Traxxas Radio Control Nitro Monster Truck T-MAXX 2.5 TRA4910

The Traxxas T-Maxx is the gold standard of Monster Trucks, setting the bar for performance and fun that all others aspire too. T-Maxx has built a proven reputation for delivering performance and fun that is simply unmatched. No other truck has received more awards and accolades. Truck of the Year. ""Best Nitro Truck,"" four years running.
The number 1, best-selling monster truck. Now it's even better. Strengthened bulkheads, differential housings, and newly designed body mounts enhance T-Maxx's reputation for ruggedness and reliability. Pre-glued tires make it even more Ready-To-Race. Thoughtful integration of new gray molded parts (battery box, skidplates, shock bodies, and chassis braces) give T-Maxx a fresh new face, showing off the fine details engineered into the components. All new components are 100% compatible with all current and previous T-Maxx models.
(via Traxxas Radio Control Nitro Monster Truck T-MAXX 2.5 TRA4910 @ Hobby-Estore.com $399)

Electric RC Helicopters, The New Wave

RC Helicopters, one of mankind's the most fascinating invention, grab people's attention wherever they are flown. Not surprisingly, RC Helicopters earned its place as one of the most intriguing hobby to pursue. This fact probably came to be because of the addictive, gripping and exciting nature of this leisure pursuit. To add to that, the model helicopter themselves represent the finest of modern day miniature technology.

Not long ago, very few have ever had the pleasure of getting a taste of flying these amazing machines. For a simple reason - once upon a time they cost way too much to buy and way to expensive to maintain. Alas - many thought this hobby would be and forever remain amongst one of those exclusive to the rich. Also, some people did not like the smell of gasoline exhaust or the loud noise of the engine. Fear not! Those days are gone!

Most people can now very easily afford to fly RC Helicopters thanks to the tremendous improvements of batteries, motors, and general electronics in the past few years. These innovations result in a new field of RC - Electric RC Helicopters - which at the same time opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. These include flying helicopter indoors and right at your own backyard while at the same time causing absolutely no pollution and much less noise. Moreover, maintenance costs which used to scare most people now shrink down so low that it won't hurt your wallet in any way!

Recent technologies also allow Electric RC Helicopters to be built much smaller than their gas counterparts. In fact, electric RC helicopter also took on the nick name: micro RC helicopters. This not only fulfills many people's childhood dream of indoor flights, it also makes for easy transporting. Not that it has to be carried very far since it can be flown right at your house.

The need for tedious maintenance greatly decreased as well. With electric helicopters, you can forget hauling around heavy flight box full of equipment. If any repairs became necessary, it can usually be carried out in full with nothing more than a screw driver. Often times repair can be made using bare hands.

Reliability of electric RC helicopters also improves greatly when compared to the gas versions because they use electrical motors instead of nitro engines. Electric motors come much cheaper than gas engines, much less tedious, and much less dirty. Unlike gas engines, electric motor almost never cuts out like an engine does. This means no more stalled engine in mid air!

Don't think for one second that electric flights won't last long. Modern RC models use Lithium Polymer batteries. These types of batteries will allow Electric RC Helicopters to stay up in the air as long as - or longer - than gas helicopters. Moreover, when running out of gas, nitro helicopter engines will suddenly cut out. On the other hand, their electric brothers will slowly power down with ample time to land.

Electric RC Helicopter also makes it easier for beginners to get a hang of this hobby. Whereas nitro helicopters can easily draw buckets of sweat from learning pilots, an Electric RC Helicopter proves much easier to master. While even beginner nitro helicopters requires at least six channels to fly, Electric RC Helicopters starts at only 2, 3, and 4 channels.

Some models even use two main rotors that turn in opposite directions, eliminating the need for a tail rotor. This means one less channel to worry about while learning. And what's more, most of these beginner helicopters fly right of the box. No more spending weeks trying to assemble complicated kits.

On the other hand, for experienced pilots, high-end model Electric RC Helicopters such as Align's T-Rex 450 and T-Rex 600 offers high performance 3D crafts that willexcite even the most avid pilots.

Where once flying a small model helicopter around in your own home was once a far-fetched dream, Electric RC Helicopters has made that dream a very vivid and extremely enjoyable reality!




Source:www.electric-rc-helicopter.com
www.hobby-estore.com

The Perfect Flight: Gas RC Helicopters

For those that are looking for the best of hobby world, gas RC helicopters may have the answer. These particular types of helicopters give you the ability to get up in the air by using a nitro gas as the main power supply. This gives you a large set of advantages. By understanding what the different helicopters may contain, and knowing what is best for you, it will be easy to decipher how you want to get your hobby in the air.

RC helicopters can be divided into a variety of different things. Most of these will change the ability of the helicopters flight. Sometimes, an RC helicopter will run off of electric, which will give you the ability to fly the helicopter from energy that you are giving it from an electric source. There are other helicopters that are completely run by remote control in order to get it to do the flips that you want. These are not as common, as it is usually required to have a hook up to another power supply. The third way in which the helicopters can function is through the gas RC helicopters.

Most likely, a gas RC helicopter will function at its best when you add nitro gas into the helicopter. This will give the helicopter the extra power that it needs in order to keep flying. You will then simply use the radio control in order to manipulate where the helicopter is going and how it is turning. By simply keeping the gas full in the helicopter, you will be able to keep flying.

Of course, if you want something that will run off your preference of energy for the day, you can also look at helicopters that include the best of both worlds. This means that they will have the ability to fly off of nitro gas or you can simply use electric for their flight. If one is not functioning properly for the day, at least you know that you will have a back up plan to keep your helicopter flying, allowing you to enjoy your hobby, despite the circumstances.

If you decide to use the gas RC helicopter, without electric, you will have several advantages. The electric has to have a current moving through the entire helicopter, which goes from a brushless motor and through a controller that moves to a receiver and power supply. If any one of these four is off, it makes it so that the helicopter will not run. With gas, the power to the helicopter is much simpler, and doesn’t cause as many problems. As long as you keep the nitro gas on full, you can fly.

