Electric Dual Rotor RC HelicopterThe upper rotor blades are in a fixed position that remain parallel to the helicopter frame. The lower rotor blades are attached to the rotor head (gimbled) that allows two separate servos to control the attitude (direction) the helicopter flies in. One controls the pitch (forward-backward) and the other controls the roll (bank left - bank right). The throw rate, or distance the servo can tilt the rotor head, is usually limited to only 40° in order to prevent the lower blades from making contact with the upper blades. Some more advanced fliers will manually adjust the throw rate to give the helicopter more power for outdoor, breezier conditions. This requires advanced working knowledge to make the adjustment and to control the helicopter while still avoiding having the upper and lower blades touch. This is NOT recommended for any beginner or intermediate flyer.
Young Beginner Skill Level: A really fun way for kids to get into RC is to fly an electric dual rotor RC helicopter like the Megatech Hopper-Fly. I would categorize this helicopter more as a toy for hovering and backyard fun than as a helicopter that can be controlled to do very specific maneuvers.
The Megatech Hopper-Fly has an approximate flight time of about 4 minutes and has a weighted fly-bar that keeps it very stable. It also comes with flashing navigational lights. This would be a great helicopter for a first-time pilot Ages 8 and up.
Beginner Skill Level: If you're looking for some indoor-only fun then the Wild Wheels electric dual rotor RC Helicopter represents a very simple, stable design that can be controlled by anyone Ages 8 and up. The helicopter is priced like a toy but actually has some very advanced capabilities since it has a 3 Channel radio system. Channel 1 is rotor spin speed (throttle), Channel 2 controls the rudder, and Channel 3 controls the elevator. How this is done is very unique. As you can see in the picture, the helicopter has two sets of main blades that spin in opposite directions.
Since these are fixed pitch blades, the speed (Ch. 1) in which these spin (thottle) will control the yaw (altitude). Channel 2 actual changes the speed of one of the main rotors allowing the torque of the faster spinning blades to rotate the direction the heli is facing. Channel 3 is the tail. In this case it actually controls the elevator, or pitch (forward-backward), of the heli:
This electric dual rotor RC helicopter comes RTF and the flight time is approximately 7 minutes per charge.
Beginner/Intermediate Skill Level: A very popular electric dual rotor RC helicopter is the Megatech Horsefly. This heli can be flown both indoors and outdoors. It has a very stable electronics system that allows the flyer to both hover and do tight maneuvers.
The Megatech Horsefly comes RTF and includes a 4 Channel FM 72 mhz radio system, LiPo battery with charger, and even includes a flashing strobe light on the front. The folks at Megatech also saw fit to include a complete replacement set of both upper and lower blades! Before you start to fly, you will need to adjust the blades so they are even with each other. The instruction manual explains this in detail: Click here to read the Megatech Horsefly Manual If you're looking for your first RC helicopter, then I would recommend an electric dual rotor RC helicopter like the Megatech Horsefly.
Click here to read a review of the Megatech Horsefly in RCUniverse.com Beginner/Intermediate Skill Level: The guys at Air Scooter Corporation developed the Air Scooter Ultralight Recreational Vehicle and used this design as their starting point for the most advanced (and expensive) electric dual rotor RC helicopter, the Airscoot RC Coaxial Helicopter. Here's a picture of the actual Air Scooter:
and here's a picture of the Airscoot RC Coaxial Helicopter:
Click here to read a review of the AirScoot! Click here to return to RC Helicopters Index page
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