bunch of blogs: Motor

Pros and Cons of Helicopter Flying

August 7th, 2008

Flying is something that humans can’t do physically. This is why flying a helicopter attracts many people. It gives you the opportunity to soar into the sky and see the world in a different perspective.
Many people are trying their skills in flying helicopters. You can learn how to fly to satisfy your desires. Before you finally decide to fly a helicopter, it is best to know the pros and cons.
Helicopter Flying Pros
There are favorable points in being able to fly a helicopter. You can take these aspects as a way to inspire you further in this venture.
Delight
Helicopter flying simply brings delight to your heart. Nothing compares to the experience of reaching different heights. It can get really exciting. This is also a good chance to explore how daring you are in unfamiliar terrains.
Developing a Skill
Of course, it is a plus for you if you are able to fly a helicopter. Not everybody can do this. Flying a plane or chopper is the best way to travel quickly. However, you need the right skills.
Career Opportunity
It pays to learn how to pilot a helicopter. This can provide you with good career opportunities. You can take helicopter pilot jobs and tasks. Now that is something that is worth looking in to.
Helicopter Flying Cons
There are also factors that make helicopter flying a disadvantage. This is something that you have to weigh and evaluate seriously before flying a helicopter.
Expenses
You have to allot a considerable amount of money to be able to learn how to fly a helicopter. Aside from the fees for the instructions, you also have to consider the fuel expenses. Safe helicopter flying will rely heavily on your capability to supply all the materials to support the flight.
Danger
Another thing that deters most people from flying is the fear of encountering accidents during flight. The fear of danger is due to the unfamiliar terrains of being in the air. However, this can be effectively remedied by ensuring that all the safety procedures are followed before taking off.
Conclusion
Flying a helicopter would be a feat for anyone. You can enjoy this same perk too. Just be sure to get to know first the pros and cons of helicopter flying. This way, you can take the proper precautions to make the experience safe and worthwhile.

Sports Cars: Babe Magnets

August 7th, 2008

Thinking of getting attention? Do you crave the feeling of being noticed and looked at because of the car that you are driving? Do want the feel of masculinity and the allure it exudes? Then getting a nice sports car for you might be a good start. So what are your options? You can check out muscle cars, exotic super cars, and tricked out roadsters. Two cars will be elaborated on here because of each car’s well known reputation as macho machines and chick magnets. The Ferrari Modena 360 and the Chevrolet Corvette.
The Ferrari Modena 360
The Modena is a top of the line sports car that matches an aggressive design with comfort and performance. Keep in mind that this beauty is not a conventional car in the sense that it is simply not used to go and get the groceries at the store or to pick up the kids from school. It is a pleasure machine made to attract attention and induce oohs and aahs from the crowd. It is a weekend car to be driven with utmost adrenaline and fun as the main goal. And for a thrilling weekend drive, this car will cost you around $150,000. Sure, you can use it to get your groceries or pick up your kid albeit quickly. But as they say, you buy it because you can and because women will be attracted to you if you happen to have one. Despite everything, this Ferrari can be considered to be grounded by comfort and practicality as much as possible. Unlike some models, Ferrari made certain to focus on things like ergonomics, interiors, and transmission which make it very usable even for daily drives.
The Chevrolet Corvette
The current Corvette or C6 as it is called since it is the model’s sixth reincarnation, has new styling. It has exposed headlamps and a slimmer body. It boasts of improved performance, handling, comfort, and refinement. It is a sports car that drivers will find easy to handle both on the road and the race track. If you are testing your limits at the track or just having fun driving around town, the new Corvette is forgiving even when driven really hard. Its six-cylinder engine is capable of powerful acceleration and is comparable to that of a Ferrari Modena. The new Corvette is lighter than its predecessor.
Having a sports car may get you more dates than before but it also means spending more for maintenance and service parts not to mention its fuel consumption. It has little space for extra persons but if you are going on a date then this will do the trick.

Who Else Wants to Know Where to Buy Radio Control Car Parts?

August 7th, 2008

Before, it was just a little boy’s toy. But now, with so many almost-real cars available on the market today, radio control cars are already considered as toys for the big boys.
Generally, radio control cars are classified as nitro powered and electric powered. Hence, these cars are being operated by powerful mechanisms that require different parts in order to function effectively.
For this reason, when a certain radio control car part fails to function normally or stops working, it is important that you replace them quickly. Repairing them could be worth your wait but you can never afford another break down after a series of repairs.
It is better to buy the parts as soon as possible in order to avoid further problems. Besides, you do not just have to buy radio control parts for immediate replacement. It is better to have a continuous supply of the radio control car parts on hand to avoid embarrassing dilemmas while you are on the race track.
If you do not know where to buy radio control car parts, here is a list of some tips to get you started.
1. Buy online
Many websites on the Internet cater to radio control car parts and accessories. You just have to find the site that can give you the parts that you need.
Keep in mind that not all websites can give you the same radio control car parts or the same prices so it is best to shop around and compare catalogs.
Shopping for radio control car parts online can give you a first-hand comparison of the different prices and manufacturers so that you can choose the best parts with the best deals without having to spend time, money, and effort to find the parts that you want and end up in vain.
2. Buy at auction sites
You can also buy radio control car parts at auction sites such as eBay. When you buy on eBay, you can expect to get first-rate deals on radio control car parts.
3. Hobby shops
These stores may have the best line of radio control car parts. There is no one that can give you the best parts than those who are into the same hobby themselves. Keep in mind that expertise is always the best guide in buying quality items.
So the next time you worry about where to buy radio control car parts, just check in these three venues and you will surely find the right stuff for your cars.

The Used Car Lemon Law: The Used Car Buyer’s Best Friend

August 7th, 2008

You’ve just bought yourself a used car. The car was cheap and you left the used car lot with the feeling that you managed to come out reasonably well. Then the car conks out - what happens now?
Under other circumstances, you would probably have no choice but live with your choice. Fortunately, there is a law that would help you. The used car lemon law is the most useful law for any person who buys a used car. The law provides a legal remedy for those buy or lease used cars that turn out to have outstanding mechanical difficulties, those which are better known as “lemons”.
The law has used car dealers give their buyers a written warranty. The warrant requires dealers to repair any defects found in the car, free of charge. The dealer can also choose to reimburse the repair costs of the repairs to the buyer. It also notes that if the car isn’t repaired after a number of attempts, the buyer is supposed to receive a full refund of the purchase.
For the law to cover your purchase, check your local state laws. Usually, these four conditions should be met for the lemon law to be invoked:
1) The car was purchased, transferred or leased after either a) eighteen thousand miles of use or b) two years from the original release; and
2) The purchase or lease price has the value of at least one thousand five hundred dollars; and
3) The car has been driven less than or equal to a hundred thousand miles at the time of lease or purchase; and
4) The car was used for non-commercial purposes i.e. personal use. This means the car should have been used for household or family purposes. This includes personal transportation to and from work and household errands. The car could have been used for a mix of business and personal use but it still should have been used predominantly for personal use.
The law can also be used to cover motorcycles; however some states exempt other vehicles from the used car law. Note that the transfer of ownership of a used car is also covered by the law; however a private purchase from a private individual is not protected by the law. You can choose to consult a lawyer to see what sort of action you may take.
Remember the law and check with your state before you buy a used car. If your state has such a law, you should feel safe about your purchase when you leave the used car lot.

How to Estimate a Used Car’s Value

August 5th, 2008

When searching for a used car, one of the most important factors to consider is whether the car you are looking for really is worth its tag price. Even though the car may look like quite a deal, it is possible that you are being ripped off. Here are a few tips to help you make that decision when considering used cars.
1. Do a Little Research
When you find a used car that catches your fancy make sure you do research on that car. Find out how much that car costs if it were brand new. You should also look into whether the car is still in production and if its parts are still available. You could also try a little shop hopping to compare used car prices among cars of the same value and same age.
If a car’s price is too low, that should send you into a state of alarm. It is possible that the car is much more trouble than it is worth.
If it is too expensive, you may want to ask why that is so.
2. The Older the Car the Cheaper is Should Become
Brand new cars typically lose up to 30% in their value in 3 years, and by the time the car is 5 years old, it may have lost up to 65%. If you know the car’s original price, you may want to use this rule of the thumb for your estimation.
3. Use a Third-Party Information Service
Car Fax is a good way to find out about used car histories. They offer a service that will give you a detailed history of the car you are interested in. The information included will typically include accident history and insurance data.
Kelly Blue Book is one of the most comprehensive used car value listings around. It would be a good idea to take a peek into their services for an updated list of hundreds and hundreds of used car values.
4. Take a Mechanic with You
A car’s value is also directly related to its running condition. If you are not that well versed in mechanics and cars, you may want to take a mechanic along so that he or she can evaluate whether the car really is worth the used dealer’s tag price.
Some used car dealers will offer cars that are defective and try to hawk them by sweetening the deal. Beware of these kinds of car dealers.
Try to look for a reputable dealer. The past experience of your acquaintances will be very valuable in evaluating a car dealership.

