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How to Balance Reflex Blades

One of the keys to a functional helicopter is keeping it in perfect equilibrium. Due to the rapid rotation of the helicopter's rotors, unbalanced blades can cause a wobble effect that drastically decrease the aircraft's stability. Learning how to balance your reflex helicopter's blades will ensure stable flight, allowing you to practice your skills as a pilot with an aircraft that is capable of performing in a consistent manner.

Things You'll Need

Reflex helicopter
Screwdriver
Wooden dowel
Flat, level surface
Metallic tape
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew the mounting bolts that secure the helicopter blades to the swashplate. Remove the screws then disconnect the blades.
- 2
  Place a round item -- like a wooden dowel -- on a flat, level surface. Plant each blade on the dowel one at a time, then assess their center of balance. Move the blade to the left or right until you identify its center of balance; mark the center with a marker.
- 3
  Place the blades side by side to see if all their centers of gravity align with one another. Identify the blades that have different center of gravity than the rest.
- 4
  Stick tiny pieces of metallic tape to the blade to shift the center of gravity more toward the exact center. If the center of gravity is more to the left, apply a small piece of metallic tape to the right side, to shift the center of gravity over. Continue to make minor adjustments until the center of gravity is equal between all of the blades.
- 5
  Place each blade on a scale to determine their weight. All the blades need to weigh the same; if they do not, apply metallic tape to the center point of the lightest blades, to establish uniformity between them all.
- 6
  Mount the blades back onto the swashplates by fastening them with the screws.

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