If you are new to RC helicopters one thing that can be difficult to master quickly is the hover. This looks quite simple when you watch the members of your local RC models club, but when you try to hover, the copter usually hits the ground quite quickly.

It can be quite easy to damage your RC helicopter, especially if you are a beginner, so what can you do to help a little?

Buying some sort of training rig that can attach to your RC helicopter is the best option here. A specific training undercarriage can be bought from your RC helicopter stockist that will do the job nicely. The kit provides a cushioned support to the undercarriage of the copter and is easy to install. This means that if the copter tips over whilst you are trying to hover, the undercarriage will have a much larger surface area so will be unlikely to crash. The training undercarriage will also absorb any shocks that your copter may sustain if you have a crash landing.

After you have been using the training kit for a while, you will often find that your copter will be much easier to fly after the carriage is removed.

You will find that all RC helicopters come with packaging that states they have an ESC. What is an ESC? It’s actually the electronic speed controller. If your copter comes with a variable speed motor, and it most likely will, then the electronic speed controller is the device that controls the speed.

The electronic speed controller works by turning the signals from your throttle controller into small adjustments that can control the speed of the motor. The type of ESC can vary depending on the type of motor you have. If your motor is the variety with brushes then all that happens is the ESC controls the amount of power that is delivered to your motor thus changing the speed. The power is delivered in pulses (or chopped – excuse the pun) so the longer the pulses the more power the motor receives so the faster it goes.

If you have a brushless motor the speed is controlled by changing the voltage across the windings. There are no brushes to change in these motors so maintenance is reduced. They are now becoming more and more popular because of this.

In summary make sure you use the right ESC for the right type of motor and you won’t go wrong!

Every RC helicopter pilot has heard of Airwolf. If you haven’t where were you during the 1980’s when the show ran from 84 to 87. The show features the state of the art supersonic military helicopter, code name ‘Airwolf’ and pilot Stringfellow Hawke who keeps the copter hidden until a secret government body (who owns the copter) find Hawke’s brother who has been missing in action since Vietnam. The shows striking synthesized theme tune and thrilling action scenes wowed its viewers and many still hanker for a re-make in the future.

The helicopter used for Airwolf was really a Bell 222. After the show finished the copter actually served as an air-ambulance in Germany before it met an untimely demise in an accident on June the 6th 1992.

If you were a fan in the 80’s then you can now get the chance to fly an RC helicopter of the same name. This mini Airwolf copter uses infrared to fly in any direction and because of its dual counter rotation rotors it’s really stable and can be flown straight away by even the most inexperienced flyer.

This is a small scale RC helicopter and because of which comes with an equally small price. It can be bought from around £40.

The King 3 RC helicopter is a great step up from a beginner model and is available in 35MHZ and 2.4GHZ models. It’s the latest version from E-SKY and comes in either red or blue. This copter features a fantastic 1500mah LiPo battery as standard and with a 400 brushless motor and new high-tech 6-channel RC system this copter is a great buy.

The RC helicopter is ready to fly out of the box, and with the copter being tested both physically and electronically before dispatch you won’t have to wait before you can fly. The copter features an auto rotation system and stainless steal flybar, tail shaft and main shaft. With a high performance heading lock gyro this RC helicopter is capable of amazing 3D aerobatics and competition sport flying.

If you are new to RC helicopters, before you fly, you could have a go at a test flight by purchasing an E-SKY simulator. This device plugs into the USB port on your computer and the controller looks just like the real thing. The software allows you to fly aircraft against a variety of backgrounds so you can try before you fly.

The 6 channel E-SKY Belt-CP V2 is a very popular RC helicopter. And it is now available in two fantastic versions, Red and Green. The model is available on either the 35MHZ or 2.4GHZ frequency (for a little extra money) and is a great step up if you are used to flying 4 channel copters.

The E-SKY Belt-CP V2 has digital servos and head lock gyro that can support sport flying and 3D aerobatics. And with the model ready to fly out of the box you won’t have to wait before you try to fly. The 2.4G version features the advanced spread spectrum technology and digital frequency shift key (FSK). This means you won’t be disappointed with the fantastic response and control you have in flight.

Don’t worry if you are a newbie to RC helicopters, you should be able to cope with this amazing machine. However a large training undercarriage should be bought with the copter for any untoward occurrences.
It is worth remembering that RC helicopters can cause injuries so they should always be flown with care. Models like these are not toys and are not recommended for anybody under the age of 14.

If you want to be seen flying the latest in 6 Channel RC helicopters then stand back and take a look at the latest version of the 60B by Walkera. It is certainly not for beginner RC helicopter enthusiasts and should be handled with care.

This helicopter, utilising 2.4G technology, looks fantastic and the experienced hobbyist will love the 450 series helicopter with its powerful CNC aluminium rotor head and tail unit. It uses an RX-2701 receiver with a WK-2601 transmitter. It also has an aluminium main frame meaning it is fully stable and when you purchase it – be assured it is fully ready to fly.

The brushless main motor and speed controller means you can be airborne for 6 to 8 minutes on a standard LiPo battery pack and depending upon the flight mode. The helicopter makes only a low noise
This helicopter can make amazing 3D manoeuvres including rolls, inverted and swoops. Even if you did manage to crash this helicopter, fear not, there are now many places to get your Walkera spare parts; you needn’t break the bank to fix it either. Parts can be added fairly easily too.

There are many great features of this RC helicopter, not least the fact its identification functions allow it to be flown along with many RC helicopters in the same field. If you are looking for one of the best models around, the Walkera 60B is certainly a top choice.

We have been discussing the channel 6 RC helicopters you can buy if you are in the market for a top of the range model. Now, we will look at the main brands of 6ch RC helicopters and what you will be getting for your money.

As we were saying in the last article, 6ch helicopters usually start from around £130. This is a big step up in price from the previous models, but you will notice the difference all the same.

The new version of the Walkera 22E utilises the 2.4GHz technology and this would make an ideal intermediate helicopter for someone looking for a step up in skill level.

You can also get larger and much more powerful models including the most recent E-SKY Honeybee King 3 which is available in both 35 MHz & 2.4 GHz versions.

The E-SKY Belt-CP V2 is another popular model available in the two versions, which you can purchase in either Green or Red.

Whichever model you eventually decide upon, rest assured you are getting the very best models for your money – these RC helicopters can provide hours and hours of fun and you may eventually want to take them to organised events, which are set up all over the country, throughout the year.

If you are looking for a new challenge with an RC helicopter, and have already mastered the flying of all manner of 3 and 4 Channel helicopters, then look no further than 6 Channel RC Helicopters. These are the most advanced helicopters you will find on the market; they have many more moving parts than the other models we have looked at so far.

The main variations you will immediately find between the 4ch and 6ch RC helicopter models is that on 4ch models the main rotor blade angle is fixed whereas on the 6ch models the angle of the main rotor blades actually changes depending on whether you increase or decrease the throttle. This makes them much more responsive, but also more difficult to control.

Once you feel you can handle the controls of 4ch models, there is no reason why you cannot make the step up and start looking at these more advanced models.

The 6ch models do get a little pricier, due to the number of intricate parts. You can get a Walkera 22E 6ch model from around £130. If you are looking for something a bit more powerful, then we will look at these models next.