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.

Have fun playing this addictive helicopter game!

Every RC helicopter needs to control their direction and altitude.

In order to understand how fixed pitch RC helicopters work, we will consider a fixed wing aircraft. Airplanes fly because as air moves over the wings, a difference in air pressure between the top and bottom is created, causing lift. Increasing the lift we can be done in two ways. The velocity of the air moving over the wings can be increased, or the curve of the wing can be steepened. The rotors on an RC helicopter are like like the wings on a plane, so the simplest way to increase lift is to make them spin faster. This will make the helicopter travel upwards. Likewise, when we want the helicopter to descend, the speed of the rotors is decreased.

RC Heli Design - Quad Rotor

Several RC helicopters are built with four main rotors, mounted at a right angle to the aircraft. The quad rotor design allows four channel control, without the complexity of variable pitch. A flight computer can read the input from a radio receiver and then change the speed of each motor, so that the direction of the helicopter changes. This also allows automatic stabilization of the helicopter.

RC Heli Design - Conventional

A fixed pitch RC helicopters direction of travel can be changed in two ways. If a rear rotor is included, which is mounted at a right angle to the fuselage (body of the helicopter), it can be used to push the helicopters nose in a certain direction.

RC Heli Design - Coaxial

Two main rotors can be linked to separate motors. By spinning each rotor at a different rate, the yaw (direction) of the helicopter can be controlled. Each rotor can be placed on the same axial. The coaxial design reduces the size of the helicopter, so that it can fly indoors. More about coaxial helicopters. The fixed pitch coaxial design also frees an extra channel of control. If we don’t need the tail rotor to control the direction (yaw or pitch, depending on the application) of the RC helicopter, we can instead mount it in the same direction as the main rotor blades, allowing pitch control of the helicopter.

How The Swashplate Works on RC Helicopters

In order for the rotor blades of an RC helicopter to change pitch, there must be a way to transform the linear motion of a servo arm into the rotating motion required by the rotor blades; this is accomplished by using a swashplate. The swashplate is a mechanical device, consisting of two plates mounted to the main rotor shaft. One of these plates is attached to the servo controls and the helicopter body, and the other rotates with the helicopter rotors. As can be seen in the picture, the swashplate transforms the motion of the servo arms into motion of the upper plate. Each rotor is connected to the upper disk of the swashplate, and so they will move as the bottom disk moves. The horizontal rods visible in the picture represent where the servo arms would connect, the number of rods included depends upon the individual helicopter. Every RC helicopter that can change the pitch of its rotor blades will have a swashplate attached to its main axial. There are many different implementations of swashplates, but each follows the same basic design shown in the image. In a conventional RC helicopter, two servos are used to control the swashplate. One servo is used to control the horizontal motion (bank) and the other is used to control the forward and aft motion (pitch).

RC Helicopter Collective Pitch - Climbing and Descending

When a RC helicopter needs to climb or descend, it uses collective pitch. When the command is given for the helicopter to climb, the servos push the entire swashplate upwards. This has the effect of simultaneously increasing the pitch of all the rotor blades. When the pitch is increased, the rotors grab more air as they move, and so lift produced is increased. This increase in lift occurs evenly, so the helicopter does not turn. When the helicopter needs to descend, the swashplate is lowered in the same way. This will decrease the amount of lift produced from the rotor blades.

RC Helicopter Cyclic Pitch - Attitude Control

Changing the bank and pitch of the helicopter requires the swashplate to tilt. This is accomplished by tilting the lower disk of the swashplate. When the lower disk is tilted, the upper disk will also tilt, while it is spinning. The main rotors, which are attached to the upper swashplate will also tilt. In order for this to happen however, each rotor must be given time to “fly up”, or “fly down” to the location where it needs to be. This is accomplished by using pitch links, which provide each rotor with the information of where it needs to go, before it has to be there. The net effect is that the blades move cyclically, and tilt the motion of each rotor in one direction. The swashplate can be tilted in any direction, so the helicopter can change its pitch and bank in proportion to the commands given by the transmitter.

RC Helicopter Cyclic Collective Pitch Mixing (CCPM)

Model RC helicopters can use more than two servos in combination to control the motion of the swashplate. Software running on the rc transmitter (radio) tells each servo how much to move to achieve the desired motion of the RC helicopter. Each linkage to a servo is represented by a silver rod in the above picture. All of these rods are placed equidistant from each other. A swashplate mix refers to the number of linkages attached. For example: a two linkage swashplate would be controlled by two servo rods, placed 180 degrees apart from each other. A three linkage swashplate would use a 120 degree swash plate mix. The swash plate in the picture above has 6 control rods, and so it would use a 60 degree swash plate mix. Most RC helicopters will use a swashplate with between two or four control rods. The largest RC Helicopters use 4 control rods, because of the extra strength they give the swashplate mechanism.

In Summary

• Every RC Helicopter that can change the pitch of its blades has a swashplate.
• The swashplate consists of two disks, one which spins and one that does not.
• The bottom swashplate does not spin, and is connected to the servo control rods.
• The swashplate consists of two disks, one which moves and one that does not.
• To rise or descend, the rotor blades move collectively
• Pitch and bank require the swashplate to move cyclically.
• Pitch links control the position of each blade.

There are different ways that coaxial RC helicopters can be designed.

Coaxial Helicopters - How Do They Work

Besides using the tail rotor to control the yaw, two main rotors can be mounted on the helicopter, and spun at different rates. The difference in thrust causes the helicopters nose to turn. This duel rotor design is used in several full scale helicopters. The CH-47 Chinook is a good example of this duel rotor design, and is frequently used as a military transport helicopter because of its large lifting capacity. RC Helis use the same principle, but most of the time each rotor is mounted on the same axial, hence the term “coaxial”.

Twin rotors that spin in opposite directions

The rotors of a coaxial helicopter need to spin in opposite directions to cancel out the gyroscopic force. On some helicopters, both rotors are mounted on top of each other The main axial of a coaxial helicopter is actually two separate axils. One axial is mounted inside the other. Each sub axial is connected to a gear at the base of the main shaft, and each gear is connected to an electric motor. These two motors operate independently of each other, so the speed of each rotor can be changed.

Since the rotors need to spin in different directions, the top and bottom rotor blades are curved in different directions. This is because each rotor needs to be traveling into the air flow in order to work. The bottom rotor spins in a clockwise direction, and the top rotor spins in a counterclockwise direction.

