An Introduction To RC Helicopters It has frequently been said that each man needs a hobby and perhaps that applies to women too, if they have the time, so I am going to suggest remote controlled helicopters as a decent hobby. Becoming interested in remote controlled choppers is not the easiest way of beginning with remote controlled models, but it is almost certainly the most challenging and maybe the most fun. Aficionados of RC cars and trucks would probably disagree, but I am certain that there is a certain amount of cross-over as well. The difficulty with beginning a hobby with RC choppers is that it is daunting, because the ultimate objective is to construct your own flying machine with your own two hands and most people know very little concerning engines, nothing about aerodynamics in general and nothing about helicopters in specific. So, how would you start a hobby that has such a grandiose objective? The best way to begin is probably a micro RC helicopter. These micro RC helicopters are around eight inches long and weigh around three ounces, but they have three channel control and are very manoeuvrable. They are also quite cheap. These days you should be able to get one for about $30, which is around $100 less than last year. These entry level RC choppers come ready-to-fly, although you may have to affix the rotors, so you will not learn much about assembly there. After you have flown your helicopter for a few days and you are starting to understand it, get a subscription to an enthusiasts' magazine, so that you start to learn the terminology and different techniques. You will almost certainly have a couple of accidents and have to replace rotors or parts might wear out over time or be defective. They will require replacing. This is a good thing, because you will learn the fundamentals of assembly on a fundamental machine and the parts and tools are readily accessible. After a time, you might become fed up of constantly recharging the battery, so you may choose to quit (so what? You had over $30 worth of fun) or you might choose to move up a degree and buy an RC helicopter kit. However, before you do that, go along to an enthusiasts' club and chat to other owners about the pros and cons of the different models. At this stage, you will be glad that you have been reading your magazine, because you will have read reviews and adverts on the latest kits and you should have some significant questions you want to ask the experts at the club. If there is no club near you, join a few of the Internet forums on RC hobbies in general or RC helicopters in specific. Once you have your kit in your hands, do not become too eager to start work on it. Read through the instructions first and find all the parts. Some kits come with all the necessary tools others just provide the specialized things, so make certain that you
have everything to hand before you begin and make sure that you are familiar with all the parts. Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now concerned with the Gyro Helicopter S107. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Smart Toys for Kids.