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Disclaimer: |
We are not responsible for |
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typographical errors or pricing errors |
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What do I need to get the helicopter off the ground |
| Helicopter |
We recommend you start with a 30 to 50 size kit for which you can easily get parts and service.
Some suggestions include the Century Hawk Sport, Falcon, Hirobo Shuttle and GPH, Kyosho Nexus
and Concept, JR Ergo or the Thunder Tiger Raptor 30.
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| Engine |
We recommend using the best engine you can afford. For the beginner this is very important because
the better engines are very easy to tune, reliable and durable. You want to spend your time at the
flying field practicing, not tuning your engine. We recommend O.S., Enya and Webra engines.
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| Muffler |
Helicopter engines do not come with mufflers and some helicopter manufacturers do not include a
muffler in their kits. Helicopters like the Century Hawk, Hirobo Shuttle and Kyosho Nexus include
mufflers. Hatori and KSJ make high-quality mufflers and tune pipes
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| Radio |
We recommend that you start with at least a basic computerized 6 channel helicopter radio such as the
Airtronics RD6000, JR 652 or Futaba 6XHS. If your budget can go higher, get a good 7,8, or 9 channel
heli radio with dual ball bearing servos such as the Futaba 9CH, JR 8103 or Hitech Eclipse 7. As your
flying skills progress, these better radios will keep you from being limited by the basic features
provided in the entry level units.
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| Gyro |
You want to choose a piezo type gyro, just about any brand works well, prices for any worthwhile unit
will range from $80 up to $399. We do not recommend you start with the high cost complicated heading
lock gyro. Why? Because, when training, you may have the odd "hard" landing, and you can damage an
expensive high end gyro just as easily as the low priced basic one. And at the beginning stage, the
difference in performance will not be that detectable. Save your money for fuel to practice. Good entry
level single rate piezo gyros are the Century Pico Piezo, the Futaba GY240 and the JR 400. The Century
PG2000 dual rate piezo gyro is a good, inexpensive unit that will allow you to have a higher rate for
the hover and a lower rate for when flying acrobatics.
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| Starting Equipment |
You need a 12 volt starter, 12 volt sealed battery, 12 volt battery charger, 2 or more glow plugs,
glow plug igniter (with meter preferably) and charger, electric or hand crank fuel pump, 3 feet of
fuel line, fuel filter, air filter, and some models will need an extra starter extension. Try to get
at least 15% nitro methane helicopter fuel, usually with synthetic oil, stay away from castor oil
type of fuel.
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| Training Gear (Flying Simulators) |
A set of training gear will save you a lot of money and skid stops reduce wearing on your skids later
when you remove the training gear. Although many have learned how to fly helicopters before the
introduction of computer simulators, the modern trainee can take advantage of this new development.
We highly recommend the "Real Flight G2" computer simulator or something similar. These electronic
devices have the ability to very closely simulate r/c helicopter & airplane flight. In the initial
learning stages and as you progress to aerobatics, you will find them an invaluable teaching aid,
well worth the cost.
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| Accessories |
A remote glow plug adapter to facilitate hook up to the glow plug when starting the engine. An on
board battery monitor to check the receiver battery condition. Foam rubber (or our velcro wraps)
and rubber bands to cover and mount the radio receiver and battery. A thread locking compound is a
must, you use it on every bolt and nut that does not use a locknut. JB Weld or epoxy for gluing
anything in high stress areas. Tri-Flow Teflon lubricant for all metal to metal sliding parts, and
some small size wire ties to help keep all the servo wires together.
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| Tools |
A set of (1.5mm/2.0mm/2.5mm & 3.0mm) hardened hex drivers will help greatly in the assembly and
last forever. To save money, you can use a Bondus metric allen key set. Also add a metric ruler,
hobby knife, ball link pliers for installing and removing ball links, cross wrenches for engine
nut & glow plug. A pitch gauge and fly bar paddle gauge will be handy for setting up the main rotor
pitch angles. Main blade balancer, piston locking tool and a ball link driver are also considered
relatively necessary tools if one is to continue in this hobby.
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| Books, Magazines, and DVDs |
We recommend you get as much information as possible. There are many of these items available that are
of great assistance in setting up your heli, for learning how everything works together, for
explaining different flight exercises etc. Two books we recommend are "Beginners Guide to Model
Helicopters" by Peter Rieksts and for the more advanced "The comprehensive guide to Model Helicopter
Aerobatics" by Russ Deacon and the "R/C Helicopter Book of Questions & Answers" by Curtis Youngblood.
Recommended magazines, in the order of recommendation are "Model Helicopter Technique" edited by Michael
Humic, "Model Helicopter World" edited by Jon Tanner, and "Rotory Modeler" edited by Mike Mas. Videos
of consequence are the Curtis Youngblood series and the "R/C Basic Hover Flight Training" tape.
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(4/17/08) |
Added New Gyros, Servos, and Receivers on The New Products Page |
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(4/05/08) |
Added More Items on New Products Page |
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(3/27/08) |
Swift 16 Kit now only 189.95. Kit now includes Aluminum Support Frames, Horizontal ,and Vertical fins |
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(2/18/08) |
Added items on New Products page |
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(2/06/08) |
Lowered the prices for Thunder Power, and Flight Power Batterys on Battery Sale. |
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