Like with RC model airplanes, RC helicopter transmitters have different modes of operation. This article will show you the four different transmitter modes, and illustrate the differences between them.

Mode 1 RC Helicopter Radio Transmitter

On a mode 1 RC helicopter radio transmitter, the left stick controls fore and aft cyclic and left / right yaw, and the right stick controls the throttle and left / right cyclic.

Mode 2 RC Helicopter Radio Transmitter

On a mode 2 RC helicopter radio transmitter, the left stick controls the throttle and left / right yaw, and the right stick controls the fore / aft cyclic and left / right cyclic.

Mode 3 RC Helicopter Radio Transmitter

On a mode 3 RC helicopter radio transmitter, the left stick controls fore/aft cyclic and left/right cyclic, and the right stick operates the throttle and left / right yaw.

Mode 4 RC Helicopter Radio Transmitter

On a mode 4 RC helicopter transmitter, the left stick controls the throttle and left/right cyclic, and the right stick controls the fore/aft cyclic and left/right yaw.

Spread spectrum technology represents the latest advancement in RC radio control systems.

Unlike conventional PPM (pulse position modulation) and PCM (pulse code modulation) radio systems which operate on distinct channels, spread spectrum radios broadcast over a large range of channels simultaniously. These channels are all members of the 2.4 Ghz band, which removes them from the frequencies often used by other radio devices. Because of this, spread spectrum radio systems are not affected by the interference caused by non RC radio systems.

Spread Spectrum technology also eliminates the need for frequency control. Spread spectrum radio systems broadcast over a multitude of radio frequencies, and the user is never aware of what they are. This works because:

1. The transmitter is assigned a unique identification code when it is built.
2. The radio receiver is programmed to seek and lock to this same code.
3. After the transmitter is turned on, it encodes the signals it sends with its identification code.
4. The receiver searches for this code, and locks to the frequencies that the transmitter is operating on.

Each identification code is unique, which means that no other radio system in the world uses it. Because of this, the individual frequencies that the radio is operating on are irrelevant, so many spread spectrum radios can operate simultaneously.

The most noticeable consequence of this technology is that spread spectrum radios are immune to radio interference. Spread spectrum radios also allow an extremely fast servo response time, because the entire encoding, decoding, and execution of radio commands happens in milliseconds.

Spread spectrum technology is becoming more prevelant in RC radio systems, and will shortly replace conventional FM radio systems entirely.

Balancing your RC helicopter rotor blades is just as important as ensuring that they track properly. There are several different ways that you can balance your RC helicopter rotor blades, this article lists the two easiest and most accurate.

Using a Commercial Balancer

Using a commercial RC helicopter blade balancer (available at most hobby stores) is the easiest and most accurate way to balance your rotor blades. If you don’t mind paying at least 40 to 60 dollars, then we recommend this method over the “hombrew” method listed below.

Checking Dynamic Rotor Blade Balance

Before you check the static balance of the rotor blades, you will have to check the dynamic balance. You will need the following supplies:

1. Pocket Knife
2. Sharp Pencil
3. Tape

Follow this procedure to check the dynamic balance of your rotor blades:

1. Set the knife on a flat surface.
2. Remove the rotor blades from the RC helicopter, and balance one of them on the knife blade.
3. Using the pencil, mark the balance point on the blade, being careful not to move it and upset the balance.
4. Repeat for the other rotor blade.
5. Place the blades on top of each other, and check the relative positions of your balance marks.

If the balance marks are more than 1 millimeter away from each other, then the dynamic balance of the rotor blades will have to be adjusted. Do this by the following procedure:

1. Place the blades on top of each other.
2. Transfer the mark closest to the root of the blades to the other rotor blade.
3. Balance the blade with two marks on the knife, and add tape to it’s root as needed to get it to balance on the new mark.

Your rotor blades should now be balanced dynamically. The next section will show you how to statically balance them.

Statically Balancing Rotor Blades

Follow this procedure to statically balance your RC helicopter rotor blades:

1. Obtain two right angle metal brackets from your local hardware store.
2. Remove your RC helicopters rotor blade holder from the rotor head.
3. Straighten the rotor blades, like they would be in flight.
4. Set the rotor blade holder on the pair of right angle brackets, resting on the balls.
5. Observer the rotor blade assembly. If it tips over then add tape to the lighter rotor blades center of gravity.

After completing the above procedures, your RC helicopter rotor blades should be properly balanced.

This article lists 11 pro tips to help you get the most out of your RC helicopters.

