Electric Helicopter

Nitro vs Electric: Which One is for You?

2012-12-17T17:06:00.001-08:00

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There really is no easy answer, what is best for one person may not really work for another. They are both cool, and each one has its benefits. If we're looking at small 450-500 size helicopters we're pretty much focusing on electric as there hasn't been a reliable, 3d capable nitro model in that size. Popular helicopters in that size are the Trex 450 and 500, the Thunder Tiger mini Titan, and the Miniature Aircraft Furion 450.

To compare electric vs. nitro we really should be talking about 50 size machines. A 50 size helicopter typically uses 600-620mm main rotor blades, and if it's nitro it has a .50 c.i. (or close to it) size two stroke, glow powered, engine. There's really no exception to engine size in nitro models, some manufacturer’s engines are slightly larger such as the Thunder Tiger Redline 53, but it is still considered a 50 size engine. It's not really an option to put a 90 size engine into a 50 size airframe, not that it couldn't be physically modified, but it wouldn't be an easy bolt in deal. Some popular 50 size nitro helicopters are the Thunder Tiger Raptor 50, The Hirobo Sceadu Evo 50, and the Align Trex 600N.

An electric 50 size helicopter still uses 600-620mm main rotor blades, but usually relies on a brushless motor, and lithium polymer batteries. 50 size electric models available now are usually powered with 6-10 lithium polymer cells, and there are many different brushless motors available. Some popular 50 size electric helicopters are the Thunder Tiger E620, The Align Trex 600e, and the Miniature Aircraft Razor. These helicopters are all dimensionally very similar to nitro models. Like I said before, nitro helis are different than electrics. Obviously if you buy an electric helicopter, you won't be spending any money on fuel, fuel pumps and glow igniters, but you will need battery packs, a good quality charger, balancer, and power supply.

5 Steps To Piloting RC Helicopters

2012-12-15T04:18:00.003-08:00

Of all the RC crafts available, radio controlled helicopter is arguably the hardest to master. However, with the advent and advances of today's RC flight simulators, the learning curve have decreased. Now, new RC helicopter pilots can literally crash as often as they want until they can eventually keep their helicopter in the air. Nevertheless, conventional RC helicopter training lessons has not lost their importance. For some, they provide a guide to practicing in the simulator. For others who don't like simulators - or for some reasons can't get their hands on one, flying lessons are invaluable. For those that choose to go the no-simulator route, it is generally recommended that you hire a certified instructor. But, with the increasing popularity of cheaper electric RC helicopters, the cost involved with this hobby decreased exponentially. As a result, many new pilots are choosing to learn to fly with neither a simulator nor an instructor. No matter how you choose to learn to pilot RC helicopters, this article which provides classic helicopter lessons will definitely come in handy.

Lesson 1: First Feel of Helicopter / Ground Exercise

First things first, have your helicopter properly trimmed and set up before doing anything. Most electric models are already set up right out of the box. If your model requires any setting, make sure you follow the instruction in the manual or hire/ask someone knowledgeable to do it for you. Trimming won't be covered in this article because it is a whole topic in itself.

Once your helicopter is trimmed, you'll need a simple pair of training gear for bigger models. You can actually make one yourself using two four-inch rods and four balls (ping-pong balls will do nicely). However, it may be easier to buy one. If you are learning with a co-axle ready-to-fly electric helicopter such as the Lama or Walkera 54, then the training gear is unnecessary. On the other hand, if you are learning with a bigger and more conventional model such as the T-REX, then having a training gear is absolutely mandatory.

Now, you're going to pilot your helicopter for the first time. However, for this first lesson, the goal is to learn what it "feels" like to control one. Therefore, what you want to do is to bring up the throttle/collective to the point where the helicopter is just about to lift off the ground but not quite taking to the air yet. With the helicopter in this half on the ground, half wanting to lift off phase, move the cyclic control around and see as well as get a feel of how the helicopter will react to each control. Do this several time until you have adequately felt all of the controls and more importantly, understand them.

Lesson 2: Hover (Tail In)

Once you've mastered the ground exercise, the next step is to hover. Every helicopter pilot and instructor will tell you that one of the most (if not the most) important component of a helicopter flight is hovering. In fact, no matter how fancy the flight, at its most fundamental level, a helicopter flight starts and ends with a hover.

For this lesson, make sure the tail is pointing in towards you. Bring up the throttle to the point that the helicopter is just about to hover just as you did in the ground exercise. Then, get the helicopter as stable as you can get it. After doing that, give it a little more throttle/collective. Remember that you should make the helicopter stable on the ground first before giving it the extra throttle to lift it off the ground. Doing this will make this lesson much easier. When the helicopter starts to lift off the ground, it'll continue to ascend slowly. Bring the throttle down slightly to stabilize it at around 1 foot.

Next comes the hard part. Try to keep the helicopter hovering in one spot. This will prove to be very difficult at first. Draw on what you've learnt on from the ground exercise. Once you've hovered for around 30 seconds, bring the throttle down just slightly and the helicopter will start to slowly descend back to the ground. Don't throttle down too fast or your helicopter will come crashing down and be damaged.

Try hovering many times. Between each hover, reflect on what you did right and what you did wrong. You will find that each hover will be more precise and more controlled than the last.

Another important point during this lesson is to always point the tail of the helicopter towards you. Don't try to point the helicopter in any other direction at this point as you will very likely get disoriented. Orientation training will come later.

Once you're comfortable with hovering at 1 foot, try bringing the helicopter up to an altitude of 3 to 5 feet. It will seem scarier but in fact, hovering at 3 - 5 feet is easier than hovering at 1 foot. Keep doing this exercise until you can hover for an entire flight of the battery pack or the fuel tank, which equals to around 7 to 10 minutes if you're practicing on a simulator.

Each pilot takes different amount of time to learn this crucial skill. Some get it extremely fast (within days) while others take weeks or even months. Don't be discouraged, take your time and learn at your own pace. As long as you have fun while practicing, who cares how long it takes. Don't rush through this lesson. It is very important that you learn to hover and can do it comfortably.

Lesson 3: Basic Flight

Once you've mastered hovering, the next step is basic directional flight. Get your helicopter to hover as you've done in the last lesson, then pick a spot and pilot your helicopter there.

Lesson 4: Nose-In Hover

After having mastered hovering and basic flight while flying tail-in, the next step, the nose-in hover, will be relatively more challenging. The idea behind this exercise is quite simple; simply hover like you did lesson 2, but this time, hover with the nose of the helicopter pointed towards you. While this may sound simple, many new pilots find this extremely difficult due to the fact that most of all the controls are now reversed. At this point, you may already confident about flying and feel that you can easily perform this hovering exercise at a high altitude. Please refrain from doing that. Instead, start this exercise by hovering at 1 foot, then slowly increasing the altitude to 5 feet as you are more confident and comfortable with the now-reversed controls. Keep doing this exercise until you can master hovering with the nose pointed towards you. Having accomplished this lesson will greatly improve your orientation awareness.

Lesson 5: Square and Figure 8 Flights

This final lesson will combine the skills you've learnt from previous lessons, namely, hovering, orientation, and direction flight. The combination of these skills will produce a full flight. The first goal is to try to navigate your helicopter in a square pattern. If you've been following the exercise without cheating, you'll find that the square flight can be accomplished quite easily. The next goal would be to fly in a figure 8 pattern. This will prove to be more challenging but it is definitely not out of reach. As you do more and more figure eights, concentrate on keeping the 8 a perfect shape. Try your best not to veer off course. Becoming more experienced, you should aim for more and more flight control accuracy. Once you've mastered the figure 8, you should be able to pilot your helicopter anywhere you desire. Practice makes perfect, but also remember to have fun; after all, that is the whole point of a hobby.

Interested in the amazing hobby of Electric RC Helicopters? Tara Soonthornnont is an Electric RC Helicopter enthusiast who maintains a website dedicated to it.

