In the radio control community, RC helicopters are gaining popularity each year. You can find an RC helicopter in a variety of sizes, abilities, and ranges of power. But how do you really learn the hobby you are interested in? Well, nowadays it is actually pretty easy! You read websites related to your new hobby. If you want to learn about pump paintball, you go read a pump paintball site. If you want to learn about flying an RC helicopter, you come to a site like this.
The most basic of RC helicopters is really a toy when compared to some of the more serious versions available in hobby stores and online. If you have a child who is expressing an interest in the hobby of RC helicopters, these very basic versions are a good choice, mostly because they are inexpensive. If your child loses interest or crashes it, the helicopter can be easily replaced, or the child can move on to his or her next interest. Just keep in mind these low end versions of RC helicopters do not operate the same as a “real” one, but nevertheless can still be fun.
Recently there has been a growing trend in the popularity of larger electric RC helicopters. There have been big advances in the quality and capacity of the batteries needed for these helicopters, and that is probably the biggest reason for the popularity increase. Just a few years ago batteries were too heavy, and could not hold the amount of power needed for any length of time. Battery powered helicopters are among the quietest of all the vehicles used in the RC world, and that makes them able to be used in some areas where noise might be a problem.
Most RC helicopters sold in toy stores are electric powered, and there is a large range available in terms of quality. If you are serious about getting into the hobby, perhaps you are lucky enough to have a good hobby store nearby. If you do, take full advantage of this. Often you can find someone very knowledgeable at your local store and they can help steer you in the right direction for things like local flying fields and which models might be right for you and your skill level.
Many hobbyists prefer flying a nitro RC helicopter. These have a tremendous amount of power and can also be found on the lower end of the price scale. The engines in these RC helicopters are small, even though they pack a lot of power. These are glow plug engines, meaning they are powered by a glow plug rather than a spark plug like you might find in your car or lawn mower. The fuel used is a mixture of methanol, oil, and nitro methane.
The other type of popular version of helicopter is the gas powered RC helicopter. While similar in appearance to the nitro helicopter, a gas powered RC helicopter has a completely different engine. These engines are larger than nitro engines, and gas engines are also more expensive. The fuel is gasoline and oil mixture.
There are a lot of options available when you get started in the RC helicopter hobby. Take your time and read up on all the options, hang around your local hobby store and flying field and learn what you can. There are usually some hobbyists around who enjoy helping others get started, so take advantage of that. Join your local RC club, and more importantly, go to the meetings! There is a ton of valuable information to be learned there.