| RC helicopter blade tracking has been a mystery to | | | | blade and a blue strip on the other blade. By using a |
| many new RC helicopter owners, but I'm going to | | | | different color on each blade, it makes it a lot easier to |
| demystify the whole concept for you right now so that | | | | see which blade might be out of track. |
| you'll have a complete understanding of blade tracking | | | | Now that you've applied the colored tape, have an |
| by the time you finish reading this article. | | | | experienced RC helicopter pilot hover the helicopter in |
| First, we need to answer this important question: What | | | | place so that you can see the blades as they spin. As |
| is blade tracking? | | | | you watch the blades spin, you'll know if they're in |
| Essentially, blade tracking is when one rotor blade | | | | track if you only see a single circle or both blades |
| rotates in a circular motion and the following blade | | | | spinning on one line. If you see two circles or two lines, |
| follows exactly behind it. Both rotor blades spin on the | | | | (red above blue or vice versa) then you'll know that |
| same plane without one blade being higher or lower | | | | one of the blades are off and needs to be aligned. |
| than the blade it's following. Another way to look at it is | | | | To properly track your rotor blades, you need to land |
| that both blades travel through the same airspace | | | | the hovering RC helicopter first. After the blades have |
| created by their spinning. If the rear blade is following | | | | stopped spinning, you can adjust the blade that is out |
| the front blade on a higher or lower plane, then it can | | | | of alignment. You'll need to have your RC helicopter |
| cause a lot of unwanted vibrations for the RC | | | | manual handy so that you can look up the proper |
| helicopter. | | | | blade tracking information in it. Be sure that you adjust |
| How To Track Your Blades | | | | the correct linkages in what the manual says and not |
| If you're flying your RC helicopter for the first time, you | | | | what someone says. This is the best way to be sure |
| need to see if the blades are tracking properly and | | | | that you've done it correctly. |
| you may need some help from an experienced RC | | | | Once you've tightened or loosened the correct linkage |
| helicopter pilot. You can check the blade tracking by | | | | or linkages, you need to have someone fly the |
| simply hovering the helicopter in place at eye level and | | | | helicopter again so that you can look at the blades. |
| looking at the blades as it hovers. If you see a lot of | | | | You'll repeat this process as often as needed until your |
| shaking and vibrating, your RC helicopter is more than | | | | blades are tracked properly and they spin on the |
| likely not tracking properly. If you're not sure if it's | | | | same plane. Once you've completed proper blade |
| tracking properly, do this: | | | | tracking, your RC helicopter will handle a lot smoother |
| Get two different colors of tape and apply a small | | | | than it did before and be much easier to fly. |
| strip of one color to one blade. Put a red strip on one | | | | |