Two Channel Coaxial RC Helis

It is possible to build a coaxial helicopter so that it only needs two main rotors, and eliminate the tail rotor entirely. Tilting the main rotors forward slightly, results in a constant forward movement. These helicopters are great for beginners due to their simple controls.

Three Channel Coaxial RC Helis

In some coaxial helicopters, a tail rotor is still added. The tail rotor is oriented in the same direction as the main rotors. The forward and reverse rate of the helicopter can be changed, because this system allows pitch control. You can fly forwards, backwards and also hover with this kind of helicopter.

Four Channel Coaxial RC Helis

Even though the coaxial design is most frequently used in small, fixed pitch RC helicopters, it can also be used for models with cyclic collective pitch. The only difference between these models and the conventional designs is their lack of a tail rotor. As with the models above, yaw is controlled by changing the rate at which each rotor spins, but the rotors can change their pitch. This allows the helicopter all four degrees of freedom: pitch, bank, throttle, and yaw. The Esky Lama V4 is good example of the four channel coaxial design.

How The Coaxial Design Benefits RC Helicopters

• Yaw can be controlled by changing the speed of the main rotors, so the pitch can be controlled with the tail rotor.
• The main rotors spin in opposite directions, which gives the helicopter stability.
• Coaxial RC helicopters are a good way to learn how to fly, because they are very stable.

Here are some screen shots from the MiniCopter: Adventure Flight for the Nintendo Wii.

See 117 more screen shots

Read more about MiniCopter: Adventure Flight, an RC helicopter video game, at the IGN Web site.

One department even outfitted a hobbyist’s remote-control mini-helicopter with a wireless camera to create an inexpensive yet functional piece of aerial surveillance equipment.

They don’t say what brand of RC helicopter they used or even what kind of wireless video camera system they retrofitted it with. One popular wireless video platform used by some police departments, videographers, and hobbyists is the Draganflyer SAVS from Draganfly Innovations Inc.

A remote controlled (RC)mini-helicopter may appear to be a neighborhood child’s toy but could be outfitted with a wireless camera to provide surveillance without moving officers too close to the situation.

Read the entire Officer.com article, The Products of Ingenuity.

Spare Batteries and Charger:
A good battery is an essential part of your rc helicopter system. Your battery must be able to supply enough power to operate your electronics for at least one entire flight plus a safety reserve. You will need a charger to top up the battery between uses, or have a spare battery to use while the depleted one charges.

Hex and Nut Drivers:
These are essential for maintaining (and also building) your rc helicopter. A good set will last a long time, and make adjusting hard to reach bolts at the flying field easier.

Ball Link Pliers:
Ball link pliers are specially designed to disconnect the ball links on your model. These pliers make disconnecting ball links easier, but the same task can be performed with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Pitch Gauge:
To adjust the pitch of the rc helicopter’s rotor blades, you will need a pitch gauge. Make sure to get one with a large, easy to read scale.

Fuel and Fuel Accessories:
In addition to adequate fuel, a mechanical or electrical fuel pump with a few feet of fuel tubing makes filling easier. Spare silicone fuel tube to replace worn lines, a spare fuel filter, and a spare air filter are good to keep on hand.

Glue/Filler:
When you are flying your model, it is always useful to have some glue to do repairs with. With both CA glue and epoxy you will be prepared for most minor mishaps.

Spare Fasteners and Rotor Blades:
Spare nuts and bolts are needed in case one on your rc helicopter breaks. Keep a small case of these in your field box. Spare rotor blades are very important, because a broken rotor blade can put an end to a practice session.

Field Box:
A field box is ideal to carry all of your tools, fuel, and other accessories in when you fly your rc helicopter.

Having these parts along with you when you go out to fly your rc helicopter can be a great time saver.

We talked about the set-up of the throttle in the article titled “Choosing a Radio For Your RC Helicopter“. You will need to ensure that every control moves freely. Do this by disconnecting the linkage from the servo, and move it back and forth. If it moves with little resistance, and moves the control surface as much as it needed, then it’s fine. Match the throttle servo arm to the throttle by adjusting the throw of the servo, or the length of the servo arm. Make sure that the throttle is neither completely closed on idle, or over driven when open. Make these adjustments with the throttle servo disconnected, so as not to overdrive it accidentally. The throttle arm should be 90 degrees to the body of the servo when at idle, to improve the effectiveness of the trim. When the throttle stick and the trim at at idle positions, the carburetor should be closed. This will turn off the engine, and it is important that you be able to do so in an emergency. When the throttle trim is increased fully, it should move 1/8 of an inch. This movement should allow the idle of the rc helicopter to be adjusted, and the engine to turn off.

The tail rotor will need to be adjusted so that the blades have a small positive angle of attack when the rudder servo is neutral.

The gyroscope will need to be adjusted so that it controls one quarter of an inch of the rudder movement.

Collective pitch can be adjusted until the movement is from 0 to 5 degrees. This aids in making the rc helicopter more controllable when learning how to hover. Having negative pitch available can allow the rc helicopter to descend very rapidly, and large positive pitch can make it climb higher than is desired while learning how to hover.

The collective pitch can be set using the pitch gauge using the following method:

1. Turn the radio system on.
2. Level the swashplate using the elevator trim tab on the transmitter.
3. Attach the pitch gauge to a rotor blade, making sure to keep the tail boom, flybar, and swashplate level.
4. Using the transmitter, move the collective pitch to it’s upper and lower maximums, and note the pitch on each.
5. The pitch range is the difference between the upper and lower pitch limits, we want a window of 5 degrees.
6. The window can be adjusted by changing where the push rod attaches to the servo. Moving it in will cause the window to decrease, and moving the push rod farther away will decrease the window.
7. The maximum pitch needs to be 5 degrees, do this by altering the length of the rod from the head to the swashplate
8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 for the other rotor blade.

By following these simple procedures, you can prepare the rc helicopter for it’s first flight, and reduce the chances of a crash.

Now that we have clarified that, I will show you the general guidelines for building your first rc helicopter model.

The first thing to do when your rc helicopter kit arrives is to not open the box. Do no open the box until you are completely ready to start construction. All of the parts will be packed neatly and efficiently, so if you take them out, you are likely to lose them. Find a place to work on your rc model where it will not be disturbed by dogs, cats, or small children. The work surface should be flat, and large enough to set out all of the rc helicopter components neatly. Refer to the article titled “Basic Tools for RC Helicopter Repair & Maintenance” for a list of the tools you will likely need. Once you have the place, time, and tools to work on your model, you can begin construction.

