Radio Control: Helicopters
THE NRCHA has lost its sponsorship by Radio Control Modeler magazine. In the early 1970's RCM, and others, realized the potential of the helicopter as another challenging aspect of the radio control sport. It was realized that some form of organization was needed to provide communications and incentives to aspiring helicopter enthusiasts. NRCHA was formed as that organization. A pilot proficiency system was developed to provide the incentive for self-development of piloting skills. Membership dues for the NRCHA were held to $4.00 per year; RCM made up the balance of money needed for operating expenses. Things looked good until RCM recently notified the membership that the cost of supporting the organization had grown to such proportions that such support had to be withdrawn.
Radio Control: Helicopters
DON'T overlook the obvious. A few months ago I wrote some hints regarding the assembly and pre-flight of RC helicopters. The general theme was to persevere. Well, recently I was plagued with what appeared to be a radio problem in my Kavan Jet Ranger. I had spent several months carefully assembling the machine, but from the second day of pre-flight testing the swash plate would begin to dance whenever the throttle was advanced to a high idle. I had heard that the brand of radio that I was using is particularly sensitive to electrical noise and assumed that my problem was indeed metal-to-metal noise. So, back to the ship. I installed grounding wires from the engine frame to the main rotor shaft bearing and to the tail rotor gear box. The grounding wires electrically connected all metal from the tip of the fly-bar to the tip of the tail rotor shaft. I thought I had the problem licked, but again the swash plate would dance when the throttle was advanced to high idle.
NATS '78: RC Helicopters
NOT MANY years ago, the father of RC helicopters, Dieter Schluter, developed a machine that was capable of little more than hovering maneuvers. Radio control helicopters have since developed into acrobatic machines, capable of loops, rolls, and even unusual outside tumbles we'll call the outside loop. It was the acrobatic helicopter that dominated the 1978 AMA Helicopter NATS. The photographs included with this column do not do justice to the capabilities of the helicopters or pilots attending this year's NATS at Sulphur, LA. Our arrival at the Lake Aera Radio Kontrol Society's field on Saturday, July 30, found Bo Hinch, LARKS President and Assistant C.D., busily making last minute preparations to an already beautiful site. The field, complete with paved runway, sheltered work areas, air-conditioned concession building and hobby shop, was an ideal site for the coming activities. The only drawback to the site location was that it was several miles from other NATS activities and, therefore, offered little opportunity for exchange between our interest group and other NATS activities.
Radio Control: Helicopters
LAST MONTH I said that aerobatic helicopters dominated all classes at the 1978 AMA NATS. As an ex-pattern flier, I was very excited about the capabilities of those aerobatic machines; but frankly, until the Nats, I was convinced that any machine capable of aerobatic maneuvers had to be a beast to hover. The opportunity to hover Walt Schoonard's HeliBoy and to loop and roll John Gorham's HeliBoy was enough to convince me that, although control response is quick, there is a degree of stability as well. The control input to response time is immediate and because of that response time, my initial effort to hover Walt's machine almost led to a damaged tail rotor and related parts. The second attempt was much better and I went away with more confidence than I began with.
Radio Control: Helicopters
LAST MONTH I promised to get back to basics and to report on the progress of a local RC helicopter student. The intent here will be to answer some of the questions that he and you have regarding your new endeavor. Unlike some of you, Gregg elected to buy a machine which was fully assembled, but less radio. If you purchased a kit and have assembled it by the instructions, some of the points to follow will be familiar; but if, on the other hand, you bought a used helicopter as Gregg did, this review may be of great significance to you. First, I'd like to point out that it is impossible to learn to fly an RC helicopter by reading about it. Reading may help but practice and perseverance are the keys to learning your new skills. In order to achieve that practice and to receive benefit from it, you must become expert and meticulous at maintaining the machine. Note that I did not say expert at building the machine. Building only gets you to the flying field; maintenance keeps you in the air.
