November 4, 2008
From wood to carbon fiber blades, which type of RC helicopter blades will you need?
Blades are the most important part of the Radio controlled Helicopters
as without them, flying ability of the helicopter would cease to exist.
Blades are the mechanical plates which when attached to the rotor provide
a thrust which lifts the helicopter upwards.
The main thrust provided by the main blades is transformed into axial
or radial thrust by the rotor blade, but the main thrust is only provided
by the main blades and hence it can be easily understood that without
blades it would be impossible for a radio helicopter to fly on its own.
Blades are of three types depending upon their construction material
and are:
1. Wood Blades
2. Fiber Glass Blades
3. Carbon fiber Blades
Your best as a beginner are wood blades. Wood blades are the cheapest
of all kind of blades and are easily available everywhere. They are best
suited for beginners who are likely to first experience with their machines
and are likely to crash it sometimes. Since the cost is very economical,
wood blades can easily be replaced.
One major limitation of wood blades is that although they can be used
to fly around but doing acrobatic stunts is sometimes not recommended
because some wood blades are not very strong.
Fiber Glass Blades are made up of fiber glass and inherit many properties
of fiber glass like strength and fineness. For acrobatic moves, Fiber
glass possesses exceptional capabilities. They are usually costlier than
the wood blades but are easily available in the market and in hobby shops.
The only limitation factor of fiber glass is its weight. Its weight
is much more than the wood blades that make the performance of a radio
controlled helicopter much less than those of wood blades. But since they
are much strong, the limitation can be ignored a little bit.
Carbon fiber blades are the strongest of all kind of blades. They are
made up of same material from which cutting tools are made up of and hence
provide much strength to the blades.
Due to their complex structure, a complicated and costly method is employed
to produce them which accounts for their higher cost. They are the best
blades and can be used in any acrobatic stunts without affecting any performance
issue.
If cost does not matter then they are the best kind of blades anyone
can have.
It does not matter what blades you choose, but choose blades that fit
your needs. Don't try to buy Carbon fiber blades while you are still learning,
this will just be a waste of money, because as a beginner you are more
likely to crash frequently, lets face it.
And some woods blades are designed to handle tuff flying conditions,
but my advice when you start getting good at flying go for fiberglass
then go to carbon fiber when you are really, really good.
Filed under Beginner Flyer by admin