Useful Helicopter Info
This is a place to gather together the best-of-breed How-To videos, Guides and reference material. Much of the material is universal and can be applied widely regardless of which heli(s) you fly. In addition there are model-specific items for individual helis, radios, gyros etc. If your particular brand/model isn't covered, look at one of the ones that are since the majority of concepts and techniques are fairly universal and can be applied widely.Most of the videos are from Finless (familiar to many) but some are by other talented contributors.
Basics
Ball Links 101 (20 MB)
BEC 101
Blade Balancing 101 (30 MB)
Blade Tracking 101 (35 MB)
Brushless motor and ESC 101
Canopy Trimming 101 (28 MB)
CCPM Setup Part 1 (58 MB)
CCPM Setup Part 2 (58 MB)
Dual Rates 101 (71 MB)
Exponential 101 (45 MB)
Gyro 101
Gyro 102 - Usage, tips, hints and kind of a new gyro 101 information sharing! (89 Megs)
Gyro Delay 101 - Information about using delay on a gyro
Gyro Gain 101
Nitro Setup and Operation 101
Pitch and Throttle Curves 101 (58 MB)
Servo Repair 101 (30 MB)
Servo Wires 101 (41MB)
Soldering Bullet (Motor) Connectors 101 (50 MB)
Soldering Deans Connectors 101 (30 MB)
Thread Lock 101 (15 MB)
BECs
Understanding BECs and regulators (47 MB)
Comprehensive BEC database
Chargers
Bantam BC6-10 Charger and Balancer videos
Thunder Power 1010 and 210 videos
Balance charger comparisons.
Comprehensive charger database
ESCs
Align ESC setup (30 MB)
Castle Creations ESC setup instructions
Castle Pheonix 85HV setup videos
Kontronik Jazz 80-6-18
Comprehensive ESC database
Gyros and Flybarless Systems
Align/Telebee and similar Piezo HH Gyro setup (46 MB)
Align GP750 setup videos
Align GP780 setup videos
Futaba 401 gyro setup (48 MB)
Futaba 401 gyro setup with DX7 (42 MB)
Futaba 611 gyro setup (35 MB)
Futaba 701 gyro/gov review
Hitech HG-5000 (Logictech 2100T) Gyro setup videos
JR G770 Gyro Overview and Setup videos
Logictech 6100T setup videos
Mikado V-Stabi videos
Skookum Robotics SK360 Electronic Flybar
SpartanRC DS760 setup videos
SpartanRC Quark setup videos
Comprehensive gyro database
Governors
Aerospire MultiGov Pro setup videos
Align GOV setup
Curtis ATG Governor setup videos
GV-1 Governor setup videos(in T600Npro group)
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow (not a video)
Other
CSM Carbsmart setup
RCATS Smart Lithium Glow Driver
Radios
Airtronics SD-10G
Spektrum DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)
Spektrum DX7 Setup video
Spektrum DX7 Throttle cut switch
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow
Spektrum DX7 Dual Rates and Expo (65 MB)
Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup
Futaba 9Z - Programming for a heli (78 MB)
Futaba 10C
Futaba 14MZ - Hacking the MDL files
Hitec Aurora 9
JR X9303 - Configuring Dual Rates and Expo (50 MB)
Helis
Audactity Pantera 50
Avant Aurora
Beam E4
Bergen Intrepid Gasser Build Videos
Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos
Century Swift
Compass 3dplus
Compass 6HV
Compass Atom 500
Compass Knight 3D Nitro
Compass 600E
Compass Odin 90
Dragonus
Dragonus II Plus
Gaui 200
Ghohbee Phazor 600e
HDX 300
HDX 450
Henseleit Three Dee Rigid
Hurricane 550
Kasama Srimok 90
Kasama Srimok Electric
Lepton
Logo 14
Logo 400
Logo 500 3D
Logo 500/600 3D & Vstabi
MA Furion 450
MA Fury 55
MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts
Minicopter Joker3
MSH Protos
Outrage Velocity 50
Raptor e620 SE
Rc-Tek Diablo
Trex 250
Trex 450 Pro
Trex 450 SE
Trex 450 SE V2
Trex 450 XL/HDE
Trex 500
Trex 600
Trex 600 build and repair
Trex 600 Nitro Pro
Trex 600 Rotorworkz HFX
Trex 600 Rotorworkz "Helifreak Edition"
Trex 700
Trex 700 G-Force Clutch Block setup
References - General heli info
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
Understanding BECs and regulators (47 MB)
Comprehensive BEC database
Chargers
Bantam BC6-10 Charger and Balancer videos
Thunder Power 1010 and 210 videos
Balance charger comparisons.
