| Remote control helicopters are available in a wide | | | | move to change the stability of the helicopter so it can |
| range of sizes, from micro electric toy models that fit | | | | change direction. |
| on the palm of your hand, to large copies of the | | | | There are 2 servos connected to a swashplate |
| genuine thing, which are generally gas or liquid fuel | | | | beneath the main rotor. Any RC helicopter with cyclic |
| powered and can cost many thousands of dollars. | | | | control has a swashplate, and this in turn controls |
| Most beginners will start on an electric, or battery | | | | movement of the fly bar (that funny little thing sticking |
| powered RC helicopter. These are quiet, small, and | | | | out at right angles to the rotor blade) These servos |
| easy to start up - you just switch on and go. (Other | | | | are called the "cyclics" and both work from one |
| engine types must be primed and can be quite | | | | control. One allows forward and back movement of |
| temperamental) Electric are the safest type to start | | | | the helicopter (cyclic pitch) and the other allows |
| off with, and also the easiest to fly. | | | | side-to-side (cyclic roll) Another servo on the tail acts |
| Electric powered remote control helicopters have a | | | | as a rudder, allowing the helicopter to turn as well as |
| rechargeable battery to power the engine. Modern | | | | remain level in the air. |
| LiPo batteries are based on cell phone technology, and | | | | When a rotor turns, the body of the helicopter wants |
| have enabled a whole new branch of RC flying to | | | | to rotate the other way - this is called torque. To stop |
| take off - micro electric helicopters. | | | | this happening, radio control helicopters must have two |
| All radio control helicopters, electric or otherwise, have | | | | rotors counter-rotating to each other. On simple 3 |
| a radio transmitter which the pilot (that's you!) operates. | | | | channel craft these are located in the center, one |
| Transmitters have two or more channels, although if | | | | above the other. This type of heli is called a coaxial. |
| you want to do anything other than fly in straight lines, | | | | There is no tail rotor, although there is always a rudder |
| you will need at least three. Each of these channels | | | | of some kind. |
| tells the receiver to give a signal to another component | | | | If there is only one central rotor, there must be another |
| on the craft. | | | | mounted vertically on the tail, to counterbalance it. This |
| Evidently, the more channels a helicopter has, the more | | | | is called a tail rotor (naturally!) but is also called the |
| it can do. On a simple 3 channel RC one channel | | | | rudder. Thus, non-coaxial helicopters are always |
| controls the throttle i.e. engine power) whilst the other | | | | referred to as "single rotor." This means there is only |
| two operate "servos" - mechanical components that | | | | one rotor on the central axis. |