When most people think of RC helicopters, they imagine the ones you buy at most toy stores for $30. However, with recent advancements in scale engine technology, remote control flying machines have transformed into a very expensive form of motorsport.
Just take this yellow heli as an example. It's been built in 1/4 scale and replicates the Eurocopter EC 135 medevac commonly used across Europe. The rotors have a span of 2.3 meters, and the fuselage is even larger.
What's amazing is the level of detail that went into building the machine. For example, the shrouded rotor design of the real machine has been kept. In real like, this makes the helicopter more silent, a requirement for use in urban areas. However, the mechanism is complex and has smaller tolerances.
Not only does the engine start by itself, but it also sounds like the real deal. How did they get a turbine engine that's so small and yet powerful enough to lift 26 kilograms of fiberglass?
Once the EC 135 takes off the grass field at the Weston Park International Model Show 2015, you begin to realize how dangerous it is. Even if the rotor is only spinning at 1,000 rpm (it could be ten times that), the tips of the blades are traveling at 120 meters per second or 432 km/h (268 mph).
Controlling a helicopter is much more challenging than an aircraft. The pitch of the rotor dictates forwards movement, powering the rear rotor makes it turn and making the blades go faster gives you vertical movement. Now combine all of them together and you have a puzzle that requires hundreds of hours to master.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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