Sports Cars: Getting Started on Your Need for Speed

August 4th, 2008

If high acceleration, top speed, and appearance are what you want in a vehicle, then a sports car is probably what you’re looking for.
Sports cars are a $4.5 billion industry with about 55,000 units sold annually.
Sports cars are built as performance vehicles – meaning they are to be pushed in ways regular cars can’t. For example, acceleration is often no more than 5 seconds to go from 0 to 100 mph.
As it is more difficult to maneuver a speeding object, sports cars are specially designed to be handled at top speeds.
The term “sporty” was coined to refer to a sleek but robust design that exudes a powerful persona for the person behind the wheel.
What follows is a basic run-through of sports cars out in the marketplace – their general designs and layout, as well as a listing of the more popular models and makers.
- FF – front engine, front wheel drive.
The FF layout has a moderate capacity for high speed handling and is seen in select models such as the Fiat Coupé, and the Lotus Elan M100.
- FR – front engine, rear wheel drive
Considered the “classic” sports car layout, the engine drives the rear wheels but keeps the weight off the back. The FR is good at drifting corners while still maintaining control. Mercedes-Benz is recognized for using this layout for its models.
- RR – rear engine, rear wheel drive
With the engine at the back driving the rear wheels, weight placement on a RR layout provides excellent traction for a car. However, without auxiliary driving aids like stability control, handling becomes difficult. As of today, the only maker who keeps the RR layout for its cars is Porche.
AWD – all wheel drive
An AWD layout provides the easiest handling, making it ideal for those who are just starting out with sports cars. Audi started the widespread use of this technique with the Quattro. Japanese manufacturers like Mitsubishi used this layout to increase handling making it an excellent rally car.
Because of higher restrictions in the states, sports car manufacturers are more prevalent in Europe than in America. Nevertheless, American brands are in equal competition with its European and Asian counterparts. Some recognized makers and models are:
Alfa Romeo
Alpine
Aston Martin
Austin-Healey
BMW
Bugatti
Caterham
Davrian
De Lorean
Ferrari
Fisker
Jaguar
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Lotus
McLaren
Maserati
MG
Morgan
Panoz
Porsche
Triumph
TVR
Vector
Now that you’ve gotten started, take your next step by discovering the excitement a sports car can bring you today, just like it has for generations.

Be Prepared with the Ultimate Checklist for RC Car Supplies

August 4th, 2008

Whether it’s your first race or not, having extra parts and RC car supplies will ensure that you’re equipped to handle any kind of racing emergency. There’s nothing that could feel worse than losing the race simply because you forgot to bring an extra pair of batteries with you!
Batteries and Chargers
Let’s start with something simple: batteries and chargers. Having one extra pair is good, but having two extra pairs is better. Make sure you have a charger with you always. If you don’t think the racetrack’s likely to have available outlets, make sure that the charger has the proper connector so you can use it in your car. Before leaving, check one last time if both batteries and chargers are in good working order.
Speed Control Accessories
Looks are nothing on or off the road as long as you’re in a race. Speed, on the other hand, is one of the most significant factors that could make or break you. Are you certain you have all the speed control accessories that can help you win the race? If you aren’t using any speed control accessory at all, you can ask for the help of a sales representative in a RC car shop.
Bearings
These are what allow your RC car to maneuver challenging conditions on or off track. Before leaving for the races, make sure that there’s nothing wrong with your RC car’s bearings. If you think your RC car will do better if it is a newer or different type, you should make the change at least a month before the competition to give you enough time to practice.
Replacement Parts
Whether your RC car is running on gas, electricity, or nithromethane, there are sure to be spare parts available for your car in any RC car shop. If you’re on a budget, consider which parts of the RC car are most likely to be damaged in a race then buy replacement parts for them. Consider buying in advance because some replacement parts take some time before they can be delivered.
Tires
Since they’re what make your RC car move, they’re not something you should neglect. Make sure your tires are in the best condition before going for the races. Take it for a spin so you can see if they’re working well.
Engines and Motors
These are one of the most important and most expensive parts of an RC car, regardless of what type of power you’re running on. If you can’t have an extra motor on hand, make sure that yours’ is in mint condition on the day of the race.
Have fun at the races!

