How to Buy Your First RC Helicopter?

There was a time not that long ago when RC Helicopters were an indulgence reserved for RC experts. They were big, complicated, expensive and extremely difficult to fly. The good news is that these days, RC helicopters have exploded in popularity and thus, there are hundreds of quality copters to choose from and they have evolved into inexpensive, durable and easy to fly machines, even for beginners on a modest budget!

If you are considering joining the ranks of other heli pilots and buying your first RC Helicopter, there are some important things to know to before you lay down your hard earned money. This introduction will help you make an informed decision and get you out there flying.

Power Source – RC helicopters are powered in two ways, Fuel or Batteries. Like a real helicopter, fuel powered RC units have combustion engines and use a traditional fuel such as methanol or nitro-methane. This gives them a tremendous amount of power and range and virtually no height limitation. However, they are noisy and there are added safety considerations when using any kind of flammable fuel.

 Battery powered RC helicopters in contrast, take advantage of the recent advancements in lithium battery power to create low cost power systems for RC products. These high tech lithium polymer batteries deliver up to 10 minutes or more of flight time and create a cheaper and safer alternative to fuel powered systems.

Size – If you have looked at RC gear lately, you will know that helicopters come in all shapes and sizes from something that will fit in your pocket to rigs that are large enough to carry DSLR camera and video arrays. To a large degree, the size of the helicopter you choose will depend on what you want to use it for. If you want something strictly for indoor entertainment or something to carry with you, a smaller heli or even a pocket-sized will be preferred while aerial photography or flying outdoors in windy conditions will require a much larger and more powerful unit.

Pitch Method – determines the way that the rotor blades on a heli affect and control its movements. The two choices are collective-pitch and fixed-pitch. Most entry level helis use a fixed pitch rotor. The angle on these rotors does not change angle to facilitate ascent and descent and instead engine speed must be adjusted to raise or lower the heli. Fixed-pitch rotors are easier to control but they are less responsive than collective-pitch models which instead can adjust rotor angle for more responsiveness, less control lag time and a wider range of maneuvers.

The downside is that they are more difficult to control and more suited to experienced users.

Durability – The construction of your first RC Helicopter is important. After all, you may find yourself in a few crashes while gaining flying experience. Plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber and aluminum are common materials for RC helicopter construction. These lightweight materials are great for flying but make certain trade-offs in durability. Beginners should stick with inexpensive yet durable materials such as aluminum and hard plastic as it makes the best combination of weight to strength for new flyers who will inevitably experience a few crashes. Also make sure that replacement rotors and other parts are available for your heli.

Channels – RC helicopters use radio signals to control flight movements and each movement requires a different signal. Basic helis use 2 channels, one for speed and one for turning which results in a simple control scheme but only basic flight maneuvers. Adding channels allows for more maneuvers but more difficult control. 3 channel helis add forward and reverse controls. 2 and 3 channel helis are great for children and casual indoor flyers but users may quickly outgrow them. On the other end of the spectrum, 6 channel helis offer the greatest control and capability including even inverted flight in some cases, but require more experience to fly. 4 channel helis strike the best balance between maneuverability and ease of use and are a recommended choice for most hobbyists when buying their first RC Helicopter. 4 channels allows for precision movement forward, backward, left, right, up and down, as well as banking control.

RC helicopters are a fantastic hobby for people of all ages and a great way to introduce science and physics to children in a fun and exciting way. Although RC helicopters are available from local hobby shops and some large retail stores, the largest selections and best prices are made by comparing and shopping online. For more information and to browse through hundreds of options when buying your first RC Helicopter, check out the selections at Newfrog.com. Here you will find everything you need to get your hands on the latest RC gear and get yourself in the sky today!