If you are considering an RC helicopter for a hobby, then make sure you also consider the different ways to get power to the helicopter. One of the well known ways for the hobby to take flight is through the gas RC helicopter. Considering this as an option, and knowing what the benefits of it are will help you get up in the air without complications.

5 Reasons to Try Electric RC Helicopters

RC Helicopters capture people's interest since thseir very first inception. They stand as one of the most fascinating field of the RC hobby world. Very few can resist its charm. Nevertheless, not too long ago they also carried an extremely heavy price tag and required more maintenance than a ten-years-old car. To make matters worse, flying one required countless hours of practice and tremendous amount of patience. However, all that is about to change. With the introduction of electric RC helicopters, flying these amazing models are not as far-fetched as they used to be. Here are five reasons why:

1. Low Cost:

Flying RC Helicopter used to set people back thousands of dollars. People had to buy the helicopter kit (which comes in hundred small pieces - unassembled), servos, engine, starter, gyro, receiver, radio controller, a hundred other equipments, and of course - fuel. When everything has been purchased, you still have to assemble it!

On the other hand, electric helicopters almost always cost less than 200 dollars with cheaper but better versions coming out regularly. Even better, most of these helicopters come ready to fly right out of the box. In addition to that, every necessary equipments and accessories often come included as well. Finally, by using batteries, the running cost of these helicopters is greatly reduced as it is no longer necessary to buy gallons after gallons of gas.

2. Silent and Clean:

RC Helicopters might be amongst the most fascinating radio controlled models, however, one undeniable fact still stands against it; they make more noise and create more pollution than a breaking down truck. This makes flying around the neighborhood almost impossible.

The problem of noise, pollution and size is almost entirely eliminated with the electric models; the amount of noise greatly decreased while the amount of pollution vanished altogether. These two facts allows these machines to fly anywhere without causing too much annoyance to other people.

3. Reliable and Easy to Fly:

With gas helicopters, countless crashes occur not because of pilot errors, but because the engine fail in midair. Who's to blame? After all, everybody knows that gas engines aren't the most reliable thing in the world. They also notoriously require constant tinkering to run smoothly. On the other hand, electric helicopters fly undeniably more reliable. They almost never cut out in mid air, even when the battery runs down. Moreover, you can forget about having to crank up the engine over and over. These electric motors will run anytime anywhere as long as there's battery. There's nothing more frustrating than taking your helicopter to the field only to find that it won't start because it is too cold, too humid, or just because the engine wants to act up.

Electric helicopter are generally easier to fly than gas models, making them ideal for beginners. Some model allows beginner to start out with only 2 or 3 channels to worry about as oppose to 6 or 7 that the gas model requires. Avid pilots won't have to worry though, as professional fully 3D-capable electric models also exist.

4. Easy to Maintain:

Maintenance used to be one of the biggest hurdles for anyone wanting to start flying RC helicopters. Thankfully, electric RC helicopters tremendously decreased the amount of repairs required. These little wonders were specifically designed to keep the amount of fixing necessary to minimum. Therefore, repairs can usually be made with just the bare hands or with only one screw driver. Even more impressive is the fact that these types of helicopter rarely need repairing at all. They can survive most types of crashes without any problem.

5. Small Size:

Before electric helicopters, indoor flights and flights in your own backyard were next to impossible. Now, they are quick and easy. Newer versions are so small that even flying in the bedroom is possible. The smaller size of these helicopter means that it is easier to transport as well. However, for pilots who prefer big aircrafts, there are electric helicopters as big as.50 size gas models available.

The advantage of flying electric RC helicopter does not end with these five points. With new technologies becoming available, these aircrafts are improving at surprising speed. All in all, it is not hard to see why electric RC helicopter is the fastest growing field of RC hobby.


Source:electric-rc-helicopter.com
www.hobby-estore.com/

Coaxial RC Helicopters: How Do They Work?

Coaxial helicopter is one of the more popular images that come to mind when people think about electric RC helicopters. And for good reasons too; these double-bladed helicopters is accredited with bringing hordes of new enthusiast into the world of RC aviation. Their popularity stems from their unequivocal stability in the air - which makes them relatively easier to master when compared to their single rotor counter part. They are also predictable enough to be flown within the compounds of one's home, securing its spot as one of the most loved indoor fliers. Being able to fly right out of the box because they are sold as RTF (Ready to Fly) kits adds to their appeal.

So where did such stability come from? To answer that, the first step lies in understanding how helicopters work. A single-rotor helicopter generates lift when their rotor rotates. As the main rotor turns, another force will also be generated - known as torque, which will in turn cause the entire fuselage to turn in the opposite direction. Since the days when helicopters were in their nascent stage, their pioneers have learnt to counter this effect by including another smaller perpendicular rotor in the tail. This rotor counters the any rotation generated by the torque as well as provides pilots a mean to control the direction in which the helicopter's nose is pointing at, more technically known as the yaw. To control the yaw, the pilot simply changes the pitch (or the angle) of the tail rotor.

Coaxial helicopters, on the other hand, eliminate the need of a tail rotor completely. This is due to the fact that these fliers have two rotors, one on top of the other, rotating in opposite directions. In effect, the torque generated by each rotor cancels out one another. When such feat is coupled with two rotors' lift complementing each other results in the extraordinary stability and hovering ability. Because hovering is one of the main components of a helicopter's flight, "easier to hover" is almost synonymous to "easier to fly". Controlling the yaw in this setup becomes only a matter of slowing or speeding up one of the two rotors. Another merit that comes almost as a bonus is that theoretically, these helicopters do not require a gyro - which means that much less tinkering and setting up is needed.

Although very widely praised, coaxial helicopters are not without faults. The first one stems from the fact that in order to fly, the speed of the two rotor blades must be equal. In fact, these helicopters are so dependent on the synchronicity of its blades that even the slightest deviation is detrimental. So much so that these helicopters will just spin wildly on the ground, never to lift off. Their two motors simply have to always be in their most pristine state. Also, the stability of these helicopters comes at the price of sacrificed maneuverability; they are notoriously slow and unresponsive. Nevertheless, perhaps the utmost annoyance comes when the two blades bite into each other in mid air when most extreme cyclic controls are applied.

