- A radio control, or RC, helicopter works by transmitting signals at a certain frequency. These signals tell the helicopter which way to move. Controlling an RC helicopter is a bit more complicated than your average RC vehicle, however, because of the way a helicopter flies. To lift off the ground, a helicopter requires a complex interaction of blades and rotors. When you fly an RC helicopter, your radio transmitter sends information from multiple channels at certain frequencies to the receiver. The receiver, located on the helicopter itself, interprets these signals into up or down movements, right or left turns, forward and backward tilting and leaning right or left. Most radio control helicopters also contain a gyro, which automatically controls the tail rotor for you.
- Essentially, your RC helicopter will do anything that a full-sized helicopter can do. Of course, it takes lots of training and practice to learn to control your helicopter's movement in a 3-dimensional space. For this reason, flying an RC helicopter is more challenging than simply driving a radio controlled truck. When a helicopter is not moving forward, backward, up or down, it has to hover in place. This is one of the first techniques you must master as a new pilot to keep your vehicle from crashing. After this, you must learn to combine all of the possible directional movements into a normal flight pattern. Because helicopters generate their own lift using their rotors, you will be able to change directions quickly, fly backwards or even turn upside down. Of course, mastering these maneuvers take practice.
- Electric RC helicopters are often sold in kits that contain everything you will need to fly. If you are a beginner, this is the best place for you to start. As a rule, electric helicopters that run on a rechargeable battery are less expensive than their gas powered counterparts, and have cheaper replacement parts readily available. This is an advantage when you are learning to fly, as you are likely to crash your helicopter multiple times. Gas powered models, on the other hand, are loved by seasoned flyers because they are more maneuverable than electric RC helicopters. Gas powered helicopters can complete tricks such as backwards and upside down flight, something more difficult for the electric models to accomplish. The power supply you choose depends on how you want to fly your helicopter.
