Every radio controlled helicopter enthusiast will tell you that flying RC helicopters is the most exciting and exciting of all RC models. Cars, trucks, tanks, boats, and robots are all limited to forward/backward and left/right movement, but radio-controlled helicopters can have 3D maneuverability with full technicolor and surround sound. The only limitation to your exhilaration and pleasure of flying is your skill, the available space and the sophistication of your RC helicopter model.
So what exactly is it that allows your helicopter to perform complex aerobatics?
In short, it’s the number of channels you can control – the more you have, the more maneuverable your RC helicopter will be.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that more is better. Flying a model helicopter is just as tricky and skillful as flying a real one. Just because your helicopter is smaller in scale doesn’t mean the laws of aerodynamics change! To achieve a successful flight, all the criteria remain the same. However, fly a model it does You have the advantage of being able to start with a basic set of controls and work your way up to Full Monty and this is achieved by mastering an increasing number of channels.
But first, you’ll need to understand that each channel controls a separate servo in your model. And for those of us who find it useful to understand how something works, it’s useful to know that a servo is a mechanical device that controls the movement of an element by ‘pushing’ it with a lever. You can control the degree of ‘push’ this stick exerts on a servo from your transmitter’s controls. The greater the ‘push’ of the servo, the greater the resulting movement of the element on which it is acting. So to move the tail rotor angle, for example, you need a channel to control the tail servo.
So, since each moving element on an RC helicopter requires its own servo, you’ll also need an extra channel for each one. By increasing your ability to fine-tune the interaction of each servo via the channel controls on your phone, you’ll be able to produce an ever-widening range of aerial movements for your radio-controlled helicopter.
So here is a basic list of the differences between the number of channels in a radio controlled helicopter:
- The 2 channels give you the ability to control two servos, giving you the ability to control up and down (rotor blade speed) and left and right (rear rotor, directional controls) movement.
- The 3 channels give you the two motion controls above, but with the added control of moving backwards and forwards (cycling control).
- 4 channels give control over throttle, elevator, aileron, rudder, improving the maneuverability of previous fixed pitch controls.
- 5 channels are rarely found, giving way to the more common 6 channel model. These additional channels give expert flyers the ability to perform true 3D aerial movements by adding collective tone and twist gain control to the mix.
It can all get very complicated!
So what is the best option for you? Well, if you are just getting started with radio controlled helicopters, stick to the 2 channel models at first. Learn to master the basic moves first before advancing through the ranks, all the way to the impressive yet challenging 6-channel models. Whatever you decide, have fun with your RC helicopter, fly safely and enjoy improving your flying skills!
