In recent years, electric rc helicopter have really dropped in price and have become easier to fly, making electric rc helicopter the ultimate 'must have' radio control model. Electric RC helicopter allows more people to enjoy this hobby without having to always fix their models and having to pay a hefty price.
As a result, electric rc helicopter now make up the fastest growing sector of the general hobby of rc flying, and the models shown on this page are just a few of the most popular models at the current time.
So it's great news if you've ever loved the idea of flying a model helicopter but have always been put off by the high prices and horror stories about how hard model helicopters are to control - it seems that those days are over!
Having said that though, care still needs to be taken if learning to fly a 4 or more channel single rotor electric rc helicopter from scratch. electric rc helicopter not toys and they do still have a learning curve! The co-axial electric rc helicopter, talked about further down the page, are much easier to fly with no experience.
But many modern electric rc helicopters such as the sleek-looking Phoenix CP, pictured below, are designed with the novice, as well as the expert, in mind.
The Phoenix CP follows hot on the heels of the tried and trusted Phoenix CP, one of the most popular electric rc helicopters in its class*.
Helis like the Blade generally have good flight stability - exactly what you need when learning to fly an rc helicopter, and yet they're perfectly capable of demanding 3D aerobatic flying with some simple upgrades (and a lot of practice...)
So even if you've never held a radio control helicopter before, a model like the Blade CP will give you a smooth introduction to flying electric rc helicopters but, as previously mentioned, you still have a learning curve to deal with!
*Fixed or collective pitch?
The term 'pitch' refers to the angle of the main rotor blades (and rotor disc) in relation to the horizontal airflow, but when comparing FP and CP helicopters this pitch name only refers to altitude control - cyclic control has the same method on each type of model.
Whether the model is FP or CP is an important factor to consider when choosing an electric rc helicopter, and the choice largely depends on what sort of flying you want to do, as well as your budget.
Fixed Pitch (FP) is self-explanatory in that the blade pitch is, well, fixed. The main blades do not pivot about their longitudinal axis to change pitch angle, (ie change the amounts of lift) and so altitude (climb/descent)
Generally speaking, FP helicopters are not as responsive in the air and can be a bit 'twitchy' at first, until the pilot gets used to the feel of it. They are, however, cheaper to buy and marginally easier to master.
Collective Pitch (CP) means that the pitch angle of each main rotor blade can be moved to change the amount of lift generated by them.
The motor is kept at a more constant speed, and the altitude is controlled by changing this pitch angle of the blades. This makes the helicopter more agile, responsive and smoother in the air, but gives a steeper learning curve for the pilot - and they cost more to buy.
Above left a FP rotor head compared to a CP one, right
The bottom line? If you just want an 'entry-level' taste of flying an electric rc helicopter with circuits and hovering, then a FP model will suit your needs very well. If you can see yourself wanting to fly in a more demanding way, then a CP heli is much more appropriate for your needs.
