micro-Helicopter Fun

    ...is the Hoverfly from Snelflight. Total flying weight of 70 grams, unlimited flying time, and so robust you can give your mates the controller without worring about the repair bill. I've been flying one of these things for about a year now - hours of fun, especially when it goes to work with me and the guys in the office take turns at trying to kill each other with it... :)

  4. A better machine IMHO... by ChrisPaget · · Score: 1 · on Micro-Helicopter Fun

    ...is the Hoverfly from Snelflight. Total flying weight of 70 grams, unlimited flying time, and so robust you can give your mates the controller without worring about the repair bill. I've been flying one of these things for about a year now - hours of fun, especially when it goes to work with me and the guys in the office take turns at trying to kill each other with it... :)

  5. BROKEN LINK - See here for Snelflight Hoverfly by Boss,+Pointy+Haired · · Score: 4, Informative · on Micro-Helicopter Fun

    Oooops.

    Snelflight

  6. Tethered, but still great fun... by Boss,+Pointy+Haired · · Score: 3, Informative · on Micro-Helicopter Fun

    I recently bought one of these - it's a tethered indoor model heli - and some of the best fun you can have with your clothes on. It comes with a computer based sim so you can plug the actual controller into your PC and try and minimise damage to your living room.

    Around £200 in the UK. I now have to redecorate as a result of buying mine.

  7. Re:electric R/C Helicopter for indoor flight by psych031337 · · Score: 2 · on Smallest RC Cars?

    ...and then there is also this baby...

  8. Hoverfly miniature helicopter by cybergibbons · · Score: 4, Interesting · on Smallest RC Cars?

    If you want a really cool toy - get one of these.

    Snelflight hoverfly helicopter

    It's a tiny little tethered helicopter which uses a motor and propellor at the end of each blade, so it doesn't work quite the same as a normal rc helicopter, but the control box means that the controls are the same.

    Quite expensive, but very cool