Comprehensive charger database
ESCs
Align ESC setup (30 MB)
Castle Creations ESC setup instructions
Castle Pheonix 85HV setup videos
Kontronik Jazz 80-6-18
Comprehensive ESC database
Gyros and Flybarless Systems
Align/Telebee and similar Piezo HH Gyro setup (46 MB)
Align GP750 setup videos
Align GP780 setup videos
Futaba 401 gyro setup (48 MB)
Futaba 401 gyro setup with DX7 (42 MB)
Futaba 611 gyro setup (35 MB)
Futaba 701 gyro/gov review
Hitech HG-5000 (Logictech 2100T) Gyro setup videos
JR G770 Gyro Overview and Setup videos
Logictech 6100T setup videos
Mikado V-Stabi videos
Skookum Robotics SK360 Electronic Flybar
SpartanRC DS760 setup videos
SpartanRC Quark setup videos
Comprehensive gyro database
Governors
Aerospire MultiGov Pro setup videos
Align GOV setup
Curtis ATG Governor setup videos
GV-1 Governor setup videos(in T600Npro group)
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow (not a video)
Other
CSM Carbsmart setup
RCATS Smart Lithium Glow Driver
Radios
Airtronics SD-10G
Spektrum DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)
Spektrum DX7 Setup video
Spektrum DX7 Throttle cut switch
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow
Spektrum DX7 Dual Rates and Expo (65 MB)
Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup
Futaba 9Z - Programming for a heli (78 MB)
Futaba 10C
Futaba 14MZ - Hacking the MDL files
Hitec Aurora 9
JR X9303 - Configuring Dual Rates and Expo (50 MB)
Helis
Audactity Pantera 50
Avant Aurora
Beam E4
Bergen Intrepid Gasser Build Videos
Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos
Century Swift
Compass 3dplus
Compass 6HV
Compass Atom 500
Compass Knight 3D Nitro
Compass 600E
Compass Odin 90
Dragonus
Dragonus II Plus
Gaui 200
Ghohbee Phazor 600e
HDX 300
HDX 450
Henseleit Three Dee Rigid
Hurricane 550
Kasama Srimok 90
Kasama Srimok Electric
Lepton
Logo 14
Logo 400
Logo 500 3D
Logo 500/600 3D & Vstabi
MA Furion 450
MA Fury 55
MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts
Minicopter Joker3
MSH Protos
Outrage Velocity 50
Raptor e620 SE
Rc-Tek Diablo
Trex 250
Trex 450 Pro
Trex 450 SE
Trex 450 SE V2
Trex 450 XL/HDE
Trex 500
Trex 600
Trex 600 build and repair
Trex 600 Nitro Pro
Trex 600 Rotorworkz HFX
Trex 600 Rotorworkz "Helifreak Edition"
Trex 700
Trex 700 G-Force Clutch Block setup
References - General heli info
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
Align ESC setup (30 MB)
Castle Creations ESC setup instructions
Castle Pheonix 85HV setup videos
Kontronik Jazz 80-6-18
Comprehensive ESC database
Gyros and Flybarless Systems
Align/Telebee and similar Piezo HH Gyro setup (46 MB)
Align GP750 setup videos
Align GP780 setup videos
Futaba 401 gyro setup (48 MB)
Futaba 401 gyro setup with DX7 (42 MB)
Futaba 611 gyro setup (35 MB)
Futaba 701 gyro/gov review
Hitech HG-5000 (Logictech 2100T) Gyro setup videos
JR G770 Gyro Overview and Setup videos
Logictech 6100T setup videos
Mikado V-Stabi videos
Skookum Robotics SK360 Electronic Flybar
SpartanRC DS760 setup videos
SpartanRC Quark setup videos
Comprehensive gyro database
Governors
Aerospire MultiGov Pro setup videos
Align GOV setup
Curtis ATG Governor setup videos
GV-1 Governor setup videos(in T600Npro group)
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow (not a video)
Other
CSM Carbsmart setup
RCATS Smart Lithium Glow Driver
Radios
Airtronics SD-10G
Spektrum DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)
Spektrum DX7 Setup video
Spektrum DX7 Throttle cut switch
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow
Spektrum DX7 Dual Rates and Expo (65 MB)
Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup
Futaba 9Z - Programming for a heli (78 MB)
Futaba 10C
Futaba 14MZ - Hacking the MDL files
Hitec Aurora 9
JR X9303 - Configuring Dual Rates and Expo (50 MB)
Helis
Audactity Pantera 50
Avant Aurora
Beam E4
Bergen Intrepid Gasser Build Videos
Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos
Century Swift
Compass 3dplus
Compass 6HV
Compass Atom 500
Compass Knight 3D Nitro
Compass 600E
Compass Odin 90
Dragonus
Dragonus II Plus
Gaui 200
Ghohbee Phazor 600e
HDX 300
HDX 450
Henseleit Three Dee Rigid
Hurricane 550
Kasama Srimok 90
Kasama Srimok Electric
Lepton
Logo 14
Logo 400
Logo 500 3D
Logo 500/600 3D & Vstabi
MA Furion 450
MA Fury 55
MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts
Minicopter Joker3
MSH Protos
Outrage Velocity 50
Raptor e620 SE
Rc-Tek Diablo
Trex 250
Trex 450 Pro
Trex 450 SE
Trex 450 SE V2
Trex 450 XL/HDE
Trex 500
Trex 600
Trex 600 build and repair
Trex 600 Nitro Pro
Trex 600 Rotorworkz HFX
Trex 600 Rotorworkz "Helifreak Edition"
Trex 700
Trex 700 G-Force Clutch Block setup
References - General heli info