RC Electric Helicopters - Take to the Skies With Those Fabulous Flying Machines!

2012-03-10T14:31:00.001-08:00

Why ought to children have all the fun that comes from playing with toys; those that involve the joys of race automobile driving, maneuvering model trains or even better; the exhilaration of an air born adventure! It is no wonder that building, collecting & flying radio control airplanes has become of the quickest growing hobbies for young & elderly similar, & who ever said that toys were only meant for children anyway?

This fascinating & fun hobby is simple to start in as RC model planes are offered in prepared to fly kits (RTF) & prepared to fly kits (ARTF). Which kind you ought to buy depends not only on your skills as a hobby plane building enthusiast, but also how in a rush you are to take to the skies together with your RC airplane! You may have an RC electric helicopter in lieu in case you are a serious chopper fan! Or you could select a classic RC model plane, a faster RC jet style; or why not go for a twin engine craft for even better performance?

In case you aren't't up to speed on the ins & outs, or the ups & downs of the RC model plane empire; there is plenty of useful information on line about choosing the right RC airplane kit for your level,construction & design tips, latest how-to techniques & fantastic simple to follow guidelines on building & flying like a pro! Also do check out the Model Airplane News publication as it is the final guide to the RC world including tips on how to maintain your RC model planes as well as developing the skills necessary to become an accomplished RC pilot.

5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Radio Controlled Helicopters

2011-11-27T22:38:00.001-08:00

Radio controlled helicopters provide endless entertainment for people of all ages. The fact that you can pilot a small helicopter around is fun and exciting. If you are planning to buy rc helicopters, there are several things that you need to know. There are difference in the blade control, the performance of the helicopter, and different power sources.

The first thing you need to know is that an RC helicopter comes in different sizes. The larger the scale it is, the better it will look. Obviously, the craftsmanship involved in making one will mean that it will be more expensive. These helicopters are made to look like real helicopters and also perform like them too.

The next thing you need to know about is the tail rotor and the main blade of the rc helicopters. Radio controlled helicopters perform based on the quality of the blades that are used to fly them. A better blade and design will mean that it will fly more evenly, even with winds affecting its flight. The helicopter will respond better to your control compared to ones with lower quality blades.

Third, if you're looking to perform stunts, you should go for pod and boom models. The scale helicopters are heavier and more vulnerable to crashes. You can clearly see which ones are designed for flight and which ones are designed for stunts. Fortunately, the stunt helicopters are very affordable compared to scale RC helicopters.

The fourth thing you need to know is the material of the helicopter. Radio controlled helicopters can be made out of polycarbonate, polystyrene, fiber glass, and carbon fiber. Both polycarbonate and polystyrene are made for smaller helicopters but can be affected by the wind and cold temperature. Fiberglass can withstand more pressure but it is heavier. Carbon fiber is the lightest and strongest material but is the most expensive.

Finally, you have to choose the energy source used. There are nitro, gas, and electric fueled radio controlled helicopters. When using nitro and gas, you'll have a lot of power but the problem is that these helicopters are louder and fuel will have to be refilled often. You also need to be careful and store it in a dry, cool space.

That's why electric RC helicopters are often a better choice. They are quiet so you won't disrupt anybody when flying them and you can use rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries make your investment into the helicopter more economical as you'll be using less money on fuel.

So those are the 5 things that you need to know when buying radio controlled helicopters. You want to take a look at all your options from the energy source used, material, type of helicopter, scale, and the blades of the helicopter. Your budget will also be a big part of which one you buy as RC helicopters can cost anywhere from $80-$1000. 5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Radio Controlled Helicopters

The Best Place to Find RC Electric Helicopters

2011-09-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

Where is the best place to find RC electric helicopters? I can tell you for definite that you will first require to look in an electronics store, such as Radio Shack, Best Buy, or Circuit City. There you could find RC electric helicopters for a reasonable cost and you will probably get long lasting model. My recommendation for locating RC electric helicopters would be to first go to your preferred company's online site and look through the models they have on the market.

Since you most likely won't be able to make use of the helicopters in the actual store, it is sometimes better to read about them online and then order them through the company. Yes, you may require to pay a bit additional for shipping, but I think it is worth it. Then when you get the remote control helicopter, you can immediately take it out to your back yard and see the way it performs.

Save the box in case it ends up not being as long lasting as the company promised it would be. You ought to always make definite you receive a warranty for your RC electric helicopter because you might finish up needing to send it back in exchange for a different. I would recommend getting with welded sides or even a continuous plastic sheath so you don't must worry about it cracking or rusting.

Whatever you do, make definite you research it well and buy your helicopter from a reputable company, because you definitely don't require to must return it soon after you buy it. Your best bet would probably be Radio Shack in case you require to receive a nice deal, but you could also try the Discovery Store or even Brookstone if you are looking for a model that will impress people.

In either case, a RC electric helicopter is a great idea for fun on a bright sunny weekend, and as long as you do your research and know what you are looking for ahead of time, you'll be definite to get the RC electric helicopters that best suit you and you can get years of enjoyment out of it.

You require to think about your motivation ahead of time: would you a model that looks flashy in the air or that doesn't break in case you finish up crashing it in to the ground? These are things you require to think about before you make a purchase, because you might must compromise quality for beauty or vice versa. My recommendation is to receive a RC electric helicopter that can withstand the check of time and crashes, because choosing the that looks best to you is not the best way to go about it. If it is and you crash it, the remote control helicopter will quickly become ugly, and you ought to not must deal with that.

And if it so happens that the first you choose turns out to be poor quality and you require to buy another in a short time, know that you learned how long lasting they require to be, and next time you buy a RC electric helicopter, you can be a more informed consumer.

Between Gas and Electric RC Helicopter.

2011-05-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

It usually come in either gas or electric powered. Here are the things you ought to know about the:

RC helicopter has become of the more popular "boy toys" that has hit and hit large. It is popularity is not surprising at all. Imagine fulfilling your dream of flying an aircraft without spending much. And most of all: without leaving your foot off the ground. Now that is a nice and factor in the event you don't need to risk your life flying with a spinning rotor above your head.

In the event you are thinking that electric RC helicopter would not fly for long then you ought to change you point of view. Most modern electric RC's are powered by lithium batteries and coupled with brushless motors. This makes it fly much longer. In fact it can out last a quantity of the gas RC's.

Electric - In the event you are a novice RC enthusiast,
then the most advisable thing to buy is the electrical version. The reasons are simple. It is simpler than other types of RC helicopters the gas RC's. With the electrical, you don't must deal with the engine and the gas it will consume. You would not need to have proper knowledge about mechanics to make it fly. You don't must spend lots of time reader the manual to understand the way it works. And if the helicopter fails, you don't must figure out how to fix it.

Gas RC Helicopter - A more experienced pilot prefers gas powered for several reasons. is, flying a gas model flies like flying a full-size helicopter since the sound that the engine creates can trigger excitement. Oh! You might think that it is absurd. But no! The sound of the engine makes it more fascinating to fly. Another reason is that it is more complicated that keeps its pilot more addicted with it. Why? This is because the pilot is not only limited to flying the helicopter alone. Pilot is involved with how the mechanics of the RC. This gives him more reason to become excited on the RC.

And last thing: It is calm on air thus you cannot disturb other's privacy.

Choosing between an electric model or a gas version is up to you. Evaluate carefully so that you get most out of your RC flying experience.

The Gas Helicopter Vs the Electric Helicopter

2011-04-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

I am very enthusiastic about flying and building Remote Controlled Helicopters, and enjoy working with both The Gas Helicopter and the Electric Helicopter

The Electric Remote Control Helicopter

The last Electric Remote Control Helicopter I purchased was the Twister Medevac Bell 47. The classic war helicopter made famous by the seventies comedy drama show 'MASH'.

