What I am going to focus on are the three most common questions I get asked - seeing that many of you most likely have these same questions.
Probably the single most common question I get asked is "How Much Does A radio controlled helicopter Cost?" What most people dont understand is the helicopter is just one part of it.
A better question is "How much does it cost to start flying RC Helicopters?" There are several items you need to get before you can start flying, and usually these all have to be purchased separately.
The helicopter its self
The engine or motor
The RC radio and servos
Turbine - $9000.00 and up...Remember these are just very approximate numbers and you can spend many times more than this if you get top notch everything. Many Hobby shops will give discounts on full packages.
Manufacturers are starting to recognize that people just want to get in and get out - so they are putting together entire starting packages that will save you time and money. There are always sales going on, and dont over look the
used or pre-owned market
.
This might seem like a lot of money for a hobby, but when you look at what other hobbies cost RC Helicopters are actually very reasonable.
I also windsurf and just started
kite boarding
- wish they were as inexpensive as radio controlled helicopters.
DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO FLY RC AIRPLANES FIRST?
Not at all. There are very limited similarities in flight controls between helicopters and airplanes.
If you don't know much about RC airplanes, I found two very good web sites that cover just about everything to do with RC planes.
www.hooked-on-rc-airplanes.com
www.rc-airplane-world.com
Have a look at them if you are undecided between planes or helicopters, or like RC airplanes too.
Anyways, back to our question - Experience with an RC airplane won't help you fly a radio controlled helicopter, but will certainly help you with things such as getting your engine running and tuning it. It will also help with the familiarity of RC radios, speed controllers and batteries.
Even RC car and truck experience will help. In fact, our RC car sisters and brothers probably have an advantage when it comes to building the helicopter, there are many similarities between the mechanical workings of RC cars and RC helis and how they are built.
Of course if you have no RC experience, that is ok too, you will just have a longer learning curve.
HOW HARD ARE RADIO CONTROLLED HELICOPTERS TO FLY?
No sugar coatings here when you are first starting they are exceedingly difficult. It is said that radio controlled helicopters are harder to fly than real ones. I have talked to a few helicopter pilots who fly both, and most will agree with that statement.
This is the main reason why I built the
How To Fly RC Helicopters
section of this web site and am offering these on line lessons for free - I don't want people to give up with RC helis simply because they didn't have someone to guide them through the basics of learning how to fly.
You also have to understand some basic
helicopter flight theory
before you even attempt to fly a helicopter, although that is the same for RC airplanes.
Like I side before, learning how to skate or ride a bike seemed impossible for many of us, but once you got it, it seemed so easy right. Helis are no different just more technical.
There are more tools now than ever to help you along the way such as
rc flight simulators,
and the equipment is much better. Learning from a qualified RC heli instructor is the best way to go, but so many of us have learned on our own.
Any one can figure it out, some catch on quick others take a bit longer but if you take your time, understand the basics, and learn in small steps, you will succeed I promise!
If you are looking for a great book on getting started with RC helicopters, I
highly recommend The Basics Of Radio
Control Helicopters. From purchasing
your first RC helicopter to areobatics
this book covers it all - a must read.
This DVD is also a good source of RC
helicopter Information. If you would
rather watch than read, it is a nice
alternative.
There are several reasons why many people give up or fail with Radio Controlled Helicopters, the most common are: