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..

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.

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.

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.

People of all ages and backgrounds can learn to fly safely and proficiently. You must be at least 16 years old to fly solo during your training and at least 17 years old to receive your Private pilot certificate and carry passengers.

The instruction at Fly Above All is unsurpassed by any other school in the United States. Currently we have 8 instructors and support staff that are available to teach our students on a daily basis. Our instructors have been members of the 2001 US Team, have held cross country distance records and they have the knowledge of educational theory, abound in enthusiasm, years of paragliding instruction and the experience of flying around the country and the world.

Yes, almost anyone can learn to fly. However, to earn a Private Pilot License (PPL), you must: 1) Receive an FAA medical certificate (i.e., pass a physical exam). 2) Log at least 40 hours of instruction under the supervision of an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). 3) Pass an FAA written examination. 4) Pass an FAA oral examination. 5) Pass an FAA practical examination (often referred to as a "check ride").

There are new helicopters being produced every year, and old helicopters are being retired from production to make room, so this document cannot recommend a specific make or model. However, it can offer a few ideas that will hopefully make your decision easier. First, no matter which helicopter you buy these days, if you build it according to the instructions, it will serve you well. Each design has its own strengths and weaknesses, it's own die-hard fans and detractors.

According to the FAA, in 2004, there were 27,135 active helicopter pilots. That includes 5,912 private pilots; 18,062 commercial pilots; 3,161 airline transport pilots; and one recreational pilot.