The Key To Helicopter Hovering: Smooth Control Inputs

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Learning Smooth Control Inputs is absolutely vital to master the art of Hovering a Helicopter!

[@Scott2817]

I ran across this video a year after you posted it. I'm a new helicopter student having had an intro flight lesson and 2 actual lessons. This is the first video I've seen of flying lessons which explains that you must move the cyclic stick back to neutral, (or center) again after an input in any direction. This is probably the greatest key to hovering that there is. I also fly RC helis like one of the people commented below. The same principle applies. Small inputs and then recenter the cyclic! And like you said, corrections are constant!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@electricaviationchannelvid7863]

@@HelicopterGround I remember an interview with the Robinson designer and he admitted that his helicopters are not ideal and never were designed for training...(due to the strange control stick, rotor head...) It was designed for more like the utility use cases and the already experienced pilot ones... What is your take on that? Personally I do not like the idea of 2 blade tethering rotors on a helicopter vs. other designs...

[@electricaviationchannelvid7863]

- On a conventional fixed wing it is sometimes more back than central because of the momentum...it is especially a factor with aerobatics... - I do not know helicopters. - On some modern fly-by wire systems it is almost only pressure and a very little movement or no moving stick...(Airbus,F-16,Gripen)...

[@kennethmartabano6613]

Owned enstrom for 12 plus years , great helicopter learned to fly helicopters after I bought it . Ken

[@HelicopterGround]

Awesome thanks for sharing!

[@jwahartalchabhadell6721]

I can feel hovering in a heli. Thank you, sir.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

I had the fortune to sit next to a Naval test pilot in a Gazelle nearly 30 years ago. He said “would you like to try and hover”. “WOULD I” I replied. He said be gentle and pick an object outside to reference to. I tried so hard… I managed about 10 seconds before a very calm voice said “I have control” and the aircraft returned to an instantly stable motion. After about three sessions I was exhausted and he said “I think you’ve had enough”. I’m fortunate enough to have “tried” many differing modes of transport and without doubt that afternoon freebie trip in the Gazelle brought it home to me about the skill and finesse of all pilots. Great insightful video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@mhayden7988]

Your poor hovering example is me all over. But your video gives me renewed hope. It's a very good video, thanks.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you very much M Haden!

[@KevinDurbin]

Lol!!............ I remember first time trying to hover OH-58 in Aeroscout Observer course. Crazy, thought I had it, then I didn't, then got worse............. Experience eventually wins out and you get better.

[@HelicopterGround]

Exactly! Thanks for commenting!

[@ottoroth9377]

More fun in a Huey UH1B

[@tattooadventures]

You sir are an excellent instructor! I already feel confident for my first lesson on Monday!

[@HelicopterGround]

Wonderful!

[@jackob7578]

im around 10 hours into my course in an R44, my first time hovering was exactly like that swinging around haha, but now im starting to get used to thoose tiny inputs and learning to relax and not overthink it, watching this helped aswell to get another perspective and really see another person making those small adjustments thanks for the vid!

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you enjoy the videos. If you need help with ground training, visit www.helicopterground.com.

[@clarencewatson6226]

I always love the Hovering videos. As I’ve stated when I first joined HOGS me and Hovering are Arch-Enemies in a Epic Battle. Thanks for another great video Kenny.

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you like them! Thank you as always Clarence!

[@Not-a-bot222]

Did you find the hover button yet?

[@duanewallace1771]

Thanks, Kenny! Can't wait to share this with a sub-5 hour student. It's interesting that it actually appears difficult for you to "mess it up!"

[@HelicopterGround]

Interesting take on me messing it up! Thanks Duane!

[@Ben-Dixey]

This is the best video I've seen on hovering technique. Fantastic!

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@danielwackerman7749]

Another great video Kenny, Thank you for helping us green pilots figure this out. We appreciate your work. Wish the Enstroms were more common here in the north west!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks Daniel. We appreciate the positive comments.

[@francisssali2550]

Truth is... you're just wonderful with the way you instruct. Am apparently doing ground School on my own. Not enrolled anywhere, but when time is right, I'll go for it. Thanks for the video 👍

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you!

[@davidwallace5738]

Excellent job sir! Thank you for posting!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you David!

[@barrycurtis843]

Incredible video. You can see how subtle you have to be on the controls, even though at the moment, I’ve only tried the cyclic and pedals. The collective will be another feel, again. Thank you for your informative video, enjoying them very much!

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ShaneVanBeutler]

Your videos have been extremely helpful, I appreciate a great lot that you share your knowledge. Thank you

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@marcusmaximus451]

Absolutely fantastic vlog if I lived in your country I would come to you for lessons I love helicopters 🚁 and how they work and manoeuvre keep up your amazing hard work best regards and stay safe Mark from Billericay in the Uk 🇬🇧 👍👍

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you Mark!

