RC Helicopters Up In The Air
The Challenge Of RC Helicopters

Radio controlled (RC) helicopters have have become extremely popular with dedicated RC flyers. Standing on the ground, holding an RC transmitter, you can make the RC helicopter fly high in the skies and execute intricate maneuvers, not only for your pleasure alone, but for the observers, who watch with envy at your skills and RC helicopter.

In addition to being a great source of enjoyment for the hobbyist, RC helicopters can be put to serious uses, such as aerial photography, filming and distant inspection and observation for both civil and military purposes.

RC helicopters are usually made of the old standby, balsa wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum or fiberglass. They are available in a wide variety of designs, including scale models of of the real machine. With his hand-held transmitter, the RC pilot can send instructions to a receiver in the helicopter. Some of the more expensive models with advanced transmitters and receivers can control the throttle of the main engine, variable pitch of the propeller, cyclic controls for pitch and roll and the tail rotor for yaw. With this degree of control, the aerobatic capabilities of the RC helicopter are limitless, and include all of the maneuvering traits of an actual helicopter.

There are several different types of RC helicopters available. They are:
Nitro (internal combustion engine), electric, gas turbine and gasoline.

Gas turbine and electric helicopters are developing new capabilities and becoming more popular. The nitro engine powered helicopters are more commonly seen today.

Learning to fly this versatile machine is not difficult but does require some degree of concentration. Flight simulator software as it exists today can teach a beginning pilot what he needs to know without risking damage to his RC helicopter. This includes the operational maneuvers.

To get started with flying RC helicopters, you will need the following items:

Helicopter kit
Radio system, including a transmitter, receiver, servos and battery
Gyro or equipment to control the tail plane of the helicopter
Engine
Fuel
Exhaust
Supporting equipment for the helicopter
Tools for repair and tuning as hex drivers, pitch gauge, a
glow plug wrench, ball link pliers and set of screwdrivers.

Competitions for the other types of model RC plane flying are held in different parts of the world, which include several categories of RC helicopter events. These events are quite popular and attract a large number of competitors. Two of the more renowned competitions on the international aero modelling competition scenario, are the 3D Masters that are held every year at Northampton University in England. This competition showcases the best of RC helicopters from around the world. Another competition is organized by The Flying Giants Community, Triple Tree, South Carolina, USA.

The world of RC helicopters gives you the thrill of making your machine hover at a height, then climb high and move in any direction, you desire. You do not require a runway to fly helicopters as you do with a fixed wing aircraft. A small piece of ground large enough to takeoff and land will do.

The world of RC helicopter flying is thrilling and most enjoyable. Come join us, but beware, you may get hooked!