Difference between Quadcopter (Drone) and Helicopter
QUADCOPTER
A Quadcopter is a multicoptor that is propelled and lifted by four rotors. Quadrotors use symmetrically pitched blades. Control of UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) motion is accomplished by altering the rotation rate and or pitch of 1 or more rotor discs, therefore changing its thrust and torque load lifting properties.
HELICOPTER
A Helicopter is a type of rotorcraft where thrust and lift are provided by single engine -driven rotors, allowing them to take off and land vertically, hover, fly forward and backwards. Helicopters use a single set of blades making them more agile than there counterparts, requiring a lot of skill and practice to maneuver effectively.
FLYING A QUADCOPTER
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| Quadcopter Flight Demonstration |
Multi Rotor Quadcopters have become extremely popular in the RC arena in recent years. Stability is a key factor for beginners attempting to control the flight mechanics of any airborne RC vehicle, whether it is an RC Plane, Helicopter, or Quadcopter. With on-board technology integrated into A Stable (meaning -maintains balance) Quadcopter is not only easier for beginners to fly, but has become extremely relevant in the field of aerial imagery, delivering some stunning pictures if you mount an HD camera on one. Skills involved in learning to fly any airborne RC vehicle can be enhanced if you practice properly on a good RC Flight Simulator, like the Realflight RF-X featured on our airarmorrc.com website.
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| Helicopter in Hover |
Regular Helicopters can be a challenge for beginners and even frustrating at times when learning to fly, they tend to be more agile than Quadcopters making them more difficult to control.
There area number of basic RC Helicopter designs some of which are more maneuverable than others (especially those with collective pitch control). These designs are often harder to fly, but their aerobatic capabilities are beneficial for experienced flyers. Learning to fly RC helicopters takes time and practice, you cannot feel when things begin to drift off-balance, you have to watch for them and initiate the required corrections.
POPULAR QUADCOPTERS FOR BEGINNERS
If you are someone that has never flown a quadcopter, it is important to select a model that is stable, easy to fly, and won't empty your bank account.
Below is a quick review of six top rated quadcopters for beginners. These are not listed in order of their ranking, they are all good choices for beginners.
MJX X300 C
Reviewed
Headless Mode
FPV RC Quadcopter provides aerial photos with HD camera.
Super Stable flight characteristics with its 6 axis gyro system.
Safety feature for beginners-Throttle Limit Mode
Aerobatic maneuveurs 3D Rolls and Flips Function.
Motor type: Coreless Motor
Transmitter: 2.4GHz
Control Distance/Range : 100 meter
Charge Time: approximately 1.5 hrs
Flight Time: approximately 10 minutes
Great for Beginners ! Stable, Fun and easy to fly. Durable construction can withstand some abuse (crashes).
Downside: Its Small and lightweight design make it difficult to maneuver in high winds.
Price - Around $ 60.00
HUSBAN X 4
Reviewed
The Hubsan X4 is great choice for learning and enhancing flying skills
Great experience with aerial imagery with its FPV camera (Requires micro SD card)
Better suited for indoor flight with its small size, can be flown outdoors in moderate winds
Controls are responsive and precise, easy for beginners to get acquainted with
Flight Time is about 7 minutes. Charge time is approximately 1hr 15 min.
Includes: Charging cable (USB), Prop Guards, Spare Propellers, 2.4GHz 4CH transmitter, and 3.7V 380mAh LiPo battery.
Video Resolution - 720 x 480 at 25 fps (feet per second) Quality good,(for price) but not great.
Transmitter
Cool looking fits comfortably in your hands. Small LCD display on front of transmitter provides important diagnostics about flight, LCD display shows throttle percentage 25% 50% etc.
Design
Relatively Small 3 in. wide by 1 in. tall. Weighs about 40 grams,being light it is better suited for indoor flight, hard to control even in light wind. Frame is made of plastic, not as durable as others, try to keep from crashing if possible. Propellers are made of plastic can be easily removed or replaced.
Flight Performance
Easy to fly, even for beginners, comes ready to fly, charge and slip in battery. Good amount of thrust for small quadcopter. Controls are responsive, maneuvers precisely through the air. Note: Install prop guards if you have never flown before. With a little practice you will be able to hover in place and record stable footage.
Price - Around $40.00
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| Quadcopter in hover |
LATRAX ALIAS
Reviewed
The alias quadcopter arrives ready to fly, no complicated building or assembly.
A sleek design with a molded composite frame make it nearly indestructible, when encountering everyday abuse
The Latrax Alias is easy to program and is offered in 4 bright colors, with high intensity LED optics. The auto leveling 6 axis flight system makes it easy to fly. with easy, fast, and expert flight modes.
Alias returns to level flight when sticks are released in certain modes.
Aerobatic- capable of flips, rolls, and twists with a push of a button
Powered by 4 individual high powered precision balanced motors,
Power supplied form a 3.7V 650mAh LiPo battery delivering approximately 15 min. flight times. With the included USB fast charger the battery can be recharged in about 30 min.
A few features that make the Alias a good choice for beginners, its affordable, its durabilty, (can withstand some abuse) and gives you room to grow from beginner to expert with its 3 flight modes.
Radio Controller
The 2.4 GHz multi mode transmitter maintains precise control of the alias and has a comfortable feel in your hands. The radio will never interfere when others are flying near or beside you. Once the power is turned on you will never lose contact with the alias. The LCD screen on the controller allows for a quick check of settings, and will also help you navigate through the menu's. With Traxxas Technology integrated into the controller the system is capable of remembering up to 10 flights so you can fly the same flight plan over and over.
