Fly an RC Helicopter for the First Time
Flying an RC helicopter can be challenging and takes a lot of time and practice. When you're flying your RC helicopter for the first time, don't just apply full power and hope for the best. You'll almost certainly crash and destroy your helicopter. Instead, take your time and learn each step before moving on to the next. You can also purchase RC helicopter training gear, which consists of a fiberglass stick with plastic balls on the ends that you attach to the helicopter landing gear. This is basically a wide landing gear that will protect the rotors and prevent the helicopter from flipping over, allowing for errors while you're learning to fly.
Instructions
Preparing for Flight
1. Read all of the manufacturer's instructions on assembly, operation and adjustments to your RC helicopter. Make sure all wires are connected properly, all components are secure and will not shift during flight, and that you understand the way the radio control system works. Check that the receiver and transmitter, as well as the motor battery, are charged.
2. Locate a wide-open space to fly your RC helicopter for the first time. Look for an area without any obstructions, preferably a paved area with a smooth surface.
3. Perform a "range check." Walk away from the RC helicopter about 100 feet with the antenna collapsed on your FM transmitter to determine at what point you lose radio range. For "spread spectrum" radios, which have long antennae, walk away about 100 feet and click the "Range Check" button.
4. Draw an X on the ground with the chalk at the farthest point where you still have radio range. Place the helicopter on this mark, facing into the wind. Stand behind the helicopter about 10 feet or so.
5. Start the engine and increase the power very slowly. The helicopter will probably want to drift to the left or to the right, so reduce the power and adjust the cyclic trim a little to the right if the helicopter was drifting to the left or vice versa. You should now have no sideways drift.
6. Place the helicopter back on the reference point, apply power very slowly and note if the helicopter tends to drift forward or backward. Adjust the proper trim controls so the helicopter will stay on the reference point.
7. Increase the power more rapidly and notice if the helicopter has a tendency to spin left or right. Adjust this following the transmitter radio manufacturer's specifications.
Flying Your RC Helicopter
8. Increase the throttle with the helicopter on the reference point just to get it light on the landing gear. If the helicopter drifts to the left, give a light amount of right cyclic to bring it back to the reference point and try to hold it there. If the helicopter starts to drift forward, give a little backward cyclic. Use small control movements until you can control the helicopter and stay on the reference point.
9. Place the helicopter on the reference point, increase the throttle until the helicopter is light on the gear and try to skid forward about 10 feet using small, light forward-cyclic commands. Now try to bring the helicopter back using light backward-cyclic commands. Try to slide the helicopter back to the reference point with the nose pointing in its original position.
10. Move the helicopter to the left and to the right, keeping the nose straight forward and returning to the reference point. Repeat the exercise going forward and backward at 45-degree angles from the reference point. You should now be familiar with the controls and how the helicopter responds.
11. Increase power slowly and lift off about 1 or 2 inches above the ground, starting with the helicopter on the reference point. Try to keep the helicopter on top of the reference point with the nose pointed into the wind.
12. Gain a few more inches of altitude, hovering steady above the reference point. Then practice moving the helicopter as you did in the previous steps, moving left and returning to the reference point, and then moving right and back to the reference point.
Tags: reference point, about feet, back reference, back reference point, helicopter reference, helicopter reference point