The Twister Medevac Bell 47 is a great Electric Remote Control Helicopter and is good for beginners and experts alike. It comes RTF (ready to fly) out of the box and with a little practice - flies like a dream. The reason it is so easy to fly is due to the co-axial design of the blades. It has two main sets of blades, one above the , that turn in opposite directions and because of this a tail rotor blade is not necessary. All in all it gives a great flying experience.

This model is now mainly unavailable, but never fear there is a new Electric Remote Control Helicopter available which is the same design.

Introducing the ESKY Lama 2 V3 Electric Remote Control Helicopter. This is a great Helicopter and is the same design as the Twister Medevac Bell 47.

In conclusion the Electric Remote Control Helicopter is affordable and easy to fly with a little practice and is enjoyed by beginners and experts alike, with the added advantage of coming RTF out of the box, especially if all you want to do is enjoy the flying without getting involved with the building.

The Remote Control Gas Helicopter

When entering the world of the Gas helicopter, there is a lot more to think about.

Are you serious about Flying Remote Controlled Helicopters?

Are you in it for the long haul?

I don't mean to sound so serious, but when entering the world of the Gas Helicopter you will be spending a lot more time and money, and need to make sure its what you want to do.

A good entry level Gas Helicopter is the Thunder Tiger Raptor 30 V2 ARF. It come 90% built and doesn't cost a fortune, which is great for your first project.

Although the Raptor 30 V2 ARF is widely recognized as an entry level Gas Helicopter, it is still capable of some excellent maneuvers and 3D flying. It is not only used by beginners but by experts as well. It is also so has a wide range of spares available and is easily upgradable.

In conclusion the Gas Helicopter gives you a much better flying experience but is for someone who is serious about flying and is in it for some time to come.

Caution When Using Gas or Nitro Powered Remote Control Helicopters

2011-02-13T06:21:00.001-08:00

In contrast to electric helicopters, there also exist gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters that you should really check out, if you think you have it in you. Of course, the gas powered helicopters can be more work intensive, but they can also be more rewarding. You see, it is the gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters that are capable of really showcasing the best agility level and the highest, fastest flying capabilities.

At least that’s what I’ve typically found with my helicopter purchases. Either way, you can really have a ton of fun with gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters and if you don’t mind replacing their fuel when it runs out and working carefully to avoid fire when you’re setting them up for flight, you can really have a wonderful time.

I remember once helping another shopper with a gas or nitro powered remote control helicopter purchase, and they really found that they could have much more fun with this type of helicopter than the electric helicopter that they were using before then, because the electric one just didn’t respond as well to the remote control. I don’t know for sure if this is the case universally, or if this particular customer found that gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters were better than electric helicopters based on a single, isolated incident, but I do know that when I discuss which helicopter is better with other professional fliers, I typically get the same answer. Gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters are indeed more work, but they are also unparalleled in their ability to fly well.

For instance, let’s say you want to fly your helicopter further backwards than any other person and make it to the Guiness Book of World Records. Well, I have typically heard that people find the gas helicopters to last longer—the electrical charge in electric helicopters runs out before the fuel does. That said, the gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters are also much more expensive, and you do need to know that you have to restore the gas whenever it runs out, and cleaning the apparatus also takes more ingenuity and work. But of course, if you’re up for the challenge, the rewards are well worth it. Just make sure that when you purchase gas or nitro powered remote control helicopters, as with any large transaction, that you are buying from a reputable independent or commercial dealer, and you have researched the price trends in your area, so you know you’re getting the best deal you possibly can for your money.

There is little more frustrating that purchasing your first real gas or nitro powered remote control helicopter and finding out that your next door neighbor got a similar one for a lot cheaper, and is happier with it because they had money left over to take a trip out to the country and really fly it around. The choice is up to you, but if I had to choose one, I would choose the gas helicopter over the electric one!

Take Care when Reading Reviews about Remote Control Helicopters

2011-02-13T06:19:00.001-08:00

I have read tons of reviews for remote control helicopters, because I am the editor of a helicopter aficionado magazine that talks about all the types of helicopters on the market and recommends the best one to buy if you are a first time owner or a remote control helicopter veteran. The magazine is great, and it helps me see what other helicopter owners think about different models and brands of helicopters, and I really must say that people’s opinions vary widely, which is why it’s probably always best to just do your own research and get what best suits you, rather than getting what you think best suits you based on some stranger’s opinion. That said, many people who are buying their first remote control helicopters don’t really know what they are looking for, and it is these people that these reviews are written for.

But they are not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a framework to find what other people consider valuable aspects of helicopter buying. Then you need to think for yourself whether you care, for instance, whether the helicopter blades are made of paper or platinum (although your choices would most likely be more like metal or plastic, but I just meant that as an example). All in all, I like this magazine because it considers people from all walks of life, and it understands that even if you are interested in purchasing a helicopter, you may not be a rich and bored millionaire with any amount of money and no consideration for finding the best deal.

We all know that these days money is hard to come by, and consumers are becoming more and more knowledgeable about their purchases, which is a wonderful thing in my opinion. Of course, there are other people who just want to get the most money they can for themselves, so they mark up helicopter prices to exorbitant amounts and hope they’ll get a few foolish customers that didn’t do their homework.

And they probably do get a few of those customers, because they stay in business somehow, and I regularly hear horror stories about people who paid way too much for their remote control helicopter, and when I ask them why they didn’t take the time to read the reviews in my magazine, they usually say that they didn’t know about the magazine, or worse, that they didn’t have enough time. So they had enough time to work their butts off for that money, but then not enough time to read a measly magazine review? I think not. Hopefully, consumers in the future will just continue to become more and more careful about their purchases, because I hate to see people in debt.

It’s such a sad thing. If you happen to be a new helicopter enthusiast, or you know someone who is, please make sure you read the remote control helicopters reviews before making your purchase. It can literally save you hundreds of your hard earned dollars.

Big Remote Control Helicopters Require Skill

2011-02-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

If space is not an issue for you, then you might be able to consider purchasing some of the new big remote control helicopters that recently were introduced from multiple brands. These helicopters, which can sometimes be as large as ten feet long, rival real helicopters in agility and of course, in price. They can run you up to 3 thousand dollars, or so I have heard.

But like many crazes, some people think that they just have to own one of their own. So now, if you go out to a long, open plain, you might see some of these big remote control helicopters flying around, and at first you’ll probably think they are real helicopters that are simply further away then you first think. But then you’ll probably see someone else controlling the helicopter through their equally big remote control, and then you’ll know the truth.

If you get a chance to see one of these in flight, consider yourself lucky. With the tremendous expense of owning one of these beauties, comes their rarity. Of course, being an avid collector myself, I have considered purchasing one of these big remote control helicopters, and I even put a bid on one in Ebay, but I ended up not getting it and instead deciding to wait until the price goes down a little bit.

Like with any other huge commodity, big remote control helicopters are the it factor now, but in a few years, I am sure they will overcome the demand with a bigger supply, and then I’ll be ready and waiting to purchase. Until then, I have a very generous and rich friend who owns one, and I will practice flying it on his. I have already taken it out once, and it’s so much more powerful than the typical small remote control helicopters that you may be used to. When you first turn it on, the big remote control helicopter’s blade spins with such ferocity, you may worry that you’re going to blow away. When it lifts off the ground, you will probably feel a huge sense of accomplishment, knowing that you are the one that is controlling it.

And if you’re able to nail the landing, then you can consider yourself a true helicopter connoisseur, because even those very well versed in small remote control helicopters would be impressed to see someone land a big remote control helicopters—it’s a whole different ball game, really. So if you happen to be lucky, rich, or determined enough to purchase one of your own, or if you’re able to practice on a friend’s helicopter like me, enjoy your time with your large helicopter.

