Radio Controlled Helicopters: The Guide to Building and ... (ISBN 185486226X)

Book Description:
In this updated edition, the author provides a guide for newcomers and others interested in new developments in the design and manufacture of radio controlled helicopters. This handy book offers all the essential information and fact you need to make the right decisions, taking you through all the stages-from the choice of model and radio to your first flights and finally to basic aerobatics. Contents include: Advantages of flying helicopters. Where Do I begin? Choosing the model. All about engines. Radio systems. Finding your flying sites. Accessories and training aides. Building the model. Installing the radio. Setting up the model. Before your first flights. The day arrives. Hovering, circuits & simple aerobatics. Routine maintenance. After the crash. Scale models. Conclusions.

more needed:
good book for the most part. however, despite it being reprinted in '04, it is really lacking in up-to-date info for anyone considering electric helis as an entrypoint to the hobby. also, the section on flight simulators is woefully inadequate and in no way reflects what is available today (eg G3, XTR etc). both these two areas have come along in leaps and bounds in the last few years and this book would be more complete if the info were up-to-date. The existence of high-quality simulators with extrememly advanced physics can drastically cut the entry cost for a beginner (i'm talking from experience!) which is an important factor when considering whether or not to take the plunge. that said, it still makes a good read and explains a lot. for those interested in the electric-path here's the latest beginner's guide: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439635

New and Improved and a Must-Have:
Papillon's book has been revised substantially, but even the old one was a keeper. The new one has more information and less of the risible Anglicisms that peppered the text of the previous edition. Nick Papillon, an Englishman with a French name (meaning "butterfly," hilarious for someone so involved in model helicopters) has a finely developed sense of what we hobbyists want from a book like this one, and he knows what to leave out, too. Here in San Francisco we have a club, the Flying Goobers, that meets monthly--and in the summer, weekly--at Baker Beach and I would say about forty per cent of our members already own one or both of Nick's handbooks. Sometimes the air is awash with the sound of seagulls and the hovering buzz of our RCs. Indeed sometimes we adjourn somewhere else when the air is too filled with static, etc., too many speedboats patrolling the Bay seem to such the energy right out of the controls. Feels like earthquake weather. If you want to know about aerobatics, beyond your simple push-pull, up-down "flight patterns," he's got it all down in language that is fairly easy to understand even for the tyro. His chapter, "After the Crash," while sobering enough, is one of those classic, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out there and do it again sort of pep talks. When I started I didn't know the difference between a transmitter and a receiver, they'd call me the "late great Johnny Ace" with a sneer. Now the shoe is on the other foot as I explain to the newbies why lithium is cheaper in the long run, et cetera, all knowledge I got either from fellow Goobers or from pal Nick's rc handbook.

A real guide for the beginner:
The best thing about this book is that it is really a guide - it gives you all the information you need from the basics, through choosing your first helicopter model to flying and repairing it. After reading it you will feel you know something about this great hobby and be ready to get into it. Plus it's written in understandable and entertaining style so even if you know something about the topic you won't be bored to read about it. The only drawback is the price - 26 dollars for tiny paperback with only black and white pictures is bit too much, so after you open the package you may think you wasted your money. But only until you start to read it. The text is worth the the price for sure.

Out of date and superficial:
The book is a very basic guide. I was dissapointed regarding the level of information - very basic, and the dated nature of the information. The book has not been updated since it's first printing and it is way out of date. Only the cover has been re-done to give the impression that it is much newer than it acutally is. Not Recomended.

A good basic guide:
This is a good basic guide to RC helicopters. Because of its age it has little information specific to electric helicopters so it is more useful to those running nitro helis. But even for electric fliers it has good basic info on setup and flight but don't expect too much.