Nitro Helicopter: My Unadulterated Opinion

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Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Nitro Helicopters are fast becoming the “boy’s toy” of choice for, well, of course…grown men.

RC helicopters have long been popular with the weekend hobbyist. These days these are serious toys offering no shortage of excitement. Boredom is not an option.

Hobbyists are arguably first drawn to RC Helicopters because they want the thrill of flight without the challenges of flying a plane; such as finding the right space for take off and landing and the risks of losing your craft from range.

Beginners get enough skill in a short time to really start enjoying helicopters early on. With a shortened learning curve the thrills start pouring in rapidly, cutting short the phase of frustration one endures whilst learning.

The nitro helicopter is the Holy Grail (in my humble opinion) of the RC hobbyist – but I am biased of course. The nitro helicopter, to me, is like a compact version of the real thing. It gives the flyer a visceral feeling as they sense the power and agility behind its gas powered engineering.

New buyers always grapple witht he decision between a electric rc helicopter or a nitro helicopter. Firstly you should visit your local hobby store where they are always welcoming and happy to provide plenty of information and advice.

All newcomers should start with a flight simulator. Obviously this will give you a good taste of things to come and general feel for the craft so you don’t dump it in the lake or in a tree on your first day. Safety first they say.

This hobby has the ability to cuk you in and get you obsessed in no time. This may sound like a stretch, but all hobbies have the ability to give you that escape that soothes the soul.

OK..Ok…electric versus nitro…here's my opinion and advice

Electric is a great option for the novice, here are its advantages;

•    Cheaper to get started
•    Low maintenance
•    They are quieter (won’t trouble your neighbors!)
•    Environmentally friendly
•    No ongoing gas costs
•    Typically easier to operate

Disadvantages of the electric RC helicopter:

• Shorter flying times

• Crashes can cause battery to break which can be expensive
• Battery needs to charge between flights

All in all, electric RC helicopters are a great way to start out in the hobby.

The more advanced hobbysists tend to show preference for the nitro helicopter. Nitro helicopters can be quickly addictive.

In essence, nitro helicopters resemble the real thing a lot more than their electric counterparts. The big thrill comes from the sound and feel of the gas propelled engine. The smell also adds to the realism.

The engine mechanics and overall design give a "real" feel as well. More akin to a “real” engine the “tinkerer” in you gets the chance to play with tuning and optimizing the engine. Conversely, this adds to the maintenance, requiring cleaning after each session as well as more risk of engine troubles. So…this is either a turn on or a put off, depending on the individual.

You get what you pay for they say and the nitro helicopter is going to cost you money. Yearly costs for gas can add up to the range of $1500.

Advantages of the nitro helicopter:

•    More realistic: smells and sounds
•    Short beaks between flights
•    Less damage usually incurred during a crash
•    More flight time

Disadvantages (depending on how you look at it)

• Gas costs
• Power up time can be longer • More fiddly

Lastly, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the choice between electric and nitro helicopter. Find what’ best for your budget and just get stuck in. With a little experience you will quickly understand your preference. Also, electric technology has come along in leaps and bounds and there are many models now which will outperform the nitro ones; but I believe they are still too expensive.