Thursday, July 1

Choosing a Remote Controlled Helicopter That's Easy to Fly!

Whether you call them remote controlled helicopters or radio controlled helicopters children all around are eager to fly one as well as adults. With the advancement's in electronic, and mechanical components these RC's can take to new heights making them the ultimate toy to own. These flying machines give new meaning to the word taking control as they hurdle through the sky with ease. The best thing about this hobby is that anyone can fly no matter what your flight skills are like.
Some people like to start building their RC helis from scratch making this method the most difficult and yet most rewarding way to fly a RC. Most beginners will start with a micro or a coaxial RC helicopter preferably a micro because of there size. But I would recommend a coaxial RC helicopter because of there flying stability. Nevertheless a beginner should be cautious of the heli they are going to pilot as there are many types of flyer's out there that are not meant for anyone who has never flown before. With that being said here are a few tips to follow when looking to pilot a RC heli for the first time.
A micro RC helicopter would probably be a good idea for beginner but the realty is that most micro sized helis have a single rotor which is a little more tougher to fly, although they are very durable and can take a hit. If your looking to get a micro RC heli look for one that's easy to fly or has a set of co-axial rotors. Co-axial RC helicopters are easy to fly because they use two rotors, one on top of the other, each spinning in opposite directions which cancels the torque between them. This design allows the heli to become a smother fly-er and easier to control. Another thing to look for if you are a total beginner is to stay away from remote controlled helicopters that are ARF (almost ready to fly) as these helis are pre-assembled and require you to finish and make proper adjustment's to the heli.
A RTF (ready to fly) heli would be more suitable for a beginner as most of them can be flown straight out of the box. Another thing to look for is to make sure your heli has no more than 3 or 4 channels. More channels means more functions which means you will have to learn more about flying your heli. Any good RC should have 3 Channels or more as a RC heli with 2 channels will only allow you to move up or down and turn left or right. But a 2ch micro might be perfect for a beginner as it doesn't have that many functions to control. A 3rd channel will allow you to move your heli forward and backward. And a 4th channel will allow your heli to roll or bank left and right. The more channels your heli has the more maneuverability your heli will have. The 9060 overlord double co-axial helicopter is a great example of a RTF 3 channel giving 4-way directional control that is very durable and very easy for beginners to handle.
When choosing a RC helicopter it is important not to pick one that you can't handle. Stick with the basics and keep in mind what your budget is as well as how much spare parts are. Some RC helicopters come with spare parts, these are good in case you have to change a blade if you crash. There are a few things you can do to avoid crashes which can cost you, first is to practice on a RC helicopter simulator. A simulator will help you gain better flight skills and build more confidence. Second you can attach a crash kit, this kit will allow your RC helicopter to take a harder crash if it happens as it protects your helis landings, but it's not completely fool proof.
A third option is to practice with your heli if you feel confident enough, take it easy if its your first time and don't start doing any tricks right away. Get comfortable with the control and get a feel for how the heli handles. Lightly press on the throttle until you have mastered hovering. Then practice short distance landings, don't fly above 3 to 4 feet of the ground, stay as low as possible until you've got the hang of it. Just keep it easy in the beginning and be patient as this can take you several try's before you get it right. Remember to get a heli that you can handle and make sure you practice before you take your remote controlled helicopters out for show to let everyone know that you have become master pilot.

1 comments:

Anna D. Dam said...

Very good post, contains very useful information, my first RC RC helicopter was broken by me