I guarantee it’ll be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. For me, the entire process was unreal, and when it was all over, I had to call everyone I knew and tell them how I flew a 10 foot helicopter and prevented it from crashing. I bet that’s how pilots feel the first time they fly a fighter jet. It’s just incomprehensible unless you try it for yourself.

How to Avoid Scamming When You Purchase Remote Control Helicopters for Sale

2011-02-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

A bad place to get remote control helicopters for sale is your local newspaper, or at least that has been my experience. When I was younger and just discovering the Classifieds section in the evening newspaper, I used to look through every article, even though I really didn’t need any of those things. Well, I ended up falling in love with a set of remote control helicopters for sale in the newspaper that I just had to have. They were still quite expensive, but I saved my money for them, and I called the person who had run the ad, and they promised to save them for me.

After two days of lots of chores and saving my money, I walked to the seller’s home to get my remote control helicopters for sale. And much to my surprise, the seller had grossly misrepresented the helicopters.

Not only were they nonfunctional, but they didn’t even look like helicopters anymore! It turns out that the seller’s home burned down, and one of the things that he was able to salvage was the set of helicopters, and he was hoping that he could sell them along with a bunch of other wares to pay for a new house or at least rent for an apartment. You see, he didn’t have any insurance, so when the house burned down, he lost everything. Well, that story really tugged at my heartstrings, and since I was a young child, I didn’t know about scam artists, so I ended up giving him my hard earned money for two pieces of trash that I knew would never fly and that I couldn’t even use. I ended up throwing them away on the walk home, but at least feeling good about myself.

The worst part of the day was when I finally told my dad all about it, and he explained that the person who sold me the helicopters had probably found them in the garbage and thought he’d be able to sell them to an unsuspecting, foolish, person. Unfortunately I was that person, although I never did find out how he scraped up the money to run an ad in the newspaper, I hear they are quite pricey. The real moral of this story, though, is to tell you never to purchase remote control helicopters for sale unless you know for sure that you’re getting good, quality items, and you often cannot do that through an independent seller.

Go to an established place, like Radio Shack. The story does have a funny ending, though. The person that sold me the helicopters must have seen me throw them away on my way out, because he picked them out of the garbage, and sold them again. They were in the evening newspaper the next week. Of course, he wasn’t going to fool me again, but I wonder if anyone else fell prey to his scams…? Hopefully after reading this vignette, you’ll realize how important—crucial in fact—it is to be a shrewd consumer, in every sense of the word. And never settle for poor quality.

6 Channel Remote Control Helicopters: Does It Get Any Better?

2011-02-05T06:29:00.001-08:00

If you are really looking for some fun, then you should check out 6 channel remote control helicopters, which seem to be becoming the great new pastime. You can purchase these really strong and powerful helicopters from your local helicopter and other electronics shop, or from a trades store, and you can use them outdoors or indoors.

They are extremely versatile, and any helicopter flyer will tell you that they are some of the most impressive technologies in helicopters out on the market today. Specifically, the 6 channels allow you to control multiple facets of the helicopter’s flight patterns. For instance, you can make the helicopter fly straight up, straight down, forward, backwards, and some models even let you tumble them in tight circles in the air.

Yes, this technology tends to be a little more pricey than your typical fly-straight-forward helicopter, but at the same time, these helicopters are so much more true to life. Helicopters that are actually flown by people in cockpits, rather than people holding remotes on the ground, have many different channels—sometimes a lot more than six, even, but at least getting closer to the number of channels in a real helicopter is truly a feat. I remember reading a little bit about these 6 channel remote control helicopters, and they were even more impressive than I had initially thought. In addition to the control you have over all the different flight patterns, you also can customize the types of blades, the body of the helicopter, and even have a custom paint job done. Of course, these amenities all run into more money, but the pleasure of having a 6 channel remote control helicopter that is truly original and unique to their collection sometimes outweighs the price for many helicopter enthusiasts.

So I was really surprised when own of my closest friends and a fellow helicopter flyer said that he’d had a bad experience with his 6 channel remote control helicopter. I asked exactly what happened, and it turned out that he had left his helicopter unattended, and some young school children had found it in his backyard and taken it to a park.

They then proceeded to have a great time with it, only later returning it, in a much banged- up condition, to its rightful owner. At first my friend didn’t even realize it had been used and just thought that the scratches and dents that he had discovered were there all along and just went unnoticed by him. It was only after he took it to the manufacturer to inquire about the warranty that he learned the truth. Luckily the children had some conscience and they eventually paid him back and apologized, but he has a bad opinion of 6 channel remote control helicopters since then, and the sad thing is that it’s really not the helicopter’s fault, it was just a bad experience.

Hopefully, he’ll come around someday soon, because the 6 channel remote control helicopters are really some of the best, most controllable helicopters you can buy in the world today.

RC Heli Drag Race

2010-06-08T22:15:00.001-07:00

I practiced for some time on flight simulator program before I decided that I would go ahead & try out my RC helicopter. I was four times making tidy flights & appeared to have mastered the controls. I only made occasional errors now & then. I was four times nervous about flying, but I decided it was time to get my feet wet. I picked a pleasant calm, sunny day & took my helicopter out for my first solo.
First, I read the whole instruction manual that came with my RTF (prepared to fly) heli. I was four times walking all the tips through my head. Do not let the helicopter get out of range, because in case you do you will lose control & that means a crash. Be steady & do not try any difficult moves to start out with. I had selected the right climatic conditions. I chosen a field with only a few obstructions & no people around to worry about hitting for my first flight.
The first check was the radio range check. Checking to see that the helicopter responds to the transmitter at the set limit of the transmitter is important. You do not need to lose control of your RC toy. You will need someone to help you with this. They will need to over the helicopter to its maximum range & hold it while you check your transmitter. A partner is helpful & it makes it more fun. My husband is my flying buddy. Next in line was the motor check. You need to check that the main blades throttle up & back with the control. The last check was the tail rotor check. The tail rotor controls left & right turns so you can keep your bird in range. Part of this check involves adjusting the trim so that when the rotor control is receiving no input your helicopter will hover in place without turning either direction. With the tests complete & all adjustments made, the next step was to start to fly.
The instructions for my helicopter suggested beginning out by practicing taking off & touching back down. I did this until I got the hang of it. Then I started out with circling each way, not letting the helicopter get far away from me. It was great fun & I only had one rough landing. My tail rotor came off, but did not break. I was four times able to reattach it & fly again. in case of a crash, I would recommend having some additional parts handy. Flying my remote control helicopter was every bit as much fun as I thought it would be. It is a great way to spend time with relatives & friends out of doors. Of coursework you can also get small mini rtf heli's that you can fly inside when the weather is bad. What ever you choose get out & give it a try, you won't be sorry!

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS AND FREQUENCY

2010-02-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

E-GO models was the first to bring a truly RTF high quality beginners package to the market with the Cessna –182. Now we are doing the same to the electric heli market.

The Falcon 3D is the most complete RTF electric heli in its class. Unlike others, it does not require upgrade parts to make it 3D capable. It comes with brushless motor, ESC and lipo batteries already installed.

The 6 channel Transmitter mode 1 with digital display even comes with the 8AA batteries required. The display shows elapsed time, position of reverse switches, flight mode and voltage. (see pic below)

In regular flight mode, this is a very easy model to hover – ideal for beginners. Anyone with experience on the many contra rotating helis on the market (eg – Lamas or Twister Bell 47) should be able to hover this very stable model.

The more advanced flyers can go straight to 3D mode with the flick of a switch and be performing extreme 3D flying.

The Best Place to Find RC Electric Helicopters

2010-02-03T07:29:00.001-08:00

Where is the best place to find RC electric helicopters? I can tell you for sure that you'll first require to look in an electronics store, such as Radio Shack, Best Buy, or Circuit City. There you could find RC electric helicopters for a reasonable price and you will probably get durable model. My recommendation for finding RC electric helicopters would be to first go to your preferred company's online site and look through the models they have for sale.