All in all, coaxial helicopters are here to stay. They have become the favorite beginners' RC helicopter. At the same time, many experienced pilot enjoy a flight or two of easy indoor flying with these helicopters once in a while.

Note: Although these coaxial helicopters are "relatively" easier to fly than their conventional counterparts, they still require hours of practice. Also, their fast rotating blade can cause just as much injury as bigger model helicopters. Therefore, never treat them like toys.

Resource:electric-rc-helicopter.com
www.hobby-estore.com

Esky Lama V4 RC Helicopter

The helicopter(esky lama v4) has arrived. Bigger and scarier than I had expected after reading reviews and watching video. Battery is charging, expect a flight report later today.

Four weeks later, and I’m zooming around the room, landing on a 12″ square footstool, and considering how to rig up some sort of hook system for carting cargo around the house.

Rudder turning is somewhat fraught, with the tail slowly rotating one way or the other. It seems to constantly rotate to the left at a rate of maybe one revolution every 30 seconds. Even adjusting the trim settings on the 4-in-1 electronic controller hasn’t corrected it. I think the culprit is slightly different motor performance between the two motors, or some binding in one or other of the rotor shafts. However, after spending some more time with a larger, more powerful helicopter, I’ve come to realise that all helicopters require constant attention on the rudder stick, so having this problem is actually like training for bigger helis.

Performance wise, the Lama V4 is not a rocket ship. It will move forward at a brisk walking pace, and will happily move in any direction you command it. It is definitely sluggish compared to a traditional tail-rotor, non-coaxial helicopter. The reason is that the upper blades have no cyclic control, and so are always working to pull the helicopter back to a static position. This is fantastic for a learning flyer. However, sudden changes of direction are prone to causing ‘blade clash’, where the tilting lower blades come into contact with the static upper blades. I’ve only had this happen once, when hauling hard back on the cyclic while the heli was at close to maximum forward speed. If your idea of fun is flying circuits of your lounge, but not high-speed aerobatics in a gymnasium, then the Lama is perfect.

The Lama will not fly outdoors, except on the most incredibly calm days. Considering the forward speed is so low, it can barely hold position with full forward cyclic in even the lightest breeze.

It’s a fairly robust little machine too. It is too light to damage itself even falling from 10 feet up (ceiling height!), onto carpet. While not recommended, you can get away from most situations by just cutting the throttle. Bear in mind this is not a good thing to learn when you want to go to bigger helis, when cutting the throttle will cost you dearly.

The most vulnerable part on the Lama is its standard blades. I definitely recommend you grab a pair of Xtreme Blades for the Lama when you purchase it. My two sets of basic black blades were chewed up inside of a week, but I’ve had one set of Xtremes on ever since. The only other thing I’ve broken was a single landing skid when coming down hard on concrete. I imagine you could bend or break some of the rotor/head components, but only by hitting something at speed and without cutting the throttle.

Overall, the Lama is a massive step up from a Picco Z. If you’re bored flying your Picco Z in lazy circles, definitely think about a Lama for flying sideways and backwards, and holding excellent hovers above people’s heads so that the downdraft spoils their hairdo.

I’d say if you can drive a RC car without crashing, you can probably fly a Lama. Just go gentle on the throttle, and quick, precise movements on all the other controls. Check out Radd’s School of Rotary Flight for an excellent set of tutorials that will get you more comfortable with the controls. Given the ease of flying the Lama, you can skip pretty fast through Radd’s lessons, but reading them will certainly help you learn.

The Lama even gave me enough confidence to to purchase a full-house CCPM ship. This is a much bigger jump than recommended - I was told to stick with a fixed-pitch heli. However I decided on CCPM for investment reasons, and because I’ve been flying planes for years. I can safely say that a ‘proper’ CCPM heli with a tail rotor is a completely different world to a coaxial like the Lama. The Lama is a good tutorial on how the cyclic control affects the movement of the helicopter, but beyond that, everything is harder: sensitivity, power, rudder control, pitch curves, etc..

I still love my E Sky Lama V4. I find it an absolute joy to fly, and it’s actually really relaxing to come back to it after a day of learning to hover my other heli.

Esky 4Ch RAH-66 Co-Comanche CoAxial Electric RC Helicopter RTF

RAH-66 ""CO-COMANCHE"" is a new helicopter being used for reconnaissance mission of arming and light assault for the land forces.""CO-COMANCHE"" was designed by TWF as a 4CH helicopter with co-axial, double rotor blades system, it is easy to fly with simple operation, which possesses the characteristics of high sensitivity and flexible turning of the real helicopter.
It was designed with divided canopy and fuselage connecting by a carbon fibre rod, which is practical and beautiful. There are three sliding wheels in the landing strut, which can slide automatically while taking off and landing. The ornamental tail rotor adopts duct rotor blade that can rotate automatically while flying the helicopter, which brings you into a real flight state and brings more fun for your flight. ESKY original softdog is included in the packing, installing the FMS software of the disc, and connecting the simulator port in the transmitter to the computer, you can enjoy your flight in the computer then!
(via Esky 4Ch RAH-66 Co-Comanche CoAxial Electric RC Helicopter RTF(Camouflage) @ Hobby-Estore.com $89.9)

Esky 4CH LAMA V4 Co-Axial Easiest Fly RC Helicopter RTF

With the new LamaV4 you get a completely assembled and ready to fly micro heli with a coaxial counter-rotating head design that is so stable almost any first-time flyer can be hovering like a pro in no time. The LamaV4 offers things other similarly designed micro helis can’t – the power and precision of ESKY 8g servos, an advanced 4-in-1 controller, and a great looking, lightweight body that really stands out. The LamaV4 features counter-rotating main blades that cancel out the rotational torque that makes hovering a challenge in conventional helis.They also make rudder turns much easier by slowing down one or the other blade without affecting the stability of the aircraft. This is truly a helicopter that most anyone can fly and beyond your dream.
(via Esky 4CH LAMA V4 Co-Axial Easiest Fly RC Helicopter RTF @ Hobby-Estore.com $83.90)

Shopping for Radio Controlled Helicopter

If you are looking for a radio-controlled helicopter, the most difficult question to answer is: “what should I buy?”

