Fathers’s Day is coming up, so most of our readers are probably looking for Father’s Day gift ideas and things to do on the special day. Most people celebrate Father’s Day by giving gifts, and then spending time together as a family. RC helicopters make an ideal father-child hobby, and also make a perfect gifts. There are many different kinds of RC helicopters available, here is a short list of the types we believe are the best for Father’s Day gifts.
Larger Beginner RC Helicopter – There are some RC helicopters available which are designed specifically for beginners to learn how to fly with. The Esky Lama is a great training RC helicopter due to it’s stability and the included flight simulator software. Esky Lamas can be flown indoors and outdoors if there is no wind.
Small / Micro RC Helicopter - There are lots of tiny RC helicopters available on the web. Most of the time, Micro RC helicopters operate on only two channels (rudder and throttle). This makes them very inexpensive and easy to control. Micro RC helicopters can be flown almost anywhere, including gyms, offices, schools, and living rooms on Father’s Day.
Indoor Coaxial RC Helicopter – If you want a small RC helicopter that can be flown indoors with ease, we suggest some of the many coaxial models available. Try to get one with a tail rotor because it will allow pitch control.
Get Dad something more interesting than a tie this year. An RC helicopter can provide fun for the whole family on Father’s Day, and be a nice surprise for Dad. Have a happy Father’s Day!
The 2008 F3C Asia Oceania RC Helicopter Championship competition began yesterday, May 27. In this FAI (International Aeromodelling Commission) sanctioned event, 18 world class RC helicopter pilots will compete for the continental championship. The pilots come from many different countries, including Japan, The Philippines , Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. The F3C is the sub section is the FAI responsible for RC Helicopter Aerobatics. Despite bad weather threatening to shut down the event, the competition continues. Round 2 results are as follows:
Spin Master has created a set of micro RC helicopters capable of aerial combat! The kit includes two micro RC helicopters, each with their own controller. Each helicopter controller features a button which, when pushed, will shoot the other helicopter down. It does this by emitting infra red light (invisible, long wavelength light), and directing it towards the other helicopter. If the attacking helicopter is aimed correctly, the light beam will activate a sensor on the other helicopter, causing it to momentarily lose control. Fortunately, the helicopter will recover from this unstable flight before hitting the ground.
The micro RC helicopters use a fixed pitch design (the angle of the blades do not change). This adds to their durability and design simplicity. Controlling the micro RC helicopters is easy, use the left control stick to control the altitude and the right stick to control direction. The included weights are a nice touch, which allow you to trim the mini RC helicopters motion.
Since the micro RC helicopters are constructed out of light weight foam, crash damage is minimized. All of the parts used are standard, so replacements are easily available. You can even customize your helicopter with colored rotor blades!
The micro battle helicopters are great for flying indoors, and for holding air raids in the living room.
www.drinkstuff.com has recently introduced a new kind of RC flying machine. Their design is modeled after the Harrier jump jet used by the military. Jump jets are jet aircraft that use thrust vectoring to hover so the can take off and land without needing much runway. They do this by altering the direction of the exhaust from the nozzles of their engines. By directing the airflow from their engines towards the ground, jump jets are able to maneuver in the same way as helicopters. This is greatly beneficial in situations where runway space is limited (like the deck of an aircraft carrier). Learn more about the Harrier Jump Jet.
Is the Jump Jet Really an RC Helicopter?
The RC jumpjet works in a similar way to the real Harrier jump jet, but instead of directing the thrust from one main engine, four small electric propellers are attached to the main fuselage. By altering the rate at which each propeller spins, the direction and speed of the aircraft can be controlled. Many different RC helicopters use this quad rotor design, including the Draganflyers. The only thing that makes this aircraft different than a quad rotor RC helicopter seems to be the added set of wings and a tail. We believe that this is purely cosmetic, included so that the helicopter looks more like the real Harrier jump jet. This video shows the flying characteristics of the RC Jump Jet, which are strikingly similar to those of a RC helicopter.
Regardless of whether the jump jet is an RC helicopter or not, it still makes an interesting toy, and should be more than sufficient for conducting bombing raids in the office.
RC helicopters are the perfect platform for aerial photography. Recent developments in wireless video systems, gyroscopic stabilization and electronics have made it possible to take high quality images and video with a RC helicopter.
Alan Ramsdell is an electrician and long time RC enthusiast who lives in Sanford, Maine. Recently, he has begun retrofitting one of his RC helicopters with a high resolution digital camera to do RC aerial photography. The helicopter is also equipped with an infrared sensor mounted on the tail, which can sense the temperature difference between the ground and the sky. It uses this to self stabilize, and helps to steady the camera when doing RC aerial photography.
The modified RC helicopter is also equipped with a radio which sends a wireless video signal to the ground, so that Ramsdell can see what the camera sees. Once the helicopter is in position, a switch on the transmitter will trigger the camera. This allows the helicopter to be used for very high quality, targeted RC aerial photography.
RC photography is a great way to get aerial pictures and video, without the expense of hiring an actual plane and pilot. Depending upon the features of the RC helicopter, and whether its an off the shelf solution or you built it yourself, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2000 to $20,000 for equipment.
Learning to fly RC helicopters can be difficult, so its best to get a trainer model, learn with an instructor, and then progress to RC aerial photography. Ramswell’s website: www.maineaerialphotography.net has many stunning examples of RC aerial photography, produced using his own invention.
seethru.co.uk has created an addictive flash helicopter game. The object of the helicopter game is to fly your helicopter through the levels, while avoiding hitting the floor, ceiling, and other obstacles. You can play the helicopter game at several websites, including www.addictinggames.com.
How to Win the Helicopter Game
Here are some tips to help you win the helicopter game:
Remain focused – This helicopter game requires concentration to win. Don’t look away from your computer screen or you will crash.
Don’t try to play the game for very long periods of time. You will lose your concentration and crash.
Make sure that your monitor brightness is turned up. It’s easier to play when you can see the game well.
Find a website that hosts the helicopter game, and displays it at a large size. If the game has a maximize option, use it.
Turn up the sound, it helps to hear when the helicopter is climbing.
The Helicopter Game on Your iPhone and iPod
It is now possible to add the RC helicopter game to your iPhone! Download the helicopter game for the iPhone. You control the helicopters flight by tapping the screen. The helicopter game has also been ported to several other platforms, using the popular open source Rockbox firmware. This lets you play the helicopter game on several different platforms, including the iPod.
Fathers’s Day is coming up, so most of our readers are probably looking for Father’s Day gift ideas and things to do on the special day. Most people celebrate Father’s Day by giving gifts, and then spending time together as a family. RC helicopters make an ideal father-child hobby, and also make a perfect gifts. There are many different kinds of RC helicopters available, here is a short list of the types we believe are the best for Father’s Day gifts.
