Customer Reviews

Radio Controlled Helicopters: The Guide to Building & Flying R C Helicopters

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

good book for the most part. however, despite it being reprinted in '04, it is really lacking in up-to-date info for anyone considering electric helis as an entrypoint to the hobby. also, the section on flight simulators is woefully inadequate and in no way reflects what is available today (eg G3, XTR etc).

both these two areas have come along in leaps and bounds in the last few years and this book would be more complete if the info were up-to-date. The existence of high-quality simulators with extrememly advanced physics can drastically cut the entry cost for a beginner (i'm talking from experience!) which is an important factor when considering whether or not to take the plunge. that said, it still makes a good read and explains a lot.

for those interested in the electric-path here's the latest beginner's guide: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439635

If your looking for a guide to get you started, you can't go wrong with this book. All of the sections are clearly written and logically ordered so you can get started faster and easier.

As I'm just entering the sport of radio-controlled helicopters, Nick Papillon's book has been a very nice resource to have. He begins with choosing a helicopter and goes right through introductions to aerobatics, and covers a large amount in between.

Although being English, Papillon has a few different names for things than we are used to in the States. Besides these occasional words, he is very easy to read, and he does a good job of explaining complex topics. I found his chapters on setting up the helicopter to be very useful, and his explanation of setting the gyro correctly were better than the instructions that I received with the component. He is thorough in his explanations, and covers enough material that you could go from kit to flying all on his book alone. And, should you crash your heli, he even tells you what to look for in diagnosing damage, and how to fix it.

After each flight, I consult Papillon to see what I can do to correct slight problems in flying. I was hovering by my third tank of gas, and I think Papillon is a large reason for it.

Papillon's book has been revised substantially, but even the old one was a keeper. The new one has more information and less of the risible Anglicisms that peppered the text of the previous edition.

Nick Papillon, an Englishman with a French name (meaning "butterfly," hilarious for someone so involved in model helicopters) has a finely developed sense of what we hobbyists want from a book like this one, and he knows what to leave out, too. Here in San Francisco we have a club, the Flying Goobers, that meets monthly--and in the summer, weekly--at Baker Beach and I would say about forty per cent of our members already own one or both of Nick's handbooks. Sometimes the air is awash with the sound of seagulls and the hovering buzz of our RCs. Indeed sometimes we adjourn somewhere else when the air is too filled with static, etc., too many speedboats patrolling the Bay seem to such the energy right out of the controls. Feels like earthquake weather.

If you want to know about aerobatics, beyond your simple push-pull, up-down "flight patterns," he's got it all down in language that is fairly easy to understand even for the tyro. His chapter, "After the Crash," while sobering enough, is one of those classic, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out there and do it again sort of pep talks. When I started I didn't know the difference between a transmitter and a receiver, they'd call me the "late great Johnny Ace" with a sneer. Now the shoe is on the other foot as I explain to the newbies why lithium is cheaper in the long run, et cetera, all knowledge I got either from fellow Goobers or from pal Nick's rc handbook.

The best thing about this book is that it is really a guide - it gives you all the information you need from the basics, through choosing your first helicopter model to flying and repairing it. After reading it you will feel you know something about this great hobby and be ready to get into it. Plus it's written in understandable and entertaining style so even if you know something about the topic you won't be bored to read about it.
The only drawback is the price - 26 dollars for tiny paperback with only black and white pictures is bit too much, so after you open the package you may think you wasted your money. But only until you start to read it. The text is worth the the price for sure.

The copy I purchased had it's last printing in 2010, but the text hasn't been updated since it was first published in 1996. If you are considering electric versus engines, forget this book. It was written when nicad batteries were the only choice. The author quickly dismisses electric helicopters saying they can't match the performance of engines. This is not true. New (since this book was written) technology advances in batteries and electric motors have made electrics more powerful than engines in many cases. Also, flight times now exceed five minutes, the maximum flight time stated for electrics, in this book.

If you want advice on simulators, forget this book. If you want advice on radios and available frequencies, forget this book. If you want to know about current helicopter technology, forget this book. If you are interested in aerial photography/video, forget this book as there is no mention of it. If you want information regarding available helicopters, forget this book.

Come to think of it, forget this book.

Nick's book is fine. Nothing is inaccurate, but it is a bit dated, and euro-centric. (There are some things about flying that are different between UK & US, like radio frequencies, fuel nitro ratios, etc.) [...]

If your over the age of 8 and have seen a helicopter flying in person you dont need to read this book. Info was relevant in 1981, not so much any more. You will learn more in 1 visit to you local hobby shop, for free.

The book is a very basic guide. I was dissapointed regarding the level of information - very basic, and the dated nature of the information. The book has not been updated since it's first printing and it is way out of date. Only the cover has been re-done to give the impression that it is much newer than it acutally is.
Not Recomended.

This is a good book for beginners learning to fly RC helicopters. I got this for my grandson.