Many beginner pilots decide, after looking at 3 and 4 channel RC helicopters, to splash out on a 6-Channel collective pitch model and have done with it.
Whilst intermediate to advanced level electric helicopters are trickier for novices to learn on, they do offer a level of flexibility not seen on cheaper models.
For example, RC electric helicopters (including co-axial) are equipped with a fly bar, which will ideally be generously “weighted” or have adjustable weights – both offer additional stability. The helicopter is at its most stable with the weights at the far ends. As you become more adventurous, you can move the weights inwards – or dispense with them altogether. Heavy weightless fly bars are easily upgraded to lighter, weighted ones, by the way.
If you’ve purchased an intermediate level 3D machine like the ESky Belt, you may find the fly bar insufficiently weighted. Many electric helicopters are equipped with plastic weights, which are next to useless. All this is easily remedied – metal fly bar weights are widely available and easy to attach. Don’t be tempted to “cheat” with lumps of Blutac (Though it is useful in an emergency).
Some more advanced RC electric helicopters also have the option of Bell-Hiller Ratio Adjustment. The Bell-Hiller mix adjusts the ratio of pitch input from the swashplate to the input from the fly bar. The best RC helicopters have a Bell-Hiller head, although both Bell and Hiller single systems are available.
In a Bell system, the swashplate connects directly to the rotor blade grips, bypassing the flybar. RC helicopters built this way are extremely manoeuvrable, but not very stable. These “flybarless” RC helicopters are rare – but have been included to explain how the Bell-Hiller system works.
Most beginner electric helicopters have a Hiller head. Here, the swash inputs go to the flybar, which in turn inputs to the main blade grips. They are stable, but not very responsive – though upgrades are possible.
Hence, if you are going to buy a more advanced heli as your “start up” chopper, go for a Bell-Hiller head and adjust the mix to give a high Hiller input to begin with. This means the rotor head is governed mainly from the fly bar, meaning a stable predictable flight pattern.
These are just two of the ways electric helicopters designed for the Air Ace can be temporarily “downgraded” to suit novice pilots.