Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or are looking for a challenging new hobby, radio controlled helicopters provide a range of designs for casual hobbyists and hardcore RC enthusiasts alike. In the rc helicopter reviews contained in this website I plan to share with you the best types of heli’s to buy.

There are a wide range of sizes, fuel types, and features available. Depending on your needs and dedication to repairs, cheap and sturdy – but also less powerful and non-customizable – toy quality rc helicopters are available. However, if you’re willing to put in the time, money, and the effort that it takes to master the more challenging aspects of flight, a hobby quality helicopter can provide you with more power, speed, customization opportunities, and a wider range of realistic movement.

Below, you’ll be able to compare the various types of RC helicopter that are available, and the pros and cons of several types of designs. These rc helicopter reviews should help you decide what type of helicopter is right for you.

RC Helicopter Reviews:

The two main types of rc helicopters are toy and hobby helicopters. Toy helicopters are widely available, are inexpensive, and are easier to fly, making them the ideal choice for beginners or for those who don’t have the time or money to devote to a more complex machine.

Toy helicopters are generally controlled by a transmitter with two channels. That is, you can control two aspects of the helicopters movement, throttle (up and down movement) and yaw (side to side movement) on the hand held controller. Hobby helicopters generally have four to five channels, which more closely mimics the operation of real helicopters, and therefore means you’ll have a wider range of movements under your control.

The brand and model of helicopter that you fly will largely depend on the type of features you’re looking for and your price range. Recent innovations in design and an increasing interest in the rc helicopter hobby have expanded the number of brands and models available, but some of the better known brands include Syma, Air Hogs, and Blade. These brands are easy to find, have widely available spare parts, and provide a variety of models for beginners and more advanced enthusiasts alike.

RC Helicopter Reviews: Features

While toy helicopters are relatively simplistic, hobby helicopters have a lot of features to choose from and which can greatly influence performance. These include fuel type, engine size, and rotor design.

When considering which hobby helicopter to buy, it’s important to first choose which type of fuel you want to use – electric, nitro, or gasoline – as this will have the biggest impact on which helicopter you fly.

Electric rc helicopters are quieter, can be flown indoors since there are no toxic fumes, are the easiest of the three engine types to set up, and are easier to start and stop. However, they are generally more expensive as an initial purchase, the lithium batteries they use are pricey and need special care so they don’t overheat and catch fire, and flights will need to be planned in advance so that your batteries are charged ahead of time.

Nitro helicopters are less expensive, have a long life expectancy, and don’t require a resting period between flights to prevent overheating like electric models do. But they can be hard to set up initially, are loud, and are messy since the nitro fuel leaves a residue behind.

Gas rc helicopters are not as loud or as messy as nitro helicopters, are less costly in the long run, and run on ordinary and easy to obtain gasoline. Unfortunately, there are fewer gasoline models available, they are generally larger than other fuel types due to a low power to weight ratio, and are more expensive than other fuel types. It’s also common for these models to suffer more damage during a crash due to their weight.

The type of fuel you decide to use will often determine the rotor designs and size of helicopters available to you, and will determine the size of you helicopter in some cases. Extremely small helicopters are often electric, while large turbine helicopters that closely mimic real helicopters are usually gas powered.

CCPM or cyclic/collective pitch mixing is one design that is available in every fuel type and is popular because it reduces the complexity of flight for the operator. Fixed pitch and coaxial rotors are used on many electric models, and coaxial helicopters, which are more stable and suffer from fewer torque issues, are popular among beginners.

More advanced hobbyists may opt for a collective pitch design which allows the user to control the lift of the helicopter by adjusting the pitch of the rotor blades, a much more challenging but more effective means of control.

RC Helicopter Reviews: Benefits

The benefits of owning a RC helicopter are obvious: they provide a unique and challenging experience for people from every walk of life and every age. They encourage a greater working knowledge of aerodynamics, small motor design, electronics, and software while creating a fun outdoor activity.

If you fly in a public place like a park, be prepared to make new friends, as people are always drawn to the sight of a rc helicopter performing acrobatic maneuvers that mimic or excel those that can be done in a real helicopter.

RC Helicopter Reviews: Pros

• Easy and inexpensive entry into the hobby via small electric coaxial helicopters

• Extremely rewarding once the basics are learned

• More variable and flexible than other RC vehicles

• New models are quieter, more stable, and more affordable than ever

• Can provide lots of social interaction with fellow hobbyists and curious onlookers

RC Helicopter Reviews: Cons

• More advanced helicopters can be expensive and difficult to maintain

• Requires a large safe area in which to fly

• If flying outdoors, noise pollution laws, weather, and daylight hours can limit flight time and location

• Generally considered a challenge to control even by RC car and plane enthusiasts

• Requires strong commitment

You should note that the pros and cons of rc helicopter ownership will largely depend on what kind of helicopter you decide to use, so be sure to research your options carefully. Whether electric, nitro or gas, fixed rotor, CCPM or collective pitch, the right helicopter will provide years of enjoyment and challenges that exceed those provided by other RC vehicles.

I hope you found this general review helpful if you want more specific rc helicopter reviews have a look at my other reviews in the rc helicopter category page.