Things to Know Before Purchasing an RC Helicopter

There is a saying that, “when time changes, you must also change with it”, which is very true in this world that we live. Not long ago people were chasing after mobile devices like the iPhones and tablets. Although these devices are still being sought after by a lot of people, there is a new trend and that is towards the use of RC helicopters. These drones are now the order of the day and it is not surprising to see both the young and the old going for these gadgets. They are very fun and exciting to have. However, there are some things that an individual should be aware of before going ahead to purchase an RC helicopter. Knowledge of these essential things will go a long in getting a person to make an informed decision on using such playtime gadgets.
RC helicopters come in different models: As someone looking to purchase an RC helicopter, it is very important that you know the particular type you want. There are always things that help in differentiating these helicopters and they include the following;
• Micro single rotor RC helicopter
• Single rotor collective hobby grade helicopter
• Quadrocopters and quadrotor RC helicopters
• Micro-coaxial hobby grade helicopters
• Toy helicopters
These are the main types of RC helicopters and when one is able to compare them, it helps in making sure that you choose nothing but the right RC helicopter.
Channels available: Every RC helicopter makes use of these channels in transmitting a radio signal from the remote controlling device to the helicopter. These are the things that help in ensuring that the RC helicopter makes the much needed manoeuvrings without any hitches. The least number of channels that an RC helicopter can have is two and that is mainly used by the very simple ones which do not perform a lot of manoeuvrings. However, there are also those helicopters that do come with a minimum of three channels and they are regarded as being able to execute a lot of manoeuvrings that are more complex than the ones executed by the simple ones. Therefore, depending on the kind of things you want to perform with your helicopter, you have to select the one that has the required number of channels.
Source of energy: This refers to what provides the RC helicopter the energy to be up in the air. Basically, there are two main types of energy sources that are used by these helicopters and they are;
1.The Glow Fuel: This makes use of nitro-methane together with methanol to provide energy for the helicopter. The flight duration of glow fuel is estimated to be between 7 and 10 minutes before the energy gets completely drained.
2.Rechargeable batteries: These were at first ordinary batteries that were being used. However, recent technological developments have led to the manufacturing of high quality lithium batteries which are able to keep a helicopter up for a period of between 4 minutes to 10 minutes.
Among these two energy sources, the battery is considered as being safe and environmentally friendly.
Access to replaceable parts: When you finally make the decision to purchase an RC helicopter, it is also very imperative to ensure that access to replaceable parts is not a problem at all especially for those of you who might want to go beyond the occasional flights. These helicopters are very delicate and fragile and so any kind of handling will lead to the incidence of damages. However, when the replaceable parts are very easy to obtain then you do not have a problem at all. Always remember that they need to be maintained very well. Aside a few parts that one needs to purchase from the company that manufactured the helicopter, majority of the parts can be purchased from anywhere the sell such stuff.
Materials used in making the RC helicopter: The materials that are used in the manufacturing of these cute helicopters vary from a particular model to another. Some are made with very delicate materials whilst others too are constructed by using very simple are durable materials. As a result of this, when an individual decides to purchase an RC helicopter without any prior experience in operating such a gadget, it is always advisable for the person to get the more durable ones. This is due to the fact that a person who is new to flying such helicopters will always be susceptible to crashes and as such those with durable parts will help in minimising the degree of damage that will be done to the helicopter. The professionals on the other hand, can either opt for the one made with delicate materials or decide to go with something more durable and strong.
Always do ensure that the helicopter is not very heavy as that will also make it difficult for it to get airborne.
Additional features of the RC helicopter: All RC helicopters do come with very unique features and these features do vary from one model to the other. Some of the unique features associated with these helicopters include;
• An LCD screen
• A camera
• An SD card slot
Depending on the kind of activity that an individual wishes to perform using the helicopter, he or she has to choose the one that provides him or her with the best features. For example, there are those who will only purchase these helicopters just to have some fun during their leisure periods whilst others too may be interested in using it to take pictures of things around which would have been very difficult to do in the absence of the helicopter. So after identifying what you want to use the helicopter for, then you can go ahead and purchase the right one.
RC helicopters are here to stay and with these very vital tips one is sure to get the absolute best when it comes to purchasing a helicopter to use. Get in on the fun of flying around your area.