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RC helicopter controls explained
By Paul Walsh Last reviewed
A helicopter is controlled with two sticks and a few switches. Once you know what each does, everything else is practice.
The four main controls
| Control | What it does | Also called |
|---|---|---|
| Throttle / collective | Climb and descend | Power, pitch |
| Rudder | Turn the nose left and right | Yaw, tail |
| Elevator | Tilt forward and back | Pitch, fore/aft cyclic |
| Aileron | Tilt left and right | Roll, lateral cyclic |
Elevator and aileron together are called cyclic: they tilt the main rotor so the helicopter moves in that direction. How the swashplate does that is in how an RC helicopter works.
Throttle on fixed pitch, collective on collective pitch
On a fixed pitch helicopter, the left stick changes the rotor speed: more speed, more lift.
On a collective pitch helicopter, the left stick mainly changes the angle of the blades (the collective pitch), while the rotor speed stays roughly constant. Mid-stick is usually zero pitch: the helicopter neither climbs nor falls. Below mid-stick, negative pitch pushes the helicopter down (or up, if it's inverted). The differences are explained in coaxial vs fixed pitch vs collective pitch.
Mode 2 and Mode 1
| Left stick | Right stick | |
|---|---|---|
| Mode 2 | Throttle/collective (up-down), rudder (left-right) | Elevator (up-down), aileron (left-right) |
| Mode 1 | Elevator (up-down), rudder (left-right) | Throttle/collective (up-down), aileron (left-right) |
Mode 2 puts everything that moves the helicopter around the sky on one stick, which many people find intuitive. Mode 1 is still common among experienced UK club pilots. Most modern radios ship as Mode 2 and can be converted.
The important switches
- Throttle hold: cuts the motor without disarming the controls. Use it every time you approach the helicopter.
- Flight mode or idle up: on collective pitch helicopters, switches to a higher, constant head speed for aerobatics.
- Stability or rescue switch: on stabilised helicopters, selects beginner mode or triggers Panic Recovery.
- Dual rates and expo: soften the controls around centre, making the helicopter less twitchy while you learn.
Trims
Trims make small permanent adjustments so the helicopter doesn't drift when the sticks are centred. On flybarless helicopters, use trims sparingly: a helicopter that needs a lot of trim usually has a setup or mounting problem. See RC helicopter troubleshooting.
Practising the controls
Learn the controls on a simulator before flying, so your thumbs move without thinking. Then follow the stages in how to fly an RC helicopter. Choosing a transmitter, and how channels map to controls, is covered in RC transmitters explained and 4 channel vs 6 channel RC helicopters. Back to the RC helicopters hub.
Frequently asked questions
Should I learn Mode 1 or Mode 2?
Most new UK pilots learn Mode 2, and most radios ship that way. If an instructor at your club flies Mode 1, learning their mode makes buddy-box training easier.
What is throttle hold?
A switch that cuts the motor while still letting you move the controls. It's the most important safety switch on a helicopter: use it whenever you approach, carry or set down the model.
What does cyclic mean?
Cyclic is the combined forward, back and sideways control. It tilts the rotor disc so the helicopter moves in that direction.
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