As you proceed through the instructions, check off each step after you complete it. This way you will not lose your place when you come back. Nuts used in the rc helicopter sometimes have an insert in them that prevents them from vibrating loose while the model is in flight. If they don’t, use blue locktite to secure them. Be sure not to confuse this with red locktite, which is permanent. It is very easy to strip the heads and threads of the different screws that you will be using during assembly. Getting a stripped screw out of its hole is not an easy task, and it is better to simply not over tighten them in the first place.

Ensure that the engine cooling fan is balanced, because if its not, the resulting vibration will affect the entire rc helicopter. If it isn’t perfectly balanced when you get it from the manufacturer, you can correct it with a small amount of sanding. Once installed, make sure that this fan runs true.

It is critical that the mesh between the main gear and the pinion gear is correct. If it is too tight, friction will waste power and wear out both gears. If the mesh is too loose, then the gears will rattle back and forth, causing vibrations and wear in the system. Some rc helicopters are made to such a low tolerance that there is no way to adjust the mesh of the gears. If the rc helicopter allows it, move them in or out until they turn freely, without either friction or excessive play.

When assembling the smaller components of the head, swashplate, and washout unit, be careful to do it accurately. Use locktite to secure all of the bolts, and do not overtighten. Make sure that the resulting parts have freedom of movement and that the control is not sloppy.

Constructing the tail rotor gearbox requires special care. The gears must mesh properly, for the same reasons mentioned above. Align the position of the setscrews so they tighten against the flat spots on the shafts. Some gearboxes provide a way to lubricate the gears after construction. If yours does not, then you will have to lubricate it well before it is sealed. The gears will wear out quickly if you do not apply enough lubricant.

Balancing the tail rotor blades is also important. To do this, mount the blades on the center hub and place the system on a high point balancer. Adjust the balance by sanding, or adding blade covering material. When installing the tail rotor blades, make sure that they are not too loose or too tight. This is essential for smooth operation. They should be tight enough to not fall under their own weight, and loose enough to move freely.

The tail boom can be secured to the fuselage with a small bolt, inserted into a hole drilled into the boom and the main frame. This can prevent the boom coming loose if its attachment to the main frame fails. The horizontal fin does not affect the flight characteristics of the helicopter in any significant way, but the vertical fin does. The vertical fin contributes to the helicopters yaw stability, and it is important to have a large one while learning to fly your model. You can make one with light plywood, but be sure to fuel-proof it. If the fin extends below the tail rotor, and can help protect it.

Fuel tanks are mounted differently between models, but here are some points to consider when mounting your tank:

• Protect the tank from vibration with foam rubber, to prevent the fuel from foaming with small vibrations
• The clunk in the fuel tank should be able to move freely, and should also reach the bottom of the tank
• Fuel filters are good, they can be either attached to the fuel system, or the fuel can filtered before use
• Pressurize the fuel tank by attaching one line to the muffler, this will increase fuel flow
• Adding an extra, or header tank is also fine, but it does not affect the fuel flow to the engine

The blades for your rc helicopter will need to be balanced. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to do it:

1. Find the spanwise center of gravity by balancing the leading edge of each blade on a pencil, and then mark the center of gravity.
2. Determine if the balance points on each blade are the same by lining them up. If the balance points match, then no further adjustments are necessary.
3. If the balance points do not match up, then add electrical tape to the tip or root of the blade as required.
4. Mount the blades on a blade balancer to determine their relative weights. These need to be equal, so if they are not, add electrical tape to the centre of gravity of the light blade, until balance is achieved.

The blades of the rc helicopter will have to be made visible, while in flight. You will need to tell between the two different blades, and see the rotor disk. The former can be accomplished by placing different colors of tape on the ends of each blade. The former can require strips of blade covering material, in a color that contrasts the rotor blade, to be applied to both rotor blades.

After the assembly process is complete, you should have a finished model that you can be proud of. Make sure that everything looks right, and enjoy flying your new rc helicopter.

Basic tools that you will need are as follows:

• Standard pair of needle nose pliers
• Screwdrivers, both standard and Phillips
• Hex drivers of various sizes
• Hobby knife with assorted blades
• Rulers - both metric and imperial scale
• Drill - cordless is best
• Sandpaper - several grades
• Glue - thin and thick CA, slow and long cure epoxy
• Soldering iron and solder
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Rubber bands
• Grease and light oil
• Loctite to prevent parts from vibrating loose

There are several other, more specialized tools that you may need as well. They are:

• Rotary tool - Extremely useful for grinding, polishing, and sometimes drilling
• Servo tape - Comes in several different thicknesses, double sided and good for securing radio and other components
• Ball link pliers - These make it easy to remove ball links from your servos
• Ball link driver - like hex nut driver, but holds a ball link
• Small screwdrivers - Sometimes really small screws are used in model construction
• Metric tap and die set
• Open end wrenches - you only need the smallest ones
• Toolbox - to carry your tools with you and store them in an organized way

If you have all of the basic tools, and even some of the more specialized ones, you will have a complete toolbox that will help you in both building and repairing your rc heli.

Before proceeding to install your radio system, you will need to do some tests to ensure that it will function properly in the rc heli. The range test should be performed according to your radio manufacturers instructions, but here is a general procedure.

1. Ensure that both the transmitter and receiver batteries are fully charged.
2. With only the battery and servos connected to the receiver, turn both the transmitter and receiver on.
3. Collapse the transmitter antenna .
4. Walk away from the receiver, while moving the transmitter sticks.
5. Continue walking until the servo movements become erratic.
6. Walk back towards the receiver, and stop when control returns to normal.
7. Compare this distance with the specified minimum range check distance in your owners manual.

If the distance you found is less than the specified distance in your manual, then the radio is not safe to use in your model and will have to be sent back to the manufacturer for repair.