Bear in mind that if you skip to answer this question, then you might be ending up with a one time flying experience. In other words, after you have bought and first flown your radio-controlled helicopter, you might not be able to fly it again.

So here are the things you should know in order to get you end up getting the right radio-controlled helicopter for you.

Evaluate your flying skill.

If you have yet to fly an rc helicopter, then you should settle for kinds that are easy to fly. What you should be looking for is an electric radio-controlled helicopter. In this way, you eliminate the risk of crashing down your newly purchased helicopter to the ground. This is a great starting point to those who would like to take rc helicopter flying a hobby. Electric radio-controlled helicopter is also quiet. So if you are considerate enough to give your neighbors some peace, then this one is for you

You can move to gas rc helicopter if your skill is enough to fly an engine powered one.

Identify the size.

Rc helicopter, whether it is electric or gas, comes in different sizes and identifying what is the size you need is important. Here you can trim down your choices into gas, electric, mini, micro, and toy.

Gas rc helicopter is relatively larger than other type of rc helicopters while electric rc helicopter can be categorized into 3 sizes- that is, electric, mini and micro.

If you are planning to fly your rc helicopter on open spaces, then the electric rc helicopter is your ideal size. On the other hand, if you only prefer indoor flying, then you can either choose the mini or the micro.

Choose rc helicopter with substantial parts.

Crashes can come anytime so make sure that when you purchase a model, you also purchase parts. Used parts are abundant but they are less reliable so you have to determine if there are new parts available for the type of rc helicopter you are buying.

Know your budget

The price of rc helicopter depends on the size and components used. Make sure you have set your budget so that you can limit your selection that would make buying easier.

Use this information when you choose which type of rc helicopter to buy.

Why Choose Gas RC Helicopter

Decision on what type of rc helicopter to buy depend on you. But with a more reflective mind, you can arrive with a right selection. Now, if you are thinking of buying a gas rc helicopter over electric rc helicopter, then here are the things you should know…

Let us begin by discussing briefly the electric rc helicopter.

Most, if not all rc helicopter novices begin with electric rc helicopter for several reason. Electric rc helicopter is cheaper than gas powered. It is also easier to fly since it does not require an engine. And finally, electric rc helicopter produces no noise and no smell.

With these reasons, you can draw a conclusion that those who buy electric rc helicopter want convenience more than real experience.

Although there is nothing wrong with it, electric rc helicopter is not for people who require more than just simplicity.

Now we ask: Why choose gas rc helicopter?

Forget about the price since gas rc helicopter does not come cheap. Also, forget about the noise because it comes with the engine, the sound cannot escape your ear. But here lies the answer to the question.

Serious rc pilots prefer noise and price over silence, economy and most of all convenience. The complexity of the engine makes it more attractive to those who want to enjoy the real experience of flying a helicopter. You never saw an electric full size helicopter, didn’t you?

The there is one thing that rc pilots are conscious about, that is the closeness of the rc to the real helicopter.

Another thing that set gas rc helicopter apart from the electric one is the level of respect and concentration required on flying each and every time. Since it involves gas and an engine, rc pilots take it more seriously. Added to this is the type of thrill that is involve every second of flying.

One last reason is that, gas rc helicopter is the best thing you get before you move to ultralight helicopter. Thus, one you have a gas rc helicopter, you don’t have to require yourself to upgrade unlike if you have an electric rc helicopter. But in the case you want to upgrade to ultralight, you can easily get familiar with flying since you have already been with an engined-helicopter.

And oh, before we forgot, gas rc helicopter teaches you the basic of the helicopter flying more than any type of rc helicopter around.

Buying Your First RC Helicopter

What You Ought To Know When Buying Your First R/C Helicopter!

When you walk into the store or browse the Internet, you’ll notice most R/C helicopters come in different packages, RTF, ARF and Kit.

How can you tell which one is right for you? Well, you can talk to the salesperson for hours and try to figure out the words coming out of his mouth or you can read this condensed guide and find out in just a few minutes.

I know you have plenty of questions but the one I will try to answer will be…

Should I start with a RTF, ARF or a Kit?

It’s up to you! When I began with R/C helicopters, I didn’t know what I got myself into. I was in a fog, but as soon as it cleared, I had a kit package on my lap. Surprisingly, buying a kit was the best thing I ever did!

Why do I say this?

Well, the kit enabled me to really understand the inner working parts on my R/C helicopter. Every time I crashed it, I knew exactly on how to replace the broken parts.

But this is just some of the positives of buying a kit package, but that might not be the kind of experience you are looking for.

Some R/C helicopter packages are marked with RTF, ARF and KIT. This is just a fancy way of saying that you might need to get your hands dirty. But on the positive side, some kits all you do is take it out of the box, charge the battery and have fun.

Let’s look at this a little deeper and find out the differences in the kits. More on that after this message…

RTF (Ready To Fly):

The RTF package is short for (ready to fly) which means everything you need is contained within the box when you buy it. Most electric R/C helicopters come in this form. Nitro R/C helicopter RTF packages in the other hand are rare but they are available. RTF’s are perfect for people that have no time to devote to the assembling process.

ARF (Almost Ready-To-Fly):

The ARF is short for (almost ready-to-fly), which means that you have to do some of the dirty work yourself. You might have to separately buy and install the engine, blades or some other parts of the R/C helicopter to make it complete. The ARF is perfect for people with minimal time to devote to the assembly process.

KIT (Fully Disassembled):

Finally we have the fully disassembled KIT. According to the R/C Helicopter Forum, the Kit is the most popular form among nitro or electric beginners and intermediate. It comes in hundreds of unassembled pieces. You have to assemble it piece by piece. It’s mostly geared for people that have the time and those that are mechanically inclined or are willing to be.

My recommendation is get an R/C helicopter that gets you deeply involved in the heli setup process. This will give you a profound understanding of the inner working parts, making it easier when it comes time to replace them.

Draganflyer RC Helicopters in VECPAV Autonomous Control System At Vanderbilt University, NV, USA

Using the Draganflyer electric remote control helicopter (manufactured by Draganfly Innovations Inc) Vanderbilt University has developed the Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles (VECPAV). This system is able to control an aerial or ground vehicle autonomously (without a pilot).

