RC Turbine Helicopter - Should You Fly a Heli?

If you've seen someone in a park or open arearotor.
operating an RC turbine helicopter, you may haveMoving up yet another step, you must master the
wondered if the hobby is something you might like toadditional complexity of the tail rotor. This is somewhat
try. Not everyone is cut out to be an RC heli pilot, notlike operating in six dimensions at once. You operate
even those who fly real helicopters. Thesethe front rotor and the tail rotor independently. This is
radio-controlled hobby helicopters can be a lot of fun.not a hobby for people who are challenged in terms of
There are also some tips to remember before shellingeye hand coordination. You should remember that
out money to purchase one of the kits, or to buy aturbine engines operate faster than the other types of
ready-made design.RC engines.
Your first decision might be whether to build theOnce you have mastered all the physical coordination
helicopter or buy it. If you have put together hobby kitsaspects and have managed to keep the helicopter in
in the past or if you are mechanically minded, buildingthe air. There are at least two other factors that you
from a kit might be a good choice for you. Reallyshould consider before deciding on a turbine engine for
dedicated people could probably purchase or machineyour RC craft. The first is the cost. Turbine engines
the needed parts and build from scratch. Most willare significantly more expensive than nitro or gasoline
prefer getting a new or used helicopter with radioengines.
controls from a commercial source.When you choose to purchase a turbine engine
If you have experience with operating aradio-controlled helicopter, you will need to keep safety
radio-controlled toy, it may help to decide whether ormeasures in mind. You will need to understand use the
not you want to move up to an RC helicopter. Therefail safe settings that are part of operating the
are grades of difficulty in radio-control operations. Toyshelicopter. Don't operate the unit with the fail safe in
are the simplest and the least expensive. You shouldhold mode. You should program the fail safe setting to
plan on trying out the toys before forking out the cashshut the engine off. Fire danger is higher with the
to move up to a larger and more complicated hobbyturbine engine than with other RC units that use
grade.gasoline or nitro.
Radio control airplanes are more complicated thanIf you are over-estimating your ability to handle an RC
operating a toy car with radio controls. With anturbine helicopter you should stick with a less
airplane, you have to think in three dimensions.complicated hobby. The turbines are often larger and
Helicopters are even more complicated. When flying aheavier. The cost is significantly larger and they are
single rotor heli, you have to think about threemuch harder to fly.
dimensions, but you also must consider the tilt of the