| RC Helicopters are becoming so popular that it | | | | Now that we know the technical difference between |
| attracts many new enthusiasts everyday. Upon getting | | | | the two pitch setups, the next question is: how does it |
| their hands on this new enjoyable hobby, many | | | | affect my flight? Quite simply, a collective pitch |
| beginners become puzzled when they know that RC | | | | helicopter is more responsive, agile, and smoother to |
| helicopters come labeled either as "fixed pitched" or | | | | fly. Nevertheless, there is a tradeoff. They are much |
| "collective pitch". For this reason, many new pilots have | | | | harder to learn, require a more complicated transmitter, |
| come to wonder what exactly the difference | | | | and cost much more than fixed pitched helicopters. |
| between the two is. | | | | They also have more moving parts, which means they |
| To understand how these two pitch setups differ, the | | | | break more easily and requires more maintenance. |
| first step is to come to know what "pitch" means. The | | | | So which one should you choose to fly? Fixed pitch or |
| "pitch" of a helicopter is the angle of the main rotor | | | | collective pitch? It all comes down to your own choice |
| blade. Generally, the measurement of this "pitch" angle | | | | and how serious you are with this hobby. A fixed pitch |
| is done relative to the horizontal plane. Helicopters | | | | helicopter has fewer moving parts, making it more ideal |
| generate lift by rotating their rotor through the air. With | | | | for beginner as it requires less maintenance. Many also |
| a fixed pitch helicopter, when the rotor spins faster, | | | | claim that a fixed pitch helicopter is easier to fly (but |
| more lift is generated and the helicopter ascends. On | | | | this claim is often challenged by avid pilots). Also, most |
| the other hand, slower rotor rotation generates less lift | | | | of the helicopters that are fixed pitch comes in an RTF |
| and the helicopter descends. For collective pitch | | | | (Ready to Fly) set, and usually includes a radio |
| helicopters, the pitch of the blade becomes another | | | | transmitter (which won't work on collective pitch |
| factor in the lift generating equation. In this setup, the lift | | | | models though). However, if you plan to stay in this |
| can also be altered by the angle (pitch) in which the | | | | hobby for a long time and fly in more demanding |
| main rotor blade is positioned. To put it another way; | | | | ways, then perhaps making a bigger investment and |
| while to rotor is rotating at a constant speed, the lift | | | | getting a collective pitch helicopter will be worth while. |
| generated can be altered by changing the pitch alone. | | | | |