HOW TO SETUP A RC HELICOPTER
The most important step in flying a R.C. Helicopter is the setup. If your helicopter is not setup right the bird will tip side to side, frontward or backward, or the tail could spin out of control. You can see the importance of a good setup. 1. The first step in setting up a R.C. Helicopter. • Make sure all servos are moving in the right direction When you move the right side stick right the swashplate will tilt right etc for forward and back. • Make sure the throttle is correct and the it does not need reversed in the radio also called the TX. 2. Now that the servos are moving in the right direction we need to center the servos. • Turn on radio then plug in receiver make sure the motor is unplugged if working on electric helicopter. • Move the throttle stick to half way this get all your servos to the half way postion. • Now we want to find the servo horn that will line up 90 degrees with center keep moving till you find one that is close or dead on make sure to put in the screw when you find the one that works. 3. Next is to level the swashplate you can buy a tool for your size helicopter or you can eyeball it. • To get the swashplate level adjusts the arms that run from the servos to the swashplate. 4Next we need to make sure the washout block is level. • The washout block is between the swashplate and the fly bar cage. • Make sure that both arms are level with each other if not adjust the arm that comes from the fly bar cage until level. • Next we need to make sure the fly bar arms are level • Make sure the fly bar arms are parallel with each other if not adjust the rod that attaches to the swashplate. 6 Next is to make sure the pitch on the main blades is set. • When at center stick throttle make sure the main blades are at zero pitch • Full stick should be between +10 degrees to +12 degrees depending on flying style • Bottom stick should be -10 degrees to =12 degrees Now we have our head setup and ready to go. With everything level and working together we should have a stable flying machine this setup gives up the best chance to get off the ground. This still some things to consider in setup like pitch curves Throttle curves . Radio setup in general but that is a subject by itself. The tail setup can be tricky sometimes I have found the best way to setup the tail is in rate mode get your servo centered then make sure your rod is adjusted I set my tail with a few degrees pitch on tail pushing the nose right too compensate for the main motor thrust on start up and to hold the nose straight in a hover. That about all the detail I can give not knowing the servo and gyro that is being used. That all to the basic setup of your helicopter have fun be safe and keep it in the air have a great day!
5 Steps to Flying a RC Helicopter
Nobody is truly complete unless they have a hobby they are passionate about. Having a hobby will give you something to spend your time on, and something to enjoy when you have free time. If you are trying to find what hobby you can stick with, you should think about experimenting with radio controlled hobbies. You can build models of almost any vehicle, from boats to cars to planes to helicopters. Many hobbyists will get their start with Radio Controlled helicopters. Helicopters are very complicated, but using the right kits you can get started without a problem. Once you fly your helicopter, you will feel that the entire experience was very rewarding. Flying the helicopter is a blast. The most important part of flying Radio Controlled helicopters is to be proficient in controlling it. You should understand exactly how to fly the helicopter, otherwise you run the risk of crashing it and ruining your entire investment, which is never good. Borrow a flight manual from someone who you know has a radio controlled helicopter. Take that chance to read through it and find out about all of the different terms, and the many knobs and levers that are required to maneuver the craft through the air. After you have read through it, take someone’s Radio Controlled helicopter out for a test flight to see if you have what it takes to control one of your own. If you crash it, be prepared to pay up! After you have decided that you will be able to handle a helicopter, and that you even want a Radio Controlled helicopter, you can start looking for your own kit. You can buy Radio Controlled helicopters that come completely assembled and ready to fly right out of the box.