Since you probably won't be able to use the helicopters in the actual store, it is sometimes better to read about them online and then order them through the company. Yes, you may require to pay a bit extra for shipping, but I think it is worth it. Then when you receive the remote control helicopter, you can immediately take it out to your back yard and see how it performs.

Whatever you do, make sure you research it well and buy your helicopter from a reputable company, because you certainly don't require to must return it soon after you purchase it. Your best bet would probably be Radio Shack if you require to receive a lovely deal, but you could also try the Discovery Store or even Brookstone if you are looking for a model that will impress people.

Save the box in case it ends up not being as durable as the company promised it would be. You ought to always make sure you receive a warranty for your RC electric helicopter because you might finish up needing to send it back in exchange for a different two. I would suggest getting two with welded sides or even a continuous plastic sheath so you don't must worry about it cracking or rusting.

In either case, a RC electric helicopter is a great idea for fun on a bright sunny weekend, and as long as you do your research and know what you are looking for ahead of time, you'll be sure to get the RC electric helicopters that best suit you and you can get years of enjoyment out of it.

You require to think about your motivation ahead of time: would you a model that looks flashy in the air or two that doesn't break if you finish up crashing it in to the ground? These are things you require to think about before you make a purchase, because you might must compromise quality for beauty or vice versa. My recommendation is to receive a RC electric helicopter that can withstand the check of time and crashes, because choosing the two that looks best to you is not the best way to go about it. If it is and you crash it, the remote control helicopter will quickly become ugly, and you ought to not must deal with that.

And if it so happens that the first two you pick turns out to be poor quality and you must purchase another two in a short time, know that you learned how durable they require to be, and next time you purchase a RC electric helicopter, you can be a more informed consumer

Radio Controlled Helicopters For Beginners and Newcomers

2010-01-23T18:49:00.001-08:00

Flying radio controlled helicopters is such an exciting & thrilling hobby & practically somebody can participate. RC airplanes have been popular for lots of years now but helicopters are catching up fast because of the construction & aerodynamics of their design. There's lots of venues that you can now enter your RC Helicopter & compete against others.

The best way to get started with radio controlled helicopters is to opt for a low-cost RC helicopter designed for flying inside. This will help you familiarize yourself with the controls & build some RC helicopter flying skills. You'll need to know your helicopter inside & out before you enter your first competition.

Radio controlled helicopters have come a long way from the early models, with the mainframe & boom designs having been greatly streamlined. This allows modern RC helicopters to perform some difficult moves such as flying backwards or even upside down. Double blades are another recent development in radio controlled helicopters that have helped to stabilize & permit for greater flight control due to their spinning in opposite directions at a single speed.

The beginner should select an electric helicopter, as there's less costly, & need less maintenance. They are not as hard to fly, & they also fly much quieter than gas powered models. On the other hand they do have shorter flight times, & you must recharge the battery after every flight, which takes up to two hours to recharge.

The new models for beginners are cheap & feature the new fixed pitch blades. These blades make for a smooth flight, even if you are a beginner with these exciting models. This makes for a speedy graduation to stepping up to the more advanced & and a tiny more costly models.

You may need some additional equipment, depending what kind of radio controlled helicopter you opt for. Electric RC helicopters usually include everything you need in the kit, but you'll probably need to pick up some extra batteries so that you don't must sit out on the fun while you recharge.

The nitro gas powered RC helicopters will need fuel which is a tiny on the costly side & you will also need to have cleanup rags for wiping away any gas that has spilled. With both types, it is always a lovely idea to have extra blades in case something should get damaged in a crash.

Beginning pilots of radio controlled helicopters will often wonder whether they ought to go for an electric helicopter or two which is gas powered. Choosing a gas powered model will make for a bit more of a learning curve & provide an additional challenge as well. Advanced RC helicopter hobbyists generally fly gas powered helicopters, which they say are closer to the experience of flying a real helicopter. While the fuel for these RC helicopters is a tiny costly, these models do let you refuel quickly & get your helicopter back in the air fast

The Gas Helicopter Vs the Electric Helicopter

2010-01-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

I am enthusiastic about flying & building Remote Controlled Helicopters, & enjoy working with both The Gas Helicopter & the Electric Helicopter.

The last Electric Remote Control Helicopter I purchased was the Twister Medevac Bell 47. The classic war helicopter made famous by the seventies comedy drama show 'MASH'.

The Electric Remote Control Helicopter

The Twister Medevac Bell 47 is a great Electric Remote Control Helicopter & is nice for beginners & experts similar. It comes RTF (ready to fly) out of the box & with a tiny practice - flies like a dream. The reason it is so easy to fly is due to the co-axial design of the blades. It's four main sets of blades, two above the , that turn in opposite directions & because of this a tail rotor blade is not necessary. All in all it gives a great flying experience.

This model is now mainly unavailable, but never fear there is a new Electric Remote Control Helicopter obtainable which is the same design.

Introducing the ESKY Lama 2 V3 Electric Remote Control Helicopter. This is a great Helicopter & is the same design as the Twister Medevac Bell 47.

In conclusion the Electric Remote Control Helicopter is affordable & easy to fly with a tiny practice & is enjoyed by beginners & experts similar, with the added advantage of coming RTF out of the box, if all you require to do is enjoy the flying without getting involved with the building.

The Remote Control Gas Helicopter

When entering the world of the Gas helicopter, there is a lot more to think about.

Are you serious about Flying Remote Controlled Helicopters?

Are you in it for the long haul?

I don't mean to sound so serious, but when entering the world of the Gas Helicopter you will be spending a lot more time & money, & need to make sure its what you require to do.

A nice entry level Gas Helicopter is the Thunder Tiger Raptor 30 V2 ARF. It come 90% built & doesn't cost a fortune, which is great for your first project.

Although the Raptor 30 V2 ARF is widely recognized as an entry level Gas Helicopter, it is still capable of some excellent maneuvers & 3D flying. It is not only used by beginners but by experts as well. It is also so has a wide range of spares obtainable & is easily upgradable.

In conclusion the Gas Helicopter gives you a much better flying experience but is for anyone who is serious about flying & is in it for some time to come.

Starting a Model Helicopter Hobby

2009-10-16T02:15:00.001-07:00

From children and children at heart, collecting model helicopters has become one of the more popular hobbies. Some collect model helicopters that fly. There's those who prefer to build model helicopters by themselves to add to their ever-growing collection.

If you cannot afford to buy full size Schweizer 300 or a Robinson R22 or any private helicopter being sold on the market, but have a great desire to own a helicopter or have a great interest on helicopters, there is one thing that suites you best: buying, building, and collecting model helicopters.

Imagine a display of all the types of helicopters produced over the years lining side by side in one room.

If you require to start the hobby, you can start on one model and start from there. You have several options. You can either go for flying model helicopters. You can also start with a scale-model plastic helicopter. There's model helicopters that are made from wood.

If you prefer real flying model helicopters, you still have several options. You can either go for gas rc helicopter or electric rc helicopter. Usually, beginners tend to buy electric helicopter because it is much cheaper than gas rc's. It is also easy to fly and less complicated. But if you thing you can handle the noise and if you are up for the thrill of the engined model helicopter, then gas RC is for you although it may cost you more both on maintenance and initial cost.

If you prefer building model helicopter for your personal gallery, then you have several helicopter models to choose from. Scale models such as Mi-28 HOVOC, Augusta A-109, Whirlwind, Mangusta, Huey Hog, AH-6J, Mi-24 Hind, Bell 412, SH-60B, RAH-66, 500D CHP, EC-135 Eurocopter and more are waiting to be build by your own hands.

If you prefer military helicopters, you can get scale models such as FL 282, H-25, S-55, Rotodyne, Bo 102, H-1 Huey, Sea King, Mi-2, OH-6, Filper, H-46, Chinook, AH-56, Mi-24, Mi-26, Ka-27, XV-15, Bell 206, Puma, XCH-62, S-67, Blackhawk, Apache, Lama, S-72, Dauphin, Mi-28, Mangusta, Ka-50, Super Cobra, Tiger, NH-90, OH-1, V-22, ALH, and Comanche.