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
Aerospire MultiGov Pro setup videos
Align GOV setup
Curtis ATG Governor setup videos
GV-1 Governor setup videos(in T600Npro group)
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow (not a video)
Other
CSM Carbsmart setup
RCATS Smart Lithium Glow Driver
Radios
Airtronics SD-10G
Spektrum DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)
Spektrum DX7 Setup video
Spektrum DX7 Throttle cut switch
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow
Spektrum DX7 Dual Rates and Expo (65 MB)
Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup
Futaba 9Z - Programming for a heli (78 MB)
Futaba 10C
Futaba 14MZ - Hacking the MDL files
Hitec Aurora 9
JR X9303 - Configuring Dual Rates and Expo (50 MB)
Helis
Audactity Pantera 50
Avant Aurora
Beam E4
Bergen Intrepid Gasser Build Videos
Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos
Century Swift
Compass 3dplus
Compass 6HV
Compass Atom 500
Compass Knight 3D Nitro
Compass 600E
Compass Odin 90
Dragonus
Dragonus II Plus
Gaui 200
Ghohbee Phazor 600e
HDX 300
HDX 450
Henseleit Three Dee Rigid
Hurricane 550
Kasama Srimok 90
Kasama Srimok Electric
Lepton
Logo 14
Logo 400
Logo 500 3D
Logo 500/600 3D & Vstabi
MA Furion 450
MA Fury 55
MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts
Minicopter Joker3
MSH Protos
Outrage Velocity 50
Raptor e620 SE
Rc-Tek Diablo
Trex 250
Trex 450 Pro
Trex 450 SE
Trex 450 SE V2
Trex 450 XL/HDE
Trex 500
Trex 600
Trex 600 build and repair
Trex 600 Nitro Pro
Trex 600 Rotorworkz HFX
Trex 600 Rotorworkz "Helifreak Edition"
Trex 700
Trex 700 G-Force Clutch Block setup
References - General heli info
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
Airtronics SD-10G
Spektrum DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)
Spektrum DX7 Setup video
Spektrum DX7 Throttle cut switch
Spektrum DX7 + AR7100R + Switchglow
Spektrum DX7 Dual Rates and Expo (65 MB)
Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup
Futaba 9Z - Programming for a heli (78 MB)
Futaba 10C
Futaba 14MZ - Hacking the MDL files
Hitec Aurora 9
JR X9303 - Configuring Dual Rates and Expo (50 MB)
Helis
Audactity Pantera 50
Avant Aurora
Beam E4
Bergen Intrepid Gasser Build Videos
Bergen Intrepid Turbine Build Videos
Century Swift
Compass 3dplus
Compass 6HV
Compass Atom 500
Compass Knight 3D Nitro
Compass 600E
Compass Odin 90
Dragonus
Dragonus II Plus
Gaui 200
Ghohbee Phazor 600e
HDX 300
HDX 450
Henseleit Three Dee Rigid
Hurricane 550
Kasama Srimok 90
Kasama Srimok Electric
Lepton
Logo 14
Logo 400
Logo 500 3D
Logo 500/600 3D & Vstabi
MA Furion 450
MA Fury 55
MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts
Minicopter Joker3
MSH Protos
Outrage Velocity 50
Raptor e620 SE
Rc-Tek Diablo
Trex 250
Trex 450 Pro
Trex 450 SE
Trex 450 SE V2
Trex 450 XL/HDE
Trex 500
Trex 600
Trex 600 build and repair
Trex 600 Nitro Pro
Trex 600 Rotorworkz HFX
Trex 600 Rotorworkz "Helifreak Edition"
Trex 700
Trex 700 G-Force Clutch Block setup
References - General heli info
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
RC Helicopter Fun (excellent reference, buyers guide, and FAQ)
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG)
RADD's School of Rotary Flight
Model Helicopter Theory - RC Groups
Huge collection of manuals
Fantastic online database of batteries, becs, chargers, escs, motors, power supplies, servos etc
References - Batteries
LiPo Basics
Complete Guide to Lithium Polymer Batteries and LiPo Failure Reports - RC Groups
All about A123 cells/packs/charging
AWG wire guages
AWG to Metric conversion
Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop Calculator
References - How To guides
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
How to: Assorted
Is There An A123 Build Tutorial - RC Groups
How to change bearings on an OS 50 SX-H engine
How to use CCCV power supplies to charge LiFe (A123) packs - HeliFreak
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply
Make your own Stepdown regulator - HeliFreak
About parallel charging of Lixx / PB packs. - RC Groups
Engine Tuning OS50 - arcHELI V EC135
How to: Wire up battery packs
References - Headspeed Calculators
Mr Mel's
DarkHorse
Ezfly's Hurricane 550 headspeed calculator
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows - HeliFreak
North Florida BladeBusters
ReadyHeli - standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550
References - Free Simulators
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)
FMS (basic graphics and physics but hundreds of models available and good enough for getting started)
Helisim: New free simulator - HeliFreak
Heli-X - (fancy graphics more like ClearView and much better physics than FMS.)