Mini RC helicopters

Buying and flying mini rc helicopters has become a lot more affordable 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 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 model 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 flying around 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 altitude.
Both the main motor and tail motor of this model have heat sinks to prevent overheating, a fairly common problem of many hard-working electric motors.

The RotoFly EX helicopter naturally features a gyro to dampen out any unwanted yaw in the air, and its small LiPo (lithium polymer) battery gives good motor run times of around 10 minutes.

A second example, similar in size but with dual rotors, is the Pegasus, pictured below:

The Pegasus 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, an action that is controlled by the tail rotor.

The Pegasus, like most co-axial helicopters, is just as stable and easier to fly than a conventional single rotor helicopter.

Flying mini rc helicopters is great fun, particularly in the home, but remember that the learning curve can still be steep for a multi-channel model if you've never had any experience with one before.
Because of this, flying it outdoors in an open area and on a wind-free day is a much better option when you're learning.

If you have a friend who already flies rc helicopters then some lessons are a very good idea, but don't worry if you don't know anyone who can show you the ropes.
Mini rc helicopters like the RotoFly EX or Pegasus are very 'flyer-friendly' and have been designed with the beginner in mind.

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 model helicopter and will greatly increase your reaction times and co-ordination.
Highly recommended if you can afford it!

Red Rocket Hobby Shop stock the RotoFly and other mini rc helicopters.

Related pages

Electric rc helicopters - see some slightly bigger examples.

Toy rc helicopters - low cost and unbreakable fun for all ages.

Micro helicopters - see some of the smallest production models available.

RC helicopter controls - a look at the basic common features of rc helicopters.

How helicopters fly - read how these machines stay in the air.

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