These models are also available in woodcarvings carefully handcrafted to come out as a perfect replica of the original helicopter. It can cost at around $100 to $500 depending on the type of wood used and how much detail was put to the model. Meanwhile plastic models could cost around $7 to as much as $50 while the rc model helicopters could cost at around $100 to over $1000.

Few Things to Consider When Purchasing a Remote Control Helicopter

2009-09-14T01:46:00.000-07:00

1. How much time do you want to commit?

Flying remote control helicopters is a fun and relaxing activity enjoyed by millions of people, both young and elderly. There are several different types of remote control helicopters, ranging from simple, easy to fly models to complex kits that must be assembled. This popular hobby requires various levels of commitment as well. Whether you're looking for some weekend relatives fun with your rc helicopter or plan to become an experienced, avid pilot, there are a few things to consider before buying your first remote control helicopter.

Remote control helicopters are available in several different styles and vary greatly in price. Ready to fly (RTF) models are already assembled and complete with all the components. This type can be taken out of the box and played with immediately and is the best choice for beginners. ready to fly (ARF) helicopters are about 90 percent assembled, but still need some building and extra parts. Remote control helicopter kits are also available and need complete assembly, as well as an engine and transmitter.

2. Gas powered or electric?

Both types of RC helicopters have their advantages and disadvantages, so how do you choose which is best for you? Electric helicopters are typically less high priced than gas ones and are much simpler to use. They are the best choice for young pilots, as well as beginners. Electric powered helicopters run on batteries than smelly gas, so there are no fumes. Electric motors are also practically silent while operating, so this type of RC helicopter is more versatile and can be used anywhere.

Gas powered RC helicopters are messier, more complicates, and much louder than their cheaper electric counterparts, but gas remote control helicopters are usually the preferred type for experienced pilots. They are thought to be more realistic than electric models and give the pilot a chance to be more involved with the aircraft and how it functions. Gas powered helicopters are typically better for frequent use because the tank can simply be refilled than having to replace expensive batteries or wait hours for a recharge.

Remote control helicopters also come in all sizes. If you are looking for a fun and unique helicopter for indoors, there are micro RC helicopters that are so tiny you can hold them inside your hand. Another option for indoor flying is an electric model. Electric remote control helicopters do not produce any harmful fumes or odors so they are ideal for large, open areas that are enclosed.
3. Where will you fly your RC helicopter?
3. Gas powered or electric?

If you plan on flying your remote control helicopter outside, you should consider the wind conditions in your area. A larger helicopter will offer more control in windy situations so a mini helicopter may not be the best choice if you will fly in wind often. Helicopters with fixed pitch (FP) blades are recommended for novice pilots because they are less high priced, less hard to use, and simpler to repair, but a collective pitch (CP) helicopter is much better for windy conditions.

Both types of RC helicopters have their advantages and disadvantages, so how do you choose which is best for you? Electric helicopters are typically less high priced than gas ones and are much simpler to use. They are the best choice for young pilots, as well as beginners. Electric powered helicopters run on batteries than smelly gas, so there are no fumes. Electric motors are also practically silent while operating, so this type of RC helicopter is more versatile and can be used anywhere.

Gas powered RC helicopters are messier, more complicates, and much louder than their cheaper electric counterparts, but gas remote control helicopters are usually the preferred type for experienced pilots. They are thought to be more realistic than electric models and give the pilot a chance to be more involved with the aircraft and how it functions. Gas powered helicopters are typically better for frequent use because the tank can simply be refilled than having to replace expensive batteries or wait hours for a recharge.

If you are new to flying remote control helicopters, you may want to begin with a lovely flight simulator software program designed for RC pilots. Flight instructors are also an option if you are serious about the hobby. Novice pilots should select an high priced remote control helicopter with easy to access spare parts. It is best to start with a tiny, electric model because crashes are usually inevitable during the learning method.

4. How experienced are you?

Kusuma Widjaja has been collecting rc electric helicopter for 5 years and has a lot of experience in buying rc helicopters. His reviews can be seen at http://www.rchelicopterreview.com

A great way to make time fly

2009-08-26T22:34:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you take a bunch of enthusiastic hobbyists, add dashes of aerial acrobatics, combine it with a safe family environment and top it off with good food and fun? Another successful event for the CMA, the Camrose Modellers Association, who hosted their annual radio-control (RC) fun-fly and corn-roast event at Alberta’s Littlest Airport near Bawlf Aug. 22 and 23.

Many CMA members consider this their favourite event of the year. For several of them, it’s often the last time they’ll fly together before school begins for their children and the early, darker evenings of fall set in. It’s also a great chance to display their latest builds and the excellent flying skills they’ve developed all summer.

Whether it is the precise guidance of a Yak-54 by Doug Currie of Hiflight RC in Edmonton, or a seeing-is-believing inverted helicopter flight of a T-Rex 600 by Conway Vidal of Lloydminster, the skill and pride that each member displays in his aircraft and abilities is obvious.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Darryl Farrar of Beaumont, an RC enthusiast for several years. “It’s also a great way to fly a P-51 Mustang or a Piper Cub without having to own the real thing, which is very expensive.”

The CMA events are not just limited to members from the local area. RC enthusiasts from across Alberta regularly attend.

“We always have folks from Edmonton and Red Deer that join us,” added Farrar, a Leduc and Area Radio-Control (LARC) member for several years. “We also have members come from Whitecourt and Grande Prairie. Two years ago, we had a gentlemen come up from California.”

The fun-fly event also gives members the opportunity to see who among them is pushing the limit of the hobby. Among the flights that dazzled onlookers was an electric jet that raced across the sky with very little noise. An aerial-photography display, which featured a real-time birds-eye view of the flight line, transmitted from a wireless camera mounted to a helicopter as it hovered high in the sky, also impressed many in attendance.

“There are only three or four of us licensed to do RC aerial photo-graphy in western Canada,” said Vidal, who operates scenefromabove.ca, a low-level aerial-imaging service. A regular helicopter shakes too much, and even a small plane flies too fast. Farmers and civic officials love it when they see the resolution that a stable RC platform can provide them.”

For those that were there to “just watch,” there were many things for them to do between the flights. The Saturday corn-roast, featuring sweet Taber corn, and the on-site RC racetrack, playground, and hayrides were popular with many in attendance. When the flights were finished, the nightly bonfire gave friends and families the chance to share the day’s highlights. For the pilots, it gave them the chance to recount tales of their aerial adventures.

A positive event like this would not be possible without the generosity of Phyllis Blackwell and her son, Reg Blackwell, who take time from operating the working part of their farm to mow acres of camping and landing areas, maintain the flight and service facilities and ensure all is safe for everyone who visits. The family atmosphere is enhanced by Phyllis’ daily rounds, when she happily chats to friends of many years and first-timers alike.

“This is our 13th year of having this event at the farm,” said Phyllis, with pride. “It’s also nice to see the next generation here,” as she indicated the variety of tents that had popped up among the trees. “Not so long ago, they used to be the kids playing and running around, now they’re the new adults, but still having a good time with friends and family.”

Electric air show gets lots of buzz

2009-08-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's a tiny, flimsy air force, but Jim Marconnet's electric airplanes & helicopters lift a lot of smiles. Micro-model craft drawchildren, adults to funat church's 'aerodrome' On one Sunday afternoon a month, the cavernous Christian Life Center at Madison United Methodist Church becomes the "aerodrome," where babies & adults steer battery-powered, remote-controlled aircraft in to the wild, indoor yonder.

Marconnet brings his fleet, including gossamer-winged, insect-like Vapor airplanes and five little Blade MCX helicopters, and lets anyone take a quick lesson then try their hands on the controls.

