Copyright Kent Royce (Rotorgraph)©2011
RC Helicopters
Back in 1977 I purchased my first radio control system it was a Futaba 6M series it cost 1 months wages back then. This was the start of my RC flying and I soon got off the ground with a 3 channel Tyro Major, this i flew for 2 years until I started flying 4 channels. I built a Mick Reeves Gangster 63 which flew very well powered by a K7B 61 pumper. About 1979 ish a friend of mine came to see me with his latest purchase, a RC helicopter. It was a scale model of an Alouette. I was hooked this looked great, very difficult to fly with fixed pitch no dual rates or gyros and no books to read on how to fly. Needless to say it didn’t last too long before it needed rebuilding and this seemed to be the constant theme with helicopter’s at that time.
I carried on flying my aeroplanes until things started to improve in the helicopter technology. I did have a Micro Mold Lark but I soon passed it on due to lack of bearings and no gyros. By the mid to late 80s things had moved on and radio control gear was much improved with the use of gyros to control the tail rotor took a huge work load off the pilot. This was a major step forward in learning to fly so I purchased an MFA 500 collective powered by an OS40. To be honest it was a pile of vibrating scrap but it did teach me a lot about model helicopters and I did fly it, if only for short periods before something fell off.
I then came across Morley helicopters; they made nice scale looking Hughes 300 so I decided to try one. I built and flew one for a year or so but they were still a bit unreliable, a lot better than the old MFA but the big turning point was when the Concept 30 by Kyosho arrived. This was unbelievable, bits didn’t fall off and it actually hovered in one place hands off the sticks. Never before have I had a Helicopter this stable or reliable, in fact this was the start of many new helicopters coming on to the market.
Mid 1990 I flew a Kalt Petrol and I was impressed apart from a dance it did when the ignition system upset the radio gear but this wasn’t for me I wanted more performance so I purchased my first Xcell 60. This again was a major leap forward in rotor head design and materials; this was a real performer although underpowered by today’s standards. I liked them that much I picked up a second XCell 60 and flew these for almost 5 years every weekend come rain, sun, or snow. I had my share of crashes like everyone but the fun of flying was stronger than the financial cost of spares. A set of carbon blades for an XCell 60 cost £100 and a tail boom £20 so a small accident always cost at least £200.
I started flying Raptor 50s about 2003 these were great helis with cheaper parts and great 3D performance straight out of the box. The OS Hyper 50 was the engine of choice along with the Curtis muscle pipe. This combination with the new high power servos made a great 3D helicopter and with the increase in on board gadgets to help with fuel mixture, engine RPM and regulators for powering the receiver and servos. This stepped everything to new level of performance and reliability. Then the introduction of helicopters from China arrived, we all had to try them. These were so good compared to everything else on the market, they came with every upgrade as standard.
I purchased the new Morley Maverick at the Sandown show in 1992, this was
not a bad performer and I did watch Curtis Youngblood give it a good 3D workout
in the car park at Sandown
Park. Another big jump in
radio reliability and the introduction of Peizo gyros computer radios, engine
governors, along with better blades and fuel suited to helicopters.
Align Helicopters brought out the Trex 600 electric after a string of 450
sized 3D mini sized helis. I purchased one of the little things, not cheap just
because it was small, £350 for the kit then you needed all the batteries and
radio gear to complete it. Cost was some were in the region of £600 ready to
fly but very cheap to crash with blades at £20 a pair and bits only costing a
few pounds.
If they are fully discharged they usually end up in the bin so you
must record your discharge rate then put back just what you use. If you
over charge these cell they normally end up on fire. So a special charger and
cell balancer are the order of the day to preserve your precious investment
from going up in smoke. Here are only a few of the helis I have owned over the
years. I haven’t covered all the helis I have had, as I said I wouldn’t have
room. I have introduced many people to the hobby over the years and taught many
to fly, but once bitten by this flying bug you are stuck with it.
The Trex 600 electric is a fantastic helicopter, on a 6 cell lipo battery 35c. You can get 6 minutes of absolute manic 3D performance or about 10 minutes of normal flying. It’s very fast and very stable inverted its better than the right way up. The lipos were expensive when they first came out, I paid £214 per pack and I used 3 packs but prices are now down to about £70 per pack so it’s a bit more acceptable. You do have to get a good understanding on how to look after your cells.