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (PRWEB) November 20, 2007 — Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Having autonomous control over a vehicle creates many benefits and removes the need for continuous human input. This could be applied to full size vehicles, allowing cars to drive themselves, or allowing automated vehicles to perform tasks in hazardous conditions. This would eliminate the risks normally faced by an on-board operator. By removing the operator and related systems from the vehicle, it also allows for increased payloads, smaller sizes, and increased mobility.

The VECPAV system uses a sensor tracker to monitor the motion and position of a Draganflyer rc helicopter by using identifier points on the helicopter. The system then analyzes this data and sends commands back to the Draganflyer rc helicopter through a radio control transmitter, telling the Draganflyer rc helicopter to maintain position or move through its flight plan. Videos of Draganflyer helicopters flying autonomously can be found on the VECPAV homepage, and This YouTube Video. In addition to being successfully used to control Draganflyer electric rc helicopters, the VECPAV system has also been implemented on ground based scale model vehicles.

As a result of his efforts on the VECPAV project, team leader Prof. T. John Koo has been recognized with an NSF (National Science Foundation) CAREER Award: Computation Platform for the Design of Hybrid Systems. This award is considered a highly prestigious honor. Prof. T. John Koo is now at Shantou University, China, where he plans to build on and extend what he has achieved at Vanderbilt.

The Draganflyer radio control rc helicopter has also been used in similar projects such as the MIT Aerospace Controls Laboratory’s UAV SWARM Health Management Project and the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent Control. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is well suited for these applications because it is a stable aerial platform with fewer moving parts than a standard rc helicopter. The Quad-Rotor Draganflyer rc helicopter manoeuvres by varying the thrust generated from each of its four rotors. With one rotor at each corner, differential thrust causes the airframe to rotate and change direction. This eliminates the need for the linkages and components used on conventional rc helicopters that vary the pitch of the main rotor blades in order to manoeuvre. With fewer moving parts, there are fewer things to wear out, and less maintenance required. Because it is an electric rc helicopter, the Draganflyer is safe to use indoors. Its small size allows it to be used in smaller areas than conventional rc helicopters. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is manufactured and sold by Draganfly Innovations.

RC Helicopter Flight Simulator

RC Helicopter Flight Simulator: A Beginner's Tool
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So you've become interested in RC helicopters and want to learn how to fly them, but the cost and potential for crashing your new model makes you cautious.

Or perhaps you've been flying for a while, but you're grounded because of repairs after a crash, or you simply want to learn new skills.

An RC helicopter flight simulator is a program or game that simulates the flight of a real RC helicopter, from the controls to the physics of flight, to weather conditions. The best of these is generally rather expensive, running from $130 to $200.

However, with a simulator, the inevitable crashes will not cost you time or money, unlike with a real model - you will be back flying again in the time it takes to load a screen. This means that the flight simulators are an excellent place to gain initial flying skills, polish complicated flying moves, and gain confidence, without worry of damaging an expensive model.

The outlay for a simulator can in fact save you money over time. When you gain your initial skills with a simulator, you avoid crashing your real model and having to make hundreds of dollars in repair to it before you can fly again. Because of this, you can gain your skills and confidence faster.

Also, when you want to try out more complex moves and stunts, you can test them on a simulator first and find out if the stunt is possible, and how it feels.

RC helicopter simulators come in many varieties

Some are truly nothing more than games - fun to play, but very poor simulation of the physics of flight and the handling of the helicopter. Any RC helicopter simulator that is for a game console is likely to be like this, and ineffective for learning on. Other simulators come as 'freeware' or 'shareware' programs for running on computers, where you pay nothing to try it out initially.

If it's shareware, you have to pay to either get more features or use it for more than a limited time. Some of these are very decent and are somewhat helpful for gaining skill; it is best to read reviews to determine which is worth your time. If you have a Macintosh computer, your only choice for a simulator is a freeware one, the AlphaOmega RC Helicopter simulator.

The best simulators are the ones you need to pay for, and are for Windows machines online. The top of the line is the Real Flight Generation 3 RC Flight Simulator, which even comes with a controller that models a real radio so you can get a total immersive experience.

This comes in both full and lite versions, the difference being a matter of options: with the lite version, you do not get the multi-player option or as much control over environmental variables.

It is, however, around $70 less expensive,the RC helicopter flight simulator also comes with the controller, and more than suitable for learning new RC helicopter flying skills.

Esky 4Ch RAH-66 Co-Comanche CoAxial Electric Radio Controlled Helicopter RTF $89.90

RAH-66 "CO-COMANCHE" is a new helicopter being used for reconnaissance mission of arming and light assault for the land forces।"CO-COMANCHE" was designed by TWF as a 4CH helicopter with co-axial, double rotor blades system, it is easy to fly with simple operation, which possesses the characteristics of high sensitivity and flexible turning of the real helicopter।It was designed with divided canopy and fuselage connecting by a carbon fibre rod, which is practical and beautiful. There are three sliding wheels in the landing strut, which can slide automatically while taking off and landing. The ornamental tail rotor adopts duct rotor blade that can rotate automatically while flying the helicopter, which brings you into a real flight state and brings more fun for your flight. ESKY original softdog is included in the packing, installing the FMS software of the disc, and connecting the simulator port in the transmitter to the computer, you can enjoy your flight in the computer then!

Specification:
Main rotor diameter: 340mm
Weight: 0.53 lbs
Length: 435mm
width: 95mm
height: 185mm
Power system: 180 motor*2
Transmitter: Standard 4CH(including training switch and simulator port)
Mix controller: 4 in 1 mix controller(W/gyro,mixer,ESC,receiver)
Servo: (8g,1।3kg.CM,0.12s/60¡ã)

Hobby-Estore.com $89.90

OS Engines For RC Helicopters

Which Nitro R/C Helicopter Engine Size Is Right For Me?

There are several engine brands available in the market, but today we are going to talk about my favorite engine. The O.S. engine.