Honda Motorcycles: Fast But Friendly

August 4th, 2008

In the competitive world of racing motorcycles, most companies tend to bank on their racing teams to promote their street bikes. Heavy duty motorcycles with obscene amounts of power inside the chassis run across the tracks, and motorcycle racing fans find that they can own a little piece of the excitement by buying themselves civilian versions of the racers that their favorite bikers are running.
More often than not, this marketing approach has led most motorcycle manufacturing companies to come up with barely street legal specs for their civilian bikes, and the results are machines that are grossly expensive, difficult to maintain, and wind up causing accidents in the hands of bikers who don’t possess the necessary skill level to handle such high performance bikes.
Honda has taken a different approach from it’s competitors in this department, and has instead taken a people-friendly focus in their motorcycles. Their teams still continue to run - and win a lot - in motorsports events, but their civilian bikes aren’t simply powered-down versions of their racers. They customize their civilian bike designs with the average person in mind.
One of the things that shows this approach is the price of a Honda motorcycle. Their price ranges both for the bikes and parts are considerably more affordable for people who just might want to ride a fast bike for fun without the need to cleave along the highway like a bullet.
Their parts are also much easier to find than most of their competitors, especially their european counterparts, and likewise are much cheaper while maintaining a high standard of quality. To add to the customer oriented approach, these same parts are also easier to install, replace, and yes, modify for those who want to push the specs of their crotch rockets a little higher. Honda service center personnel are highly trained under rigid standards to ensure they do their jobs on the bikes right.
Lastly, Honda also offers comprehensive packages as an added bonus, like extended warranties, insurance, and prepaid maintenance plans for their customers to make sure that they get the best deal available for their money. For Honda, service doesn’t end right after the sale is made.
So, while Honda racing bikes perform on a par with their competition on the professional race tracks, their civilian bikes are made for the people who just want to ride for fun without the headaches involved with owning something just one step below formula specs.

Tips for Learning Autorotations

August 3rd, 2008

An autorotation is a helicopter piloting maneuver that consists of an entry (gaining altitude then dipping towards your target point at a certain speed), a glide (a smooth pace from your entry point to the target), a flare (a sudden balance adjustment to the helicopter rotors that turns it in midair on a designated vector), and the last move which consists of a touch down (if you’re intending to land) or a power recovery (meaning you used the auto rotation to “drift” in midair and change course rapidly, so now you travel along your new vector).
In Automotive Racing terms, the autorotation is best compared to a drift, where rapid changes in direction are done by making the car slide into and with it’s forward momentum while steering the nose directly into a new attack angle. Once the car completes it’s drift-slide, it’s pointed squarely at the new direction and goes straight into it. Now, imagine doing that but add a THIRD dimension of altitude instead of operating on a flat plane.
One of the keys to learning autorotation is awareness of the balance of your helicopter. Most civilians learning to pilot aircraft fail to take notice of mild changes in the pitch, yaw, and attitude of the aircraft. In simple terms, remember that tilting the nose too high makes you go up, dipping it down too much makes you eat pavement, and rolling too far to the left or right also affects the balance of the aircraft. Keep the helicopter on an even keel at all times to avoid loss of control. IF you can’t physically get used to “feeling” the balance of the helicopter, then pay close attention to the meters on the dashboard.
Balance aside, another key to mastering autorotation is control. This means that you should put enough pressure on the pedals and stick to make your turns and changes in balance precise. I used the analogy of a car racing drift because it’s easier for people to relate. Just like you should avoid over or under steering on a drift, avoid stomping on the pedals or yanking on the stick.
Lastly, know when to adjust power in an autorotation. Like applying gas and brakes properly on a drift, the helicopter equivalents are boosting the power for speed and cutting the power back to arrest your forward momentum. Given the four parts of an autorotation, ramp the power UP on entry, maintain it during the glide, cut it back during the flare, and either kill it on touchdown or boost it back up if going for a power recovery.

How to Properly Determine Which Scooter Is For You

August 3rd, 2008

So you have decided to buy a scooter. But what are the points you need to consider when buying one? Surely, there are certain features you should check when buying scooters. Answer the following questions before buying one.
1. How fast do you want to go?
Scooters are equipped with different types of engines. If you know how motorcycles work, then you won’t be at a loss when buying a scooter. Scooters normally run a maximum speed of 60 mph. If you want to go faster than that, you might need to look harder to find the right model that fits your needs. Four stroke and four valve engines are always the best buy.
2. What style do you like?
Are you in for that modern day scooter look? Or do you prefer the vintage types? If you are going to buy scooters more to impress your friends rather than use it as a means of transportation to move around town, then just bank on the way a scooter looks. You need not really look deeper into the scooter’s specifications.
3. How does the scooter handle?
Some scooters are as tame as puppies. But others act like a raging bull. So decide which one you want. Do you want something that’s easy and comfortable to ride? Or do you want to harness your subtle wild side and wrestle with the scooter’s engine from time to time? For this, you can ask a knowledgeable salesperson. Otherwise, you need to test drive the scooter yourself.
4. Is storage important?
If you intend to use the scooter when going out to the mall or buying groceries, then you should check the scooter’s under seat compartment. Some are wide enough to hold two full mask helmets. But others can only hold registration papers and other small devices. This is an important question to ask.
5. Can it take passengers?
Some scooters are a one passenger type of a vehicle. Meaning, only the driver can board it. Asking somebody to ride with you could lead to you being apprehended by a police officer. So if you need to take somebody for a ride every time you use the vehicle, then get the scooter that is built with a back seat.
6. How much is it? Price is always a factor, unless of course you are filthy rich and can afford tens of thousands of dollars on a scooter without thinking. Buy only the scooter that you can afford.