However, there is not much fun in this, and they will probably only allow for a few hours of entertainment. The real fun comes when you buy one of the Radio Controlled Helicopters that has to be constructed from hundreds of small plastic pieces. It may be frustrating while you are in the middle of the process, but at the end when you have a great looking helicopter that flies smoothly, you will be glad you spent the time. Your Radio Controlled helicopters building experience does not have to be limited to the simple kits. There are many different options for extremely advanced helicopters that have different shapes and features. You can find these in specialty shops all over the internet, and even in some brick-and-mortar locations. You should not buy a helicopter just because it looks interesting. Do research before you commit to building a particular one, so that you can find out what all it has to offer. You can find reviews and customer experiences all over the internet, on many different commerce sites. Find out about how well it flies, how easy it is to maneuver, the ease of assembly, and anything else that may matter. So once you get everything built, what are you going to do with your radio controlled helicopter? It seems pretty boring to just take it out for a flight every weekend. If you’re really passionate about it, you should look for ways that you can interact with others who are equally interested. This can be in the form of clubs where you just go flying every month or two, or large conventions with hundreds of remote control enthusiasts crowded in, talking and exchanging ideas. Getting involved like this will give you a chance not only to have an outlet for your passion, but also to find out more about it and become better at building and flying Radio Controlled helicopters. If the thought of flying Radio Controlled helicopters seems at all exciting to you, then look into getting a kit today. It is a great feeling to discover a new hobby that you are good at and enthusiastic about, so don’t hold yourself back if you think it could be a positive addition to your life. About The Author Morten Hansen has been working with the Radio Controlled Hobby area for several years and is mainly writing about subjects, that makes it easier for Internet users to learn about Radio Controlled Hobby subjects. For more details about the Radio Controlled Hobby Area visit our website Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morten_Hansen
Article SourceWays of Learning To Fly RC Airplanes & Helicopters
There are several methods of rc airplane training, and this page will give you a brief insight into each one. The methods given here also apply to rc helicopters, but for the main part we'll stick with airplanes. The important thing to remember when learning to fly radio control is that it will take you some time to gain confidence and better your flying skills. As with everything in life, everyone who wants to learn something new has to start on the very bottom rung of the ladder! RC airplane training is no different, and you need to learn to walk before you can run, as they say. The beauty is that these days many rc airplanes and helicopters are very user-friendly, and there is a huge choice of RTF (Ready To Fly) trainers available as entry-level models. The 3 main rc airplane training methods described below are: Club instruction RC flight simulators Self teach Club instruction Without doubt this is the best method of rc airplane and (especially) helicopter training, and is the only realistic option if you want to jump in at the deep end with a gas model rather than electric. Getting yourself along to a local rc flying club is a great idea, if you want to take the hobby seriously. Clubs are very common and there may be one closer to home than you think - visiting the website of your country's governing body for rc flying should help you locate a club in your area. All clubs have rc flying instructors, or at least pilots who are willing to teach, and many clubs even have a club trainer airplane especially for use by new members. If learning to fly radio control at a club, there are two methods that you'll probably encounter. The first one is the traditional method of side-by-side instruction, sharing a single transmitter. The instructor will show and tell you what to do, and if you get into difficulty he will take the transmitter from you and regain control of the airplane. When your heart has stopped racing and you can breathe normally again, he'll hand back the transmitter and you can have another go. The second method is the buddy box system. This is far better, but not all clubs have buddy boxes available. The buddy box system consists of two transmitters that are joined together by cable. The instructor holds the master transmitter while you, the student, holds the slave. With the flick of a switch, the instructor can hand over or take away complete control from you, without having to take the transmitter from your hands. The Futaba 4YF radio system, for example, is a popular choice for buddy box use.
RC flight simulators An ever increasing method of rc airplane training is to use a rc flight simulator. This is a realistic 4 channel radio control transmitter that connects to your home computer. The simulator includes powerful software to generate the very realistic graphics that let you practice your rc flying, without leaving the house! RC flight simulators are very popular for obvious reasons - you can practice without the worry of crashing your model. A simulator helps you gain the reflexes and co-ordination that you need for rc flying, and this is especially true for rc helicopters. Simulators are an excellent training aid if your budget will stretch that far. Self teach You could be forgiven for thinking that teaching yourself to fly rc airplanes and helicopters is a very difficult thing to do. The fact is, many RTF models these days have been designed with the complete newcomer in mind and are very simple to fly. Airplanes such as the electric 1 or 2 channel 'Park Flyer' style ones can be flown pretty much out of the box, and they make an excellent introduction to the hobby. They can be flown without experience, but following the manufacturer's instructions is of paramount importance when you start out. Similarly, many electric rc helicopters are aimed at the beginner. The dual rotor models such as the Blade CX, from E-flite, are particularly stable and can be mastered after a few flights. Many, including the CX, also come with their own flight simulation software which is a great idea and incentive to purchase such a model
With gas airplanes, however, it's a different story. Gas planes are bigger and faster, and so self teaching isn't really recommended. If something goes wrong with a gas plane in the air, the results can be quite nasty. For this reason, learning to fly a gas rc airplane and particularly a gas helicopter, is best done under club instruction. How you choose to undertake your rc airplane training is entirely up to you, and the kind of model that you want to purchase also makes a big difference. Of course, you can combine all the methods talked about above and accelerate your flying training! The bottom line is, there are no hard and fast rules but the thing to remember is to be responsible, but have fun while learning your new hobby! If you'd like to read a lot more about many aspects of this pastime, http://www.rc-airplane-world.com is a comprehensive 'Getting Started' Guide to the hobby. Pete Carpenter Author/owner of http://www.rc-airplane-world.com, and a general 'rc head'! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_D_Carpenter
