Micro RC Helicopter Reviews - Find the Best Indoor Flyer
Wide variety of ready to fly micro RC helicopters - from $30 to $100
The Pocket Copter is the world's smallest remote control model helicopter
The advent of practical, well flying ready to fly radio control model aircraft has revolutionized the hobby of RC aviation. One no longer has to build their models to have something to fly. The state of RTF remote control model aircraft has advanced even further with the introduction of an entire class of micro RC helicopters that are truly ready to fly right out of the box. Following are some micro RC helicopter reviews to provide background information for a purchase decision.
Micro helos use precise engineering
Micro RC helicopters require a great deal of precise engineering to fly right. There are no kits for these micro helicopters. Rather, they come fully assembled and ready for flight. All of the helicopter components and arrangement - battery, center or gravity, weight, rotor blade shape - need to be defined exactly and function properly to have a model that flies well.
The Havoc Razor is an easy to fly two channel helicopter
You will find a range of prices for these rotary winged aircraft. As part of these micro RC helicopter reviews, you will discover pricing from $30 to over $100. In a general sense, you get what you pay for. All the micro RC helicopters fly well. For the additional money, you usually get additional channels of control for your model helicopter that delivers more precise flight technique.
Two channels of remote control are the minimum for any model helicopter to fly. A great example of this is the Air Hogs Pocket Copter. The Pocket Copter uses one channel for proportional throttle to achieve an exact hover. The second channel is used to turn the helicopter left or right. The Pocket Copter is designed to always move in a forward direction. Thus, with just two channels of transmitter control, you can achieve an excellent level of control of the aircraft’s flight path. The limitation with any helicopter using two channels, of course, is the inability to remain in a stationary hover. The Havoc Razor is another two channel aircraft that should be included in any micro RC helicopter review.
Video of several micro RC helicopters in flight
Fire Strike twin rotor helicopter
The Fire Strike is a fun example of a three channel ready to fly micro helicopter. Patterned after the CH-46 Sea Knight twin rotor helo, the Fire Strike uses throttle to control hover. The second channel turns the Fire Strike left and right, with the remaining channel guiding fore and aft flight direction. The Fire Strike flies very well with good stability supplied by the twin fore and aft rotors. With practice, you can achieve a stable hover as well.
Proto Max 4 channel RC micro helicopter
The top platform in any of the micro RC helicopter reviews would be a four channel aircraft. You cannot go wrong with the Proto Max ready to fly micro helicopter. For under $100, you get a 2.4 GHz spread spectrum radio with four channels of control. The Proto Max can enter a stationary hover, fly sideways, and even fly backwards. The four channels of control, combined with a separate motor and propeller in the tail section, provide this full range of control.
IR vs. RF control
An additional area that needs to be considered when studying micro RC helicopter reviews is the technical nature of the transmitter control signal. There are two methods to achieve this remote control, via either infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) methods.
Radio frequency is the preferred method, as RF is the most positive link to the helicopter and has a greater range as compared to an infrared signal. Most RF transmitters these days operate in the 2.4 GHz spread spectrum frequency band. This is the preferred RF range as there is no danger of interference as compared to the older 27 or 72 MHz radios.
The UFO flying saucer RTF
Infrared transmitters are used with many of the less expensive RTF micro helicopters. IR works well for close in flying, but has limited range. With an IR transmitter, the helicopter often simply flies out of the control range of the transmitter and plops to the ground due to the lack of a positive signal. This is not a big deal, as it is just about impossible to damage these tiny lightweight aircraft with any sort of tumble. Another inherent limitation of any IR transmitter is interference from certain light sources. If you notice erratic flight performance with an IR controlled helicopter, try to avoid pointing the transmitter at the offending light source.
Everything come in the box
This report is a sampling of the micro RC helicopter reviews available on the numerous RTF helos that are available today. Everything needed for flight comes in the box, to include transmitter, helicopter and charger. You really cannot go wrong with any of these models. Your flying skills will improve with each model you fly. Remember that more channels (a minimum of two up to four) provide more control, but at a slightly higher price point.