[@moriver3857]

Great video. Years ago, while at Ft. Rucker, (before full flight simulators) this was how we learned, one control at a time. It would be worth to mention, that moving the collective too much while learning to hover, makes the over controlling even harder as moving the collective abruptly requires inputs to the cyclic and pedals simultaneously to stay in hover. It eventually becomes second nature that thinking about it doesnt even happen. Another initial mistake is to let the helicopter drift into the wind and getting the rotor disc into ETL. That will set up another over controlling situation. I miss beating the air into submission. My last flight was in an Eurocopter AS350B3 around 2013. Keep up the good work.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback

[@rcas350pilot8]

I've actually discovered this being an RC pilot. Really small stick movements on all three controls seems to work best to keep in a hover. When you start to move that cyclic and collective a lot and fast you are going to be all over the place. Good vid, tnx for uploading.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for sharing

[@randycooper5962]

Outstanding video! Thank you!!

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@r0m0x]

Amazing video. Thanks!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you too!

[@gordeneden3142]

Excellent job

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you 😎

[@andraynapolez3593]

Great video, Kenny.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@SteinErikDahle]

I love this video! I've dreamt about flying helis for decades and this make me thing it's actually doable.

[@HelicopterGround]

Go for it!

[@sharonburns4788]

That's just too cool.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you!

[@asihkusmiasih9036]

@@HelicopterGround s4

[@monkeyboy8424]

Excellent video. Many thanks.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you!

[@Bkytrmpt]

Another insightful video Kenny and nice camera angle showing all 3 controls. My instructor told me he had difficult time hovering then he showing me with ease...could do it a little in my 2nd 1 hour in Schweizer but was difficulter in R22...my goal in next segment of training to be able to do it with ease and this video helps.

[@HelicopterGround]

Awesome Bruce keep after it you will get it!

[@electricaviationchannelvid7863]

I remember an interview with the Robinson designer and he admitted that his helicopters are not ideal and never were designed for training...(due to the strange control stick, rotor head...) It was designed for more like the utility use cases and the already experienced pilot ones... What is your take on that? Personally I do not like the idea of 2 blade tethering rotors on a helicopter vs. other designs...

[@lesbrown8099]

Very enjoyable to watch... thank you...:)

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you Lea!

[@felixvialva652]

Great video,great instructor

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks 👍

[@Hugobritish]

So helpful thank you 🙏

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@NaviSim101]

Lots and lots of good suffs there! Thank you so much tor this tutorial video! Very nicely explained. ~Rm😀

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregpruitt1647]

Excellent... Excellent video!!!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you very much!

[@nayaleezy]

one of the best 👌

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you!

[@wilburburger6155]

I really love the Enstrom!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@katievernon4928]

That helps a lot!!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you!

[@gilkennedy7638]

Just bought a helicopter ( I have PP in FW but 0 time in Helicopter) I cannot wait to start my training in it, thank for the info

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@rohancameron1909]

Need to see more of this demo

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank You!

[@dhiakhamis643]

Thanks man👍

[@HelicopterGround]

Very welcome👍

[@vaughnbrenda8228]

Im learning to fly an Apache in DCS World (military sim for the pc) and this helped a lot.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@Acidokk]

Hahahaha it was SO funny how You describe how a typical new Pilot would handle the collective Greetings from Venezuela, thats My dream job i hope i Will accomplish it in Canadá this starting this year.

[@HelicopterGround]

Awesome thank you!

[@min-eq5pr]

amazing

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks

[@yt_bharat]

Fascinating 🙂🙂

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks

[@terrysmith1790]

I like your video on flying a helicopter.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks!

[@johnswick4593]

Very useful info

[@HelicopterGround]

Glad you think so!

[@johnswick4593]

@@HelicopterGround No problem. I've only flown a rotary wing a few times, so anything I learn on the ground is better than mistakes in the air.

[@kvs154]

I cant affort styding/ but I dream" and I am flying msfs 2020, and your lessons helps alot)) thanks)))

[@HelicopterGround]

That's great!

[@dkoz8321]

A grayhair WO told me many times. Flying helicopters slowly and hovering is about pressure on cpntrols, not motion.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@philipgledhill7227]

Awesome Kenny hope you are well. It looks fairly easy till you try it it's all about practice at the end of the day.is heather a pilot as well as you. Philip would love to have a go it looks so relaxing.take care and fly safe philip. 🚁

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@nematullahrahmanzai4729]

hi sir I have the same problem however I triad my best unfortunately still I have this problem I hope after watching this video I would able to do my best performance thanks for your best explaining

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank you stay after it you will get it!

[@jbotnik]

Great video. One thing that I’m trying to understand is why do you make small up and down movements on the collective instead of just leaving it in one spot when you’re hovering?

[@HelicopterGround]

All controls are getting slight changes through the entire flight. The helicopter is very unstable. Every control input you make affects another control.

[@jbotnik]

@@HelicopterGround thank you for the explanation!

[@_DanFlyingMan]

Thanks for the hover lesson, may I ask if it’s allowed to rest your heels on the floor and use just the toes to control the pedals? Kind of hard to tell from the video

[@HelicopterGround]

Controlled with foot.

