Working of an RC Helicopter :
Controls
Many remote control vehicles are relatively easy to work with. That is because there is a limited number of directions in which they can fly. Helicopters, on the other hand, have 6 different directions in which they can manuever: up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. As a result, flying an RC helicopter can be particularly difficult. For most remote control helicopters, the operator can control the throttle, the pitch and roll (which helps control side-to-side movements) and the tail rotor (which controls forward and backward motion).
Types of Engines
There are two main types of engines for a remote controlled helicopter. The most commonly used is the nitro power engine. These engines use a combination of nitromethane and methanol as a fuel source for their combustion. The larger the engine, the bigger the rotor–and thus the larger the aircraft itself–can be. More recently, electrical engines have risen in popularity. Advances in batteries are allowing electrically powered engines that have the ability for longer flight times. While in the past electrical engines were restricted to indoor aircraft, these motors are now powerful enough for larger outdoor helicopters as well. Electrical engines are often favored because they are much quieter than nitro engines.
Radio Controls
Many smaller helicopters have a fixed pitch, meaning that their forward angle can’t be changed. In these cases, the controls only need 4 channels to control the aircraft. For helicopters that can tilt up and down, 5 or 6 channels of information may be necessary. There are also two different ways in which the radio signals can be sent out, although their actual mechanism doesn’t differ significantly between the two methods. Regardless, all radio control helicopters have controls that send a signal through the air at different frequencies that control the operation of the different motors.
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Balancing RC Helicopters
Learning to control RC (radio-controlled) helicopters poses the greatest challenge for beginners. Because the radio controls used to operate an RC helicopter are virtually identical to the ones used to control a real helicopter, considerable practice is required in order to learn to balance RC helicopters properly when hovering.
Warning :
Get advice from people who already know how to balance RC helicopters. Helifever.com (see Resources below) is a comprehensive source of information, where you can also connect to other RC helicopter enthusiasts in blogging forums to ask questions and get advice.
Avoid contact with spinning RC helicopter blades at all times. They spin quickly enough to cause serious injury.
Never fly an RC helicopter indoors. Always take it outside, and keep away from overhead hazards such as telephone wires.
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Setting Up a RC Helicopter .
Remote control toys have become a very popular gift during the winter holidays over the past several years–in particular, remote control helicopters. Some of these helicopters have removable propellers. These toys can be tempting to take out of the box and play with right away, but there is some preparation needed to ensure that you get the most out of them.
Step by step instructions :
Step 1
Plug the battery unit into the charger and charge the battery to its full capacity for the first use. On most remote control toys a light will turn on or flash when the battery has a full charge.
Step 2
Choose an area to fly the remote control helicopter that has very few obstacles. This will help you avoid collisions as you get used to the sensitivity of the controls.
Step 3
Check the area for any electronic devices that might interfere with the frequency of the remote control unit for your remote control helicopter. The frequency of the remote control unit should be indicated on the back of the remote control and in the directions for the remote control helicopter as well.
Step 4
Check the batteries in the remote control unit to make sure they are new for a first-time trial of your remote control helicopter.
Step 5
Attach any blades that come with your remote control helicopter. Depending on the model these may already be attached. Other models might need one or two propeller blades to be attached before flying.
Step 6
Turn on the power for both the remote control unit and the remote control helicopter. Both pieces will have their own power switches.
Step 7
Practice elevating the helicopter with the control that handles the lift of the remote control helicopter. After you have it elevated, practice with the thrust control to get a feel for how sensitive each of these controls are.