A process by which a helicopter can land without power by forcing air through the collective pitch rotor disc, allowing the rotor blades to continue turning. The pitch of the spinning blades is adjusted when close to the ground temporarily … Continue reading
Heli Setup
Angular Vector Control System. Typically a heading-hold gyro which maintains the helicopter in the current direction until instructed to change by rudder command from the Tx. Allows the heli to fly sideways or backwards as well as hold position in … Continue reading
Describes an RC helicopter that has a tail that is turned by the main drive gear using a toothed belt stretched over gears.
Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing — Aileron, Elevator, and Collective are combined to give helicopter swash plate servo commands. Required for control of most modern RC helicopters that use a flybar. See also CPPM.
A term used by RC helicopter pilots describing rapid reduction of throttle stick setting on the Tx. A habit often formed with fixed pitch or coaxial helicopters that can destroy fixed pitch helicopters by driving them into the ground
A type of helicopter with two sets of counter rotating main blades. Typically both sets of blades have set pitch angles.
Collective Pitch Direction. Specifies the direction, Normal (—) or Inverse (INV).
Collective is the angle of the main rotor blades of a heli and is why a collecive pitch helicopter can fly upside down. Helicopters with fixed pitch blades (this includes almost all coaxial helicopters) do not require collective.
A helicopter that has main blades that can change angle while in flight. Usually achieved by adjusting the tilt and height of a swash plate.
Specifies the virtual channel to be used on MIXER page for pitch curve(s).
Combined Pulse Position Modulation — Allows two functions (cyclic and collective pitch mixing) to drive three servos for the swash plate of a helicopter. See also CCPM.
CYC1, CYC2, CYC3 describe the OpenTX outputs for CCPM mixing for direct control of servos on the swash plate of a helicopter. Inputs are Aileron, Elevator, and Collective.
A helicopter term describing the combination of aileron and elevator.
A type of RC helicopter that uses a separate motor from the main motor to run the tail rotor. Common for micro RC helicopters; unusual for large RC helicopters.
A type of helicopter that has main blades at a set angle.
Abbreviation for Fixed Pitch
An adjustable strength of feedback to a gyro or flight stabilizer. Determines aggressiveness of control action. Used in RC helicopters to stop the tail from exhibiting un-commanded changes in direction due to disc loading and/or wind. Also a term used … Continue reading
Maintains constant rotor head speed under changing loads. Typically becomes effective above a specified throttle setting and used for aggressive flying. Used in advanced collective pitch RC helicopters.
A form of simple flight controller that works on principle of a gyroscope developing forces used to measure change in attitude. Typically employs feedback loops with adjustable gains to match the responsiveness of a heli and keep the tail direction predictable. There … Continue reading
A heading hold gyro (also known as AVCS – Angular Vector Control System) is the most common form of Heli flight stabilizer. Endeavors to keep the helicopter always pointing in the current direction unless it is told to move. Allows … Continue reading