Being successful with an R/C Helicopter requires dedication and patience. One of the reasons that model helicopters are difficult is because the very first maneuver that you're going to learn is an advanced maneuver... hovering! All "successful" helicopter flights start and end with a hover and that is one of the keys, being able to successfully control your machine in a hover. There are people that have learned to fly a helicopter, at a novice level, in less than a month..

Today's modern R/C Helicopter and radio can do just about anything. We can perform the same aerobatics maneuver that planes can (with the exception of knife-edged flight), we can not only fly inverted but we can also hover inverted, and last but not least... we can do all of this flying forwards, backwards, or sideways, day or night!! A helicopter doesn't glide, as a plane does, but we can also land without the motor running, which is called an auto-rotation.

We highly suggest that anyone interested in learning all they can about Nitro engines (technically, model 2-stroke nitromethane engines) visit the tech articles at www.caraction.com. You can use many of these tips to help you find out more!

Getting the hang of flying an R/C heli is a fairly challenging undertaking. It's like riding a bike: when you first start trying it seems impossible, but with enough practice it starts to seem easy, like second nature. It may take 5 or 10 sessions to get to the point of being able to hover with some consistency. Helicopters provide a long sequence of challenges, and the corresponding satisfactions of mastering them.

No. People of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities have learned to fly. It’s fun, and from the beginning of your training, you get to do most of the actual flying! On the practical side—While flying isn’t a difficult skill to learn, you’ll have to be willing to stick with it until you meet all the requirements. Also, you should consider the cost of becoming a pilot—you’ll have to pay for your physical exam and your lessons.

With proper instruction, either by instruction video or a personal lesson, most people learn to row in one afternoon. Little River provides lessons to our customers from Maine to Florida. Some people like to start with a set of outrigger floats to really insure safe learning. They are available for rent or purchase.

Helicopter tuition is carried out in the Robinson R22 Beta, a two seat, piston engine Helicopter. With over 3000 machines produced and 20 years in the training market the R22 is one of the most popular training machines and certainly one of the most reliable.

At the present time there is no official helicopter training program. There are several very highly qualified helicopter pilots in the club who can assist you in getting started.

No, it is not particularly difficult and it is not necessary to learn the fixed wing before you learn the helicopter. You will do most of the actual flying (i.e., handling the various controls) from the beginning be it a helicopter or a fixed wing.

In order to maintain a stationary hover, the helicopter must be tilted just a little bit to the right. This is because the tail rotor, in addition to keeping the helicopter pointed in the right direction, also happens to provide a little bit of sideways thrust (after all, it's just a big propeller pointed sideways). To counteract the tail rotor's sideways thrust, the main rotor needs to be tilted slightly to the right.

Technically speaking in the US you can fly any helicopter less than 12,500 lb. (that is BIG!) In real life the insurance companies call the shots. They will assess each individual depending on their total helicopter time and their time in similar type of aircraft, e.g. turbine or piston. Once you meet the minimum requirements they usually will insure you if you get 5 or 10 hours of instruction in the type you wish to fly. In fact all the controls work the same in flight.

Not any more! Submarine kits now come with many pre-fabricated parts making their assembly easier than ever before. Even a beginner can build the entry level ALBACORE. And for the more adventurous, with a higher level of building ability, the 1:72 scale Los Angeles would be a good choice. If you've built a scale surface ship or fast electric boat, you can build a submarine.

This is a very subjective question. It really depends on the specific model and YOUR flying skills. Our rule of thumb is to keep the payload weight of a typical .30 size model heli under three pounds. It could lift more, but it may be a handful to fly for most folks (and perhaps dangerous too). Even the lower payload weights will affect flight behavior, so always fly with extreme care. Larger model heli's, such as .60 size and gassers, can take on much bigger payloads.

Initially, an airplane is easier to fly. A helicopter is less stable and will not fly if the pilot takes his or her hands off the controls. However, once you get the feel of it, it is like riding a bicycle - you do it without thinking.

Yes. But as far as we are aware none can sustain inverted flight. There are many remote-control helicopters that fly upside down for prolonged periods so it is aerodynamically possible. It requires a lot of power and a lightly loaded helicopter to even loop a helicopter. Aerobatic flight is prohibited in most normal helicopters - most pilots are more comfortable with the fuselage firmly suspended from the rotor system.

After about one day of training, you can make simple parts. Three days of training are provided for extra proficiency (see Training). Optional follow-up training is available and recommended after a few months of use, to increase skills and productivity.

Expect to spend a total of three to six hours to learn every aspect of the program: setting up your workspace, sitting, using the keyboard, using the mouse, and using a laptop. If you choose to cover only some aspects of the program, it will take less time. You can use the CD-ROM to learn at your own pace at home, at work, or at a physical therapy clinic - whatever is most convenient for you.

Not at all. Helicopters and airplanes fly using different principles and controls. Although the general aviation knowledge you acquire while flying airplanes may prove useful in your helicopter training, some fixed-wing habits actually make learning to fly helicopters more difficult.