Helicopter nut (AKA 'heli nut' or 'helifreak'): someone who flies radio controlled helicopters.
So what's with this helicopter thing? Buying, flying, fixing, and modifying radio controlled (RC) helicopters is flat-out fascinating. Anyone can now fly an RC helicopter, in the living room or outdoors, at reasonable cost. Helicopters need less room to fly than airplanes. And the challenge of learning to control their power and maneuverability is endlessly rewarding to the enthusiasts (helicopter nuts) that fly them.
We are here to help you understand RC helicopters and fly successfully for less time and money than some of us have spent! (Notice we don't say 'have more fun'. Heli's are fun no matter what road you follow!)
If you are considering getting a helicopter or are now in possession of one or more of these little jewels you are not alone. The world-wide fraternity and sorority of heli nuts are friendly and supportive. Best of all the World Wide Web is packed with information, guidance, on-line suppliers, and irreverent humor. The synergy between this technical, information-driven hobby/sport and computers and the Internet produces endless opportunities for enjoyment.
RC helicopters are powered by electric motors or gas engines. This web site focuses on electric power because a large proportion of RC heli's are electric. Battery power is quieter and cleaner and the smaller heli's most useful to the beginner are electric. But don't think that electric power is limiting. Just look at the Trex 450's and 600's flying on YouTube.com! Practically any electric helicopter you can buy is capable of more speed and maneuvers than many pilots will ever use.
RC helicopters use special terms and acronyms that you will see used on RC web sites. To help you learn their meanings, commonly-used abbreviations are given in parentheses following the full name or phrase in many places on this site.
A glance at the navigation menu on the left side of this page is our idea of a simple, organized approach to investigating and learning about RC heli's. You are of course welcome to browse in any order you like, but the order of the menus is designed to present concepts and terms in the order that we think will do you the most good.
If you have never flown RC before welcome to the world of RC flight.
