Tips for Flying an RC Helicopter

Flying an RC Helicopter is a rewarding hobby, but is not necessarily an easy skill to master. Crashing an RC helicopter can destroy it in an instant. Learning the tips and tricks to flying an RC helicopter well can not only make it more enjoyable, but can also save you a significant amount of money.

Start with a simulator

There are simulators available that allow you to practice controlling an RC helicopter without actually putting your expensive new bird in the air. When you can land a simulated flight without crashing, you are ready to take out the real helicopter.

Begin with short flights

Short flights, sometimes called hops, are an opportunity to practice the skill of picking up and setting down the RC helicopter without getting it high enough off the ground to do serious damage to the helicopter in a crash. Start by picking the helicopter up a few inches off the ground, traveling forward about six inches and then setting it back down. As you gain experience and confidence pick the helicopter up higher off the ground and travel it further before setting it back down on the ground.

Start slow

When flying full-height for the first several times, walk the helicopter, or walk along in the flight path staying near the helicopter so that you can see exactly how it is responding to your movements, the wind and other factors. While walking the helicopter keep it at low speeds. Make sure that you can fully control the helicopter at full-height at low speeds before trying higher speeds.

RC helicopters are fascinating and technologically complex hobby machines. Starting slow and following a few tips from the pros can go far in preparing you for a long and exciting future as an RC flight hobbyist.