gaanel
Senior Heliman
Location: Greenville, SC
| This actually happened about 5 years ago but I am taking a break at work and I thought I would write it.
I started flying with an Ikarus Fun Piccolo 5 or 6 years ago. I actually learned FF flight and nose in, etc. on it. It was a very tough helicopter. The only expensive thing on it (back then) was the main electronic board that has the main motor controller and tail motor controls, etc. About $80.00s.
I was doing the rotor stop with it (before I ever heard of that before). It was really cool. I would get up about as high as I could see it then just cut power. The rotor would stop and that thing would fall. I did it occassionally without any problems. One day I thought I am really going to let this thing get low before I restart the rotor. So I went way up and cut the rotor. It dropped and I started it up a little too fast this time. One thing on the Pic Pro is the head will pop off in a crash. Well the head popped off about 30 feet up. I usually fly over my yard, but of course this day the heli had drifted over the street. That thing just about exploded when it hit the pavement. Little pieces shot all over. The blades that popped off just floated down and landed safely.
Of course the circuit board ate it big time, my receiver got damaged, battery pack, etc. I wish I would have had a picture of it crashing. At that time I was very bummed because money was hard to come by. And back then the micro helicopters were more expensive. Now adays you can get the radio, heli, and batteries for $80.00. When I first got into the micros an Ikarus Piccolo Pro w/o any controls or motor was about $180.00. I think after I bought my Pic Pro and fully outfitted it, it cost more than my new Century Raven. That is one good thing about China. It has brought the cost of the micro helis down!
Gary
Member of the "Light Side" |