Before mounting the servos in your rc helicopter, ensure that the throws are at 100%, and that the servo arms are set perpendicular to the servo body. Also, center all the trims and make sure that the batteries in both the receiver and transmitter are fully charged. This is important because all adjustments you will be making require the radio to be on. When you are about to attach the servos to the fuselage, disconnect the battery and servos from the receiver. It is important that only the rubber grommets supplied with your servos touch the rc helicopter body, and that the mounting screws are tight enough to compress the grommets. Do not tighten the screws too much, or the grommets can become too compressed to much to be effective shock absorbers. Once the servos are installed in the fuselage, reconnect the battery and receiver. After double checking that the all the trims are set to neutral and that the servo arms are mounted properly, you can proceed with installing the ball links onto the inner holes of all the servos.

The rc helicopter should come with pre-cut pushrods. Install these on the servo arms by either screwing on the ball links, or using snap on clevises. If you are using the snap on clevises, be sure to secure them by sliding on a piece of fuel tubing. This will prevent them from coming loose in flight. Once the aileron linkage is connected, move it with your hands to see if the swashplate moves freely, without friction. Install the other linkages in the same way, but be careful to match the throw of the throttle servo to the carburetors range of travel. If this is not done properly, it can cause overheating and damage the engine. Also, be sure that an idle position on the transmitter does not turn off the engine completely. There still needs to be a way to turn off the engine, but this can be accomplished with the throttle trim tabs on the transmitter.

The gyroscope should be installed as shown in the owners manual. Make sure to place it where it is unlikely to be damaged. Most rc helicopters will have a specified location for the gyro. Use servo mounting tape to attach the servo, this will insulate it against vibration and attach it firmly to the fuselage.

Mount the on/off switch on the side of the rc helicopter opposite the exhaust. Also, mount the switch in a place where it will be easy to access. Orient it in a logical way, so that you will not turn it off accidentally.

The receiver and battery are now ready to be mounted. Before proceeding, cover both with plastic wrap to protect against fuel, dirt, and other contaminates. Pack them with rubber foam, and secure them with rubber bands. Depending on the type of antenna your radio system has (wire or whip), the antenna will have to be either routed outside the helicopter, or left inside the canopy. Be sure to follow the instructions in your owners manual, and don’t wrap the antenna around itself. This will reduce it’s range and could lead to a crash.

In addition to using the tips above to help you install your radio system, always read the user manual of both your rc helicopter and your radio system.

A common question is whether or not an rc airplane radio can be used in with an rc helicopter. The answer is yes, but you will have less control options than you would when using an actual rc helicopter radio.

An rc helicopter radio is different from an airplane radio in several ways. The most important is the throttle for an rc airplane is used to control the engine speed, not the collective pitch. In an rc helicopter, both must be controlled. In order to use this kind of radio with an rc helicopter, both the engine throttle and collective pitch servos must be linked together via a Y harness. This will work, but you will have less control than if the pitch and throttle servos were independent of each other. Using this type of system works best in fixed pitch rc helicopters, because they do not use the collective pitch control in the first place.

When shopping for an rc helicopter radio, you will come across the term “channel” often. It has two different meanings, and each is important in your buying decision. It can mean either the number of servos the radio can control (which relates to the number of degrees of freedom the rc helicopter can have), or the specific frequency subset that the radio signal is sent on (the 72MHz frequency band is divided into channels numbered 11 to 90). A two channel radio can control two servos (for example the throttle and rudder servos). A three channel radio could have both throttle and rudder control, as well as elevator control. A rc helicopter will need at least 4 channels, and typically 5 or 6 channels. Some radios have many more channels, but these are not important to the beginner. The basic 5 channels control:

1. Aileron
2. Elevator
3. Throttle
4. Collective pitch
5. Rudder

The extra channel can be used to control gyro sensitivity or other functions. The cost of a radio system is highly dependent on the number of channels available. When buying your first rc helicopter radio, try to get one with at least 5 channels. More channels will enable you to use more advance features as you progress in the hobby.

Radio systems can also use different methods to transmit their signals. These can be FM, PCM, or PPM, or spread spectrum. The most basic is FM, or frequency modulation. This method is the same type used by FM radio stations, but on a different frequency. Many FM radios can operate simultaneously as long as they are on different frequencies or different channels on the same frequency. If two radios are operating on the same frequency and the same channel, interference will results and one or both of the models flying can crash.

PPM (or pulse proportional mode) radios are better than a normal FM radios because they can operate servos at a higher resolution. The radio transmits by first sending a timing pulse, and following this with the actual command information. The advantage of this system is that the receiver knows what to expect before the command arrives. A different timing pulse is sent for each control channel, and this cycle repeats many times per second. The rate at which these pulses occur is called the pulse rate of the radio. A greater pulse rate gives better control, but getting a high pulse rate radio is not so important for the beginner or casual flyer.

PCM (or pulse code modulation) is similar to PPM except that each pulse is coded. The rc helicopter will only respond to signals with this specific code. This means that it will cope better to interference. Although this technology is helpful, it does not make the rc helicopter immune to all interference. If another pilot turns on a radio using the same frequency and channel, the rc helicopter can still have its signals washed out by the other transmitter and crash.

A synthesized radio lets the pilot transmit on different frequencies. This is helpful when you are flying at a club where there are many other pilots, because you do not have to change the crystal in the transmitter and the receiver to change channels.

The most recent radio technology eliminates the need for channel frequency control, and is immune to almost all forms of interference. Spread spectrum radios can transmit and receive on multiple channels, at a frequency of 2.4 Ghz (2.4 billion cycles per second). This kind of radio automatically scans for two free channels when is is turned on. When it finds them, it uses both to transmit and receive. Spread spectrum technology is becoming more popular, and it will eventually replace the other three kinds of radios mentioned above.

Besides the type of radio, you will have to consider different types of servos to use in your rc helicopter. There are many different types, the broadest categories being: standard, coreless, and digital. Standard servos are the least expensive, but they also provide the least performance. Since the motors they use have coils wound on a rotating iron core placed between stationary magnets, they will not be able to start and stop as quickly as the coreless variety. These servos should really only be used to control the throttle of the rc helicopter. Coreless servos are the same, except that the motor inside them has coils that are rigid and rotate around a stationary magnet without requiring an iron core, and are able to accelerate more quickly. These servos typically have better resolution and more torque than their cored counterparts. Digital servos use a digital amplifier to achieve even better resolution and accuracy. Digital servos can be cored or coreless are better than non-digital servos for several reasons, including:

• More accuracy
• Faster control response
• Greater torque

These are the best type of servo, but they may not be in within the budget of the beginner. Whatever type of servo you choose, make sure that it has ball bearings supporting the output shaft. This will result in both smoother operation, and longer servo life.