• Secure Radio Components With Velcro – Rubber bands are frequently used to secure RC helicopter radio components. Rubber bands stretch and loosen under stress. You can help secure your radio components by adding Velcro strips, which keep the rubber bands from being stressed too much.
• Easy Switch Marking – RC helicopter radio transmitters have many switches, and remembering which switch does what can be difficult. Fix this problem by slipping different colored fuel tubing over each switch so that you can tell between them at a glance.
• Keep Your Clevises Closed – Almost every RC helicopter uses plastic or nylon clevises to connect servos to their respective control surfaces. You can ensure that they never come undone in flight by slipping small pieces of fuel tubing over the closed clevises.
• Avoid Plastic Swelling – Many plastics swell and distort when introduced to light oil lubricants. If you need to lubricate plastic parts use petroleum jelly to lubricate them.
• Tail Boom Guide Adjustment – RC helicopters use guides to support the tail rotor pushrod. If these guides aren’t aligned properly there will be excessive friction between the pushrod and tail boom. Prevent this problem by carefully adjusting the tail boom guides so that they’re perfectly straight.
• Avoid Double Sided Tape Residue – Many RC helicopter servos are secured with highly adhesive double sided tape. Double sided tape secures servos to the fuselage well, but it can leave a sticky residue when removed. Prevent this by applying scotch tape to the servo case before applying the double sided tape.
• Extend the Needle Valve – If you fly a fuel powered RC heli, then you will need to adjust the mixture using a needle valve. Unfortunately, engines are mounted inside the RC helicopter and can be hard to reach – especially while running. Make your needle valve more accessible by attaching a piece of wire, and routing it outside the fuselage. Make a 90 degree bend at the end of the wire. This let’s you adjust the needle valve by turning the wire, and keeps your hands away from the rotor blades.
• Extend the Power Switch – Reaching the power switch can be hard if it’s mounted inside the helicopter fuselage. Fix this the same way that you extended the needle valve: simply attach a wire, bend one end at 90 degrees, and then route it outside the fuselage.
• Extent the Vertical Fin – RC helicopters use vertical fins to prevent the tail rotor from hitting the ground. If you fly from a grass field, the vertical fin can sink into the runway and damage the tail rotors. Prevent this by adding a piece of wire to the bottom of the bottom of the vertical fin, so that the helicopter rests on it when landed.
• Keep Metal Parts Lubricated – Metal parts wear out after excessive usage. Maximize their lifespan by lubricating them with a light oil.
• Reroute the Charging Cable – You can make it easier to charge your RC helicopters batteries by routing the charging cable outside the fuselage, and attaching it to one landing skid with cable ties.

We hope that these tips make flying your RC helicopter even more enjoyable.

Ensuring that your RC helicopters rotor blades track properly is just as important as blade balancing. This article will show you how to quickly and easily balance your RC helicopter’s rotor blades so that they track properly through the air.

RC helicopter blades are balanced along their vertical axis before flight, but they can still travel through the air in a less than optimal path. If the rotor blades have slightly different shapes, then each blade will try to follow a different path while spinning. You can check to see if your RC helicopter’s rotor blades are tracking properly by following this procedure:

1. Get a friend that is willing to help you balance your model.
2. Mark one rotor tip with bright adhesive tape.
3. Have your friend hold the transmitter, while you hold the model so that the rotor blades are at eye level.
4. Be careful not to hold the blades too close to your face, and have your friend increase throttle to full.
5. Watch the rotor blades edge on. If you only see one profile, then they are tracking correctly. If you see two then they will have to be corrected.

Fortunately, there is a simple and cost effective way to fix badly tracking rotor blades. If you have a collective pitch helicopter, then you should be able to adjust the pitch of each rotor blade. A fixed pitch RC helicopter can be balanced by adding tape between the top surface of the rotor blade and the root holder. You can also try gently flexing one rotor blade to increase the camber of its airfoil.

The new Hirobo XRB shuttle boasts some exciting new features not normally found in RC helicopters of it’s price range. It features a coaxial design, making it an ultra stable training heli for almost any pilot.

The Hirobo XRB shuttle measures 36 cm in length, 160 cm in height, and has a main rotor diameter of 160 cm. This small form factor let’s it fly indoors easily. The Hirobo mini shuttle weighs only 165 grams, and includes a lipo balance charger.

The Megatech Micro Flyer is a two channel RC helicopter built to extremely small dimensions. A durable plastic body and stable coaxial design make it the perfect RC helicopter for kids.