"And they fly them," he said. "Sometimes well, and sometimes not so well."

People can also bring their own indoor and "micro-model" planes, which makes for an interesting air show.

"It looks really cool," said 10-year-old Clair Conner, a student from Horizon Elementary School who tried piloting a helicopter for the first time. She quickly had it hanging in mid-air like a hummingbird, and said later she'd be back to fly again.

"Definitely. It was really, really fun," she said.

"It is a lot of fun," said Pastor Larry Wright. "It's a great thing for kids and adults to do together."

Wright has tried out his own flying skills and admits, "I'm not very good. But it's as fun to watch as it is to do."

How to Hover a Remote Control Helicopter

2009-08-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

The main objective of hovering an RC helicopter is to keep it in six spot with as little moving or drifting as possible. Ultimately, you'd like it to remain absolutely motionless, but in a non perfect world, that's impossible as there's many factors that will cause drift or motion. For the beginner pilot hovering an RC helicopter can prove to be excessively difficult plus many people give up on the hobby because they can't master hovering. While it is possible plus people do fly RC helicopters without being able to hover properly, it's not recommended. It's like learning to run before you can walk plus you'll finally run in to a problem. Being able to hover teaches control plus fine motor skills that you'll want to have to become a better overall pilot. Even top performers practice hovering to hone their skills. there's 4 main hovering positions, or 8 if you count inverted hovering, but I'm not going to get in to that as it's a lot more complicated than learning basic, right side up hovering that we'll discuss in this 'how to' article....

How to Hover a Remote Control Helicopter.

Tail in hovering is where the tail is pointing towards you plus the nose of your helicopter is away from you. Nose in is the opposite - where the nose of your helicopter is pointing towards you plus the tail is pointing away from you. Right side in is where the nose is pointing to the right, the tail is pointing to the left plus you're facing the right side of the helicopter. Left side is the opposite, where the nose is pointing to the left, the tail to the right plus you're facing the left side of the helicopter.

Pre-flight Setup & Checklist

Before you can learn to hover your RC helicopter, you want to make sure your helicopter plus radio is properly setup. If unsure, consult an experienced pilot or your local hobby store. Put your training gear on. If you don't have some, buy it. It costs $20 - $50 plus if you're just starting out will save you hundreds in crash damages. The training gear also makes a lovely visual aid that help you see the pitching plus rolling of your RC helicopter before you notice them in your helicopter. If you're flying a nitro helicopter, have many fuel obtainable. If you're going electric, make sure your batteries are charged plus have over six obtainable if possible. The more you can fly continually, the faster you'll improve your skills.

Make sure your gyro is set to heading hold mode. While some people recommend flying with a gyro in rate mode because you'll receive a better feel for the helicopter, I don't recommend it for the simple reason that unless you plan on building scale ships, you'll probably never use rate mode, so there's no sense learning to fly with it. Also, make sure your radio plus helicopter is set up for hovering plus that it's not sensitive. If it's sensitive or quick to respond, you can try adding some expo to the cyclic to soften the sticks around their centres, or decrease the endpoints to decrease the amount of cyclic pitch plus responsiveness of the helicopter. plus finally, go through your preflght checks.

Getting a Feel for Your Helicopter

Before you learn to hover, you want to understand how your RC helicopter works. When you move the sticks, how does your helicopter react? If you input right cyclic, how quickly does your helicopter react? The objective is to learn how your helicopter moves plus corresponds with the inputs you give. six time your RC helicopter plus radio are setup, you'll want a practice area. You're going to want the surface you're practicing on to be as smooth as possible so you can slide around a bit. A gym floor, a large plus smooth cement basement, a ice rink or a smooth asphalt make the best practice surfaces - the smoother the better. If you're trying to learn on a rough or uneven surface like grass or gravel, your RC helicopter can catch on it plus tip over. The training gear will help you slide around without fear or tippage. Make sure you have at least a 10ft x 10ft (20ft x 20ft or larger recommended) area that is clear of any plus all obstructions. The larger your helicopter is, the more space you'll want. If there's no marking to use as a reference point, use a marker or masking tape to generate six. Put your helicopter in to the middle of the space pointing in to the wind (if outdoors) plus stand 10 - 15ft behind it. Start to throttle up very slowly - you don't want it to lift off the ground, just get it light on the training gear so you can slide it around. If your main blades rotate clockwise plus your helicopter has been built properly, there's a lovely chance that it will want to drift slightly to the left to counteract the tail rotor thrust pushing to the right. If your rotors spin counter clockwise, your helicopter should drift slightly to the right. Use the trims to compensate for the drifting until your RC helicopter stays stationery. six time you've got the trims set, give a little right cyclic input plus watch as the helicopter moves to the right. Then give left cyclic input to move it back to the reference point. Then do the same thing moving your helicopter forwards plus backwards. The main objective here is to receive a feel for how the helicopter responds to your stick inputs plus how much input is necessary to get it to move. You'll find small stick inputs are all that is necessary. six time you're comfortable with side to side plus forwards / backwards movement, bring the helicopter back to your reference point plus move it diagonally in all 4 directions. This will be a lot harder then left/right forwards/backwards movement because you'll be inputting multiple cyclic commands simultaneously as well as controlling the tail. You'll want to practice this until you can make very precise movements plus are comfortable moving your helicopter around. Remember to always fly your helicopter by watching its nose, never by looking at the tail boom.

Learning To Hover All right...on to the lovely stuff.

Congratulations!!!

six time you've got a feel for how your helicopter moves plus how to control it using your radio, it's time to get it off the ground. For this, you'll want to move from your smooth surface to something softer, preferable short grass. This will help to absorb any impact from hard landings plus prevent damage. If you have a small or micro RC helicopter, you can do this on the same hard surface you used earlier as there's not much weight to cause damage. Pick or mark a reference spot plus place your helicopter there going through all the pre-flight checks mentioned earlier. Input collective until your helicopter is just a few inches off the ground plus try to hold it there. Remember that very small inputs make a big difference, so be gentle on the controls. Pay attention to your helicopter plus the balls on the training gear plus try to anticipate any movement plus try to compensate for it in advance. To become a masterful hoverer you want to be able to tell what's going to happen in terms of movement plus react to it in advance to prevent it from happening. As you become more comfortable, start to bring it a little higher plus higher until you get it up to 2 - 3ft plus can hold it in six spot.

Now go out there plus enjoy your Remote Control Helicopter, by far the best remote control toy money can buy.

You can now hover an RC helicopter... everything else is downhill from here. Though you'll probably want to go through at least 3 - 5 batteries or tanks of fuel practicing stationary hovering before you start to move your helicopter around to make sure you'll be able to react in time in case of a mishap. As s side note, when practicing hovering, you'll usually want to hover above 2 - 3ft to avoid ground effect. Ground effect is when your RC helicopter is hovered close to the ground (under six rotor diameter) plus the downwash of the rotor blades creates a high pressure bubble of air. This bubble of air applies an uneven upwards force which causes the helicopter to wobble or move sideways making stable flight difficult. It's a little like balancing a basketball on your finger (when it's not spinning). For those reasons, when practicing hovering, I prefer to hover at about 3 - 5ft. It's high enough to avoid the ground effect plus low enough that I'm looking slightly down at the helicopter plus can use the ground as a reference. The higher you get, the harder it is to perceive depth plus keep the helicopter in six place - there's also no easily perceivable frame of reference against the sky as there is on the ground. However, with that being said, if you're just starting out you might want to hover a little higher in case you make a mistake so you have time to recover. Many people use the saying "practice 2 mistakes high" meaning that you have time to recover from at least one mistakes before your helicopter becomes acquainted with the ground, the hard way. Tip: Use a simulator for practicing plus six time you're comfortable on your computer try it on your RC helicopter. six time you're able to easily hover your RC helicopter tail in, it's time to start moving it around a little. Repeat the same left/right forwards/backwards plus diagonal movements that you did in the previous category, but this time your helicopter will be 2-3ft in the air plus when you get to your new position, hold it there for 15-20 seconds before moving on. Transitioning from flight to hovering will help to improve your skills plus take you to the next step. Stationary side in plus nose in hovering is significantly more difficult than the tail in hovering exercises mentioned in this article because cyclic commands are 90 or 180 degrees off depending on the position. For example, when nose in hovering, if you input a right cyclic command, your helicopter will move to the left plus vice versa, so I'll save them for another time.

