Radio Control: Helicopters
ENGINES IN MODEL HELICOPTERS have always been more difficult to adjust than engines in model airplanes. In airplanes they are mounted in the nose, where they are readily accessible and can be adjusted at all power settings; start the engine, hold onto the airplane, and advance the throttle as necessary. Idle and main needle valves are easy to reach, and the airplane can be tilted to a nose-high or nose-low position under all power conditions. However, when trying to adjust a helicopter engine, the engine must be started at idle, and the helicopter must be carried away from the starting area, then brought into a hover to check the mixture. Some fliers have trouble with their idle mixture, transition from idle to full power, or main needle valve adjustments, but no matter what adjustments must be made, it all starts with the main needle valve; if that's not set correctly, no other adjustments will produce the desired effect.
Radio Control: Helicopters
THE QUALITY and reliability of radio equipment continues to improve, so it's rare to hear of anyone having radio problems not caused by a crash or some other known reason. However, periodically I do get a letter from someone who is having a specific problem and would like to know what can be done, short of sending the radio back to the manufacturer or a service facility for repair. Not that sending the unit in for a checkup is a bad idea, but some problems are intermittent, and would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find on the workbench.
Radio Control: Helicopters
The Concept 46VR is Kyosho's latest helicopter entry by Great Planes Model Distributing, and is designed for the more-aggressive or advanced flier. The Concept line of .30-size helicopters has been a mainstay in the learning process of new helicopter pilots throughout the world, and those who have learned on these machines can progress with a helicopter that is specifically designed to take them to the "next step in flying." Although I haven't had time to start building the 46VR yet, it seems to follow the same well-thought-out building and design features that many have come to expect from Kyosho - a detailed and easy-to-read instruction manual, quality components (including a muffler), and a design for simplicity and ease of maintenance. I'll let you know more as I progress with the kit.
Radio Control: Helicopters
In my October and November 1997 columns I wrote about the need for a proper mechanical setup in preparation for adjusting the pitch curves on your helicopter, and about using a computer helicopter radio to set up a straight-line pitch curve once you have determined the high and low pitch endpoints. However, setting up and measuring these endpoints requires the use of a pitch gauge. It enables you to set the pitch, or static angle of attack, of the rotor blades to whatever position or range you desire. This pitch must be set correctly and within certain limits if the helicopter is to fly as designed and to your desires.
Radio Control: Helicopters
FREQUENCY BOARDS: The Cascade Model Helicopter Club of Everett, Washington is nice enough to include me in the mailing of their monthly club newsletter, the Heli News. I always enjoy getting their newsletter to keep up with the events of the club, as well as for the interesting articles presented by their editor, Dick McKenna. (In all fairness, from the vast content of the newsletter, I'm sure Dick gets a lot of help from others in the club.) One of the articles in the January Heli News is about frequency pins, and a problem the club had one day while trying to help a new flier. A second article by Calvin Mitchell in the same issue also dealt with frequency control, but with a little different twist.
