RC helicopters are not glorified toys. They are accurate, working models, and flying one well takes real skill and patience. We have been selling them since 2009, and we stock everything from a first ready-to-fly micro to a 700-class competition machine - along with the spares to keep any of it flying.
Where to start
If you are new, the choice can be intimidating, and the usual mistake is buying a machine that does not match your skill level. The short version:
- Coaxial - two rotors, one above the other. Very stable, hard to crash, limited in what it can do. The gentlest way in.
- Fixed pitch - altitude is controlled by rotor speed. More manoeuvrable than coaxial, less demanding than collective pitch.
- Collective pitch - the blade angle changes, so the machine can climb hard, fly inverted and perform full 3D. This is what serious pilots fly, and it needs practice.
A simulator and a few hours of practice will save you more money than any upgrade.
Electric, nitro or petrol?
Electric is quieter, cleaner and far easier to live with - charge it and fly. Almost every beginner machine is electric, and plenty of experienced pilots stay there. See electric RC helicopters.
Nitro brings a real engine - the noise, the exhaust, the ritual of fuelling up. More maintenance, longer run times, and an experience electric cannot imitate. See nitro RC helicopters.
Cost matters too. Entry-level electric machines are considerably cheaper than nitro, so if you are not yet sure the hobby will stick, electric is the safer first purchase.
Size classes
Helicopters are described by class - 250, 450, 500, 550, 600, 700 and up. The number roughly tracks main blade length, and bigger machines are more stable in wind and more visible in the air, but need more space, larger batteries and cost more to run. A 450 or 500 suits most people; 700 is for open-field aerobatics.
The brands we stock
Our range includes Align T-Rex, Goosky, SAB Goblin, OMP Hobby, XLPower, Blade and Mikado - machines used by beginners on a first hover and by pilots competing internationally.
Spares matter more than the helicopter
Everybody crashes. What determines whether a model stays in the air over the years is whether you can get parts for it. We hold spares for every brand we sell - see helicopter spare parts - and we will tell you honestly if a machine is poorly supported before you buy it.
Why buy from AT Models
We are RC pilots ourselves and only sell what we would fly. Free UK shipping on orders over £99, fully tracked delivery, 30-day money-back guarantee (terms apply), and a phone number that a person answers if you want advice before ordering.
