Mini RC helicopters
Buying and flying mini rc helicopters has become a lot more affordable and easier in recent years, thanks to the advances in radio control technology that have allowed much smaller and cheaper servos, receivers, battery packs and motors to be produced.
With so many electric rc helicopters available these days, it's not so easy to define which ones fall into the 'mini' category but certainly the RotoFly EX from Heli-Max is a good example of a mini RTF helicopter available at the moment, at an affordable price.
The picture below shows the RotoFly EX, which has a main rotor span of just under 14 inches:
This is exactly the kind of mini rc helicopter that I used to dream of having when I was a kid! Its small size makes it perfect for hovering in the living room and the instructional DVD and training skids that come with it certainly make learning to fly this Fixed Pitch electric helicopter a little easier.
The RotoFly EX, like other FP models, has 2 micro servos to control the cyclic (left/right and fore/aft) movement of the helicopter while a tiny electronic speed control takes care of the small but powerful 180 size motor to control rotor speed and hence altitude. The ESC is part of a 3-in-1 unit which also plays host to the receiver and gyro.
Both the main motor and tail motor of this model have heat sinks to prevent overheating, a fairly common problem of many miniature hard-working electric motors.
The RotoFly EX helicopter naturally features a gyro to dampen out any unwanted yaw in the air, and its small Li-Po (lithium polymer) battery gives good motor run times of around 10 minutes.
See the RotoFly EX mini rc helicopter in more detail here.
A second example, similar in size but with dual rotors (coaxial), is the Axe EZ, pictured below:
The Axe EZ helicopter has no tail rotor because the two main rotors spin in opposite directions to each other, thus cancelling out the torque. Torque is the force that makes a single rotor helicopter's fuselage spin in the opposite direction to the turning rotor blades, a natural reaction that is controlled by the tail rotor.
The Axe EZ, like most coaxial rc helicopters, is more stable and easier to fly than a conventional single rotor helicopter.
Mini rc helicopters like the RotoFly EX or Axe EZ are very 'flyer-friendly' and have been designed with the beginner in mind.
With rc helicopters like these, so long as you're sensible and follow the manufacturer's instructions closely there's no reason why you can't learn to fly your mini helicopter safely and quickly.
Alternatively, an rc flight simulator is an excellent aid to learning to fly a radio control helicopter (of any size!) and will greatly increase your reaction times and co-ordination. Highly recommended if you can afford it!
See these mini rc helicopters in more detail here.
Related pages
Electric rc helicopters - see some slightly bigger examples.
Micro rc helicopters - when mini helicopters get smaller.
Coaxial rc helicopters - very suitable as 1st time helis.
RC flight simulators - the safest way of learning to fly rc helicopters.
RC helicopter controls - a look at the basic common features of rc helicopters.
How helicopters fly - read how these machines stay in the air.
