If you are new to RC Helicopters you are probably wondering what the heck is fixed and collective pitch anyways?

The pitch in R/C helicopters refers to the angle of the blade with respect to the horizontal plane.

A heli with a fixed pitch has main rotor blades that remain in a fixed position. Fixed pitch helis are well suited for beginners because there is one less thing to control, making them that much easier to fly.

With fixed pitch helicopters the amount of lift is dependent only on rotor speed and not on the angle or pitch of the blades. Increased rotor speeds mean there will be more lift, and the heli will rise. Lower motor speeds mean less lift and the helicopter comes down.

The newer, more advanced models of helis incorporate a collective pitch

The main rotor blades can rotate to different angles to change the lift being applied to the chopper. Collective pitch is controlled by the throttle through automatic mixing. The pitch of each blade changes collectively to create the desired movement of the heli.

Here are some major differences between fixed and collective pitches to give you a better idea of the two.

Differences between fixed and collective pitch

Fixed Pitch

• Fixed pitch is easier to build and set up.
• It has fewer moving parts.
• It is less expensive.
• It is slightly easier to fly than collective pitch.
• You can only hover indoors and outdoors and fly forward.
• Cheaper to repair in case of a crash.
• If the engine quits at an altitude the chopper becomes a dead weight because there is virtually no auto-rotation.

Collective Pitch

• It is harder to set up because there are more moving parts.
• It is more expensive than fixed pitch.
• It is harder to fly than fixed pitch.
• It is a R/C pilot’s delight! You can fly any way you want to indoors and outdoors.
• The collective pitch can do fast forward flights, loops, rolls, stall turns, inverted flying, in place flips, and pretty much anything the R/C pilot wants it to do.
• Takes more time and money to repair in case of a crash.
• If a chopper’s engine quits in flight it is still possible to glide the chopper down safely at a low or negative collective pitch setting ; thanks to auto-rotation.

All in all, it seems that the fixed pitch is a good idea for people just starting out. Once you master the fixed pitch helis, you can upgrade to collective pitch and really start doing some crazy stunts!

When you decide to buy an rc helicopter, you could go into a hobby shop
and pick one off the shelf, but it is in your best interests to research
the options available to you before making the purchase.

There is more to consider than just initial cost when
purchasing the model – the fuel that the helicopter will use, the availability
of parts for the helicopter, the average repair costs for the helicopter,
and the learning curve involved in flying the helicopter.

The first choice you will need to make when you buy an rc helicopter
is what size of helicopter you want.

While the smaller helicopters tend to be less expensive, they are also
harder to control. Larger helicopters need more flying room, but they
are more versatile, and easier to fly, especially with precision parts.

However, they are more expensive, on average, to repair after crashes.

The size of helicopter you choose may also determine the fuel
it uses. Mini and micro helicopters tend to be electric powered.
The advantage to these is that they can be used in smaller areas – they
can even be used indoors, because of the lack of fumes.

They also tend to be less expensive and often come as complete, ready-to-fly
kits. However, because they are small, they are harder to fly.

Larger helicopters tend to be gas powered, and must be used outside,
both because of the fumes and for safety reasons.

Depending on the kit you purchase, you may need to buy additional
parts, such as servos, receivers, an engine, probably a gyro – and don’t
forget the radio!

You should also purchase any additional tools you will need at this time.
You will need ball, nut and screw drivers, wrenches, and pliers to assemble
it.

You may also want to purchase specialty tools like
ball link pliers and a pitch gauge to make the assembly that much easier
when you buy your rc helicopter.

When you decide to Build an RC helicopter and jump into the RC helicopter
hobby, the first thing you will need to do is decide on and purchase a
model.

However,
you will not be ready to fly immediately; no matter what model you choose,
you will need to build it before you can fly.

Building an RC helicopter can be a daunting task, but with the right tools
and information you will gain a lot of knowledge and joy for completing
this task.

The first thing to do is to decide on what helicopter to buy.

The best way to determine this is to find out the different kinds of RC
helicopters, read reviews on various models of the types you are interested
in, and make an informed decision from this information on how to Build
an RC helicopter.

After you’ve decided on and purchased your RC helicopter, you will also
need to purchase the various parts for it.

You will need an engine to make it run, servos to control various mechanical
parts in the helicopter, a gyro to control the tail rotor, a radio to
control it once it’s ready to fly, and receivers to transmit signals from
the radio to the servos.

You should also make sure you have the tools necessary to Build an RC
helicopter; screw drivers, ball drivers, nut drivers, wrenches, pliers,
fuel-filters, addition glow plugs, ball link pliers, and a pitch gauge.
You may also want to see what kind of bolts and screws you will be using
so you can purchase additional ones, just in case the kit is missing some,
or through mischance one rolls off and goes missing during assembly.

Finally, you should prepare for when you are ready for your test flight
by having field equipment – which should definitely include the type of
starter your helicopter requires!

When you begin building your helicopter, it is extremely important you
read and re-read the instructions until you fully understand them and
how the parts will fit together when you begin building the helicopter.
When you start the actual assembly of the helicopter, it is of prime importance
that you take your time.

Anything that turns should be balanced, all end points should be equal,
and all bolts are tightened enough – but not too much.

You will also want to balance your blades, which is best done with a
blade balancer. Afterwards, you will need to set up your radio. The more
familiar with your radio you can be before you fly, the better off you
will be.

Finally, before you fly, you may want to have an experienced RC helicopter
pilot look over your model. Oftentimes you can find a person to do this
at the shop you bought your helicopter and parts from. Having an experienced
hobbyist look over your Build an RC helicopter can help ensure that everything
is put together properly and ease your mind about your upcoming first
flight.