[@jimbeck3230]

I am curious, if you input say cyclic to the left and hold it will the rate of left drift remain constant or will the rate continue to increase until the cyclic is neutralized? I hope I explained my question properly, not that familiar with helicopter lingo yet.

[@HelicopterGround]

Yeah hard to explain. You have to counteract the movement, then push back the opposite direction a small amount to avoid the pendular action. As stated in the video. Thanks for commenting!

[@jimbeck3230]

Thanks Kenny!

[@demonman1234]

Only helicopter I've ever flown was a simulated one in DCS world, but it's decently hard to do and I couldn't imagine doing it IRL under the pressure of actually being in danger if you do for some reason crash.. I want to eventually get my pilots license probably for a heli, but that'll come in the future when I have the funds to do so.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thank You!

[@g0bo_4typ1c3]

Hey Kenny ! I'm using a simulator (Xplane 12), and if i try small inputs, it doesn't even do anything ! like, i juste want to take off, hovering a little. then i put some left-rudder to compensate the torque when adding collective. and i need to compensate on cyclic part to prevent but if i do small control inputs, nothing's happening (i feel a little ignored there 🥲), i can't compensate any force. then naturally i do bigger and bigger inputs (like you demonstrate in the video lol), dans then it is impossible for me to hover. what can i do ? 'cos for now, xplane is just what i have to practice. maybe one day i'll find a way to apply in a school but it is not the day for now.

[@HelicopterGround]

Hopefully someone with more recent home simulator can help you out. I haven't used them since I was training as a private pilot well over 20 years ago!

[@zuhadrehman9241]

I had my 3rd hovering mission today and i am unable to control it! Is there a need to use the trim in hover or should i first learn with the cyclic? Your response will be highly appreciated sir

[@HelicopterGround]

The sooner you learn to use the trim the better.

[@ronunderwood8099]

I was never able to afford flying lessons. I did get where I could hover my RC helicopter steady as rock though, which insanely difficult.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@garrethbooij8409]

it almost looked like ground resonance starting just as you came light on skids but it stopped as soon as you lifted off as that is how to avoid it is by lifting off again

[@HelicopterGround]

Enstroms have that bounce characteristic. It is not ground resonance.. The uh-1H huey has a slight bounce as well.

[@jamesringler987]

@@HelicopterGround how is the b206 for ground resonance

[@1976husky]

This makes great sense, thank you. Can anyone estimate how many hours to get from "ugly" to "pretty good"? Thanks again

[@HelicopterGround]

Depends on many factors.

[@killrertomato5392]

Im a fixwing pilot IRL i havnt tried helicopter 😢 i should have took rotary in my flying career

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback

[@williamchampine8574]

Are you still doing on line courses

[@HelicopterGround]

Yes all located at www.helicopterground.com

[@cricri7066]

Almost looked like ground resonance starting on that first liftoff!

[@DerickMasai]

Thought so as well.

[@cricri7066]

@@DerickMasai I watched a few more videos and he does say that the Enstrom does have a small shake on pickup that isn't actual ground resonance. It would be good if he chimes in here and clarifies the shake.

[@HelicopterGround]

It's normal Enstrom Shake. Almost every Enstrom shakes like that! It's just part of it!

[@toshawebster6523]

😊😊😊😊😊💃💯🔥👍🏾so interesting 🔥

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for watching

[@flashbang5075]

Ahhhhhhhh!!!

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@edupiccoli1]

Bello F28

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@chrisbennett8538]

How much does it cost to learn to fly a helicopter?

[@HelicopterGround]

Approximately 20,000

[@messianichebrewshawnkawcak1550]

The smaller the movement, the less pendulum action. It would be nice to try.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@messianichebrewshawnkawcak1550]

@@HelicopterGround are there discovery flights for helicopters?

[@hellboy2abhinav]

what if we sneeze in there !! Great Video Though

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks!

[@Entertainment24403]

MI

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@stancotton4778]

Spent many sweaty, frustrating hours trying to whoop that old Army Hiller OH-23D in to shape. It kicked my butt for 15 hours and the light finally came on. Challenging, but worth it !!!! Put in over 3,000 hours in four years. At first I couldn't keep it inside 2 football fields, if it wasn't so frustrating it would have been comical. Enjoy your learning experience. It's a new career!!

[@Booboobear-eo4es]

if you can balance a beach ball on your nose while riding a unicycle, you can fly a helicopter.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting!

[@rickyburton4642]

😊👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@npc6817]

y'all really be out there saying stuff like "oh yeah I bought an helicopter last week, this is great supporting material" I always knew flying is a rich people hobby but damn, didn't know there's so many millionaires out there... I'm betting my future on a CPL as in I either go pro or go homeless, what does it feel like to be able to just buy one of mankind's greatest technological wonders just because you like them?

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Scott2817]

Boy, do I agree with your comment about being rich enough to buy a helicopter!!!!!!

[@asgbdhj]

Kenny, do you shave your legs?

[@HelicopterGround]

No what the hell kind of question is that

[@billyjack3361]

Why don’t you practice on the grass? No vehicles to worry about.

[@HelicopterGround]

Solid smooth surface is best when available.