How to get started flying RC helicopters

RC helicopters have become a very common RC toy lately and come in a variety of prices and types. Many problems that beginners face are what type of helicopter to choose, power source for it and whether they want an indoor or outdoor one. With many more options on top of those you can imagine how difficult it is for beginners to take off, literally. First let's talk about the different power sources that a RC model helicopter can have, and which one will best suit you.

If you are a beginner RC helicopter pilot, then the best power source for you is electric. Electrically powered chopper engines are still very fast, but yet still quiet, and can maneuver just as good a full sized fuel powered one! Another main attraction to electric helicopters is the fact that you don't have to deal with messy fuels or with tuning the engine at all. Plus fuel cost money and electricity is much cheaper. If you are a beginner then I definitely recommend that you get an electric powered RC helicopter and then progress your way up to a glow powered one.

Glow engines have been used in RC airplanes for some time now, and have made there way over to helicopters. Glow engines have a simple ignition system that uses a glow plug rather than a spark plug. The glow plug is heated by a battery operated glow starter, and meanwhile the modeler uses a starter to turn the engine over. When fuel enters the combustion chamber, it is ignited by the heated glow plug and the engine starts up.

If you want to seriously get into the RC helicopter hobby, then a glow engine chopper is perfect for realism, building, maintaining and flying! You will be able to personalize your chopper exactly the way you want it, like hover time and rotor speed. Once you get a feel for your helicopter, and have everything adjusted perfectly, your helicopter will fly just the way you want it and not the way some factory decided it should.

The next challenge beginner helicopter pilot's face is learning how to fly their chopper. This is a big problem since a helicopter is the hardest aerial vehicle to fly and having a miniature version of one doesn't make things easier. If you have no helicopter flying experience and you try to fly it, most likely it will crash into the ground. To save yourself frustration you need to learn how to properly put it together and fly it.

I recommend that you read the instruction manual, front to back, before you attempt to put it together and when you actually do, make sure you tighten every bolt and include every screw. One missing screw or loose bolt can throw the whole helicopter off and send it crashing to the ground because it is unbalanced.

Learning how to fly a RC helicopter is a challenge within itself, and could never be fully taught over the internet or through some book. The best way to learn is to get real flying experience with an instructor at first, and then on your own later. You can find an instructor at a local RC airplane and helicopter club. RC airplane clubs are most common and exist in just about every state and country, and since most of them will have experience with planes they most likely will also know how to fly RC model helicopters too.

If you want to learn more about RC helicopters, and see some recommendations, then check out Michael's RC model helicopters page. Interested in R/C airplanes? Then take a look at his RC airplane website.

How to Solve Disputes with the Helicopter Talk Technique

How to Solve Disputes with the Helicopter Talk Technique

 by: Peter Murphy

Do you ever find that when a friend asks for your opinion on a problem it is a lot easier for you to see a solution than it is for your friend?

And do you also find that sometimes you feel completely stuck when it comes to your own problems?

The same applies to disputes, relationship issues and disagreements.

When you are part of the problem it can be very difficult to see a solution. What you need at times like this is a helicopter!

Helicopter Talk Technique:

1. Imagine you are in a helicopter flying high above the town you live in. Now travel to where you last had a dispute with a family member, friend or work mate.

2. From the safety and distance of the helicopter above rerun the last conversation when the trouble flared up. Watch the scene unfold and pay attention to how you communicated rather than who was in the right.

3. Ask yourself:

• how could you have handled the situation better?

• what could you have done differently?

• what is the solution to the problem?

Your goal is to be emotionally detached yet concerned with finding the best solution in the same way you help a friend with a problem.

4. Imagine a trusted friend is in the helicopter observing:

• what advice would your friend give you?

• what does your friend notice that you missed?

Your own private helicopter can be used to identify patterns of communication you have that land you in hot water as well as new ways of dealing with problems.

Have fun in the sky!

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm peter1510@hotmail.com

Test-flying for fun - RC planes and helicopters

Contrary to popular belief, people who work in model shops dont spend all day every day playing with their own models!!!

However, on Friday afternoon Dale and myself decided we were actually going flying. We closed the shop dead on 6 o'clock (usually we dont leave till gone 7). We were cashed up, loaded up and were off to our own secret flying site in Kent by 6.30.

We arrived at the flying field around 6.45, all models still intact after a mad dash along the A2 in Kent and some rather bendy country lanes.

First out of the cars were a pair of Weston Cougars, one of my favourite planks (sorry for the term plank but I class myself as a heli flyer). Once started and both airborne there was a really noticeable difference in performance between the two. Dales is fitted with a OS46LA, whilst mine has a West Eurotech 36 fitted. We both decided to go for height, (when I say height I mean the clouds were getting in the way) Dales climb rate was respectable but mine climbed like a homesick angel. After a few attempts at getting it to flatspin & some low inverted circuits I was out of fuel, so was forced to land and get the next model out.

