Where Have They All Gone?...
There is nothing like the sound of gas RC model helicopters buzzing through the air early on a Sunday morning. However, in recent years there has been a decline in gas RC helicopters. This decline is not because they are an inferior product, nothing could be farther from the truth. Unfortunately, they are expensive and difficult to control, which has made the operators of these high power toys a very select group.
If you are interested in buying gas RC helicopters then you need to understand what the challenges are for these remote control models. The first challenge is that they are very powerful for their size. This coupled with the innate challenges of operating any helicopter remote control model makes them super difficult to learn. However, if you start out with basic operation tactics, such as take off, landing, hovering, straight lines and basic turns and then build up to more complex maneuvers you will do just fine.
Another issue that often keeps RC operators from buying gas RC helicopters is their price. These models do tend to be slightly more expensive than their electric and brushless/Li-Po contemporaries, but the extra cost is well worth the investment. Gas models have a more realistic feel to them and they seem to be a bit more stable in flight.
The third obstacle that you will need to overcome when deciding to become a gas RC helicopter pilot is finding a supplier. Most hobby stores and model stores that carry remote control helicopters no longer carry the gas model varieties. However, a few online stores still carry these unique RC models.
The next challenge that you will face is learning how to use the complex RC helicopter controls. These controls are not the same as an RC airplane uses. Instead they utilize a six or seven channel controller that will allow you to control the pitch of the various rotor blades, the speed of the rotor and various other aspects of the RC helicopter that are required for its operation.
If you still don't know if a gas RC helicopter is for you then read more about these amazing "toys." There are multiple books and magazines available for RC hobbyists including "Radio Controlled Helicopters" by Nick Papilon and "the Basics of Radio Control Helicopters: Everything to Know from Start-up Aerobatics" by Paul Tradelius. These publications will tell you how to learn basic and advanced operating skills that are needed for gas RC helicopter operation.
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