Electric RC Helicopter - Dyna Hawk GX - First Flight Review
I recently had the pleasure of obtaining my very own Dyna Hawk GX: Blackguard. It came in a kit, ready to fly. Included in the kit was the helicopter, remote, AC adapter, rechargeable battery pack (Li-Po), 4 extra blades (2 for each rotor), a small screwdriver (used for tightening blades and other repairs), instruction manual, and a parts list. The first thing i did when i opened the kit was pull out the Dyna Hawk GX. After i had taken that out, looked it over, and straightened the blades correctly, I continued by pulling the rest of the contents out to make sure everything was there. Once i was finished checking, I grabbed the manual and read through it. Being that it was manufactured in China, the manual has both English and Chinese translations. Some of the instructions were a little confusing, but all-in-all, it guided me through the process of getting ready to fly.
After reading the manual, the next step is to charge the Li-Po battery and obtain 8 AA batteries (not included) for the remote. The remote itself has 2 thumb-sticks. One of the thumb-sticks controls the throttle or "lift", and the turns the helicopter or controls the "direction". There is also 2 buttons under the throttle stick that you use to "tune" your helicopter in flight. These buttons are used to decrease the "spinning" and help your helicopter hover straight. (For further instruction, see the manual.)
After the battery is fully charged, follow the instructions to install it on the bottom of the Dyna Hawk GX. The trick is to get the wires that you plug the battery into "tucked" into the "cockpit" and out of the way. This is the only way to get the battery "clicked" into place and flush, no wires hanging. Once the battery is connected, the helicopter cockpit has a steady blinking light that shows the Dyna Hawk is ready. You are now "almost" ready for flight.
Install 8 AA batteries into you remote, screw on the antenna and extend it, then turn on you remote. Always keep the antenna extended all the way when in use. Not doing so could result in "loss of reception" which would cause you to lose control and crash. With both the battery installed and your remote on, gently ease the throttle stick forward (up), making both blades spin creating "lift". If your helicopter's blades spin, you are ready to fly after a few simple adjustments. (refer back to the manual for these adjustments.)
After the adjustments are made, it is time to have some fun! The Dyna Hawk GX is an "indoor" electric RC helicopter. It is not made for outdoor flight. My recommendation, (as well as the manufacturers) is to find a "wide-open" indoor area in which to fly it in. A great flight zone would be an indoor basketball court, free of any obstacles. Being impatient, and also due to bad weather, i decided to try mine out in my living room. ( i don't recommend this and i will explain why later.)
At first, it took me a while to get used to the throttle. The manual suggests doing some training to get used to the flight controls and has several different exercises to master. I recommend doing these if you are a first time flyer. Once i got used to the throttle, i was quickly able to get the Dyna Hawk GX to hover around my living room. The turning reacts very quickly, sometimes over-turning, so feathering the "right" thumb-stick is crucial. Also, make sure that there are no drafts, open windows, or vents on in your flight zone. The slightest breeze can cause your Dyna Hawk GX to not fly correctly and lose control. With some practice, mastering the flight control with the Dyna Hawk GX comes quickly, and you will soon be flying around for the full charge of the battery.
Now, the reason i recommend not flying around obstacles: While the Dyna Hawk GX is a rather well built RC helicopter, especially for the price, it is not indestructible. Normally, if you lose throttle, it will drop straight down and bounce off the floor without much of a problem. But, if you happen to crash land into an object (lets say a couch for example), it can cause damage. When i crashed into a couch, the blades hit it and i broke the plastic inner shaft piece. This part is what makes the bottom blades spin the same speed as the top and helps prevent spin of the whole helicopter (acts as a tail rotor). If i hadn't crashed into the couch, no damage would have been done. My mistake. Fortunately, a lot of "hobby shops" carry spare for parts and this part can be replaced for a minor investment. I personally chose an aluminum inner shaft piece so that this problem is less likely to occur again. I also will now only fly in "obstacle free" areas with plenty of space.
Bottom line, the Dyna Hawk GX is a great helicopter for beginner to intermediate flyer's, ages 12 and up. The battery, fully charged, will last 10 - 15 minutes of solid flight and also charges relatively fast. This makes waiting between flights shorter and gives you more continuous fun. It is one of the better looking apache models and i have had several compliments on it already. With proper care and increased flight skills, I am sure that this particular electric RC helicopter will bring you plenty of enjoyment over time. To make it last longer, always recharge the battery right after flight exhaustion, and then give it 5 minutes before you take flight again to let the motor cool down. This will help prevent motor "burnout". Also, never leave the battery uncharged for a lengthy period of time. Storing a Li-Po battery uncharged could cause it to be unable to hold a charge and results in having to replace the battery sooner than later. Batteries are not cheap. Occasionally air blast the Dyna Hawk GX down to get rid of any dust that might have attached to it. And always, always fly in an area completely free of obstacles to reduce the chance of damage when you crash. Do these things and the Dyna Hawk GX: Blackguard will remain another great addition to your arsenal of electric RC vehicles!
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