This is the most popular brand out on the market today. I’ve played around with this engine brand so I think I can pretty much talk about it.

The engine is available in various sizes with each offering its own flavor. I will just cover the most common sizes

The first type of engine is the .32-.37 cubic inches size.

The .32-.37 cubic inches size engines are designed for someone who is new to R/C helicopters.

The .32-.37 cubic inches size engines are designed to fit class 30 R/C helicopters like the Raptor or Sceadu, and as a result ideal for
someone who is new to R/C helicopters. This engine delivers a fair amount of power, while being tough and reliable. Though it’s a bit louder than some of the bigger O.S. engines types, this engine size provides a punch and will enable you to perform some acrobatic moves.

The second type of engine is the .50 cubic inches size.

The Class 50 O.S. Engines are well-suited for both beginners and somewhat more intermediate flyers.

This engine is designed for class 50 R/C helicopters. The Class 50 O.S. Engines are well-suited for both beginners and somewhat more intermediate flyers. This engine also fits the Raptor 50 and the Sceadu 50.

Though a bit more expensive than the Class 32-37s noted above, the Class .50 O.S. Engine provides a great deal of power, and more than enough juice to achieve any aerobatic move you desire. The only drawback; more power means more fuel consumption.

The third type of engine is the .61-.70 cubic inches size.

The Class O.S. Class 61-70 Engines are great for the intermediate-to-advanced flyer.

And they’re also called, of course, BIG ENGINES! Designed for any 60-class helicopter,
the O.S. Class 61-70 Engines are great for the intermediate-to-advanced flyer who knows what to do with the immense power that these engines provide.

Virtually any 3D move (e.g. inverted) can be accommodated via this power. Again, however, more power means more fuel consumption, and a bigger price tag.

The fourth type of engine is the .91cubic inch size.

The Class 90 O.S. Engines are immense and suited for the highly advanced and expert flyer.

Folks, it doesn’t get bigger than this. Designed to fit class 90 helicopters, the Class 90
O.S. Engines are immense and suited for the highly advanced and expert flyer. But I have seen people, just out of the hobby shop, using these.

Trust me, you don’t want to drop the big money on one of these engines if you aren’t sure you know how to handle it!

The rush of flying a Class 90 O.S. Engine is beyond words; and you’ll just have to try it and experience it for yourself. Be warned, however, that once you fly something with this much power, you may NEVER be able to go back to a less powerful engine!

But on a lighter note, when shopping for your O.S. Engine, have some fun and really see which one fits your current and future flying needs. Many people have several helicopters with different engine size engines; some for when they want to cruise the skies, and others for when they want some severe power to perform some crazy stunts.

Regardless of the O.S. engine type that you choose, remember that each one comes with its own flavor. But most important, you should analyze your needs – including your budget limits – before you make a purchase.

RC Helicopter Tips for Beginners

Overview to help guide beginners and newcomers to the rc helicopter hobby. Find out why the electric mini and micro r/c helicopters are best for beginners.

Mini RC Helicopter

The larger the helicopter, the easier it is to control. However, large helicopters are more expensive, and replacement parts can be costly. That is why a mini rc helicopter is better for a beginner. Although the small size makes it slightly more unstable, the cheaper price and less complicated design makes it a good starter heli.


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Micro RC Helicopter

Small enough that you can fly them indoors. A good example is the Piccolo rc helicopter. With a rotor diameter of only 20", this is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand! These models are extremely popular and are the hot products in the heli hobby.


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RC Helicopter Electric

In the early days, an r/c helicopter was powered by small gas engines. Today, you can buy and rc helicopter that is powered by a small electric motor. The advantage of this is that you do not need to handle flammable fuel. Simply charge the battery pack and start flying. There are also no fumes, so you can fly indoors.


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RC Helicopter Videos

Some models even come with an instructional video... making it even easier to learn how to fly an rc helicopter. You can also buy rc helicopter videos from your local hobby shop, from hobbyists, or from an online r/c store.


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DraganFlyer

An intermediate model is the Dragan Flyer... and is commonly searched as the Dragonfly RC Helicopter. This is a four rotor electric powered machine that can be fitted with a small, in flight camera. A great remote control photography helicopter.


Photo of the Dragan Flyer 4


Happy flying!


Tip: There are plenty of r/c helicopter videos, magazines, and online websites to help you get started. By studying more about flying, you can avoid costly crashes and have more fun.

Want to learn how to fly an RC Helicopter?

A radio control heli requires a lot of time and patience, but it can be very fun and exciting to fly.

The newcomer will need to be prepared for the cost of the kit, as well as the cost to repair damage from the inevitable crashes.A radio control helicopter also require dedicated attention while flying and attentiveness to safety precautions.

There are many reasons to start flying remote control helicopters, even though they are often seen as the most challenging RC to learn. Some people enjoy the extra challenge that learning to build and fly an RC helicopter gives.

However, Remote control helicopters are a demanding hobby.

When learning how to fly for the first time, you need to have patience and time to get set up and to learn the RC heli skills you need. The helicopter absolutely must be set up properly before flight, otherwise there is no chance it will fly.

The instructions should be read until you gain a thorough understanding of where the parts fit together, and how they fit together, and after assembly you should have your new model checked over by an experienced RC helicopter pilot.

Loose screws can mean parts that fly off when you try to fly!

The controls on the radio are much like the controls in a full-sized helicopter, and as such, they are fairly complex. It can take many sessions to simply learn how to hover, the most basic skill the Remote control helicopter pilot will need, as the controls are very sensitive to small adjustments and require that everything be set 'just' right, and changed with every shift in the wind.

Another demanding aspect of remote control helicopters is the safety factor. It goes without saying that a non-electric helicopter must be flown outside to avoid the fumes.

Also, the blades can spin at a speed fast enough to cut through flesh and even bone, so you must be sure to fly in an area with lots of space and with all bystanders safely out of the way.

But much like driving a car or riding a bike, these skills will eventually become second nature. With dedication, patience, and practice, you can become a successful RC heli hobbyist.

Radio Control Setup

Setting Up The Radio

The radio is similar to the aircraft version. The biggest difference will be that the throttle and collective pitch will be mixed together. These two will also mix in yaw or rudder when the throttle is varied.

