Believe it or not, RC Helicopters are an awesome hobby and yes, a toy! Everyone can delight in watching an RC helicopter zoom around the sky and it is even more fun when you are controlling it! The price range on these can range drastically from the beginner model available to children at the toy store to the advanced models that require special maintenance. Then of course, there is everything in between! So, how do you decide which RC helicopter is right for you? Check out these choices!
First, you should decide how invested you are going to be in this hobby. Are you interested in simply opening the package, inserting some batteries, and heading outdoors? Do you want the whole experience of buying a kit, building your own RC helicopter, then inserting the batteries and heading outdoors? Of course, buying and building your own is going to take time and commitment, but in the end, you have something you built! However, this is a personal decision.
Most RC helicopters run on electric energy. The size of the batteries is very important. Obviously, lighter batteries are going to be more optimal. Right now, lithium polymer batteries are top choice because they are the lightest. Rechargeable batteries are also optimal. If you wanted, you could also purchase a gas powered RC helicopter. Just remember to factor in the cost of gas as well as the fact that a gas powered engine is going to require much different care. Again, this goes back to how invested you are in this hobby.
Did you know that there are schools to learn how to fly RC helicopters? Did you know that these are also used in the military? This is serious business! It takes skill to learn how to accurately fly and especially land one of these “toys.” Of course, these are advanced models, but if by chance you are independently wealthy and can purchase the best and fastest, then by all means, do it!
The rest of us will have to be satisfied with our model kits and even open the box and go get RC helicopters from the toy store. Likely, you will have to make sacrifices. “You can’t always get what you want.” Thank you Mick Jagger. You may have to give up some speed for maneuverability or vice versa.
For those of you that want it all, maybe the way to go is with a flight simulator for your computer. These allow you to truly experience flying in different settings with different helicopters and planes. This is a much different experience than heading outside with your own RC helicopter, but it may well satisfy that part of you that wanted to be a jet fighter growing up. These can also be pricey, but are perfect for those of us that want to experience all sorts of different aspects of flying.
Choosing your RC helicopter all boils down to how involved you want to be with this hobby. Remember that maintenance will be an issue. If you love this idea, then purchase a kit that can be made to your specifications. Otherwise, go the inexpensive route where you can simply buy a new RC helicopter when the old one goes kaput. And finally, consider real flight simulators if you want to stick it in Mick Jagger’s face!