How To Fly A RC Helicopter p.2

* Please note this guide is aimed at the absolute beginner and covers the basic skills required to operate a two, three and four channel helicopters safely. This guide does not replace the manufacturers instruction manual of your product which must be read before any operation of your radio controlled helicopter is attempted.

A radio controlled helicopter can take off and land vertically as well as fly in any direction (including backwards). Due to there unique design it is possible for a radio controlled helicopter to hover in the air above a given place. The power for a helicopters flight is generated by it's rotor blades. When the helicopters rotors are spinning it appears dissimilar to an aeroplane. However, a radio controlled helicopter achieves it's flight in an identical fashion. Each rotor blade has an airfoil shape just like the wings of an aeroplane. As the rotors turn and gain speed, the air flow increases over the surface area (top) of the blades faster than it does below. This creates a lifting force which allows the helicopter to rise.

Choosing A radio controlled helicopter

Flying radio controlled helicopters is often considered the hardest RC skill to master. At RC Control Freak we have made this skill easier to acquire by offering a selection of radio controlled helicopters which design and controls focus on stable flight. We will never sell radio controlled helicopters which require advanced skill or assembly to operate. With this in mind your first choice when purchasing should be choosing a helicopter which suits your environment i.e. indoor / outdoor use. Next you should decide on your expectations of the helicopter and its performance.

Two Channel Radio Controlled Helicopters - The simplest helicopters to fly are the two channel radio controlled helicopters. These are a great introduction to radio controlled flight and allow those who want master the basic skills such as hovering, take off and landing with an inexpensive entry level option. Two channel radio controlled helicopter kits allow two functions to be controlled; these are throttle speed (height control, via an increase or decrease in main motor speed) and the rotational left / right movement ( yaw control, by speeding up or slowing down the tail rotor). It is possible to achieve forward flight with a two channel helicopter by weighting the nose with either tape, blue tack or modelling clay. The extra weight causes the helicopter to pitch forward during flight which is normally achieved by a third or fourth channel.

Three Channel Radio Controlled Helicopters - A three channel radio controlled helicopter kit allows three controllable functions. These are the same two controllable functions as with the two channel radio controlled helicopters plus a third channel to allow forward and reverse movement. Our specific range of three channel radio controlled helicopters provide full 3D flight which is the term given for combining two different functions i.e. Moving forward and left at the same time.

Four Channel Radio Controlled Helicopters - A four channel radio controlled helicopter shares the same functions as a two channel radio controlled helicopter. Throttle control (height control, via an increase or decrease in main motor speed) and rotational left / right movement ( yaw control, by speeding up or slowing down the tail rotor). In addition to this a four channel radio controlled helicopter move forwards and backwards (commonly known as pitch) as well as banking left and right (commonly known as roll). This task in undertaken by the cyclic control system. The system consists of servos, a swashplate, flybar paddles and the main rotor blades. The servos are connected to the lower swashplate ring. The upper swash plate is connected to the flybar paddles. When a signal is sent and the servo moves, the swashplate tilts and the control input is fed by the pushrods up into the main rotor system.The swashplate is connected to the flybar and the angle of the paddles is altered as a result. The easiest way to imagine this is to think of the helicopter as a flying disc. The paddles and blades together actually resemble a disc in fight. The cyclic controls are responsible for steering the helicopter by tilting the disc in fight. The disc can be tilted forwards / backwards or left/right. For example, by pushing the cyclic stick forward in flight , the disc is tilted forwards and the nose of the helicopter drops. The cyclic control system can move the disc forwards, backwards, left or right and hence direct the helicopter in a very precise way. Two servos are responsible for cyclic control (channel three and four) one servos for roll control (left and right) and one for forwards and backwards control.

Radio controlled helicopter pre-flight checks

Before flying make sure you choose an area which is suitable. If this is your first flight choose an open area away from obstructions and furniture. Choosing the largest area possible will give you the greater chance to correct any mistakes if things go wrong. If you have purchased an indoor helicopter make sure that this is flown inside only. These types of helicopter are very lightweight making them very sensitive to air currents. You must be very careful to fly only where the air is calm - keep away from fans, air vents or any other sources of moving air.

