The Importance of Understanding RC Helicopter Fuselage

Now, the fuselage itself is actually the body of the helicopter, or of a plane and it is the primary part of the same. It includes not only the tail, but just about everything else as well. There is one exception. A “flying wing” type of aircraft does not require a separate fuselage. Helicopters do, however.

The fuselage is very important when it comes to yaw control. Specifically, the left and right controls are used along with the helicopter's torque. The spinning of the primary rotors create this force. The first instinct of the fuselage, in response to the way the blades spin, will be to spin very fast, but in the opposite direction. You cannot have an equal amount of thrust and torque, or else the fuselage of the helicopter will not spin around at all. When you have more thrust than torque, then the fuselage will yaw in one direction. It will yaw in the other direction when there is less thrust than torque.

Due to the relationships between thrust, torque, and fuselage, you can understand why it is important to pay attention to how you are powering your RC helicopter. One wrong part, one wrong move, and you will find yourself with a helicopter that will not fly.

###