Radio Controlled Helicopters - What's the variation between 2 Channels, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Channels?

All radio controlled helicopter enthusiasts will tell you that flying Rc helicopters is the most tantalizing and thrilling of all Rc models. Cars, trucks, tanks, boats and robots are all minute to forward/backward and left/right movement but radio controlled helicopters can have full technicolor, surround-sound,3D maneuverability. The only limitation to your exhilaration and flying satisfaction is your skill, the space available and the sophistication of your Rc helicopter model.

So what is it exactly that enables your heli to achieve complex aerial acrobatics?

RC Helicopter

In short, it's the amount of channels that can be controlled by you - the more you have, the greater the maneuverability of your Rc helicopter.

Radio Controlled Helicopters - What's the variation between 2 Channels, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Channels?

But don't be fooled into reasoning that more is better. Flying a model helicopter is every bit as complex and skillful as the flying the real thing. Just because your heli is smaller in scale doesn't mean that the laws of aerodynamics change! To achieve prosperous flight, all criteria remain the same. However, flying a model does have the benefit of being able to start with a basic set of controls and work your way upward to the Full Monty and this is achieved by mastering an addition amount of channels.

But first, you will need to understand that each channel controls a cut off servo mechanism in your model. And for those of us who find it helpful to understand how a thing works, it's beneficial to know that a servo is a mechanical gismo that controls the movement of an element by 'pushing' it with a lever. You can operate the degree of 'push' this lever exerts on a servo from the controls on your transmitter handset. The greater the servo's 'push' the bigger the resulting movement of the element it is acting on. So, to move the angle of the tail rotor, for example, you need a channel to operate the tail servo.

So, as each transported element on an Rc helicopter requires its own servo, you will also need an extra channel for each one. By addition your ability to fine-tune the interaction of each servo via the channel controls on your handset, you will be able to produce an increasingly wide range of aerial movements for your radio controlled helicopter.

So here's a basic list of the differences in the middle of the numbers of channels on a radio controlled helicopter:

• 2 Channels provide you with the ability to operate two servo mechanisms, giving you the ability to operate movement up and down (rotor blade speed) & left and right, (rear rotor, directional controls).




• 3 channels give you the two movement controls, above, but with the further operate of tantalizing backwards and forwards (cyclic control).




• 4 channels give operate over the throttle, elevator, aileron, rudder, enhancing on the maneuverability of the above, fixed pitch controls.



• 5 channels are rarely found, giving way to the more base 6 channel model. These further channels give skilled flyers the ability to achieve true, 3D aerial movements by adding public pitch and gyro gain operate into the mix.

It can all get very complicated!

So which is the best choice for you? Well, if you are just beginning out with radio controlled helicopters, stick to the 2 channel models at first. Learn to expert the basic movements first before progressing through the ranks, right up to the impressive but tantalizing 6 channel models. Whatever you decide, have fun with your Rc helicopter, fly safely and enjoy enhancing your flying skills!

Radio Controlled Helicopters - What's the variation between 2 Channels, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Channels?