Although here I am going to refer specifically RC helicopters much of what is written in this article can be related to nearly all radio controlled models.
Most people will have I am sure heard that RC helicopters are the most amazing fun, exhilarating to fly, exciting, thrilling and at the same time challenging hobby that you can participate in. You only have to take a look at any one of the many YouTube videos of a pro flying aerobatics in an RC helicopter – which I assure you that the first time you see one you will stand back in jaw-dropping wonder – to appreciate this. Even a very average pilot is quite something to watch.
This is one hobby that you can certainly get totally immersed in, and that is something that almost everyone benefits from today. Let’s face it, we all need something to take us away from the daily stresses and strains of life, away from our worries of work, family and finances to name but a few. Most of us can only take a get away from it all vacation once or twice a year but anyone can find half an hour or an hour every day to lose themselves in their favourite leisure pursuit – go down to the park or over to the local flying field and get the blades whirring on one of your favourite helicopters. Maybe you have a micro-heli, in which case you can even fly it indoors or on those long, cold dark winter nights attempt) some of those advanced specialists pulling off on those videos, so that come Spring you have got it wired into your nervous system so that you can proficiently real it off without faltering when you go back down to the flying club.
Make no mistake, it can be a seriously challenging pursuit but so, so gratifying. That is in the simple nature of achieving anything that is a challenge and this is a pursuit where there is always another challenge, always another goal to achieve, ever another level to pursue. If you take a look at the face of anyone who has just hovered a 6 Ch collective pitch helicopter for the first time or successfully flown inverted you will see the huge sense of achievement written all over it. Yet whilst it can be most exacting and require great levels of concentration, once you have got the basics well practised, you can fly within your capabilities and find it very relaxing.
With radio controlled helicopters there is always another level you can take it to and with the radio controlled hobby technology is always advancing and this brings in an extra dimension of learning. Not only keeping up-to-date with the new technologies and how it works but more importantly perhaps the impact it has on the practicalities of flying. For example the new flybarless generation of helicopters just fly differently to the previous flybar type helicopters and the introduction of this has led to a need to adapt to their flying characteristics. It is an ever evolving hobby.
The benefits however have now been shown to go well beyond what you might realistically have conceived. A classical music station just announced on the news that studies had demonstrated that learning to play a musical instrument helped to prevent age related deterioration in mental function, such as senile dementia. It is my belief I believe that the same is true of flying radio controlled helicopters or planes or driving an radio controlled car or boat for that matter. The motor neuron skills, hand eye coordination, sharp reflex actions required and left brain-right brain interaction of coordinating simultaneously independent movements of the two hands is highly stimulating to the brain and will help develop and maintain mental acuity.
It is also my belief that the stimulation and pleasure of flying helps to elevate mood and thence helps prevent depression. The relaxation and release from the stress factors of life may have a wide ranging influence on health, including lowering blood pressure. This is only my opinion but there is sufficient anecdotal and observational evidence to make it a rational proposal.
If you have been to some degree motivated by this article to dive into or progress in this pursuit, if you are already partaking in it, then my objective has been realized !
The author is a keen promoter of the hobbies of RC helicopters and RC cars. Further <A HREF="http://www.rchelisandcars.com/articles/"> articles </A> and much more information
on the subject can be found at his website <A HREF=”http://www.rchelisandcars.com/”>The World of RC Helis and Cars </A>.
Oct 28, 2011
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