Be aware that most radios come with only four servos, and you will have to buy a fifth yourself.

The last major radio component is the battery. The battery is used to power the various radio components. Most batteries are of the four cell variety, and supply 4.8 volts. This is sufficient for most models, but a 5 cell pack producing 6 volts can be useful. The more voltage you have available, the faster the servos will respond. For your first model, you should consult the instructions that came with it to determine what type of battery pack to use.

Several other radio features include, but are not limited to:

Tail rotor compensation:

Tail rotor compensation keeps the nose of the rc helicopter pointed in the same direction. This is accomplished via a gyroscope (which is explained in a previous article, ‘Introduction to RC Helicopter Gyros, Rate & Heading Hold’) telling the tail rotor how fast it needs to spin. When the pilot adjusts the pitch or throttle of the rc helicopter, the torque from the blades causes the nose to move in the opposite direction, and thrust from the tail rotor is required to counteract this.

Exponential:

Exponential allows the pilot to control how sensitive servos are. With this feature we can tell the servos how much to move for a given amount of stick movement on the transmitter. This can allow smoother control for small movements, and sharper control for large movements of the transmitter stick.

Gyro gain:

With this feature the pilot can control the sensitivity of the gyroscope on board the rc helicopter. This feature can allow for more stable flight, or easier aerobatics depending on the setting.

Electronic digital trim:

Trim can be used to correct undesired motions of a rc helicopter. It controls the adjustments of various servos during flight. For example, if I were flying a model with a slight left bank, I would slide the aileron trim lever in the opposite direction, to apply a right correction. These would cancel each other out, resulting in straight flight.

Programmable switches:

These are various extra switches located on the transmitter that enable the pilot to control special functions.

Multiple model configuration / switches:

This feature will let the transmitter control multiple models by storing the different settings for each. This is a good feature to have, because you can use one transmitter for several models, no matter how different they are. A memory feature will allow the transmitter to store this information.

Servo endpoint:

An adjustable servo endpoint will allow adjustments to the maximum throw of servos. This can be used as trim to compensate for undesired motions, by reducing the travel in the opposite direction.

Condition / flight mode:

This feature will allow different adjustments to flight parameters for different flight modes. This increases performance in all phases of flight, and is a very good feature to have.

When buying your radio, carefully consider all of the above features. If you’re unsure about your choice, you can ask more experienced pilots for help. If you take good care of your radio, it should last you many years.

Should You Buy A New or Used RC Helicopter:

• Most new rc helicopters are sold in kit form, with the consumer assembling the product. This can be a problem for the novice, as kits can have several hundred parts.
• If buying used, ask to see the rc helicopter flown. It normally does not matter if the rc helicopter was ever crashed, as long as the broken parts have been replaced.
• If you are unsure about the condition of the rc helicopter, you can always ask another pilot to look at it with you.

Operating Costs of RC Helicopters:

• Visit your local hobby store and look at the various parts you will need. The cost of replacement parts is important.
• Find out what kind of fuel or batteries your rc helicopter uses. Costs vary depending upon the amount of nitro in the fuel or the number and capacity of lipo cells.
• If you plan to become a member of your local rc club, consider the membership costs.

Where to buy RC Helicopters:

Consider these points when choosing where to buy your rc helicopter.

Online:

• There are many online hobby stores. These stores usually have lower prices than conventional hobby stores due to the increased number of sales.
• Obtaining your rc helicopter at an online establishment usually means you can get your heli sooner, even if it is out of stock. A conventional hobby store can take weeks to restock a part you might need.
• When purchasing your helicopter on the web, it can be harder to find exactly what you need. Instead of being able to ask a store representative to help you find what you need in person, look for the availability of ‘live help’ or ‘live chat’ features .
• If you do purchase your helicopter online, make sure that the organization is respectable, and that they will stand behind their product.

Hobby store:

• At a hobby store, you can actually see and touch the items you are buying. This helps when comparing brands and to get a feel for the scale/size of the rc helicopters.
• Also, the dealer will most likely have several used models available. When the time comes to get a new rc helicopter, these can be a good deal.

RC helicopter rotor blades can be fixed pitch, or collective pitch. An rc helicopter relies on the lift generated by it’s rotors. These rotors are comparable to the airfoil on the wing of an airplane. When the blades are locked at one angle, we refer to the rc heli as fixed pitch. This means that the blades always cut into the air at the same angle. This design has several advantages. The design is simpler, more durable, and easier and therefore cheaper to manufacture. The overall cost of a fixed pitch rc helicopter will be less than the cost of a comparable collective pitch model. The major disadvantage of the fixed pitch design is that the vertical component of flight becomes less controllable. Because the angle at which the blades cut through the air is constant, the only way to vary the amount of lift produced is to increase the rate at which the blades spin. This is accomplished by increasing the engine speed. The problem with this system is that because of inertia, the speed of the engine cannot be changed or controlled as rapidly as the servo you would use to control vertical thrust in a collective pitch rc helicopter.

In a collective pitch rc helicopter, the angle of the blades is changed to control the amount of upward thrust. Unlike a fixed pitch helicopter, when the command is given for the helicopter to climb or descend, the pitch of the rotor blades changes and the engine speed remains constant. The servo controlling the pitch of the blades (and the climb rate of the rc helicopter) only has to alter the position of the the rotors, which can be done rapidly with relatively little resistance. This is capable of a more rapid response than the engine having to accelerate the entire drive train and rotors up to a new speed. Clearly, the collective pitch design provides better control but at a higher price.

Cyclic pitch is the term applied to an rc helicopter which maneuvers by changing the pitch of each individual blade at different points along the path of rotation, causing them to generate more thrust on one side of the rc helicopter than the other. This will tilt the rc helicopter and result in horizontal motion.

An important option is known as auto rotation. In a fixed wing aircraft, if the engine were to stop, the plane becomes a glider with the wings still producing lift. The same can happen in an rc helicopter that is equipped with auto rotation. In an rc helicopter without auto rotation, the engine is connected to the rotors with out the ability to disengage - meaning that if the engine were to stop, the blades would do the same. This would result in the pilot losing control and the helicopter crashing. With auto rotation, the blades will spin freely during an engine failure. They will still generate some lift, allowing the pilot to maintain control and land. This is normally accomplished by a one way clutch or bearing. Auto rotation is a good feature to have because it may save your rc helicopter if the engine were to fail.