The most important pre-fight check is to ensure that the throttle on the transmitter is at down position (its lowest position). If the helicopter is turned on when the helicopter throttle is not in this position the blades will spin and the helicopter will fly upwards. It is a common function on transmitters to have a safety feature to avoid this happening but it is a good habit worth practising.

Flying radio controlled helicopters - Getting started

Place the helicopter on the ground with the tail pointing towards you and the nose facing away from you. It's always good practise to begin flights with the helicopter facing away from you as it is a natural orientation which will make it easier for you to steer. Reset the throttle stick by moving the throttle stick down, and then smoothly move the throttle stick up - the main rotors will start spinning. The further forward you move the stick, the faster the rotor blades will spin. Usually just the past halfway point the helicopter will lift off. To gain altitude continue to advance the throttle stick forward, to descend slowly move the stick backwards. First flights should be small bunny hops only. Proceed with this style of flight until you can hover the helicopter perfectly. It is common when taking off to give a small amount of rudder input (yaw) to counteract the helicopters natrual rotation and prevent it from spinning on takeoff. Ensure the helicopter is trimmed (explained later on) before attempting forward flight.

How to fly a radio controlled helicopter forward in flight

To make the helicopter fly forward or backwards move the right hand stick forward or backward respectively. Before attempting forward flight make sure you are able to hover the radio controlled helicopter without it spinning. Any forward movements on the transmitter controls must be gentle and smooth so you can allow yourself to get used to how the helicopter responds to this.

Trimming a radio controlled helicopter

The transmitters provided with radio controlled helicopters have trim levers. These are used to trim the helicopters functions to remove any unwanted tendencies. An example of this is the trim lever on the three channel radio controlled 9077 Eagle helicopter. This offers three trims allowing one for each channel. These are:

Bottom Right Trim: Allows the helicopter to hover without any turning tendencies. If the nose turns to the right in flight, move the trim tab to the left (and vice versa).

Left Horizontal Trim: This is used to trim the speed of the throttle stick. Set this to the bottom if this is your first flight.

Right Horizontal Trim: This controls the pitch (forward movement) of the helicopter. Set this to the middle (neutral) when you first start off. To get used to forward flight you can move this to the very top so the helicopter is moving forward constantly without any transmitter input.

* Please note your transmitter configuration may differ from above. It is important to read the manufacturers instruction manual provided before attempting to operate a radio controlled helicopter and familiarise yourself with the controls.

Radio controlled helicopter advanced flight

A good way to hone your skills once you are confident with your helicopter is to attempt completing figure of 8 shapes. This will call upon all the skills that you require to become competent with your radio controlled helicopter in flight.

Landing and spot landing a radio controlled helicopter

To cause the helicopter to descend, slowly move the throttle stick backwards. Give the helicopter a burst of power just before touchdown to slow it's descent rate and land it smoothly. Once you become confident with your radio controlled helicopter you can practise spot landings on tables or cereal boxes.

A few extra tips for radio controlled helicopters

* When taking off, do not move the throttle stick too slow. Take off is a critical time for the helicopter and if you allow the helicopter to sit for too long with the main rotors spinning, it is likely to tip over. Try to get the helicopter into the air smoothly and fairly quickly. Note that this does not mean that you should jam the throttle stick to full power. Be smooth with your power application.

* To avoid unwanted oscillation, avoid sudden control stick movements

* Always make sure your control inputs are smooth.

* When the helicopter touches the ground shut off the throttle immediately to prevent it from bouncing around and tipping over.

* Until you get used to control reversal, try to keep the helicopter orientated so that the nose is pointed away from you. If you do so, the helicopter will turn and move on the same direction that you move the transmitter stick in. Note that this is the reasons for always taking off with the helicopter pointing away from you.

* During your first few flights, try to keep the helicopter close to the ground so that you can safely chop the throttle and land it quickly (and without damage) if you become disorientated.