Gasser Heli Project Final - AMPS

Owning and operating a gasser requires more maintenance, it’s not just charge the batteries and fly. The forces
excreted on a machine of this size along with the power, torque, and vibration of the engine will put a beat down
on the helicopter’s mechanics thereby causing accelerated wear and tear. In the two gallons of fuel burned
during the engine break‐in and fine tuning phase, I’ve had the main gear striped, the bolts to clutch shoe snap like
twigs, and I go through canopy grommets like candy, the vibration of the engine keeps slicing them apart. Parts
failure is a problem in itself, I just can’t run to the nearest hobby shop to get them (no one carries Century parts); I
have to order them from the distributor in California. And unlike the nitro machines that become saturated with
oil, the gasser has very little oil residue spewed over it, so it needs to be lubed and greased regularly.
If and when it comes down (we all have crashes soon or later), I project the repair cost to be around the $500‐
$800 range due to its brand (not all gassers are created equal). Is a gasser helicopter right for you? The answer is
it depends on what kind of flying you like to do, and what justifies getting into such a big expense for only one
machine? If you like 3D, then the 90‐size helis should be the one to get, if you like sport flying, then the 50‐size is
the way to go, and if you really, really like scale, then the big gassers are great for that (big with heavy lifting
abilities).
With that said, guess what I plan to do with the gasser? Scale! Once I recover from its initial expense, and all the
bugs have worked out of this machine, then a real nice Jet Ranger fuselage is definitely in its future. When that
happens, I’ll be sure to chronicle its progress.
I hope you all enjoyed reading about the gasser as it came together, and how it was presented. However, my
approach is only one perspective, and not the only way of doing it. Actually I believe there are better ways then
mine, and I welcome any and all suggestions, advice, and criticism, or if you have a project that you’re working on,
and would like to have it spotlighted in the Heli Corner, and would like me to help you with that, then it would be
my honor to do that as well.
Flying RC helicopter is hard, complicated, difficult, and challenging. It is however not impossible, and if it beckons
you to join our ranks, well then know this, we’re here to help you succeed and enjoy this segment of our hobby.
The biggest failure in life is to fail to do anything, and not that you struggle with the task at hand, we can help.
Will you accept our offer?
Until next time, see you at the field – Gus.