DIY Network

Electric RC Helicopters: Introduction From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-201

No, you're not seeing things. This miniature RC helicopter is so agile and quiet that, with a little practice, it can be flown indoors.

In this episode of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli explores the fastest growing segment of the RC hobby: miniature electrically powered helicopters. You can fly these small, whisper-quiet mini-copters off your back deck, in your backyard or just about anywhere -- even indoors.

Electric RC Helicopters -- Introduction

In this segment, Chris goes over some of the basics of electric mini-helicopters and shows some of the models that are available.

Important: This demonstration shows provides some of the basic information for assembly and operation of this particular model rocket. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours, whether it is this particular model or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I

• These slick miniatures are works of mechanical art in miniature, and they come in a variety of styles and models. The one build in our demonstration is the Ikarus "Fun" Piccolo from Hobby Lobby, but the basic Piccolo chassis can be outfitted with a variety of bodies including a replica of the Huey (figure A) which was a staple of the U.S. military in the Vietnam war.

  
  

• Other body styles for the Piccolo include the "Air Wolf" -- complete with retractable landing gear -- and the familiar Hughes 300 "Whirlybird" (figure B).

  
  

• The Piccolo "Fun" (figure C) is a 4-channel beginner-level helicopter. Because it's main rotor blades remain in a fixed position, it is known as a fixed pitch helicopter. The "pitch" in this case refers to the angle of the blade with respect to the horizontal plane. Helicopters of this type are well suited to beginners because they are relatively easy to fly.

  
  

• More advanced models incorporate a collective pitch, meaning that the main-rotor blades can rotate to varying angles (figure D) to vary the amount of lift being applied to the craft.

  
  

• With fixed-pitch helicopters like the Fun, the amount of lift is predicated only on rotor speed rather than angle. Higher motor speeds translate to more lift, causing the helicopter to rise up; lower motor speeds mean less lift, and the helicopter comes down.

  
  

• In all helicopters (including the real ones), when the main rotor spins there is a physical effect called torque that causes a tendency for the tail-boom and body of the helicopter to spin in the opposite direction. The tail rotor serves to compensate for this tendency by rotating at a given speed to offset the torque effect and keep the tail-boom at a fixed position (figure E). The position and movement of the tail-boom in this manner is known as the yaw axis.

  
  

• The yaw axis is controlled on this helicopter by the left and right movement on the transmitter's left stick-control (figure F).

  
  

• If you think of the movement of the helicopter's main rotor around in a horizontal plane as like disc, pitch can be applied at various points of the "disc" to control the roll and pitch of the helicopter. This right/left and forward/backward orientation is controlled by the transmitter's right stick-control (figure G).

  
  

• The pitch and roll on this helicopter are controlled -- not by the rotor blades themselves -- but by the smaller paddles (figure H) that are operated by small servos.

  
  

• The position and action of the paddles are actuated by tiny servos (much like those used in RC cars or planes) and a network of tiny linkages aligned at right angles (figure I).
  

Ikarus "Fun" Piccolo from Hobby Lobby

Length......19 inches
Width...... 10 inches
Rotors...... 20 inches
Engine...... Electric
Street Price ... $299 combo