When manufactures refer to the size of a helicopter they are most likely talking about the displacement of the engine, rather than the size of the helicopter itself. Engine displacement commonly ranges from .30 to .90 cubic inches. Each size has it’s advantages and disadvantages, and these will be examined in depth in part two of this guide. For now though, the rule of thumb is that a larger engine is more powerful and will burn more fuel.

Pod and boom is a term applied to the type of helicopter where the body is composed of a ‘pod’ where the radio, engine, gears and other components are kept. The ‘boom’ is the part of the helicopter that holds the tail rotor. This is a common type of rc helicopter, accounting for the majority of the models available. This is different from the scale model style, where the entire model is designed to look just like the real thing. These generally have large fuselages which make them easier to see. They are also more aerodynamic. But for the beginner, pod and boom design is recommended, because of availability and durability.

Now that you are familiar with the different types of rc helicopters available, you are ready to make an informed choice on the type of model to buy. We will show you different points to consider when buying your first rc helicopter in the second part of this guide.

Old rc helicopter gyros operated by using the inertia of a spinning weighted wheel. The wheel would resist changes in orientation, due to it’s angular momentum. A sensor would monitor the orientation of the spinning wheel and use it as a reference to compare to the rest of the rc helicopter. However, these gyros were heavy and consumed energy to keep the wheel spinning. As technology improved new rc helicopter gyros were developed. The solid state gyro has no moving parts, consumes less electricity than its mechanical counterpart, and is more crash resistant.

There are two important types of rc helicopter gyro. The rate gyro senses changes in yaw, and applies corrective action. When the motion stops, the gyro stops correcting. There are two disadvantages to this type: first, although this gyro stops the motion of the rc helicopter, it does not return it to it’s original heading. In other words, if a force were applied to an rc helicopter in level flight, it would turn and then the gyro would stop this motion. The end result would be that the rc helicopter has been turned to a new heading. A second disadvantage is that since the gyro only corrects after the motion has been detected, and the corrective action is always a little late.

The heading hold gyro operates in the same way as the rate gyro, with the exception being that after yaw movement has been corrected it returns the nose of the rc helicopter to it’s original position. This type of gyro does not stop giving commands to the tail rotor when motion stops, but will continue giving these commands to hold the nose of the rc helcopter in a certain orientation. Even more advanced gyros of this type will interpret the yaw requests that the pilot is sending through the radio control system, and will make whatever corrections are necessary to cause the rc helicopter to yaw at the desired rate. With this type of gyro, an rc helicopter will turn equally even in a crosswind.

Even though the heading hold gyro has many advantages, it places several demands on the rest of the rc helicopter system. It will require a very fast tail rotor servo, and a powerful battery to supply the servo, which will be required to make very fast corrections. This can strain the servo, and consume more power. The rc helicopter battery will need to supply the gyro and servos, so a higher capacity battery is better. However, the larger the battery, the larger the weight. An rc helicopter with a heading hold gyro and fast servos can use significantly more power than a less aggressive rc helicopter with a rate gyro.

Clearly, there are many choices of gyros for the rc helicopter pilot, each with it’s own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a gyro system for your rc helicopter, be sure to consider battery capacity and weight, how you will be flying, and the type of servos with your radio system.

There are many simulators available, both commercial products and free software. Any of them can provide a realistic way to try flying an rc helicopter. There are several benefits of using a flight simulator, the most important being you cannot damage a model while learning how to fly. Simulators can provide a good way to improve your flying skills. Many simulators support using your actual rc helicopter transmitter to control the simulated model, further enhancing the realism, while others require the use of a controller specifically designed to connect to your computer and simulate an rc transmitter. RC helicopter simulators will allow you to fly a variety of models, under different conditions. Most simulators will allow you to adjust various flight parameters. This means that you can simulate your own rc helicopter, and even simulate equipment failures. Unlike real flying, the simulator is not dependent on weather or time of day. Some simulators have training systems that will let you control different axis of motion, while the simulator controls the rest. This makes learning easy for the beginner.

Some available simulators include:

• The Dave Brown Products Ratio Control Flight Simulator 2001
• The Great Planes RealFlight R/C Flight Simulator G-3
• The Flying Model Simulator (FMS) - free!

There are many more simulators to be found online. Much of this software is upgradeable, and expansions can be either ordered, or found online. Flight simulators are a great way to learn to fly, without risking your expensive model.

The BladeStar rc helicopter uses a single main blade along with small propellers mounted on the ends of two arms or ‘booms’. Sensors incorporated into the Flytech BladeStar allow it to fly autonomously and avoid bumping into walls or objects. In addion to this ‘auto pilot’ mode, it can also be controlled using its 3 channel digital IR remote to control (with beginner and expert level settings).

See a video of the BladeStar on YouTube.

The BladeStar rc helicopter recharges from the remote control and reports indicate that it will fly for 5 to 15 minutes and take about 20 minutes to charge. An optional combat feature which will allow you to shoot other BladeStar rc helicopters out of the air (or get shot out of the air yourself) had been mentioned. The Flytech BladeStar rc helicopter is suitable for indoor flight only, and is constructed from durable crash-resistant materials. Additional information is available on the official web site.

The Mosquito MAV features dual counter-rotating rotors geared to a single motor, with a vertical tail rotor for yaw control (steering), much like the Interactive Toy Concepts Black Ghost, but smaller. It has a twenty foot range, and is powered by an internal lithium polymer battery that lasts for 7 minutes. Recharging is said to only take five minutes, which would make it one of the fastest charge times on any rc helicopter. This Mosquito MAV helicopter will be available this year at most major retail and electronic stores for $49.99.

The Mosquito MAV combines the style of the Micro Mosquito with the design and precise flight control of the Black Ghost, all in the smallest helicopter design so far.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (PRWEB) November 20, 2007 — Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Having autonomous control over a vehicle creates many benefits and removes the need for continuous human input. This could be applied to full size vehicles, allowing cars to drive themselves, or allowing automated vehicles to perform tasks in hazardous conditions. This would eliminate the risks normally faced by an on-board operator. By removing the operator and related systems from the vehicle, it also allows for increased payloads, smaller sizes, and increased mobility.

