How to Fly a Remote-Controlled Helicopter
Buying the right remote-controlled helicopter is the first step. Purchase one from a local hobby store in case you have questions or need replacement parts. Ordering a helicopter online can be problematic. Companies come and go and can leave you stranded without parts or support. For your first helicopter, buy a hobby-grade one with four channels: A throttle that controls up and down motion; a yaw for making flat turns; a cyclic for right and left motion; and another cyclic to control forward and back motion.
Instructions
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How to Fly a Remote-Controlled Helicopter
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Learn from a pro. Flying an RC helicopter is much more difficult than it looks. Ask a hobby shop for names of helpful, experienced people who can provide advice and help you with hands-on experience.
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Study safety rules before you get started. Find an open area to practice so you don't hurt someone or crash your helicopter into a standing object such as a building.
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Read the helicopter manufacturer's instructions.
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Turn on your radio. Plug in the battery. Wait 10 seconds or more. Use the throttle to lift the helicopter off the ground. Hover it about three feet up. If it's much lower than that, ground turbulence will make your helicopter unstable.
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Practice your four channels, one at a time. Start with throttle control, which can take several tries to master. Then try the cyclic channels to move the helicopter around. Finally, use the yaw control for turning.
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Tips & Warnings
Fly the helicopter with the tail toward you until you get the hang of things. Flying it with the tail toward makes it easier to turn the helicopter in the direction you desire.
