I want to fly an R/C Helicopter - Where do I begin???
Micro coaxial RC helicopters are one of the most amazing and fun products to hit the RC market in years. They are responsible for introducing so many more people to this wonderful hobby and why RC helicopters are showing the strongest growth over all other forms of RC modeling.
Even though they are easy to fly, many of the skills you learn on a hobby grade coaxial RC helicopter are somewhat transferable tosingle rotor hobby grade RC helis. This holds especially true for understanding the control reversals when practicing "Nose in Hovering".
WHAT MAKES THEM A GREAT STARTER HELICOPTER??? - STABILITY!!!!!
Unlike a conventional single rotor helicopter that only has one main rotor and a tail rotor to counteract the torque produced, coaxial helicopters have two main rotors stacked on top of each other.
The two rotors spin in the opposite direction of each other and thereby cancel out the reactive torque that is produced by each.
Having two rotors also produces a significant gyroscopic effect that further stabilizes the helicopter. In short – no other design is as stable.
HOW DO THEY WORK????
All micro coaxial RC helicopters work the same way. They have two separate motors hat drive each rotor. Each motor drives a main gear.
These two main gears turn two main rotor shafts. The outside shaft that powers the lower rotor is hollow and the inner shaft that powers the upper rotor is spinning inside the lower hollow shaft – in the opposite direction.
These two motors control both the lift of the helicopter by speeding up and slowing down. They also control the turning or "Yaw" movement of the heli just like a tail rotor would on a single rotor helicopter.
HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED???
If one rotor is slowed down a bit, and the other is sped up, the one that is turning faster will produce more reactive torque than the slow one and the heli will turn/yaw, just as if a tail rotor turn command was given.
This yaw movement is controlled by a special electronic "mixing board" that will seamlessly mix the speed of both the motors to allow the required turn rate while also making sure the overall lift remains the same.
DO YOU GET CYCLIC CONTROL WITH THIS DESIGN???
YES!!!!! – Full cyclic control gives these helicopters some of the same agility that their more complex single rotor collective pitch big brothers have. The lower rotor has a typical swashplate to produce the cyclic control functions.
This allows you to Hover, Fly Forwards, Backwards, Left, & Right - it is all possible!!!
Throw in some nice controlled pirouettes and your have a very functional and controllable helicopter.
This is the big difference between a micro coaxial RC helicopter with cyclic control over a simple 2 or 3 channel toy RC helicopter that has limited directional control.
Recommendations!!!!
E-flite's Blade line of electric micro coaxial helicopters are our only pic for several reasons - They stand out due to value, performance, product support, parts availability, and they all come with DSM2 compatible receivers making them work with any good computerized programmable Spektrum or JR radio if and when you progress in this hobby.
Even though they are easy to fly, many of the skills you learn on a hobby grade coaxial RC helicopter are somewhat transferable tosingle rotor hobby grade RC helis. This holds especially true for understanding the control reversals when practicing "Nose in Hovering".
WHAT MAKES THEM A GREAT STARTER HELICOPTER??? - STABILITY!!!!!
Unlike a conventional single rotor helicopter that only has one main rotor and a tail rotor to counteract the torque produced, coaxial helicopters have two main rotors stacked on top of each other.
The two rotors spin in the opposite direction of each other and thereby cancel out the reactive torque that is produced by each.
Having two rotors also produces a significant gyroscopic effect that further stabilizes the helicopter. In short – no other design is as stable.
HOW DO THEY WORK????
All micro coaxial RC helicopters work the same way. They have two separate motors hat drive each rotor. Each motor drives a main gear.
These two main gears turn two main rotor shafts. The outside shaft that powers the lower rotor is hollow and the inner shaft that powers the upper rotor is spinning inside the lower hollow shaft – in the opposite direction.
These two motors control both the lift of the helicopter by speeding up and slowing down. They also control the turning or "Yaw" movement of the heli just like a tail rotor would on a single rotor helicopter.
HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED???
If one rotor is slowed down a bit, and the other is sped up, the one that is turning faster will produce more reactive torque than the slow one and the heli will turn/yaw, just as if a tail rotor turn command was given.
This yaw movement is controlled by a special electronic "mixing board" that will seamlessly mix the speed of both the motors to allow the required turn rate while also making sure the overall lift remains the same.
DO YOU GET CYCLIC CONTROL WITH THIS DESIGN???
YES!!!!! – Full cyclic control gives these helicopters some of the same agility that their more complex single rotor collective pitch big brothers have. The lower rotor has a typical swashplate to produce the cyclic control functions.
This allows you to Hover, Fly Forwards, Backwards, Left, & Right - it is all possible!!!
Throw in some nice controlled pirouettes and your have a very functional and controllable helicopter.
This is the big difference between a micro coaxial RC helicopter with cyclic control over a simple 2 or 3 channel toy RC helicopter that has limited directional control.
Recommendations!!!!
E-flite's Blade line of electric micro coaxial helicopters are our only pic for several reasons - They stand out due to value, performance, product support, parts availability, and they all come with DSM2 compatible receivers making them work with any good computerized programmable Spektrum or JR radio if and when you progress in this hobby.
BLADE MCX2 - Ready To Fly
The Blade mCX2 is easy enough for anyone to fly and small enough to fly just about anywhere. The pilot can change the control settings to enable this heli to perform at higher speeds than the beginner settings. This helicopter also boasts heading-lock like performance for maximum control. It also boasts more powerful motors and a higher capacity 120mAh battery pack. The mCX2 is the ultimate beginner friendly machine with unsurpassed stability, incredible control, and extreme durability.
With a factory-installed 5-in-1 control unit with Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 compatible receiver, main motor ESCs, mixer, gyro, and fully-proportional servos come pre-installed. Freedom from frequency restrictions and great control are ensured with the MLP4DSM 4-channel 2.4Ghz Spektrum technology equipped transmitter. The Blade mCX2’s ultra-micro size and weight make it possible to fly this heli anywhere indoors.
With a factory-installed 5-in-1 control unit with Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 compatible receiver, main motor ESCs, mixer, gyro, and fully-proportional servos come pre-installed. Freedom from frequency restrictions and great control are ensured with the MLP4DSM 4-channel 2.4Ghz Spektrum technology equipped transmitter. The Blade mCX2’s ultra-micro size and weight make it possible to fly this heli anywhere indoors.
BLADE CX2 - READY TO FLY
The Blade® CX2 takes the excitement and beginner-friendly flight stability of the original Blade CX and adds Spektrum™ 2.4GHz DSM® radio control that lets you fly anywhere, anytime without ever having to worry about interference. It’s the first ready-to-fly RC aircraft of any kind to come with this extraordinary technology built in. In addition, the 4-in-1 control unit has been updated with improved gyro and tail control that gives the Blade CX2 even better tail response while minimizing drift. Two feather-light S60 Super Sub-Micro servos provide powerful, precise cyclic control. Topping it all off is an aggressive new body design that looks fantastic in flight and is unlike anything else out there.
When it comes to micro heli fun everyone can enjoy, you simply can’t beat the value and performance of the Blade CX2.
When it comes to micro heli fun everyone can enjoy, you simply can’t beat the value and performance of the Blade CX2.
Are They Real??? - YES!!!!!
The Russian Military has been using "Coaxial" or "Contra-Rotating" Helicopter designs for years. The helicopter in the picture is the Ka-50 Werewolf attack helicopter!!!!