RC Helicopter 101: How They Fly, Controls and Getting Started
RC helicopters fly by spinning rotor blades that act like wings, producing lift. To move, the rotor disc is tilted (cyclic) so some of the lift pushes the helicopter in that direction. The tail rotor (or the second rotor on coaxials) counters the torque that would otherwise spin the body. You control four things: throttle/collective (up and down), yaw (rotate), pitch (forward and back) and roll (side to side). Beginners usually start with a stabilised coaxial or fixed-pitch helicopter and a simulator.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20263 min read
Types
| Type | How it controls lift | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Coaxial | Two counter-rotating rotors; speed changes | Easiest |
| Fixed-pitch single rotor | Rotor speed | Moderate |
| Collective-pitch single rotor | Blade pitch | Hardest; most capable |
Single-rotor vs coaxial is explained in single-blade helicopters.
The four controls
- Throttle / collective: climb and descend.
- Yaw (rudder): rotate left and right.
- Pitch (elevator): fly forward and back.
- Roll (aileron): fly sideways.
On a mode 2 transmitter, throttle and yaw are on the left stick, pitch and roll on the right.
Gyros and stabilisation
All modern RC helicopters use gyros. On simple helicopters, a gyro holds the heading. On collective-pitch helis, a flybarless unit stabilises all axes and may offer self-levelling and rescue modes. Altitude hold uses a barometer to keep height steady, which makes learning much easier.
Getting started
- Install a simulator and practise hovering.
- Buy a stabilised beginner helicopter with spare parts available.
- Fly indoors in a large room or outdoors on calm days.
- Learn to hover tail-in first, then other orientations.
- Move to forward flight and circuits.
- Progress to bigger or collective-pitch helicopters later.
A large coaxial beginner model is described in Double Horse 9101.
Safety
- Keep fingers and faces away from blades.
- Use throttle hold on hobby helis when not flying.
- Fly away from people and pets.
- Charge LiPos safely and never unattended.
Basic maintenance
Check blades for damage, keep shafts straight, make sure gears mesh properly, and keep motors free of hair and fluff. Most crashes damage blades and shafts first, so keep spares. Understanding these parts makes repairs quick and keeps you flying.
Why helicopters need a tail rotor
When the main rotor spins one way, the body tries to spin the other way, an effect called torque. A single-rotor helicopter uses a small tail rotor pushing sideways to cancel it, and changing the tail rotor’s thrust turns the helicopter. Coaxial helicopters cancel torque with two rotors turning in opposite directions, and turn by speeding one up relative to the other. This is why coaxials are so stable and single-rotor helicopters are more agile.
Cyclic and swashplate
On single-rotor helicopters, a swashplate under the rotor head tilts and changes each blade’s angle as it goes around, which tilts the rotor disc. Tilting the disc forward makes the helicopter fly forward, sideways makes it fly sideways. That’s the “cyclic” control on the right stick.
Sizes
RC helicopters range from palm-sized micros for indoor flying to large 700–800 size helicopters with rotors over 1.5 m. Micros are cheap and safe to learn on; bigger helicopters fly more smoothly outdoors but cost more to run and crash.
Whatever type you choose, practise regularly in short sessions, and always land with battery to spare.
Joining a club or online group also helps, since experienced pilots can spot setup problems quickly.
FAQ
How do RC helicopters fly?
Spinning blades make lift; tilting the rotor moves the helicopter.
What’s the easiest RC helicopter?
A stabilised coaxial helicopter.
What is collective pitch?
Changing blade angle to control lift, allowing 3D flight.
Do I need a simulator?
It’s the cheapest way to learn.
More on this topic: the complete RC Helicopters guide covers the basics behind this article.
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
