Hobbies And Interests
Choosing a Chopper
Though larger RC helicopters may be more stable and easier to control, they are also louder and more expensive. Smaller models, called mini RC helicopters, are affordable and accessible, but also more unwieldy.
Consider the type of flying you intend to do when buying an RC helicopter. As the size of the helicopter varies, so does the size and type of battery it uses—and how long the battery lasts. Units with external, rechargeable batteries may be useful for extended flying sessions. If you plan on flying for only short periods of time, particularly indoors, you may select a helicopter that connects to a wire to recharge.
Troubleshooting and Setup
Before you take to the skies, go over the basics of helicopter maintenance. Use a checklist to determine that your helicopter is working properly—listen in particular for strange noises like rattles or sputtering.
Choose an appropriate space for flying. Very small RC helicopters can be flown indoors with relative ease. Larger models, however, require wide open spaces. Choose a large, unpopulated grassy area. This not only keeps rocks, dirt and other sediment from entering your engine, but also provides a flat, level, soft space for landing.
Crashing
Sometimes crashes cannot be avoided because of maintenance problems or weather conditions. Conducting yourself properly in the wake of a crash is key to moving on and starting again later. If your mini RC helicopter crashes, conduct a thorough inventory of any and all parts—parts lost in the crash may not be available for individual replacement, so collecting them can prevent you from having to buy a new model.
If your mini helicopter suffers a bad crash, it may be worth buying a new one rather than trying to repair it—attempting to fly a misaligned model can have disastrous results, and with the relative low cost of smaller, battery-powered helicopters, completely replacing a broken model is not as devastating as replacing larger, more complex models.