Radio Control: Helicopters
Gazelle Modifications: When you chose a Schluter Gazelle, you chose a good helicopter. This machine is the end product of Schluter's helicopter evaluation. The machine is simple to set up, and normally flies on the first attempt. But after a little time on the machine, it be comes apparent that in its present configuration its maneuverability is limited and in some respects can be disastrous! I have done extensive testing and developing of mods for this helicopter and can now tell you that it can be made as quick and aerobatic as you wish. The Fuselage: One of the most disastrous things to happen to any helicopter is to have the main rotor cut the tail boom off on a tail first or hard landing. This can really destroy your machine and is a terribly demoralizing situation to get into. This happened to me and several of my friends. After trying longer output shafts, shorter blades, and lots of other things too, I finally discovered what was happening. It was found that the blades could not be bent down to the tail cone no matter how hard I tried.
Radio Control: Helicopters
Toledo 1975, the year of small inexpensive RC helicopters. The Toledo show was greatly expanded this year, which permitted a larger number of display booths and also increased comfort for the spectator. I have attended this show for many years, but this was the first time you could get to the more popular booths and not be crushed. My main interest being "good radios" and helicopters, kept me busy the first day asking the radio manufacturers if their radio would work well in helicopters. I was very disappointed in the answers I received. Most of them hedged on giving a definite response. The only manufacturer who is exerting any real effort to solve helicopter problems is EK-Logic-trol. They are now field testing a radio especially developed for helicopters. Aubrey Radford of Jacksonville, Fla., has been putting several sets through unbelieveable tough helicopter tests. Aubrey is the first person to do controlled rolls with RC helicop ters. He happens to be an individual who tells things like they are, and the reports coming from him speak very well for the EK-Logic-trol helicopter radio. The radio has extremely good noise rejection and yet has plenty of range. The servos are hybrid design that have speed and power and tight centering.
