RC Chinook Helicopter: Toy and Scale CH-47 Models Compared
RC Chinooks come in two very different kinds: palm-sized toys such as the Syma S026 or Silverlit Nano Tandem that cost little and fly indoors, and large scale models such as the Vario 1:11 CH-47 kit with two 1,550 mm rotors, 12S power and a four-figure price. There is little in between, because a tandem-rotor helicopter needs two synchronised rotor heads and special stabilisation. This page compares the real options and what each one takes.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20266 min read
Which RC Chinook models exist?
| Model | Type | Size | Control | Power | Price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syma S026G | Toy, RTF | 16.5 cm long | 3.5-channel infrared, gyro | 1S 150 mAh, 6–7 min | budget toy range |
| S026H (2.4 GHz version) | Toy, RTF | mini | 3-channel 2.4 GHz, gyro | built-in LiPo | budget toy range |
| Silverlit Nano Tandem | Toy, RTF | nano | 3-channel infrared, gyro | built-in LiPo | budget toy range |
| Vario Chinook 1:11 | Scale fuselage kit + tandem mechanics | 1,420 mm long, 2 × 1,550 mm rotors, about 10 kg | Your radio + flybarless system | Electric, 12S | from about $4,180 for the kit, before heads, blades, servos and electronics |
Figures from the makers’ listings (Vario, retailer pages for Syma and Silverlit). Toy prices change often, and toys are frequently sold under several brand names.
Infrared toys only work indoors: sunlight drowns the signal. If you want to fly in the garden, choose a 2.4 GHz version.
Why are good RC Chinooks so rare?
The full-size Boeing CH-47 has two three-blade rotors of 18.29 m that turn in opposite directions, one at each end (Boeing). There’s no tail rotor: the helicopter turns by tilting the two rotor discs in opposite directions, and pitches by changing collective front and rear differently. For a model this means:
- Two rotor heads and a synchronised drive. The rotors overlap, so they must stay exactly in phase. This needs a rigid gear or shaft connection between front and rear.
- Six or more swashplate servos instead of three, all mixed together.
- A flybarless controller with tandem mixing. Most hobby flybarless systems are made for single-rotor helis with a tail; tandem support is rare.
- Weight. A scale fuselage with two drives is heavy, so tandem scale models end up in the 700 class.
Toys get around this by simplifying: they change only rotor speeds, not blade pitch. That’s enough for hovering and slow flight but not for real control in wind.
Toy Chinooks: what to expect
- Flight times of about 5–7 minutes on a built-in battery; charging by USB or from the transmitter.
- Up/down, turning and slow forward/back. No sideways control on most 3-channel models.
- Indoors only for infrared models; even 2.4 GHz toys are blown away by a light breeze.
- Parts are rarely sold separately; a broken rotor often ends the toy.
They are good display pieces and a fun gift for a Chinook fan. They teach little about flying hobby-grade helicopters.
Large-scale CH-47 kits
The Vario 1:11 Chinook is the best-documented scale kit. It contains an 11-part GRP fuselage (white, unpainted), windows, wooden formers, the “Tandem Electric Mechanics 480/22” with an 8.96:1 reduction, and sprung landing gear. You add Vario’s own tandem rotor heads (required by Vario for safety), rotor blades, servos, a radio, a flybarless gyro and scale details. Vario recommends about 1,150 rpm rotor speed on 12S.
Also expect paint, many hours of building and a club field with space. A tandem model this size is a long-term project for experienced heli pilots, not a first scale model. Before buying, ask the dealer which flybarless system and setup they support for tandem mode.
Which one should you get?
| You want… | Get |
|---|---|
| A Chinook to fly in the living room or as a gift | Syma S026G or Silverlit Nano Tandem (infrared, indoors) |
| A small Chinook for calm days outside | A 2.4 GHz toy like the S026H, and only in no wind |
| A real flying scale CH-47 | Vario 1:11 kit, once you can fly a 600–700 class heli confidently |
| To learn heli flying first | A single-rotor 230–450 class heli; see RC helicopter sizes |
FAQ
Why don’t they build more RC Chinook helicopters?
A tandem rotor needs two synchronised heads, twice the servos and a stabilisation system with tandem mixing. That is costly to build and hard to tune, so the market has only cheap toys and expensive scale kits.
Can a remote control Chinook fly outside?
Infrared toys can’t; sunlight interferes with the signal. 2.4 GHz toys can in calm air. Large scale kits fly outdoors at club fields.
Is there a coaxial RC CH-47?
Some toys called “Chinook” actually use one coaxial rotor inside a Chinook-shaped body. Check the product photos for two separate rotor masts if you want a real tandem layout.
How big is a scale Chinook model?
The Vario 1:11 is 1,420 mm long with two 1,550 mm rotors and weighs about 10 kg.
More on this topic: size classes, controls and repairs are in the complete RC helicopters guide.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
