Helicopter Collective
Flying helicopters in flight simulators like DCS is great fun! But to learn how to control them properly can be frustrating without the appropriate flight controls. So I built myself and a friend each a helicopter collective.
The main shaft is made out of aluminium with a diameter of 30 mm (1,18") and a wall thickness of 2 mm.
Hole for the axis using my vertical drill. The cutouts are done manually with a PROXXON MICRO miller MF 70.
The throttle grip has a diameter of 35 mm (1,38"). The collective head frame is also made of aluminum. Bent manually and welded with my new TIG welder.
Assembled lever and head. I used a dampener left over from the Throttle project.
Potentiometer for the throttle grip with some CNC cut parts out of ABS for mounting.
Poti mounted inside the collective lever. It allows for a 180° rotation of the throttle grip.
Collective head panel CNC cut out of5 mm white ABS.
The panel painted and engraved.
Mounted panel on the painted collective head (search light knob still missing).
The finished collective in "UH-1H Huey style"Items not shown on the pictures:
- There is of course another potentiometer at the rear end of the collective lever, which picks up the collective angle via gear wheels.
- The base is made out of 10 mm plywood with a black coating.
- A LeoBodnar BU0836A 12-Bit Joystick Controller picks up the signals from the switches and pots. It resides inside the base and is connected to the PC via USB.
Conclusion
Flying helicopters with a "real" collective is a way better experience than using an airplane throttle. The movement of "lifting up" the aircraft by raising the collective feels intuitive and naturally.
Sorry, no posts here yet... go ahead and be the first ;)