The next candidate was a Century Predator Gasser which has had one previous flight. The beauty of petrol powered models is that they are cheap to run & there is no starting equipment required. The previous flight was used to set the model and engine up correctly. After a few tweaks to the engine I was happy with the way she was running I thought we would do a few gentle circuits with a couple of stall turns thrown in for good measure. I must say this is probably the most stable model in the hover I have ever flown. I landed, then passed the controls to Dale for a quick play. He also loved how stably it flew.

The amount of fun you can have with an electric Zagi is amazing. This model is so much fun and so unbreakable, I found myself doing the silliest of things with it. Like skimming across the strip with the prop clipping the grass on its way through, stalling it from up high and seeing who could get the highest bounce when it hit the deck!
Who cares, the chances of breaking it are near nil.

Thats how we continued for the rest of the evening.... until we remembered that to fly in the dark - which i used to do on a regular basis - you need 'glow sticks'.

So, back to the shop to unload all the models - we both commented on what a great evenings flying it was, probably one of the best this year - we are not trying to tempt fate or anything, but are now charging everything in sight ready for another evening of fun.

One of the best things you can invest in is a fast charger - perfect for those last minute decisions to go flying, we have all put a lot of miles on my poor old ripmax fast charger.

Rod

However, on Friday afternoon Dale and myself decided we were actually going flying. We closed the shop dead on 6 o'clock (usually we dont leave till gone 7). We were cashed up, loaded up and were off to our own secret flying site in Kent by 6.30.

We arrived at the flying field around 6.45, all models still intact after a mad dash along the A2 in Kent and some rather bendy country lanes.

First out of the cars were a pair of Weston Cougars, one of my favourite planks (sorry for the term plank but I class myself as a heli flyer). Once started and both airborne there was a really noticeable difference in performance between the two. Dales is fitted with a OS46LA, whilst mine has a West Eurotech 36 fitted. We both decided to go for height, (when I say height I mean the clouds were getting in the way) Dales climb rate was respectable but mine climbed like a homesick angel. After a few attempts at getting it to flatspin & some low inverted circuits I was out of fuel, so was forced to land and get the next model out.

The next candidate was a Century Predator Gasser which has had one previous flight. The beauty of petrol powered models is that they are cheap to run & there is no starting equipment required. The previous flight was used to set the model and engine up correctly. After a few tweaks to the engine I was happy with the way she was running I thought we would do a few gentle circuits with a couple of stall turns thrown in for good measure. I must say this is probably the most stable model in the hover I have ever flown. I landed, then passed the controls to Dale for a quick play. He also loved how stably it flew.

The amount of fun you can have with an electric Zagi is amazing. This model is so much fun and so unbreakable, I found myself doing the silliest of things with it. Like skimming across the strip with the prop clipping the grass on its way through, stalling it from up high and seeing who could get the highest bounce when it hit the deck!
Who cares, the chances of breaking it are near nil.

Thats how we continued for the rest of the evening.... until we remembered that to fly in the dark - which i used to do on a regular basis - you need 'glow sticks'.

So, back to the shop to unload all the models - we both commented on what a great evenings flying it was, probably one of the best this year - we are not trying to tempt fate or anything, but are now charging everything in sight ready for another evening of fun.

One of the best things you can invest in is a fast charger - perfect for those last minute decisions to go flying, we have all put a lot of miles on my poor old ripmax fast charger.

Rod

Rod Shoveller is a serious radio controlled models addict. He refers to himself as a heli flyer, though he has experience across a wide range of types of RC models. Not only does he fly, drive and steer them, he also builds and repairs them. He can be found at www.elitemodelsonline.co.uk or at the Elite Model Shop in Canterbury, Kent, UK.

 

Las Vegas Helicopter Tour the flight of a lifetime

A tour of a lifetime hundreds of feet over the Grand Canyon and wading down the Colorado River.
One of the most exciting tours I have ever taken in my life was one of my las vegas grand canyon tours. Imagine floating in the air over the grand canyon, one of the wonders of the world.

As we arranged for the champagne lunch tour, the helicopter company sent a limo to pick us up at the hotel. The ride lasted about five minutes then we were dropped off at the helicopter launch. Fellow passengers from all over the world chatted and waited for our adventure to begin.

Moments later we took off for one of the waiting helicopters. The pilot was wonderful, showing us how to get in and out and demonstrating how to use the headsets. My companion and I ended up in a helicopter of our own because several of the other passengers decided to just fly over the canyon. The tour we chose actually had us landing on the bottom.

Ten minutes later we were heading over some of the most beautiful scenes imaginable. Our Las Vegas helicopter tour included a canvas in every color imagineable painted by dessert, mountains and the colorado river.

