Radio Control Helicopter Buying Tips
The increasing popularity of flying a radio control helicopter is due to one fact - they are great fun to fly. Naturally, due to this popularity a wide range of models are available, which can be confusing for a beginner
A beginner to this hobby is faced with the problem of which RC helicopter to begin with to gain some flying experience. Do you get a gas or electric model? Do you want to fly it inside or outside? What are channels and how many do you need? These questions need answers before you can choose a radio control helicopter, so you can see how confusing it can be for a beginner.
So first of all, what fuel should power your radio control helicopter?
Well, a beginner to RC helicopters is best advised to choose electric as the power source for the model.
You see, an electric powered radio control helicopter runs quietly, but still very fast. They also maneuver every bit as well as their gas powered brothers. Another advantage with an electric helicopter is you do not have stinky, messy fuel to deal with, or have to mess about with engine tuning and such. The fuel is a lot cheaper too!
So, an electric powered radio control helicopter is the way to go if you are a beginner in this hobby. When you have gained some flying experience, you can work your way towards a gas engine model.
Radio control airplanes have used gas engines for some time now, and recently they have become more favored in RC helicopters.
If the RC helicopter hobby takes a serious hold on you, then at some point you will want a gas engine model. You see, the serious fliers find the gas engine models ideal for action, tweeking, and flying ability. They modify their models to adjust things like rotor speed and hover times.
Now maybe you are thinking why would anyone want to modify a perfectly good model? Because the factory default specifications are set to please the majority of fliers. But experienced fliers like to fine tune their helicopter to just the way they like it, and squeeze out every flying advantage they can get from their radio control helicopter.
Next, will you be flying your helicopter inside? If so, you should get a RC micro or RC mini helicopter. These models are electric powered, so no fumes or noise. But their small size makes them harder to control than a big model. However, they are cheap - and when you are starting out you can expect to crash often, but because these models are cheap, you will have little to worry about if you break it beyond repair.
Bigger helicopter models are obviously more suited to flying outside. When flying outside, the wind is your enemy. However, a larger helicopter is easier to control in the wind, whereas a micro or mini model would not stand a chance.
And finally, what are channels and how many do you need? Well, the helicopter is radio controlled, and radio needs channels to operate. Usually, the more channels you have, then the more control you have over your helicopter. But hold on a second, you are a beginner and flying a radio control helicopter is a challenge in itself. So, keep it simple and go with a 2 or 3 channel model until you get enough flying experience.
You will soon find out that flying a radio control helicopter is just so much fun. Once you get a taste for it you will soon want a large, gas-powered, 6 channel model and spend all your free time outside flying your helicopter.