The Megatech Micro Flyer includes a charger that is built right into the transmitter. This lets you charge the RC helicopter on the field, maximizing flying time.

A simple to use transmitter operates on the radio band, not the line of sight infra red frequency that is often used with micro helicopters. The transmitter also uses buttons instead of sticks, requiring less skill to operate precisely.

The Megatech Micro Flyer uses a coaxial design, giving it good flight stability. A separate tail rotor is used to control yaw.

The Megatech Micro Flyer is a great, easy to fly electric RC helicopter for beginners. You can read more about it on it’s website

RC helicopters are not toys, and can cause serious injury if misused. This article lists the various safety tips that you can use to stay safe when building and flying your RC helicopters.

Prevent Building Errors

When building the RC helicopter, it is imperative that you follow all of the manufacturers instructions. Not only will this give you a more enjoyable building experience, but it will also increase the chance of a successful first flight.

• Use a thread locking compound on each bolt that does not have a lock washer. This prevents bolts from vibrating loose during flight.
• Make all bolts and screws tight, but not tight enough to strip screws or round off screwdrivers. Over tightening screws and bolts can cause structural damage to the RC helicopter.
• Keep the different radio wires of your RC helicopter away from moving parts.
• Lubricate all moving parts.
• Route the antenna wire through the RC helicopter in such a way that it does not get tangled or caught in any parts of the RC helicopter. Losing a part of the antenna in flight can cause a crash.
• The power switch should be oriented so that it cannot accidentally be turned off. If the switch is mounted horizontally, make sure that the on position is towards the back. If the switch is mounted vertically, the up position should turn the RC helicopter on.

While At the Flying Field

When you are at the flying field, follow these tips to ensure your and others safety.

• If you are flying at a club, then there should be a frequency board with clips attached. Before you ever turn on your radio system, make sure that your pin is on the board, next to your radio frequency. This prevents conflicts between different RC helicopters, ensuring everyones safety.
• Keep a first aid kit in the car, or leave one where everyone can find it.
• Remove the main rotor blades before you start the engine for the first time. This will prevent them from spinning and causing injury if the engine starts at a high throttle setting.
• Perform a full range check of your radio equipment before each flight, according to your radio systems instructions.

Starting the Engine

Starting the engine and carrying the RC helicopter out to the runway is one of the most dangerous parts of any flight. Following these tips will help keep you safe.

• Make sure that both the transmitter and receiver are on before starting the engine.
• Hold on to the rotor head to prevent it from moving, if the engine starts to move the rotors.
• Make sure that the throttle hold and idle up setting on the transmitter are off.
• Keep the transmitter neck strap away from the throttle lever.

While Flying

• Keep the RC helicopter away from other aircraft and people.
• Use sunglasses on a bright day, so that you don’t lose the helicopter in the Sun.
• Stand 15 to 20 feet away from the RC helicopter when flying.
• Fly with a friend, so that he/she can help you if there is an accident.

After flying, clean the RC helicopter throughly and pack all of your tools neatly. This will help make sure that you don’t lose anything, and will keep your RC helicopter in good condition and ready for the next flight.

The Bandit X-Cell 450 is a new miniature electric RC helicopter, built by Miniature Aircraft. It has an impressive list of features; here are some of the most important:

• Graphite chassis
• Metal rotor head
• Adjustable motor head mixing
• Graphite main rotor grips
• Molded canopy

There are many different 450 size RC helicopters on the market, but Miniature Aircraft sets itself apart by providing outstanding quality in its products. The bandit is no different, and is remarkably easy to assemble.

When you want to take your electric RC helicopter flying to the next level, the Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Bandit 450 is an excellent choice.

The Blade CP Pro 2 is a sophisticated electric RC helicopter, capable of extreme 3D maneuvers right out of the box. It includes many features not usually found in RC helicopters of its price range, including:

• A Spectrum 2.4 Ghz radio system
• A heading hold gyroscope
• A three cell 11.1 volt, 800 Mah lithium polymer battery
• Three digital, sub micro servos coupled to a swashplate (120 degree control)

The Blade CP Pro 2 provides full cyclic collective pitch control – driven by three digital servos linked to an included mixer. Because of this the Blade CP Pro 2 is a sophisticated RC helicopter – best flown
by experienced pilots.

A powerful 370 sized brushed electric motor provides more than enough power for the RC helicopter, and the N60 tail rotor provides rapid control response.

The Blade CP Pro 2 is a great RC helicopter, packed full of features that any experienced RC helicopter pilot will appreciate.