This is known as anti-torque compensation. What happens is at a hover which is usually 1/2 throttle stick, there is a certain amount of pitch, usually 5 degrees.

At this setting there will be needed a certain amount of tail rotor to correct for the amount of drag induced by the main blades, and the amount of opposite torque that the engine produces. So at this setting the tail rotor will be set to keep the nose straight.

When there is more pitch added to the main blades by increasing the throttle, you get more drag and torque, so you will also need more tail rotor compensation to keep the nose straight.

By taking away the pitch, there will be less drag and torque, so there will be less need for the added tail rotor input. If you have a helicopter with clockwise rotating blades, looking down on the helicopter, you will need right tail rotor from 1/2 throttle to full throttle, and left tail rotor from 1/2 down.

This can be a little confusing because at 1/2 throttle you added to start a certain amount of right throttle and when you decrease the throttle you are really taking out that right tail rotor or going in the left direction.

Next you have extra switches on most helicopter radios for what is know as Idle - Up 1, maybe Idle - Up 2 and engine Hold.

The idle up switches keep the engine at a certain level about 1/2 throttle to full throttle. This is for doing aerobatics. When you come down on the throttle stick, you will get a certain amount of negative pitch for loops, rolls, or even inverted flying.

So since you don't want the engine to quit from being over loaded, the throttle will stay at a percentage to keep the main blades at that set rpm.

For example, let's say that your pitch range was from a minus 5 degrees to a positive 8 degrees, and you hover at a positive 5 degrees.

At this positive 5 degrees the throttle is at a 50% setting.

When you come all the way down on the throttle stick you will a minus 5 degrees. This will in essence let you hover inverted so when you hover you will need that 50% throttle again.

At 0 degrees pitch you will have the least amount of drag induced by the blades and you will need less throttle. So the final throttle curve will look like a "J". The low end will be at 50%, about 1/4 stick will have about 40% throttle, and 1/2 stick will have 50% throttle and full stick will have 100% throttle. The only difference between Idle - Up 1 and 2 will most of the time be the amount of pitch you will have or want at the low throttle stick position, this in turn will also need a different amount of throttle at the low stick position.

The Hold switch will take the engine to an idle position on the throttle and hold it there. By doing this the engine will still stay running but will let you have control of the collective pitch so you can practice your autorotations with the helicopter. The typical pitch settings will be about a minus 4 degrees to a positive 10 degrees.

Both the top end pitch and low end pitch will very during test and set up of the helicopter.

Another two features the radio will most likely have is two knobs that will be called "Hovering Pitch" and "Hovering Throttle". What the hovering pitch knob will do is very the amount of pitch you have at you set hovering stick position, example would be if you hover at 1/2 stick position and at that position you had a positive 5 degrees pitch.

When you vary this knob you might get lets say 4 degrees to 6 degrees of pitch. This will fine tune your helicopter so it will hover at exactly 1/2 stick position. The hovering throttle knob will do the same as the hovering pitch knob but it will do it only to the throttle. It will vary the throttle position or fine tune it at the 1/2 throttle position or where ever you have set that hover position to be. Yes there are some radios that will let you dictate where you want to hover at. Some people will set up for 3-D aerobatics by hovering at 3/4 stick.

This will let them also hover inverted at the 1/4 stick position. By doing this the pitch and throttle curves stay more linear.

How To Build an RC helicopter

When you decide to Build an RC helicopter and jump into the RC helicopter hobby, the first thing you will need to do is decide on and purchase a model.Last month,I bought a model from hobby-estore.com.


However, you will not be ready to fly immediately; no matter what model you choose, you will need to build it before you can fly.

Building an RC helicopter can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and information you will gain a lot of knowledge and joy for completing this task.

The first thing to do is to decide on what helicopter to buy.

The best way to determine this is to find out the different kinds of RC helicopters, read reviews on various models of the types you are interested in, and make an informed decision from this information on how to Build an RC helicopter.


After you've decided on and purchased your RC helicopter, you will also need to purchase the various parts for it.

You will need an engine to make it run, servos to control various mechanical parts in the helicopter, a gyro to control the tail rotor, a radio to control it once it's ready to fly, and receivers to transmit signals from the radio to the servos.


You should also make sure you have the tools necessary to Build an RC helicopter; screw drivers, ball drivers, nut drivers, wrenches, pliers, fuel-filters, addition glow plugs, ball link pliers, and a pitch gauge. You may also want to see what kind of bolts and screws you will be using so you can purchase additional ones, just in case the kit is missing some, or through mischance one rolls off and goes missing during assembly.


Finally, you should prepare for when you are ready for your test flight by having field equipment - which should definitely include the type of starter your helicopter requires!


When you begin building your helicopter, it is extremely important you read and re-read the instructions until you fully understand them and how the parts will fit together when you begin building the helicopter. When you start the actual assembly of the helicopter, it is of prime importance that you take your time.

Anything that turns should be balanced, all end points should be equal, and all bolts are tightened enough - but not too much.

You will also want to balance your blades, which is best done with a blade balancer. Afterwards, you will need to set up your radio. The more familiar with your radio you can be before you fly, the better off you will be.


Finally, before you fly, you may want to have an experienced RC helicopter pilot look over your model. Oftentimes you can find a person to do this at the shop you bought your helicopter and parts from. Having an experienced hobbyist look over your Build an RC helicopter can help ensure that everything is put together properly and ease your mind about your upcoming first flight.

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My favourite Hobby store

Insane RC helicopter

Great maneuver by RC Helicopter, it ups and downs, flew upside down, moved forward and backward, made a high acceleration as good as Sikorsky plane. Was some camera tricks involved?

Learning To Fly

This article contains information on learning to fly remotely controlled helicopters.

