| So here you are, a newly unpacked remote control | | | | and left/right motion of your rc helicopter by altering |
| helicopter in front of you and an instruction manual in | | | | the pitch of the main rotor head. The familiar |
| your hand - the only problem is that it seems to be | | | | nose-down position of a helicopter in forward flight |
| written in a foreign language, in spite of the fact that | | | | results from manipulation of these controls. |
| the words are definitely in English. Your new hobby | | | | - Collective Control - This control allows your model to |
| seems destined to become a non-starter before | | | | climb or descend by altering the pitch angle of the |
| you've even had a chance to try it out, just because | | | | blades. |
| the jargon seems too darn complicated to understand! | | | | - Yaw - Because of the action of the rotor, all |
| Don't worry though - once you get to grips with all | | | | helicopters would spin round and around uncontrollably |
| these 'foreign' terms you'll quickly come to realise that | | | | unless the yaw is counterbalanced. The mounting of |
| they truly are the Language of Love. Learning to fly | | | | the tail rotor at a 90 degree angle to the main rotor |
| radio controlled helicopters is certainly a tough | | | | prevents this happening and also gives you control |
| challenge but it's a challenge that is well worth the | | | | over side to side movement. |
| effort to overcome. The rewards that await you once | | | | - Servo - This small mechanism is the gadget that is |
| you have mastered a few basic skills, will take you to | | | | directly controlled from your transmitter. A small |
| places that you have only previously dreamed of. The | | | | push-rod acts on the element it is controlling to produce |
| joy of flying your rc helicopter is a thrill that is in a class | | | | the change in angle or distance of travel which then |
| of its own and one that will give you pleasure for | | | | translates into your rc helicopter's change in flight |
| many years to come. | | | | pattern or position. The more you move your |
| The main terms that you will come across and their | | | | transmitter controls, the greater the 'push' of the servo |
| explanations are: | | | | and the larger the effect of your model's movement. |
| - RTF - Ready To Fly. Many flyers prefer to build their | | | | - Gyro - This amazing piece of hardware is what |
| own radio controlled helicopters from kits but that's a | | | | allows your radio controlled helicopter to maintain |
| step too far for someone just starting out with the | | | | stable flight and not spin crazily out of control every |
| hobby. The key to getting the maximum enjoyment | | | | time it lifts into the air. By detecting yaw movements it |
| out of flying your rc helicopter is to start slow and | | | | acts to stabilise the tail rotor so you can concentrate |
| master the basics of flying on the simplest model | | | | on all the other fun parts of flying your rc helicopter. |
| helicopter and that means one that is pre-built and | | | | New jargon can seem very intimidating when you first |
| ready to use right out of the box. | | | | come across it in a new hobby and it can often cause |
| - Channels - 2CH, 3CH, 4CH all the way up to 6CH - | | | | an acute lack of confidence. You can become |
| surely it's a case of 'the more the merrier'? Absolutely | | | | convinced that everyone else is an expert and will look |
| not, if you are just starting out. Each channel gives you | | | | down their noses at you as you are so obviously a |
| the ability to control one action on your rc helicopter, so | | | | newbie. But persevere in learning about your radio |
| 6 channels will control 6 separate maneuverability | | | | controlled helicopter, ask the experts' advice and you'll |
| controls and that can become a very complicated | | | | find that they will be more than willing to share their |
| task. Start with 2 or 3 channels, master those and | | | | knowledge and enthusiasm with you. In no time at all, |
| work your way up to more as your skill increases. | | | | you'll be an expert too and will be using the very same |
| - Throttle - This controls the speed of your model. | | | | words that frightened the life out of you as if they are |
| More throttle equals greater speed. | | | | second nature. |
| - Cyclic Controls - These control the forward/back | | | | |