Radio Control: Helicopters

RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS e. a.A FEW ISSUES ago wrote about some simple effective ways can make helicopter safer yourself around ways carrying helicopter transmitter pits flightllne technique carry transmitter left hand left thumb holding down throttle stick make sure dorft have runaway engine should wind blow neck strap shirt onto throttle stick comment got E-mail Paul Eigisti no hometown given offer safe-flying practices reference item #7 June 1999 column method indeed good Ive seen pilots carry equipment way prefer another method After turn transmitter receiver verify servos functioning switch throttle-hold start engine carry helicopter flightline Only myself helicopter place confirm throttle stick full down-position turn off throttle-hold Using method no chance danger dreaded idleup mode starts bumping throttle stick carrying helicopter flightline Just twocents worth like solves problem something disrupting throttle stick helicopter being carried flightline before though ensures dont start engine idle-up mode has ever happened course problem can see starting cold engine Some engines just need little extra gas get going until up operating temperature can maintain good idle However advantages starting throttle-hold mode certainly would recommend experiment engine see technique would suitable engine hard start throttle-hold may want advance throttle checking radio glow plug battery attached hold finger over muffler exhaust turning engine over electric starter will cause engine pressurize fuel tank open throttle will allow some fuel carburetor easier starting Bring throttle back idle attach glow plug battery engage throttle-hold try start engine received another interesting E-mail asking opinion about helicopter kit fastest available Unfortunately dont know requester because have return E-mail address interest speed something comes up time time Im sure kit market will fly faster other what important understand what takes make helicopter fly faster turns out principles speed helicopter about same other means transportationlight weight low drag plenty available power Lets take look weight Imagine helicopter carrying heavy weight takes lift available just keep hover no excess lift helicopter cant climb transition forward flight now suppose extra weight removed helicopter does have excess lift available can imagined quite easily helicopter would have capability climb accelerate forward flight some combination both Therefore lighter can make helicopter excess lift will available make go fast time though people thought heavy helicopter actually flew faster lighter simply illusion flying heavy helicopter have strong engine lot rotor blade just get helicopter perform combined slight dive get rock going downhill gave impression really fast machine look helicopter Im thinking standard pod-and-boom variety now doesnt seem much can about its drag shape canopy skids struts can changed slightly reduce its resistance goes through air Although would helpful real reduction drag could come rotor system advent highly maneuverable helicopters 3D flying rotor blade design has less settled full symmetrical aerobatic airfoil good combination types flying Unfortunately things aerodynamics compromise full symmetrical blade sacrifices loss lift increase drag flying upright wanted helicopter go fast certainly would interested its inverted capabilities would want rotor blade optimized upright forward flight best blade comes mind old reflex airfoil very popular rotor blade anymore has semi-symmetrical airfoil distinct upsweep trailing edge blade Im sure what exact aerodynamic principles upswept portion blade does seem reduce overall blade drag increasing lift Although have never interested increasing speed helicopters have impressed extra lift provided such blade doing autorotations would therefore think such blade would good choice starting point extra speed can still find reflex-airfoil blades being produced last major factor increasing speed has good old-fashioned horsepower greater power available faster can turn rotor blades increase pitch setting propel helicopter forward Back original question no single helicopter kit fastest because improvements can make increase speed helicopter However Im sure readers would interested helicopters what have done improve performance Now dont mean triple-ball-bearing gold-plated thingamajig what have done engine exhaust rotor system etc really feel makes helicopter perform better Let know can pass along information later column Photos would also appreciated Model Aviation