| After you have mastered the skills of flying an RC | | | | stop spinning on the ground. They have to be trimmed |
| airplane, and you still feel the need for an even greater | | | | at eye level(in the air). This is another good reason to |
| adrenalin rush, you may want to consider the RC | | | | have an instructor. Also, you will need to have training |
| helicopter next. If you do, then here are some very | | | | gear installed on your skids. This gear is the sticks in |
| important pointers to keep you from becoming | | | | the shape of an "X", most of the time with brightly |
| discouraged with the complexity of helicopter flight, and | | | | painted foam or plastic balls on the tips. This training |
| some recommendations that will keep the hobby from | | | | gear is like training wheels on a bicycle, to keep your |
| blowing a hole in your wallet. | | | | helicopter from tipping over so easily when close to |
| Before you get started and even before you | | | | the ground. |
| purchase your first RC helicopter, you will find that it is | | | | When learning to hover, keep the nose pointed away |
| very important to learn everything you possibly can | | | | from you, and practice at eye level. Never watch the |
| about how the helicopter works. What mechanisms | | | | tail rotor, watch the nose. Staying oriented relies on |
| surrounding the main rotor cause it to go forward, | | | | you concentrating on the position of the nose, because |
| backward, left and right. What makes the helicopter | | | | moving the rudder stick to the right causes the |
| body spin clockwise or counterclockwise? What | | | | helicopter nose to go right (clockwise). |
| happens when the main rotor blade pitch changes? | | | | Never fly away until you learn how to hover. Get the |
| Then, once you understand these characteristics, you | | | | art of hovering perfected before you attempt lateral or |
| will have removed a few crashes from your future. | | | | forward movement. Compared to an airplane, the |
| Keep in mind that once you commit to RC helicopter | | | | helicopter ailerons, rudder, and elevator movement are |
| flying, you will not settle with just one craft, so you | | | | basically the same during normal forward flight, |
| may as well start simple with a 4-channel model | | | | however, the helicopter behaves different than an |
| having counter rotating main blades and an artificial, | | | | airplane in that you additionally experience "slide". When |
| nonworking or nonexisting tail rotor. Even then, you will | | | | making turns with a helicopter, you must keep the nose |
| save yourself numerous crashes by learning on an RC | | | | down, otherwise it will slide out of the turn, disorient you |
| flight simulator that connects an RC radio-type device | | | | and crash. The transmitter is your helicopter cockpit, so |
| to your computer. (The most common brands are | | | | you can re-orient yourself by pointing the transmitter |
| Airfly Pro Deluxe, RealFlight, and ClearView). With a | | | | antenna in the same direction as the helicopter nose. |
| simple craft or a simulator, you will be able to train | | | | However, never fly behind you; always keep the |
| yourself to stay oriented. Staying "oriented" with the | | | | helicopter in front of you unless you are getting |
| helicopter is one of the most challenging aspects of | | | | yourself re-oriented. |
| learning this type of flying vehicle. | | | | Always use both the index finger and the thumb on |
| One thing is for sure, when you start flying the real | | | | the left stick of the radio. On the right-hand control |
| thing, you are going to crash, so don't blame the | | | | stick, just a thumb is ok if you are comfortable with it. |
| manufacturer for your crash. Helicopters are mostly | | | | Slight movements of the control sticks cause drastic |
| beyond the flying skills of 96% of people in this hobby, | | | | movements with the helicopter and keeping two |
| so accepting the facts of your future may save you | | | | fingers on the left stick will help you avoid quick stick |
| some anger and heartache. Some folks crash a few | | | | movements. |
| times and give up, but it takes a lot of practice. Did I | | | | Don't let people watch you when you are learning to |
| say "a lot of practice"? Well here it is again if I did, it | | | | fly the helicopter. You need to have full concentration |
| takes a lot of practice! | | | | on the helicopter at all times without folks trying to talk |
| Like I said, learn on a simple helicopter. Don't even think | | | | you into doing a maneuver that you are not |
| about adding accessories and upgrades to your | | | | comfortable with. |
| helicopter unless you are advancing in your skills and | | | | Never drop the throttle stick or let it spring back for the |
| are able to fly for a reasonable amount of time and | | | | landing (or any other time for that matter) because the |
| number of times without crashing. The accessories | | | | rotors will spring down and hit the tail boom and break |
| and upgrades WILL NOT cause the novice to fly | | | | it. Always land gently. Never use quick movements on |
| better because its takes skill and practice. Generally, an | | | | the controls, every move needs to be slow and stable. |
| RC helicopter is fairly easy to fly as long as you can | | | | Always remember your last move on the controls, |
| see it and stay oriented. Plus, you have to understand | | | | because you will get lost at some point and need to |
| how the control sticks on the radio affect the | | | | reverse your last move until you see your helicopter |
| movement of the helicopter. | | | | again or become oriented again. Always keep the |
| Get an instructor. Beginners can't tell if a certain | | | | helicopter within a comfortable viewing distance, not |
| problem is with you or the helicopter like an instructor | | | | too far to see, and not so close that you risk hitting |
| can. It is highly likely that there is an RC flying club | | | | something. |
| nearby, and experienced helicopter flyers are very | | | | Finally, when you crash (and you will), throttle off |
| happy to lend you a hand. So, do some asking around | | | | immediately to save the motor and the rotor shaft. |
| before you go off alone to tackle RC helicopter flying. | | | | Other broken parts cost less to replace than the |
| When it comes to actually flying, don't try to trim | | | | motor and the rotor shaft. |
| Electric Tail Rotor Motor(ETRM) helicopters to make it | | | | |