Within twenty minutes of smooth flying we were over the canyon and able to see the landing pad, set in the middle of tumbleweed, mountains and cacti. As we disembarked the pilot helped us climb down the stone and dirt pathway to a little boat dock, where we met a family from Britain that would be our companions on our champagne lunch down the colorado river.

The boat captain was a tiny oriental man with sparkling eyes and a rich sense of humor. He handed out our picnic baskets and regaled us with stories of how the Grand Canyon was created. He also had the foresense to stop periodically and help us get the most amazing shots of the canyon. He seemed to know every rock and ridge and was able to point out eagles and faces carved into the rock by millions of years of erosion.

At the end of our Las Vegas helicopter tour we flew back to the original launch and took our limo back to the hotel, content, awestruck and absolutely certain that we would return to Las Vegas, the grand canyon and our las vegas helicopter tour.

For more free Las Vegas articles feel free to go to: http://www.lasvegashotelandcasinoreview.com

Written by Caterina Christakos (c)2001 for more writing tips check out: http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com

Shooting Arrows at Helicopters: A Survivor Story

Resilient people share certain traits that help them bounce back from hard times. Learn more about this emotional intelligence competency.
Did you ever notice how resilient people people who seem to be able to handle the ups and down in life, and not freak out under stress are kind of, well, zany?

Al Siebert, Ph.D., who has studied resiliency for many years found that one of the qualities of survivors is having what he calls paradoxical personality traits. This means being able to be one way and also the opposite being mean and kind, selfish and altruistic, generous and stingy. My clients who read Sieberts book The Survivor Personality report appreciating the normalizing of reading that its okay to be different depending upon the situation.

It does sound like a good survival trait doesnt it? Because when hard times comes, or when change is as prevalent and continual as it is today, or our environments as multicultural as they are, we need lots of ways of being in order to have positive outcomes. What works with one person wont work with the next, and what worked today wont always work tomorrow.

Resiliency also requires a good bit of optimism, learned optimism, which isnt 100% reality-based, particularly in situations where we have to do something. In my Optimism Workshops, I always ask the participants to envision Muhammed Ali going into the ring saying, Well, Im not sure, but I think I can beat this guy. What would happen? He would get clobbered. Far wiser, wouldnt you agree, to go into the ring saying, I am the Greatest?

Theres a certain unpredictability to resilient survivors also because of these many traits and the optimism.

Reminds me of a great scene in the movie Gardens of Stone, where a character tells James Caan he knows we're going to win Viet Nam because helicopters are coming back to base with arrows in them. How can they expect to win a war when theyre shooting arrows at a helicopter?

James Caan's character counters: "How can you expect to beat someone who will shoot an arrow at a helicopter?"

So off you go then, and shoot those arrows at those helicopters, if need be. Youll keep em guessing, and likely come out ahead.

Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, GLOBAL EQ. Emotional intelligence coaching to enhance all areas of your life - career, relationships, midlife transition, resilience, self-esteem, parenting. EQ Alive! - excellent, accelerated, affordable EQ coach certification. Susan is the author of numerous ebooks, is widely published on the Internet, and a regular speaker for cruise lines. For marketing services go here.

 

Take A Hawaii Helicopter Tour!

A Hawaii helicopter tour is one of the most unforgettable
experiences you'll have on your trip to Hawaii. An hour or
two spent above some of the planet's most captivating
landscape sears itself into your memory for years to come. A
Hawaii helicopter tour is both safe and stupendous!

Some of the sights you'll encounter aloft on your Hawaii
helicopter tour include of course Hawaii's spectacular
volcanoes, Haleakala, Kilauea and the Pu'u O'o Vent. If
you're lucky you'll see lava flows! Other great sights seen
from above include Hana's spectacular rain forests and
waterfalls, lush sugar cane and pineapple fields, pristine
valleys and remote inaccessible rain forests. Relax in the
comfort of your seat while you view and listen as your guide
gives you all the details on state-of-the-art sound systems,
allowing you to concentrate on all the beauty below! Videos
are usually available to impress your friends back home, as
they'd never believe this if you simply told it to them!

There are several fine Hawaii helicopter tour companies that
will take reservations and offer you all the amenities
you'll require. Some of these companies include Hawaii
Helicopters, Maui Air, Alex Air, Pacific Wings, Volcano Air
Tours, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Sunshine Helicopters and
others. Some tours are as short as 30 minutes, to as
long as 3 hours, and run from $100-$500 depending of course
on the tour and times you choose. Do yourself a favor and
book a Hawaii helicopter tour on your next Hawaii vacation.
You'll be glad you did!
Keith Thompson is the webmaster at http://www.Hawaii-
Vacation-Directory.com, where you can find many resources
for your href=">Hawaii'>http://www.hawaii-vacation-%20%3Cbr%3Edirectory.com/index.html">Hawaii vacation Come by and
see how to get your own slice of paradise!