| Leonardo da Vinci created on paper, at least with the | | | | mixing or any of the modern connivances that make |
| first helicopter, and the very first piloted helicopter was | | | | today’s Helis fly so well and easy. We even had |
| invented by Paul Cornu in 1907, however, this design | | | | to mechanically set the lead/lag of the main blades, until |
| was not successful. Another Frenchman, Etienne | | | | we just left off 2 of the 3 bolts on the main blades |
| Oehmichen built and flew a helicopter 1 kilometer in | | | | and let them seek there our lead/lag. |
| 1924. An early practical helicopter that flew for a | | | | But the RC Model helicopter matured quickly and by |
| decent distance was the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61 | | | | the ‘80’s the RC Model Helicopter could fly |
| invented by an unknown inventor. ( | | | | quite nicely, the radio manufacturers started making |
| Igor Sikorsky is considered to be the "father" of | | | | good Helicopter Radios, the Helicopters themselves |
| helicopters not because he invented the first. He is | | | | had the modern style Bell/Hiller control system, single |
| called that because he invented the first successful | | | | point Main Blade attachment for self Lead/Lag and |
| helicopter, upon which future designs were based. | | | | gyros became common place. Direct drive or belt |
| So where when did the RC model helicopter begin? | | | | drive tail rotors still were used. |
| Well I do not know who is credited with the First RC | | | | In the ‘80’s and ‘90’s the Far |
| Model Helicopter, but it was in the 70’s that the | | | | East began to create beautiful Models of all sizes. And |
| RC Helicopter revolution really began. | | | | the “Ready To Fly” models became |
| For the most part, they were all Nitro powered, using | | | | common place. The race was one and the things they |
| standard Model Airplane engines (40 and .60 size) and | | | | started doing with the RC helicopter was only limited |
| 4-6 channel airplane radios. | | | | by ones imagination. |
| Using a 4 channel radio to control the 5 functions of a | | | | I would think that this century is know as the |
| model helicopter was quit unique in it challenges and | | | | “Age of Electrics” and today you can get |
| results. What they did was used a “Y” | | | | an Electric Helicopter in any size, (small enough to fix it |
| connector for the throttle and pitch servo. Then you | | | | your hand) to 40-60 size. |
| mechanically set up the throttle and pitch curve on the | | | | And can they ever fly, they are competitive with your |
| heli. | | | | fuel choppers, only quiet and no smoke, no starting |
| In the ‘70’s there were 2 basic type of | | | | equipment needed and are fully 3D capable. |
| Helis, the teetering head, fixed pitch and soon after | | | | So if you’re flying interest lean toward the rotary |
| came the collective pitch. And just like today, some | | | | wings birds, check out the new electrics. They make |
| had direct drive tail rotors systems while other went | | | | then so simple today that you can buy one, open the |
| with belt drive. | | | | box, and charge the batteries and fly, even if you have |
| The first of these Heli’s where hard to fly, had | | | | never flown before! |
| very poor control and lacked any tail gyros, radio | | | | |