Customer Support-Exceptional
The Latrax Alias website has plenty of information and flying tips. videos are available to get you started. The Alias is backed up by a lifetime electronics warranty, be sure to register your Alias in case you need further information that literature cannot provide.
This is my #1 pick for beginners with a skill level of 1 for entry level flyers. More details on this model can be viewed on our Air Armor RC website airarmorrc.com
Price - $100.00 - $110.00 approximately
PROTO X NANO QUADCOPTER
Reviewed
This small palm sized quadcopter is fun to fly, and a good entry level quadcopter for beginners, that was designed for indoor flight.
Stability- With small quadcopters there is usually a concern with stabilization. Larger quads tend to be more stable in flight, The Proto X will surprise you on how level it remains in a hover, and the stability it maintains in flight, pretty impressive due in large part to the quality sensors utilized in this small drone.
Flight time- A single charge on the battery delivers about 5 min. of flight time, not bad for its size. An included Micro USB charger takes about 40 min. to charge the battery.
LED lighting- 4 Cool LED lights are equipped on the Proto X, designed to indicate the front and back propeller when some serious turns and spins are initiated, and especially cool in dimly lit areas.
Controller- Powered by 3 "AAA" batteries, should last a while. The interesting parts of the controller, provides the basics with a simple setup, 2 analog sticks with some trim control buttons. The appearance of the controller is a little toy-ish but definitely does its job in short, tight quarter flights.
Benefits- The Proto X is a great choice for beginners to learn on, with short indoor flights around the house. This quadcopter comes with an affordable price tag and features that you can't go wrong with.
Specifications
Wingspan - 1.8" x 1.8" (45 x 45mm)
Weight- 0.4oz. (11.5grams)
Flighttime- 4-5 min.
Charge time- 50min.
Battery type- 3.7V LiPo
More details on the model can be viewed on our Air Armor RC website airarmorrc.com
Price- $30.00 to $35.00 approximately
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| Pilot and his quadcopter |
Syma X5C
Reviewed
Camera Features
Described as a great drone for the money, the Syma X5C is easy to fly, and a good choice for beginners, and comes equipped with an HD camera. If aerial photography is something that your interested in, the quadcopter will enable you to take stunning pictures, once you've learned to fly it.
Included is a 2GB micro SD card. The camera is photo and video capable, In high winds, videos tend to be a bit shaky, on calm days smooth video is captured, it is possible to freeze video being recorded, to capture a photo.
Flight Times- Battery
The Syma X5C can be flown indoors or outdoors. With stock batteries, flying time with the controller is about 8 minutes. The included battery is a 3.7V 500mAh LiPoly, for charging the battery a USB cable is included, which takes approximately 1 hr and 40 min. (100min) for a full charge.
Accessories Included
Batteries, Charger-USB Cable, extra blades, screwdriver, and remote control.
Specifications
Weight - approximately 2 lbs.
Dimensions- 12.2 x 12.2 x 3.1 inches
Range - controlled by the remote up to 50 meters
Remote Control - 2.4GHz
Construction Quality
Compared to the quality of construction on other drones, the Syma X5C is surprisingly great. Even though its constructed with hard plastic it is pretty durable, a characteristic that is extremely important for any airborne aircraft. Due to its lightweight and plastic construction it may seem flimsy, but it can take a number of hits before cracking or shattering.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The Syma X5C extremely stable in calm winds, when properly trimmed. A protective guard is included to protect blades.
Perfect for beginners, easy to fly and control with accuracy. After a few hours of practice a beginner can master the flight mechanics of the Syma X5C
LED lighting assists with orientation especially at night
Replacement parts and accessories are easy to come by online.
Battery life/ flight times are quite favorable, depending on conditions (about 10 min.)
One disadvantage is the quality of camera, The 2mp camera is low resolution. The pixal resolution is 1280 x 720 pixals and speed is 30 frames per second. The data rate 1.5MBps. The camera is technically HD but the quality is not great.
Things to Consider. Buy extra batteries and extra charger for extended flying times. Carrying case to protect the quadcopter for safe transportation when transporting or traveling.
Price - Around $50.00
HUSBAN Q4 NANO
Reviewed
The Husban Q4 is a perfect entry level quadcopter for beginners, this tiny quadcopter is stable, responsive, durable, and fast. Provides a fun indoor flying experience for new and experienced pilots alike.
Flying Characteristics
Reviewers note its responsiveness and speed which make it an entertaining quadcopter to fly. 360 degree eversion allows it to flip all the way around in any direction. Its lightweight and tiny size make it easy to perform the maneuvers. Reviewers report that though it is lightweight, agility, and speed are easily controlled.
Stability
Incredibly stable, sports a 6 axis gyro giving it the ability to resist being blown around even with its small size. Reviewers also support the manufactures claim of stability, the Husban Q4 does not wobble in flight. In addition to speed and agility the Q4 is quite durable for its small size. Reviewers report that even after it crashes it tends to recover with no damage. The propellers are designed to come off in a crash, protecting them from damage, they can simply be reattached and you can resume flying A number of experienced drone flyers report, they are amazed and delighted by the power and agility of this small quadcopter.
Specifications
Dimensions - 1.77in. x 1.77in.
Lighting - Flashing LED'S
Stability - 6 axis gyro
Control - 2.4GHz radio
Battery - 3.7V rechargeable lithium -ion
Charge time - 25-30 min.
Flight time - 5min. (Although longer times are reported)
Control Range - 50 meters
Accessories - User manual, propeller protector rings, spade blades, battery, charging cable, and Transmitter.
Price - Around $35.00
IN CLOSING
There are a wide variety of Quadcopters for Beginners to choose from, this is just a few of the more popular affordable quads on the market.
For more information on Quadcopters and drones visit our website airarmorrc.com
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