The VECPAV system uses a sensor tracker to monitor the motion and position of a Draganflyer rc helicopter by using identifier points on the helicopter. The system then analyzes this data and sends commands back to the Draganflyer rc helicopter through a radio control transmitter, telling the Draganflyer rc helicopter to maintain position or move through its flight plan. Videos of Draganflyer helicopters flying autonomously can be found on the VECPAV homepage, and This YouTube Video. In addition to being successfully used to control Draganflyer electric rc helicopters, the VECPAV system has also been implemented on ground based scale model vehicles.

As a result of his efforts on the VECPAV project, team leader Prof. T. John Koo has been recognized with an NSF (National Science Foundation) CAREER Award: Computation Platform for the Design of Hybrid Systems. This award is considered a highly prestigious honor. Prof. T. John Koo is now at Shantou University, China, where he plans to build on and extend what he has achieved at Vanderbilt.

The Draganflyer radio control rc helicopter has also been used in similar projects such as the MIT Aerospace Controls Laboratory’s UAV SWARM Health Management Project and the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent Control. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is well suited for these applications because it is a stable aerial platform with fewer moving parts than a standard rc helicopter. The Quad-Rotor Draganflyer rc helicopter manoeuvres by varying the thrust generated from each of its four rotors. With one rotor at each corner, differential thrust causes the airframe to rotate and change direction. This eliminates the need for the linkages and components used on conventional rc helicopters that vary the pitch of the main rotor blades in order to manoeuvre. With fewer moving parts, there are fewer things to wear out, and less maintenance required. Because it is an electric rc helicopter, the Draganflyer is safe to use indoors. Its small size allows it to be used in smaller areas than conventional rc helicopters. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is manufactured and sold by Draganfly Innovations.

Competition Winners:

• 1st - Ito (EP Thunder Power RC)
• 2nd - Sensui
• 3rd - Dobashi
• 4th - Hashimoto
• 5th - Sawamura
• 6th - Kobayashi (EP Thunder Power RC)
• 7th - Kunii (EP Thunder Power RC)
• 8th - Iso
• 9th - Nonogaki
• 10th - Hutatugi (EP Thunder Power RC)

Three new model rc helicopter books:
R/C Model Helicopters: A Guide for Beginners by Malcolm Messiter (covers electric power as well as internal combustion engines and includes tips and advice on buying, building, flying and maintaining model helicopters - everything the beginner needs to know, from choosing or building the model to installing the components of the radio)
Building Scale Helicopters by Peter Wales (who won the Top Gun Trophy for helicopters in 2001 and went on to win the US Nationals for RC Helicopters for the following three years)
3D Helicopter Flying by Russ Deakin (covers the many skills that are needed in order to take part in 3D helicopter flying)

New rc helicopter DVD:
Small Rotors DVD by Nigel Cartwright (an introduction to the wide range of model helicopters available from low-cost beginner’s models to powerful advanced helicopters, capable of full 3D aerobatics)

About Traplet Publications
Traplet Publications (traplet.com) is based in Malvern, Worcestershire, UK. Traplet publishes a range of magazine titles including Model Helicopter World, R/C Model World, Quiet & Electric Flight International, RC Jet International, Military in Scale, Truck Model World, Radio Race Car International, Marine Modelling International, as well as a wide range of books, DVDs and plans. Traplet also publishes a range of sewing and craft magazines, books and DVDs.

The Bladerunner Black Ghost is the latest invention from Interactive Toy Concepts Ltd. The Black Ghost is a mini co-axial infra-red indoor rc helicopter that is extremely lightweight, simple to fly and great for flying indoors in your home. No previous RC helicopter experience is required to fly the Bladerunner Black Ghost. The Bladerunner Black Ghost RC Helicopters will be available early next month, and should be a popular item this Christmas.

The Bladerunner Black Ghost can fly up, down, turn left, right all while moving forward at a constant rate. The coaxial, contra-rotating rotor blades make the Black Ghost extremely stable and easy to fly. The tail rotor controls left and right rotation.

Like the popular Havoc Heli the Bladerunner Black Ghost IR Helicopter features a micro infrared receiver that allows the Bladerunner Black Ghost to be extremely lightweight; only 16g (0.6 oz). The Black Ghost’s infrared remote control gives the it a range of up to 10m (30ft). The controller also doubles as the charger. The Black Ghost is available on 2 infrared bands so 2 can be flown at once.

In March 2006 Tomy merged with Takara, the manufacturer of other popular IR (Infra-Red) remote control toys such as the Digi-Q 1/128th scale RC car. Based on the quality and amazing miniaturization shown by the Digi-Q, the Heli-Q should live up to the high expectations of miniature helicopter enthusiasts.

The Heli-Q will fly for 5 minutes on a 20 minute charge. A rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery built into the helicopter will allow it to be charged over and over again. The Heli-Q is incredibly light and designed for indoor use, however it will stay steady and fly well because of the stabilizer bar built into the top of the main rotor. Biased for forward flight, the pilot will have control over altitude and direction. The transparent front dome gives the Heli-Q indoor infrared RC helicopter a realistic look, and the tiny size will allow it to be used even in small rooms.

Still cameras will yield the highest resolution images, but if you already have a video camera here is what you can do:

1. capture the video in a digital format
2. open up the video in an editor
3. move the slider so you are displaying the frame you want
4. copy the frame
5. paste into a photo editing program
6. save the image in the format of you choice

An example of an RC helicopter using aerial video camera is the Draganflyer SAVS.

Understanding Lithium Polymer Battery Specifications:

Lithium Batteries are also know as LiPo, Li-Po, LiPoly, and Li-Poly. What do all the lithium battery specifications mean? The values that are the most important are:

• Pack voltage (depends on cell count; each cell is 3.7 V)
• Capacity (mAh)
• “C” rating (describes the rate at which power can be drawn from the battery)

Lipo Battery Cell Voltage

The nominal voltage of each cell in the pack is 3.7V, but this can go down to 3.3V during discharge, and up to 4.2V when fully charged. A battery pack is composed of two or more cells put together in series for increased voltage, or in parallel for increased capacity. A 2 pack with 2 cells in series would be rated at 7.4V (2x 3.7V).

