| All radio controlled helicopter enthusiasts will tell you | | | | tail servo. |
| that flying RC helicopters is the most exciting and | | | | So, as each movable element on an RC helicopter |
| thrilling of all RC models. Cars, trucks, tanks, boats and | | | | requires its own servo, you will also need an extra |
| robots are all limited to forward/backward and left/right | | | | channel for each one. By increasing your ability to |
| movement but radio controlled helicopters can have full | | | | fine-tune the interaction of each servo via the channel |
| technicolor, surround-sound,3D maneuverability. The | | | | controls on your handset, you will be able to produce |
| only limitation to your exhilaration and flying pleasure is | | | | an increasingly wide range of aerial movements for |
| your skill, the space available and the sophistication of | | | | your radio controlled helicopter. |
| your RC helicopter model. | | | | So here's a basic list of the differences between the |
| So what is it exactly that enables your heli to perform | | | | numbers of channels on a radio controlled helicopter: |
| complex aerial acrobatics? | | | | - 2 Channels provide you with the ability to control two |
| In short, it's the number of channels that can be | | | | servo mechanisms, giving you the ability to control |
| controlled by you - the more you have, the greater the | | | | movement up and down (rotor blade speed) & |
| maneuverability of your RC helicopter. | | | | left and right, (rear rotor, directional controls). |
| But don't be fooled into thinking that more is better. | | | | - 3 channels give you the two movement controls, |
| Flying a model helicopter is every bit as complicated | | | | above, but with the additional control of moving |
| and skillful as the flying the real thing. Just because | | | | backwards and forwards (cyclic control). |
| your heli is smaller in scale doesn't mean that the laws | | | | - 4 channels give control over the throttle, elevator, |
| of aerodynamics change! To achieve successful flight, | | | | aileron, rudder, improving on the maneuverability of the |
| all criteria remain the same. However, flying a model | | | | above, fixed pitch controls. |
| does have the advantage of being able to start with a | | | | - 5 channels are rarely found, giving way to the more |
| basic set of controls and work your way upward to | | | | common 6 channel model. These additional channels |
| the Full Monty and this is achieved by mastering an | | | | give skilled flyers the ability to perform true, 3D aerial |
| increasing number of channels. | | | | movements by adding collective pitch and gyro gain |
| But first, you will need to understand that each channel | | | | control into the mix. |
| controls a separate servo mechanism in your model. | | | | It can all get very complicated! |
| And for those of us who find it helpful to understand | | | | So which is the best choice for you? Well, if you are |
| how a thing works, it's useful to know that a servo is a | | | | just starting out with radio controlled helicopters, stick |
| mechanical device that controls the movement of an | | | | to the 2 channel models at first. Learn to master the |
| element by 'pushing' it with a lever. You can control the | | | | basic movements first before progressing through the |
| degree of 'push' this lever exerts on a servo from the | | | | ranks, right up to the impressive but challenging 6 |
| controls on your transmitter handset. The greater the | | | | channel models. Whatever you decide, have fun with |
| servo's 'push' the bigger the resulting movement of the | | | | your RC helicopter, fly safely and enjoy improving your |
| element it is acting on. So, to move the angle of the tail | | | | flying skills! |
| rotor, for example, you need a channel to control the | | | | |