| Flying your own radio controlled helicopter is possibly | | | | read and fully understood the instruction leaflet It's |
| the most exciting rc hobby you can have. Anyone can | | | | human nature to want to get your new rc helicopter |
| easily learn to manoeuvre a remote control car or | | | | out of its box and start flying just as fast as you can |
| truck, or even master the more trickier skill of flying a | | | | but curb your enthusiasm! Helicopters are widely |
| radio controlled plane but a helicopter is top of the pile. | | | | considered to be the most rewarding of all rc models |
| For a hobby that's high on skills and high on thrills, radio | | | | to master but they are also the most complex and |
| controlled helicopters beat the lot. | | | | difficult to control successfully. Just because they are |
| But because of the complexity of its complete 3D | | | | models, they are no less sophisticated and intricate |
| manoeuvrability, it takes a rather special sort of person | | | | that their full-sized counterparts and that makes your |
| to truly become a first-class, rc helicopter flyer. So if | | | | task all the more challenging. Take the time to |
| you are just starting out in this exhilarating and | | | | familiarize yourself with your model's working parts, |
| extremely rewarding hobby, how can you ensure that | | | | their function and interaction with each other. |
| you make the best choices right from the outset and | | | | Thoroughly understand how the controls work and |
| avoid ending up with a radio controlled helicopter that | | | | make sure that you have performed all the pre-flight |
| cost you an arm and a leg and proves to be far too | | | | checks and adjustments necessary for a successful |
| complex for a newbie flyer to master? | | | | flight - a loose screw can cause more trouble than |
| | | | you would ever credit! |
| 1. Don't try to run before you can walk - or rather, don't | | | | 3. Don't dismiss the simulator software as just a game |
| try and skip the learning curve and start out with a | | | | Many kits come with simulator software included and |
| more complex model than you can handle One of the | | | | this will be your most important tool to help you gain |
| biggest mistakes that will mark you out as a novice is | | | | 'damage-free' experience. And anything that will help |
| not starting with a basic rc helicopter and really getting | | | | reduce the number of real-life crashes for your model |
| to grips with its controls before moving on up to a | | | | has got to be a good thing. Simulator software is there |
| more sophisticated model. The first choice facing you | | | | to help you gain consequence-free experience of your |
| will be whether to go for an electric radio controlled | | | | new rc helicopter, not just to be an entertainment |
| helicopter or whether to opt for a gas powered model. | | | | when it's pouring down with rain and too wet to fly! |
| Electric models are best as they are more easily | | | | Understand this; you will crash your rc helicopter many |
| mastered but you will find that they fall into different | | | | times before acquiring gold medal standard flying skills |
| channel groups: 2 channel, 3 channel, 4 channel and 6 | | | | and it is inevitable that you will damage your radio |
| channel models. A 2 channel model is the one you | | | | controlled helicopter on many occasions. So, anything |
| should start with as its maneuverability is the most | | | | that you can do to reduce the amount of expense |
| straightforward and simple to master. 2 channel | | | | and repair time for your model will be to your |
| operation will enable you to swiftly learn the basics of | | | | advantage. |
| flying your radio controlled helicopter up and down, to | | | | When you are starting out on your new hobby, if you |
| the left and right and hovering. Later on, once you | | | | bear in mind the three important factors outlined above, |
| have gained the necessary skill and experience, you'll | | | | you will soon be well on your way towards enjoying |
| find that the greater number of channels a model has, | | | | many years of fun and excitement, expertly flying your |
| the wider the range of moves it will be able to | | | | radio controlled helicopters and performing the most |
| execute. | | | | complex of aerial acrobatics - all to the amazement of |
| 2. Don't even consider leaving home before you've | | | | friends and fellow flyers alike. |