5 Steps To Piloting RC Helicopters

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!

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

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

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.

The Best Place to Find RC Electric Helicopters

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.

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

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

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

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.