Learning Tips

Important prerequisites or tips in order to learn to fly model helicopters fast, safe and without crashing every week:

	Have an experienced flyer help you: Setting up a helicopter for the first time is not easy. It is very unlikely that you will setup the heli correctly by yourself. A helicopter that has been setup properly flies much better and is more predictable! Furthermore, he may give you additional hints and tips on learning and he may point you at certain mistakes you make, which may be very helpful. Finding a good instructor is the most valuable investment in your helicopter hobby.
	Set goals: If you set actual realistic goals, you have a target to focus on. This will help you to learn faster, and it will motivate you to practice. Furthermore, once a target is reached, it will motivate you and give you confidence. Just flying around will not learn you to fly soon.
	Take small steps: Always take very small steps on the learning curve. If you take a big step, you may succeed, or you may crash. If you crash, you may be de-motivated, it will cost you money, it will make you less confident, you are grounded for some time and the worst it is dangerous! Make sure that you learn a step thoroughly and in all directions before you take the next step. If you don't do this you may seem to make fast progress at first, but you will run into problems later on. In the end you will learn faster if you take small steps because you know the basics well and you will fly instead of repair.
	Don't skip steps: There are of course numerous ways to learn to fly a remotely controlled helicopter. However, if you follow the steps that I have listed below, you will learn fast and with a minimum chance of crashing. The steps are chosen such that you always have learned the necessary steps before taking a new step. Furthermore, they are chosen such that you will be able to recover from the mishap that you will likely make in the new maneuver or step you are trying to learn.
	Have an escape ready: If you try to learn a new step, think about what can or likely will go wrong. Think about what the escape is to recover from that potential problem you will encounter. Next also practice that escape so that you are sure you are capable of performing the escape, and that you get used to it so that you indeed automatically use it if something goes wrong.
	Use a proper RC Heli flight simulator: Having a proper simulator which can be controlled by your Tx is invaluable. It allows you to get acquainted to controlling a model helicopter and learn the needed reflexes. Note that this helps a lot! However, also note that flying a real helicopter is still very different from flying one on a simulator. Besides the obvious restrictions of simulation there is always the stress factor in real life which is missing in the simulator. In real life it takes a bit longer to repair the heli, and it is a bit more expensive. I have tried numerous simulators, and I believe that Reflex is the best. It looks Great, and it flies very realistic. Not one of the other simulators is getting close (except CSM which looks awful). I know that RealFlight is very popular since it looks good, but it does not fly realistic at all. Note that I have tried many more, but they can't compete with Reflex.

Ok, if you follow the steps below, you will have explicit goals, you will take small steps, you won't miss essential steps and I have listed the escapes for you.

Steps to take

Preflight steps: Buy a good bottle of wine for your instructor, he deserves it :-) Learn about the basic theory of helicopter aerodynamics (see aerodynamics links on my Heli Links page) . This will help you to understand what is going on. Your instructor can learn you about the controls and their interactions and the influence of wind on the model etc. Learn about when a helicopter stalls etc, this is very different from a plane! Have your helicopter checked over thoroughly by your instructor for safety. Use your simulator to train your reflexes required for hovering the helicopter. Have your helicopter setup by an instructor for learning. Yes, an heli setup for an advanced 3D pilot flies very different from one setup for the initial learning steps. Setup a buddy lead between your Tx and the Tx of the instructor and make sure that both transmitters are setup properly. Learn about the safety procedures on RC helicopter flight and the specific safety procedures at the field you are going to fly.

Basic hovering steps: Learn Cyclic Control. Your instructor is controlling the rudder and the collective pitch/throttle. Learn Collective Pitch/throttle and Rudder. Your instructor will control the cyclic so that you can focus on collective. Learning to Control Both Sticks. Hey, you are hovering! The hovering "M". This is your first mastering of controlled hovering. Landing and takeoff. You can do it all yourself now. Yes, this includes taking off your training gear. Tail in the wind. This is no problem with nowadays gyro's. Sideways wind. You are getting close to mastering the hover. Hovering solo. There goes the buddy lead, your instructor can no longer take over control. Tail-in circle. You really mastered hovering a helicopter!. Practice the steps above in moderate wind. You mastered the basic hovering skills.

Advanced hovering steps: Flat tail-in figure of eight with slight nose rotation. First steps in letting go of the tail. Climb and descend. Now you get used to the heli climbing considerably (5m). Flat figure of eight with the nose following flight direction (5m). Fast sideways with semi stall turn Vertical Top hat. Large circle (50m). Large square (50m). Round figure of eight with nose following flight direction. Remote circles. Nose-in hover. Nose-in landing and takeoff. Practice the steps above in moderate wind. You mastered the hovering skills.

First slow and low "acrobatics" Takeoff and approach to a height of 20m. Slow pirouettes. Stall turns. Remote tail-in circles. Remote nose-in circles. Remote sideways figure of eight. Learning to Fly Backwards. Hovering vertical square. Pirouetting vertical square. Pirouetting remote circle. Backwards circle. Backwards remote circle. Backwards figure of eight. 540 Stall Turns (tail and nose). Dual direction stall turn. Backwards stall turn. Sideways stall turn. Practice the steps above in moderate wind. You mastered the basic flying skills.

	First fast and high "aerobatics" High and fast flying. Fast figure of eight. Learning the Loop. Learning the Roll. Knife Edge Pirouette. The ripper. Auto Rotation landing. You mastered the flying skills and the elementary aerobatics.
	First steps in 3D flight High Flips (sideways, forwards and backwards). Inverted Hover (high altitude). Inverted Pirouette (high altitude). Inverted low hover. Inverted low pirouette Low flips (sideways, forwards and backwards). Death spiral. Pumping low pirouette. Tail stand launch. Backwards rolls. Inverted pirouetting remote circle. Inverted pirouetting figure of eight. Noise-in funnel. Tail-in funnel. High piro flips. Inverted nose-in funnel. Inverted tail-in funnel. Low piro flips. Tumbling circuits. High sustained chaos. Low sustained chaos. Pirouetting loop. Pirouetting autorotation. Rolling autorotation. Rolling loop. You mastered good 3D aerobatics. For a nice description of moves look at: http://www.rchelicopter.co.uk/moves.htm#
	You don't need my help from here on :-) Just look at the 3D Masters page and their list of figures and go and practice. However, think about what can go wrong. What do you do to get you out of trouble in that situation. Start practicing high and safe. When comfortable with the maneuver, slowly reduce height. Above all, fly safe.