One of the most asked questions
among newbie RC helicopter pilots is how to measure your RC
Helicopter blade pitch range. If you want to fly an RC
Helicopter well, you will need to know how to measure your RC
Helicopter blade pitch range. Your RC helicopter will not lift
off, if it does not have enough positive pitch and it will bog
down and draw too much power if you set too much positive pitch.
So it is important that you set your blade pitch correctly based
on your RC helicopter manufacturer's recommendation, you RC
Helicopter set-up and flying style. While some experienced RC
Helicopter pilots can guess the pitch range without using a
pitch gauge, it is very strongly recommended that you measure
your pitch with a pitch gauge. A pitch gauge only costs about
$10 to $20, so there is no excuse to guess - it is a good tool
to have. Below is a typical Micro Heli pitch gauge. Pilots do
set their pitch differently based on their preferences. Pitch
readings below are used as example only to illustrate how to
measure your heli pitch; it does not mean you have to set up
your heli pitch range exactly like it is showed below.
Different RC Helicopter pilots
measure pitch differently and instruction below is just one way
of measuring your RC helicopter blade pitch. it is done on Blade
CP2 but the concept is the same. Note: Always disconnect your main
motor and tail motor from your power source to avoid accidents.
Preparation Steps
Always disconnect your RC
helicopter main and tail motors first.
It is important to keep
your flybar straight horizontally (parallel to the tail boom)
all the time to read the pitch gauge correctly. You can use
rubber bans and a spare flybar to keep the flybar straight up
and from moving. Use the bubble level gauge to make sure the
flybar is tied up perfectly straight. Or you can just have
someone to hold it still for you while to measuring the pitch.
For some RC
Helicopters such as Trex450 or MX400, the flybar is below the
main blades. Use the same concept.
Make sure the top line of
the pitch gauge is running in the same line as your flybar.
The reading will not be accurate if you don't align the top
part of you pitch gauge with the flylar or your flylar is not
horizontally straight.
Read the pitch gauge
pointer. Your pitch range at mid stick should be 0 (zero). In
the picture below, the pitch gauge pointer reads 0 (zero) at
mid point.
Reading your pitch range at
top point
Move the
throttle stick to the top point as shown
Put the
pitch gauge on the blade as shown.
Make sure the top line of
the pitch gauge is running in the same line as your flybar.
The reading will be accurate if you don't align the top part
of you pitch gauge with the flylar or your flybar is not
horizontally straight.
Read the pitch gauge
pointer. The pitch should be in a positive range depending on
how you want to set it up. In the picture below, the pitch
gauge pointer reads +10 at top point.
Reading your pitch range at
low point
Move the
throttle stick to low point as shown
Put the
pitch gauge on the blade as shown.
Make sure the top line of
the pitch gauge is running in the same line as your flybar.
The reading will be accurate if you don't align the top part
of you pitch gauge with the flylar or your flylar is not
horizontally straight.
Read the pitch gauge
pointer. The pitch should be in a negative range depending on
how you want to set it up. In the picture below, the pitch
gauge pointer reads -5 at low stick.
Note:
For a Blade CP, based on the owner manual, the heli is set at 0
at mid stick and +10 at top sick for normal flight mode. For
Idle Up (stunt) mode, it is set at -10 at low stick, 0 at mid
stick and +10.
Adjusting your pitch range.
If you pitch is off from
what you want it set, adjust the pitch control link of each
blade. If you are having problem knowing which way to turn the
control link to get the desired pitch range, just turn one
control link one way a little too much just to learn the
effect and measure it again. Then, you will know which way to
turn to increase your pitch and which way to turn to decrease
your pitch.
