I'm just a beginner but please take a look at what I've learned:

AUTOROTATIONS

You will need to install and autorotation clutch option if you do not already have one. [Go to SIMULATOR SETUPS for instant info.] This device allows the main rotor blades to keep swinging after the motor/engine stops.

Here is something I am doing that I have not seen discussed >

Electric helicopters offer the luxury of being able to cut off the motor 100% with full down throttle/collective stick and then start the motor and add full power just by raising the same stick!

Set your main rotor blade pitch to 2-4 degrees negative, at the full down stick position. You can then practice ascending rapidly and building up inertia and rotor speed without motor power, but still have the motor power ready instantly to help you during you learning phase or any other time. [See these web sites for instructions and techniques.]

This means you can practice autorotations without using THROTTLE HOLD switch to bail out! You can now function in the same manner as with the THROTTLE HOLD switch without the worry of flipping it on at the right time.

>> First do everything below on the simulator until you have it right. [Go to SIMULATOR SETUPS for instant info.]

If you have a radio like my JR x388s:

with a separate throttle hold curve setup then you can set your throttle hover point at 90% (or throttle range for 90-100%) stick, go into forward flight and when you are ready to go into your auto, flip the THROTTLE HOLD switch and give full down stick or give full down stick and then flip the switch. (I like to flip the switch first so I can devote full brain function the landing sequence). If you tweak the positive collective point to be sufficient before 90% when the throttle comes on, you will be able to flare and land before the motor kicks in. By turning off the THROTTLE HOLD switch you return to normal settings. I you have two additional stunt trims I suggest you set up stunt 2 for this, leaving normal and stunt 1 alone, or if you radio only permits this in normal do it there and leave stunts alone.

If you have a radio without special curve functions and/or no TH switch:

you will still have the ability to do this which you would not have without an electric motor: You can just set up your hovering point at about 75% stick with full positive collective at 75% stick. Set throttle to 75-100%. Use the subtrim and atv settings on your radio. Your throttle only will basically control the hovering point at about 85% stick, more like a fixed-pitch heli. With this type of radio you will have more fun just using it for autorotation practice only, but at least you can have the ability to enter a new phase of the hobby without additional cost.

Your hover point will now be higher on the stick because the collective has already topped out and the motor is controlling the hover point – not a combination of the two. But you will have much more success in learning without the added stress. If you get the flare wrong you can pull out automatically by pushing the stick all the way up. Remember to do the first ones high with altitude left over and do not actually land. Pick a point about 30 feet off the ground as you imaginary landing point. At this landing point you will see when you are successful that the heli will have landed on its own without power – BUT SINCE YOU ARE STILL 30 FEET HIGH, QUICKLY INCREASE STICK TRAVEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE IMAGINARY FLARE AND LANDING TO POWER OUT. Now practice over and over first adjusting the radio settings, then adjusting your landing skills, till you get it perfect and instinctive. Now just shrink your imaginary landing zone until it becomes the actual ground landing! Once you actually have landed on the ground, of course, you will not have to power out to keep from falling out of the sky.

After you get it down pat set up your radio for normal use for autorotations with the THROTTLE HOLD switch and go for it! You should not have any trouble with this at all now – but remember NOW you will need to remember to flip the THROTTLE HOLD switch to power out. One difference here between wet and electric helis is you can actually set the motor to turn off, while with a wet heli engine it would have to be set to idle.