Along with the rapid economic development, consumption level of China keeps rising and the styles of the entertainment gradually increase too. Many previously overlooked or expensive playing fun become more and more popular. Recently the rapidly growing up of the R/C electric helicopter among self-driving travelers and entertainment life lovers is quite an example.

Rapid development of R/C helicopters

R/C helicopter has already been seen in 1993. But because of the use of gasoline engines which led to a very high price and the complexity of parts debugging, R/C helicopters kept many domestic players away who wanted to try something new. R/C helicopters have been improved with the time passing by. In 1997, a Japan company introduced the use of motor-driven R/C electrical helicopter. But its big fuselage, poor battery life and disadvantage of easily losing control made it share only a small part of the domestic market. It was in slack sales and its main use was for study in some hobby courses.

Compared with R/C fixed-wing aircraft, there are two inherent shortcomings for R/C helicopter. Firstly, it’s easily damaged and sees high cost. It is a sad thing for many players to find the parts after it’s damaged. Eventually they do not dare make it fly. Secondly, operation of R/C helicopter is more complicated than fixed-wing helicopter. Coming with a four-dimensional flight, it is a big trial to the players’ vision, hearing and action. Furthermore, at that time computer simulation software was still in experimental stage and players always need to try on their own. So before the year of 2000, the sales situation had not been very satisfactory.

However, as the foreign competitions of electrically operated R/C helicopter have became more and more popular, and domestic manufacturers have also invested a lot of human and material resources to the development of it, when it comes to 2002 or so, domestic manufacturers have also launched their own R/C electric helicopters. At the very beginning, homemade products were poor in stability and controlling function. Their circuit might easily be burnt down. Therefore, homemade products do not constitute threat to foreign brands. In fact, at that time, foreign brands had seen the 3D electrical helicopter. In small supply, foreign brands were in high price for both separate product and parts, nevertheless many domestic players had no means but to accept it.

Homemade R/C helicopter in a popular style

Not willing to show the impression of weakness, domestic makers cement development on the category. Two years later, China’s own 3D R/C electrical helicopter was developed, lessening the distance between China and foreign countries. Characterized with reasonable price, abundant accessories and parts and perfect service, domestic helicopters allow customized adjustment by users, attracting a bulk of consumers who are interested in the hobby but in no strong economic capability. Quite a few of market shares that used to seize by foreign brands now are achieved by domestic ones.

Currently, famous overseas brand in the category include USA’s MS Composit, Century Heli, Japan’s Kyosho, while China’s brands see Taiwan’s Align, Thunder Tiger, Walkera, JABO, etc. So far as the developing trend is concerned, foreign brands are heading towards high-tech products in competition, while China’s prefer popular style that can be enjoyed by common consumers.

During these years, some domestic makers model foreign brands to make items with low cost, which come with poor performance and quality. On the other hand, some players have not realized the fun of R/C electrical helicopter, which lies in the process of assembling, debugging and seeing it flying in the sky. That’s the joy of DIY helicopter. Related makers are expected to develop more such items to meet consumers’ demand.