The battery pack configuration is denoted by the number of cells in series and the number of cells in parallel. A 3s2p pack would have three cells in series, and 2 cells in parallel, using a total of 6 (3×2) cells. A 4000mAh 3s2p pack would have a capacity of 4000mAh (2 x 2000mAh), and a voltage of 11.1V (3 x 3.7V). It would internally consist of six 3.7V 2000mAh lithium polymer cells. The cells would be doubled up (the 2p part of 3s2p) to get 4000mAh, and there would be three in series (the 3s part of 3s2p) to get 11.1V (3 x 3.7V).

The “C” Rating

The “C” rating describes how quickly a battery can be discharged. A 2000mAh LiPo battery with a “C” rating of 1C continuous would mean it should not be discharged any faster than 2000mA or 2A, which would take one hour. A 2000mAh pack rated for 12C continuous would be able to discharge at 12 times its capacity (12 x 2000mA = 24000mA or 24A) at which rate it would discharge in 1/12th of an hour. Using a pack with a higher C rating than you require will leave some room for safety, and extend the life of your battery.

Continuous Current:
If you know how much continuous current will be drawn and the capacity of the pack you want to use, you can easily determine what C rating you require. If you are drawing 5A from a 1320mAh pack, simply take the current and divide by the capacity: 5A = 5000mA, 5000mA / 1320mAh = 3.8C.

Burst Current:
LiPo batteries are also given a C rating in terms of burst, which is how quickly the battery is able to discharge for a short time. A burst rating of 20C would mean a 2000mAh battery could supply 20 x 2000mA = 40000mA or 40A for a few seconds.

Selecting the Best LiPo Battery for Your RC Helicopter

To select a battery for your rc helicopter, you first need to know what voltage you require and how much current you will be drawing continuously.

• If the motor in your rc helicopter is rated to work with 11.1V, you would need a 3 cell battery.
• If you need to draw 20A, and you would like your rc helicopter to have a 10 minute (1/6th of an hour = 6C) flight, you would need a battery with 20A / 6 = 3.3A = 3300mAh.
• This means you would need to put a 3s 3300mAh battery with a C rating of 6 or higher in your rc helicopter.
• Thunder Power RC has a LiPo battery for almost any electric RC helicopter.

Always Remember These LiPo Safety Instructions

• Remove the battery pack from your rc helicopter before charging.
• Only use chargers designed to work properly with lithium polymer batteries.
• Always place your LiPo on a fire-proof surface while charging or use a LipoSack.
• Never leave your battery unattended while it is charging.
• Never charge a lithium battery if it is below 3.0V per cell.
• Never charge a lithium battery that is puffed up, or damaged in any way.

Each component of your power system is good at something. Are you taking advantage of each of them? A 25A speed controller in a small coaxial helicopter with a motor drawing 5A is not being used properly. By measuring your electric power system you can discover mismatched equipment and correct it. In this example, a 10 amp or 7 amp ESC would save weight.

Measuring the Electric Current in Your RC Helicopter

The measurements you are interested in describe the flow of electric current (using unit of Amps, A), the electric potential (using unit of Volts, V), and power (using units of Watts, W). These can be measured with a wattmeter. A wattmeter can be inserted between your battery and speed controller and it will tell you the voltage, current, and power drawn from your battery. Measurements should be taken when your helicopter is at full throttle. For RC hobby use, there are small wattmeters that can be installed in you aircraft, and can log measured data over the entire flight. These are called flight data loggers, and in addition to current and voltage, they can measure rpm, temperature, and more with the addition of the appropriate sensors.

Measuring Current And Voltage in Your RC Helicopter

The current reading should be within the limits of the speed controller, battery, and motor. The voltage indicates how your batteries are performing. Usually you can confirm your battery is adequate by noting that current is below the battery’s rated max current (For Thunder Power batteries, this would be the continuous rating, not the burst rating). This rating generally says ‘this battery model is approved for this use,’ whereas voltage says ‘this battery is performing as expected’ or ‘this battery can’t handle this.’ As a rough guide, your lithium polymer battery voltage at full throttle should be above 3.3V per cell (i.e. a 3s lipo should be above 9.9V).

Measuring Temperature in Your RC Helicopter

The temperature gauge is used to tell you the temperature of your motor and batteries. For both, the key temperature is 60°C (140°F). Both should be under that temperature. Above this temperature, lithium polymer batteries are permanently damaged, while motors lose efficiency and become dangerously close to demagnetizing and burning the windings. However, being too cold isn’t ideal, either. Cold is a sign that the motor isn’t being properly used (i.e. it’s too big), and cold batteries don’t put out as much power as 50-60°C batteries.

Tips

• Put together a power system that is slightly conservative
• Test and measure that system, and then adjust based on those measurements
• Currents will be near every component’s limit, and temperatures after a flight will be ideal
• At that point, every component will be played to its strength.
• Have fun flying!

The battery supplies the power. RC helicopters have used Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) packs, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) packs, and the newer, lighter, and more powerful Lithium Polymer (LiPo or LiPoly) battery packs. All of these are rechargeable and can be used over and over.

The electronic speed controller (ESC) is the component that interprets the control signal coming out of you radio receiver (RX) and passes battery power to the motor to make it run at the speed you want. Speed controls are available for brushed motors with two motor wires, or for newer brushless motors with three motor wires.

The motor is the final component that converts the electric power to mechanical power. Brushed motors are less expensive, but less powerful. High performance helicopters tend to use newer brushless motors.

An example of a compatible RC helicopter electric power system is:

• LiPoly Battery: Thunder Power Pro Lite 3s1320
• Brushless ESC: Castle Creations Phoenix 45
  
• Brushless Motor: Hacker A20-6XL RC Helicopter Motor

Screenshot of an RC helicopter model in the FMS Software

Free FMS Flight Simulator Software For Your PC

The most well known free software that can be used with these cables is called the Flying Model Simulator, or FMS. You can download this from the FMS Homepage. The FMS flight simulator is extremely good, it allows you to load many different models of aircraft and landscape that can be found on the internet. Even without an RC TX, you can install this program and fly aircraft with you keyboard. This software is compatible with Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP. It will not work with Vista or Mac operating systems.

Connecting Your Transmitter to Your Computer

GWS sells a great FMS transmitter to USB interface cable in three types: Futaba, Hitec, GWS and JR. These GWS interface cables take the signal from the trainer/buddy port on standard RC transmitters and convert it into data that your computer interprets as coming from a USB joystick or game controller.

Getting Help with the FMS Software

The FMS Forum is a great community resource for learning and troubleshooting the FMS Flight Simulator Software.