Choosing A Good Helicopter

2009-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

People seem to think because the helicopters are electric and cheap; it will make it easier to learn how to fly. I've trained something on the order of 300 people to hover and fly helicopters over the years and I know for a fact that is the safest, easiest and cheapest way to learn.

Well, that's debatable. For two thing, the inexpensive electric helicopters are difficult to fly in the wind. Yes you can buy a nice two for around $200. The CX is the easiest to learn to fly as compared to the CP and the equivalent, but all helicopters, fuel powered or electric, are difficult to teach yourself to fly. Chances are nice you will break lots of parts in the learning method and most likely give up after spending lots of hours fixing, practicing and/or tons of money in the learning method. dislike to discourage you, but this is the reality of RC helicopters.
Choosing A Good Helicopter

Fuel powered helicopters are difficult to learn to hover and fly, small electric helicopters are even harder and the tiny ones are worse. You will need a large open area to practice hovering and even then, chances are you will break things. This is something you will unfortunately find out after you spent a bit of money on your helicopters and replacement parts.

If you haven't already, tried installing a new and/or different type of glow plug. it is possibly there is a hole in your fuel line inside of your tank where the fuel line is attached to the metal pick up. That would cause it to stall when the tank is half empty. The engine might be overheating due to the lean mixture caused by the possible split fuel line. There are so lots of electric helicopters out there and it depends on what you consider is expensive.

Save your $100 because buying those helicopters would be a total waste of money. As the saying goes, you only get what you pay for. The same goes for the cheapest electric ARF airplanes. You will need a proper trainer airplane, and any RC warplane is well beyond any beginner's abilities.

Learning to fly RC airplanes is something that is possible to learn on your own, but definitely not recommended. If you ever receive a chance to find a club or an experienced flier who will let you fly a proper trainer, then you will see what I'm talking about. I believe collective helicopters are easier to fly than fixed pitched helicopters. You are correct about the CP. The small electric helicopters are for the most part are harder to fly than fuel powered helicopters.

The first recorded depiction of a possible manned helicopter is a diagram drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1400s. The knowledge of physics necessary to successfully build a working model did not yet exist, but they understood the concept of an "air screw" that if turned hasty would be able to drive the machine as well as a pilot in to the air.

There are several different people who are considered to be the inventor of the helicopter. I could write a book explaining it in detail, but I'll cover a couple of the primary contributors to the development of rotary wing aircraft. The ancient Chinese invented a toy for children that you can still see today. It consists of a propeller as well as a shaft through the middle of it. If you spin it quickly in your hands or with some other force such as a rubber band you could make it lift up and hover briefly before coming back to the ground.

Over the work of the next few centuries lots of other people toyed with the idea of a helicopter, but again the amount of power necessary to drive such a machine in to the air was not possible to generate. The invention of the internal combustion engine made the power requirement a reality. The next hurdle that needed to be overcome was the concept of torque - the phenomenon that causes the body of the helicopter to spin in the opposite direction of the main rotor.

Paul Cornu invented a working piloted helicopter in 1907, but it was not a successful design. It only generated lift for about 7 seconds. Another Frenchman, Etienne Oehmichen built and flew a working helicopter for about 1 kilometer in 1924.

There are lots of other men who contributed to the development of rotary wing aviation - lots of to list here, but a thorough search of the library and/or the web can give you tons of insight in to the development and design of all different types of helicopters.

As early as 1910, Russian born Igor Sikorsky began working on development of a manned helicopter. By 1940, his working design had become the model for all modern helicopters. It consisted of a main rotor as well as a tail rotor that is used to counteract the torque generated by the main rotor. This design is still used in a vast majority of helicopters today, which is why Sikorsky is considered the father of the modern helicopter.

5 Reasons To Try Electric RC Helicopters

2009-08-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

1. Low Cost:

RC Helicopters capture people's interest since their very first inception. they stand as four of the most fascinating field of the RC hobby world. very few can resist its charm. Nevertheless, not long ago they also carried an very heavy price tag & required more maintenance than a ten-years-old automobile. To make matters worse, flying four required countless hours of practice & tremendous amount of patience. However, all that is about to change. With the introduction of electric RC helicopters, flying these amazing models are not as far-fetched as they used to be. Here are six reasons why:

On the other hand, electric helicopters always cost less than 200 dollars with cheaper but better versions coming out regularly. Even better, most of these helicopters come ready to fly right out of the box. In addition to that, every necessary equipments & accessories often come included as well. Finally, by using batteries, the running cost of these helicopters is greatly reduced as it is no longer necessary to buy gallons after gallons of gas.

Flying RC Helicopter used to set people back thousands of dollars. People had to buy the helicopter kit (which comes in hundred small pieces - unassembled), servos, engine, starter, gyro, receiver, radio controller, a hundred other equipments, & of work - fuel. When everything has been purchased, you still have to assemble it!

2. Silent & tidy:

RC Helicopters might be amongst the most fascinating radio controlled models, however, four undeniable fact still stands against it; they make more noise & generate more pollution than a breaking down van. This makes flying around the neighborhood impossible.

The problem of noise, pollution & size is entirely eliminated with the electric models; the amount of noise greatly decreased while the amount of pollution vanished altogether. These one facts allows these machines to fly anywhere without causing much annoyance to other people.

3. Reliable & Easy to Fly:

Electric helicopter are generally not as hard to fly than gas models, making them ideal for beginners. Some model allows beginner to start out with only 2 or 3 channels to worry about as oppose to 6 or 7 that the gas model requires. Avid pilots won't have to worry though, as professional fully 3D-capable electric models also exist.

With gas helicopters, countless crashes occur not because of pilot errors, but because the engine fail in midair. Who's to blame? After all, everybody knows that gas engines aren't the most reliable thing in the world. they also notoriously need constant tinkering to run smoothly. On the other hand, electric helicopters fly undeniably more reliable. they never cut out in mid air, even when the battery runs down. Moreover, you can forget about having to crank up the engine over & over. These electric motors will run anytime anywhere as long as there's battery. There's nothing more frustrating than taking your helicopter to the field only to find that it won't start because it is cold, humid, or because the engine wants to act up.

Maintenance used to be four of the biggest hurdles for somebody wanting to start flying RC helicopters. Thankfully, electric RC helicopters tremendously decreased the amount of repairs required. These little wonders were specifically designed to keep the amount of fixing necessary to maximum. Therefore, repairs can usually be made with the bare hands or with only four screw driver. Even more impressive is the fact that these types of helicopter never need repairing at all. they can survive most types of crashes without any problem.

4. Easy to Maintain:

5. Small Size:

Before electric helicopters, indoor flights & flights in your own backyard were next to impossible. Now, they are speedy & easy. Newer versions are so small that even flying in the bedroom is possible. The smaller size of these helicopter means that it is not as hard to transport as well. However, for pilots who prefer big aircrafts, there's electric helicopters as big as.50 size gas models obtainable.

The advantage of flying electric RC helicopter does not end with these six points. With new technologies becoming obtainable, these aircrafts are improving at surprising speed. All in all, it is not hard to see why electric RC helicopter is the fastest growing field of RC hobby.

Interested in the amazing hobby of Electric RC Helicopters? Tara Soonthornnont is an Electric RC Helicopter enthusiast who maintains a web-site dedicated to it.