Important First Steps in Flying Radio Controlled Helicopters

By Cathy Robertson

There are several steps in the learning process of flying radio controlled helicopters. They can be classified as pre-flight steps, basic hovering steps, advanced hovering skills, learning various types of acrobatics in flying the RC helicopters, and mastering the steps of 3D flight control. It is important that you learn all these steps patiently and master them if you wish to become an expert operator of radio controlled helicopter.

Pre-flight Steps in Flying an RC helicopter

The first step in flying RC helicopters is to understand the aerodynamics of helicopters. Either your instructor or the simulator will be able to provide you the basic knowledge about such helicopter aerodynamics. You should know about the controls, how to operate them, the actual impact of each control on the flight of the helicopter, the influence of the wind, and the type of the helicopter model you start training with. Learn clearly about the safety procedures that should be followed while flying the helicopter.

The next step is to learn the setting up the helicopter. Sit with your instructor and learn the various setup details. You should remember that the setting up of a learning helicopter will be quite simple but the setting up of an advanced model of 3D helicopter will be highly complicated. The setting up of each helicopter model will vary with the type of components and technology used by the manufacturer, the number of accessories that you decide to use for the helicopter complicating the matter further. You can also use two transmitters for the flight control, one with you and the other with the instructor. If you make any mistake while learning, the instructor will be able to control and correct it immediately and avoid crashing of the helicopter.

Learning Basic Hovering Steps

When you practice the initial hovering steps of the RC helicopter, the instructor will be controlling the rudder along with the collective throttle/pitch in the beginning, while you learn cyclic control. After that, you will be learning the operation and control of the rudder and throttle/pitch, while the instructor will take care of the cyclic. Once you are comfortable with the above hovering control processes, you can control both the control sticks and make your helicopter hover in the sky the way you want it. After becoming quite familiar with hovering, you should practice landing and takeoff of the helicopter.

You should also learn to manoeuvre the helicopter with tail in the wind or against sideways wind. It will be better if you learn the initial hovering steps in a place where the wind is low or moderate. Your instructor will guide you until you have perfected the art of keeping the helicopter hovering smoothly and then you can go solo. Finally, you should learn the hovering of the helicopter with tail-in circle from the instructor. This will complete your basic learning of RC helicopter flying. You should practice this until you become perfect in the art of keeping the radio controlled helicopter hovering smoothly and achieving perfect takeoff and landing of the helicopter. - 31505

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