What Kind Of Radio Controlled Helicopters Are There? - By: James Leonard Hampson

No doubt you have already noticed that radio controlled helicopters differ in their construction and aerodynamics to RC planes and jets. There are several different base designs and some of these are more maneuverable than others, although this comes at some cost, as these models are more difficult to fly and therefore are not suitable for beginners.

Possible power sources for your radio controlled helicopters include nitro (nitro methane-methanol internal combustion), electric, petrol or gas turbine.

Nitro helicopters are available in at least five sizes ranging from 15, 30, 50, 60 and 90 and these sizes are basically related to the size of the nitro engine. Flight times range from seven to fifteen minutes, and you will find the larger engines to be naturally more powerful and can therefore power larger sized rotor blades.

Nitro powered models have the advantage of being highly maneuverable, quick to refill and get back up in the air, but the disadvantages of being a bit pricey and of being pretty smelly and noisy! Nitro models are certainly unsuitable for indoor use because of these factors. If you wish, you can convert Nitro powered radio controlled helicopters to electric from commercially available or home-made kits.

The most common type of radio controlled helicopters are electric, mainly because of their practicality. Normally running on Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries, these are lightweight and will provide sufficient power for between four and twelve minutes which means you would be advised to buy additional batteries for convenience. Electric powered helicopters are limited to rotor diameters of up to 1500mm but do come in incredibly small sizes and are ideal for children as well as adults to begin with.

The smaller electric powered radio controlled helicopters have the advantage of being suitable for indoor use which has added to their popularity. Outdoors, the true ability of your radio controlled helicopters can be shown, and most have excellent aerobatic capabilities. As the size of the model increases however, the noise levels increase so you may need to be careful where you fly them.

Gas/turbine powered machines are possibly the most expensive, which puts them out of reach of some, but they are still very popular for dedicated enthusiasts. These have been included together here, as there are many similarities between the gas powered and turbine models. The primary differences occur in how to keep the turbine engine running. Although the gas powered radio controlled helicopters are often confused with the nitro models, it must be noted that the engines differ considerably.

If you are a beginner, it is suggested you start with a small electric radio controlled helicopter and work your way up. If you live in a built up area, stay clear of the nitro and gas/turbine models unless you really want to upset the neighbours!

The most common type of radio controlled helicopters are electric, mainly because of their practicality. Normally running on Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries, these are lightweight and will provide sufficient power for between four and twelve minutes which means you would be advised to buy additional batteries for convenience. Electric powered helicopters are limited to rotor diameters of up to 1500mm but do come in incredibly small sizes and are ideal for children as well as adults.

To fly radio controlled helicopters is far more than a hobbyist past-time, it has become a way of life for many. It requires a lot of skill to fly and if you build, a degree of technical ability to actually put them together. One of the best rc helicopter for beginners is the Honey Bee helicopter.