We regret that HOVERFLY and CHINOOK production has ceased

After some seven years

SPARES AVAILABILITY CONTINUES

A full range of spares for the Hoverfly and Chinook will continue to be available for the foreseeable future

Click for information about the Chinook

The Helicopter that REALLY CAN fly indoors!

 In the box: | Technical specifications | Production | Frequently  Asked  Questions

The Hoverfly from Snelflight is a unique invention that provides both novices and experienced pilots with a truly safe alternative for flying indoors. It utilizes a patented rotor system that reproduces the same flight controls as its larger outdoor cousins: Pitch, Roll, Yaw and Collective. It is even fitted with a gyro to keep the nose pointing in the direction you want it to go! 

"Hoverfly is the miniature training indoor electric helicopter
that flies right out of the box!" 

The key to the Hoverfly's success is down to its simplicity, and keeping it small and light gives this little helicopter amazing robustness. The Command Line means that the Hoverfly is always ready to fly and ensures that you are never unable to practise. Learning to fly in the comfort of your own home at any time of the day, rain or shine means that you can gain valuable experience with unlimited flying hours.

Benefits of the Command Line:  Never wait for batteries to charge - Direct control connection with no radio transmissions - No expensive batteries to buy - Always available for use - No radio interference problems. 

Beginner or Experienced? It doesn't matter whether you are new to model heli flying or have flown for many years, the Hoverfly is for you. The robustness and stability help beginners to master the controls. For experienced pilots, the Hoverfly is a great practice tool that is always ready for manoeuvres such as figures of eight or nose-in hovering, and you can even use your own transmitter (with buddy socket). 

The Hoverfly is constantly being developed to improve upon this already incredible helicopter. Over the years of production we have introduced carbon fibre rotor arms, the Command Line is sheathed with black plastic, and the power adaptor is now a universal input switch-mode unit that can work in most countries around the world.

 Top of Page

Hoverfly Pro Part number H221pro 
Contents include: 
- Hoverfly Pro; fitted with a Prelude rotor, heading lock gyro and 3.5m covered Command Line. 
- Universal power supply unit (100 - 240Va.c.) 
- Hoverfly to 3.5mm jack Tx lead (fits the Snelflight Tx and JR units). 
- ECP 
- Spare prop.
- Training undercarriage.
- Belt threading hook. 
- Instruction and Maintenance Manual.

Spares are available for all Snelflight products and can be ordered from the Prices and Spares on-line shop.

 Top of Page

Technical specifications

Unique patented flight technology - there is simply nothing else like it.

The ingenious Electrocyclic control replaces complex rotor mechanics to provide the full cyclic, collective and yaw functions of conventional outdoor models.

Uniquely, the Hoverfly may be fully trimmed prior to take-off.

Small size, ideal for indoor operation, whatever the weather. Hoverfly weighs less than 70 grams.

Realistic flying parameters: As soon as you can fly it you will be able to try larger models confidently. Hoverfly's performance delights expert pilots too!

Precision tail control with a sub-miniature yaw rate demand gyro included as standard.

Unlimited flight duration and no batteries to charge. Power reaches Hoverfly via a slim, lightweight, 100-240V ac mains power unit and a thin, unobtrusive umbilical.

Simple and robust mechanics: The brains are in the Electrocyclic control unit and the electronic rate gyro.

Easy and economic repairs: All parts are available from the UK manufacturer and many stockists. No helicopter is more robust or easier to fix.

R/C transmitter friendly. Hoverfly operates from standard TXs with minimum of four channels and trainer socket (not supplied).
 

 Top of Page

Production

All Hoverfly airframe assembly is done by hand, with meticulous attention to quality at all stages. Many key components are tested several times during the assembly process.

Every finished Hoverfly is then individually test flown and balanced for smooth flight where necessary, just prior to packing. This is why you will sometimes see a small weight made from special black putty, attached to the rotor next to one or more of the motors.

Materials have been very carefully selected to optimise weight, strength and reliability, with no less than nine different plastics being used. When we recently found that a component was prone to wear, it was re-designed using a new material, and exhaustively tested. This eliminated the problem completely.

The Electrocyclic Control Processor (ECP) circuit boards are assembled using the very latest in automated component placement robotics. Parts are positioned and automatically checked at a rate of over 20,000 per hour! Finished boards are then re-checked for correct operation on a special test rig.

 Top of Page

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Below is a selection of questions often posed to our sales and admin lines. If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask, by sending an e-mail to sales@snelflight.co.uk or see the Get in Touch pages for more details.

Q1. What makes the Hoverfly right for the beginner?
Q2. I have seen a number of Hoverfly's on Internet auction sites....(more..)
Q3. I already have a transmitter; can I use it to control a Hoverfly?
Q4. What are the benefits of using genuine Snelflight propellers?
Q5. I have noticed that the pitch and roll controls appear to be switched when the Hoverfly is standing on the floor or held in the hand.
Q6. My Hoverfly has wobbled in flight since I reassembled it. Why might this be?
Q7. What is the difference between the Hoverfly and a computer simulator?

Q1. What makes the Hoverfly right for the beginner?
A. Several factors make the Hoverfly ideal for a beginner: Robust construction, slow rotor speed (added safety benefits!), high flight stability and the Command Line (for unlimited flight time). These benefits give the novice the confidence to learn to fly without worrying about the consequences usually associated with crashing.

Q2. I have seen a number of Hoverflys on Internet auction sites recently, they have been significantly cheaper than purchasing from a hobby store or from your website. My question is, should I buy one at the reduced price?
A. At Snelflight we have monitored these sales and do not discourage this activity. However we would advise that the full facts are obtained regarding the condition of anything bought from the internet. If you do purchase this way you may wish to note that we offer a return to factory repair service at very reasonable rates.

Q3. I already have a 4-channel transmitter; can I use this to control the Hoverfly?
A. Yes: We researched the various transmitters available today, and we offer interfacing signal leads to suit most types. If you go to the On-line Shopping pages you can match your Tx model to a lead.

Q4. What are the benefits of using genuine Snelflight propellers?
A. Our propellers have been carefully designed for optimum thrust and accurate balance. The propellers in each set have been precisely matched to give smooth flight. Propellers from other manufacturers may give poor thrust, high levels of vibration (which can harm the Hoverfly) and unsteady flight.

Q5. I have noticed that the pitch and roll controls appear to be switched when the Hoverfly is standing on the floor or held in the hand.
A. This is normal; the controls will become correct the moment the Hoverfly leaves the ground. Due to the gyroscopic effects in flight the controls have to be offset by 90º counter clockwise, which gives a false impression before the Hoverfly actually takes off. It will try to pitch forward when right roll is applied (and so on).

Q6. My Hoverfly has wobbled in flight since I reassembled it. Why might this be?
A. Possible reasons include rotor mass imbalance, thrust imbalance, misaligned motors, bearing hole not vertical and bad carbon brush contact. Phillip Jermyn, Hoverfly's designer, has written a technical advice article on this topic. Along with others, it can be found on the download page.

Q7. What is the difference between the Hoverfly and a computer simulator?
A. The Hoverfly is an authentic three-dimensional miniature trainer for 30-size model helicopters, and is far more realistic than a flat screen representation could ever be. Because it is real, the pilot feels a similar adrenaline buzz to that felt when flying an outdoor model. This helps the pilot learn to prevent panic reactions in difficult situations: a leading cause of crashes.

 Top of Page

Home