Welcome to our blog! If you do any of these with RC helicopters: fly them, build them, collect them, research them, write about them, all of the above, none of the above, but you’re curious about them, this blog is for you. We’ll be sharing news, reviews, technical information, reports on events, and videos on all things related to RC helicopters. Some of us fly RC drones and planes, too; some of us like RC helis exclusively. But we all agree, there’s something special about flying helis. Of course, there’s something special about drones and planes too, but this is a heli blog, so let’s look into helis! You exercise more autonomy when flying helis than drones. Drones come with software and GPS systems that allow them to fly themselves and return to you when you press a button. RC helicopters require you to take charge of their flight. You have to keep your eyes on them and your hands on the controls. Since we in the RC helicopter world love a challenge and love to be at the controls, we love our helis! There’s also something fascinating about an aircraft whose up-down, left-right, forward-backward movements are all controlled through its main and tail rotors. By contrast, planes have wings, flaps, and a propeller for control. Planes are also more stable to fly than helis, so again, if the challenge factor matters to you, chances are you’ll go for the helis. Besides the challenge, RC helicopters bring an excellent education in aeronautics, electronics, and mechanics combined. No other RC hobby does that. And there’s nothing like the dopamine kick your brain gives you when all that learning culminates in a smoothly executed 3D flight! If you’re just starting this hobby, you may need to pick up a few basic terms to guide you when buying your first RC heli. Learn these terms, then build your RC heli vocabulary while you develop your flying skills.
Your First RC Helicopters Words
ROTOR – a hub with two or more radiating blades that rotate horizontally to provide lift. PITCH – the angle of helicopter blades. TOY-GRADE and HOBBY-GRADE – terms used to describe RC helicopters in relation to price points and, more importantly, quality and range of functions. Toy-grade helicopters are much cheaper but more limited in what they can do. If they crash and parts get damaged, you can’t replace those – the toy becomes trash. Hobby-grade helicopters are more expensive but have more functions and controls. In addition, all hobby-grade heli parts are replaceable. If a hobby-grade heli crashes, you can buy replacements for the individual components and fix your model yourself or get it serviced where you purchased it. COAXIAL, FIXED PITCH, and COLLECTIVE PITCH – categories of RC helicopters. A coaxial helicopter is made inherently stable by its two main rotors, positioned one above the other, rotating in opposite directions. It usually also has a flybar, which further contributes to its stability. To control lift, you use the throttle to adjust the rotor speed, which changes the helicopter’s height. These features make the coaxial relatively easy to fly and suitable for beginners. A fixed pitch helicopter is the next step higher in flight difficulty but is also suitable at the beginner level. It has a single main rotor, a tail rotor, and a flybar. It’s called fixed pitch because the angle of its blades cannot be changed to control the lift. Instead, you generate more or less lift the way you would with a coaxial, by using the throttle to increase or decrease rotor speed. A collective pitch helicopter is the experienced RC flier’s choice. It looks like a fixed pitch helicopter but is more complex and difficult to fly. You can change the angle of a collective pitch helicopter’s blades to generate the amount of lift you want. This mode of lift control also has a much shorter response time than the coaxial and fixed pitch helis’ throttle controls. If you’re going to do 3D (advanced aerobatics) flying, this is the right type of RC helicopter for it. Ready with your helicopter? Follow this blog and fly RC helis with us!