Review By: Stephen Bell

Thunder Tiger has just released a completely new helicopter engine to replace the TT50. This is not as we often see a punched out modified power plant aimed at extending product life. The popular 50-sized helicopter exists due to low operating costs both for fuel and parts plus has the attraction of being very easy to transport. The power to weight ratio is slightly less than the 90 format in most cases, this however is about to change. Recently the strongest engines available were the OS hyper and pumped YS51-ST. Volumetric efficiency of these two very good engines is about as good as it gets, meaning any further attempt to increase this parameter would likely have an affect on throttling smoothness.

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Some might have read the article I did two weeks back on the Raptor 50 Xtreme edition…Somehow, it got lost in the server upgrade process and so I did a repost of the article HERE.

In any case, I have continued on with the little project and finally have got everything sorted out. For those the busy ones who just want to know the results…Basically, this whole conversion is definately a worthwhile effort. It corrects the bad tendency of the stock raptor head, that is the pitching in FFF and slow roll rate. It gives a very nice feel in the cyclic, not too slow, nor too sensitive. With the new head, I can get that sort of “pop” effect that I thought was only possible on the 90 size. A lighter pair of paddles like the super stubz will make this head even better for 3D.

For the interested ones…read the full story here => [ click here to see videos, photos & rest of story ]

Compass model is relatively new to the helicopter scene. Their first projects started with the Knight Sport and the Knight Pro (discontinued). Their lineup has now expanded to the Knight 3d 50, Atom 500, and the Odin 90, which have proved to be great flying helis. I have owned the Knight 3d now for 4 months, and thought it would be a good idea to write a review. 

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The guys over at the German heli shop Freakware.de did some great research on the minor tail oscillations that some reported on the new T-Rex 250.

These oscillations (which can also be observed on some of the online videos) can not be resolved by: [ click here to see videos, photos & rest of story ]

Dear Folks,

The Align has already released the much-awaited Trex-700 Nitro and if you possess one or are planning to get one for yourself and also if you looking forward to boost the performance of this beast even further, Please read on and I will update you about the hottest upgrades available for this cool helicopter. [ click here to see videos, photos & rest of story ]

This article will talk about the points you should consider while selecting your first helicopter. This is the first part of the article and is meant for the beginners, If you are an experienced pilot, please wait for the second part.

Unlike RC Planes, where flying is about 10% of machine and 90% the pilot; in case of RC Helicopters it is 90 % machine and 10 % of you i.e. the pilot. While having the right heli and the right equipments, will ensure fun-flying and learning, Wrong heli or equipment will bring you crash and trouble.

It is really very hard to point out a single manufacturer as the best, in today’s world, where we have ample good options, however I will try my best to do that.

If you are a beginner, I recommend you go with a 50 sized machine (A helicopter is designated by the engine size), I know that many of the well-experienced pilots will differ from me here and will recommend a 30 sized machine. I assure you that buying a 50 sized machine will save you lot’s of bucks and will make you learn faster. A 30 sized machine is not that stable and requires constant stick input and when you have learned it all, it is quite difficult to perform the 3D aerobatics (or the appealing stuff!) due to lower power-to-weight ratio, going for a 50 sized machine will save you from these perils.

Cost of repairs is also relatively lower than that of compared with a 90 sized machine, which will ensure that crashes burn a smaller hole in your pocket. A number of after-market upgrades are available in the market to boost the performance of your heli. You can choose you Helicopter from the following two manufacturer, as they are the best in the market as of now

1. Thunder Tiger.
2. Align RC.

Now, the question comes down to, whether to go for a Nitro powered heli or to go with a Electric one ? Well, the answer is, it depends on your personal choice, However if I was a beginner, I would go for a nitro powered heli as I could fly it for a number of times within a single day (which maximises learning) without any need of frequent recharges or having multiple batteries.

Choosing the right engine is also equally important, do your research and buy the one which suites you performance wise and is financially viable, I recommend OS engines, as I have been using them for a while now.

However, if you choose to go for a electric powered helicopter, I recommend you buy good batteries and good motor, please do not go for cheaper alternatives as they will cost you more in the longer run.

I hope you enjoyed the article, please leave your feedback, Thank you.

I found this how to, by Brain James, on heliproz’s website, and thought it was a great article, and would like to post it for everyone to read about.

Powering the receiver, servos, and gyro can be accomplished a couple different ways. The most common way traditionally was to use a NiCad or NiMh 4.8v battery. It is simple, easy to install and the least expensive route you can choose. Recently the use of a lithium regulated system has become popular. Typically a 2 cell lithium polymer or lithium ion battery rated at 7.4v or 7.2v respectively is used with a regulator to provide power to the receiver, gyro, and servos.

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