There are two distinct body shapes in the RC helicopters world – pod and boom, and scale model. Pod and boom refers to the “Dragonfly” design of single-rotor sports and 3D helicopters (i.e. collective and fixed pitch models) These consist of a pod, containing all the major mechanical parts, and a long tail boom with a rotor at the end.
They are built for agility, remainder and speed (the way a dragonfly is) and are wholly different from a real helicopter in terms of appearance. The makers have stripped away everything except the “bare bones.” For those who favour performance over appearance, though, it’s all that’s needed. They form the bulk of the electric helicopters market, where size and weight are at a premium.
Scale model RC helicopters, on the other hand, are precise replicas of the real-life craft they are named after. It is into this second group that military RC helicopters fall. The divergence amongst these and conventional (civilian) replicas is obvious. They are meant to fly in combat. They are designed to be swift and agile.
And that is precisely what RC military helicopters are all about. They look good, yes – but in a khaki-macho kind of way. Unlike civilian replicas, these are built for looks and performance. For this reason, they form the bulk of scale electric RC helicopters.
All electric RC military helicopters are purchased ready-to-fly – different from their more prominent gas powered equivalents, whose owners pride themselves in building from scratch. Cumbersome turbo engines and little men in khaki uniform might look impressive at War Games rallies; but for a novice wanting numerous fun with combat maneuvers, electric are best. Besides anything else, they’re cheaper. Look good too.
Electric RC military helicopters are always coaxial, because of the tail. This allows them to be as lifelike as possible, as coaxial RC helicopters always have a shorter, wider tail than CP/FP craft. Some military coaxial do, in fact, have a tail rudder in addition to the main dual rotors. This makes the craft even more maneuverable, but doesn’t alter any of the other dimensions.
Strip away the outer layer, and under a military electric helicopter is just a established coax. All that’s been done, is to add military detail thru a canopy, or fuselage. This may be lightweight plastic or alloy, and may even be purchased as an upgrade kit for ordinary pod and boom craft.
Although novice coaxial helicopters are 3 channel, the majority of electric militaries are 4. This allows for collective pitch on the rotors, an further and added tail rudder and so on. What you then get is almost as good as a collective pitch model: the pilot may carry out flips, rolls, inversions and dives, and even drop bombs – just like the real thing!
Great little chinook transport helicopter.