RC helicopters are usually thought of as children’s toys when in fact adults enjoy flying them as much as kids do. Radio controlled helicopters are pretty much like RC airplanes with a few critical differences. Both are model aircrafts though each is distinct from the other. These model helicopters vary by design and construction.
Types of RC Helicopters
You can classify these model aircraft by their power source. The first type is called the electric helicopter. As you might have guessed, these are battery powered. The more expensive types are powered by Lithium Polymer cells while the cheaper helicopters are powered by Nickel-Metal Hydride cells.
The next type is called the nitro helicopter. Gathering from the name, this type of helicopter is powered by nitromethane and methanol liquid fuel. These kinds of helicopters usually sound off very loud as they fly. Refilling the tanks is relatively easy and the fuel is considerably cheap compared to battery packs.
Petrol powered helicopters are outfitted with a gas turbine or petrol engine. These machines are usually used by specialists almost exclusively.
Classification by Design
You can classify RC helicopters by how they are designed. The first design or classification of these radio controlled helicopters is called the toy helicopter. These models work well if you just want to experience flying model helicopters but not to master flying skills. You won’t have complete directional control when flying this model aircraft. However, parts aren’t hard to find in case you crash them.
Coaxial helicopters, sometimes shortened to “co-ax” are a step higher from toy helicopters. They are self stabilizing and are considerably easy to fly. The name basically refers to the two rotors mounted on top rotating in opposite directions. They are powered by electricity and are great for learning the basics on how to fly model helicopters and eventually mastering necessary skills.
Fixed pitch helicopters have one main rotor and a tail rotor that is comparably smaller than the main one. As you gain experience flying co-ax helicopters you can this type to further enhance your flying skills. Fixed pitched helicopters are great for indoor flying but can only be flown outside when there is a light breeze.
Collective pitch helicopters have a rotor that has an ideally constant speed. This model has better control response, can fly inverted, and auto rotate. The only drawback is that collective pitch helicopters are more expensive, more fragile, and have a complicated mechanical design.
Both electric and nitro collective pitch helicopters are extremely dangerous and should never be flown over public areas. It is recommended that they be flown over a dedicated flying area or indoors. However, only the smaller models can be flown indoors pretty well. The electric powered ones weigh at 1 pound while the nitro powered models can be as heavy as three kilograms.
Helicopter Sizes
Flying enthusiasts have given names to various sizes of RC helicopters. Sub micro helicopters weigh less than 100 grams and have rotors less than 20 centimeters in diameter. Micro helicopters weigh less than 500 grams with a rotor diameter of less than 50cm. Miniature helicopters weigh less than one kilogram and have a rotor diameter of less than 80 centimeters.
Small helicopters weigh around or less than two kilos and have a rotor diameter of less than 100 centimeters. Normal sized helicopters weigh a bit less than four kilograms and have a rotor diameter of 150 centimeters. What people call large helicopters weigh around six kilos and have a rotor diameter of 200 centimeters. The insanely larger ones are those that have 2-stroke petrol engines and gas turbines.
Major Parts of an RC Helicopter
Radio controlled helicopters have a lot of parts that will require a bit of a while to learn. However, the main parts that everyone should know include the following:
Landing Gear: The base of the machine for take of and landing.
Boom Stays: These strengthen your tail boom.
Tail Boom: This refers to the part where the tail rotor assembly mounts to.
Canopy: This makes your helicopter easier to see and naturally cleans the gubbins.
Blade: This is the rotating blades on top that makes your machine to fly.
Anti-Rotation Bracket: This keeps the helicopter’s swash plate straight.
Tail Belt: This part transfers the power to the tail rotor.
Swash Plate: Controls the flybar and the main rotor blades.
Main Mast: This part connects the main rotor to the body of the helicopter.
Tail Rotor: This part provides both anti-torque control and direction.
Main Rotor: Gives the main lift power to your machine.
Main Controls
You should expect that the more powerful RC helicopters will be harder to fly. One fundamental skill is to learn the main controls. A more complex but more powerful radio controlled helicopter will have more options than the main controls you’ll find below.
Throttle: This regulates the amount of power that the main engine generates.
Anti-Torque Control: This acts as a rudder to your RC helicopter and dictates direction.
Collective Pitch: This part is for vertical movement.
Cyclic Pitch: This part of the main controls allows horizontal movement to the side, forward, and back.
Other Important Skills
It is obvious that you shouldn’t only learn to fly a radio controlled helicopter. You should also learn how to maintain and repair your RC helicopter especially when you crash them. Another important skill is to know how to set up your helicopter for its very first flight. You should also know where to find parts in case there are some that need replacing. As you gain experience you will become acquainted with helicopter jargon and the popular brands in this exciting hobby.h