What does the tail fin do?

[Rookie]

I am brand new to RC Helicopters and have a just received a nice one and have a question. This helicopter has two tail fins which can rotate on the boom and therefore face any direction. My question is where should they be and what do they do?

Here is the unit:

http://www.handhelditems.com/dragonf...er-p-4610.html

I am not interested in modifying the unit and I am mainly just curious what the tail fins do.

Thanks

[Rookie]

Boy.....Isn't this a helpful forum?

[Aztek1701]

Hello Rookie,

Sorry if we seemed to be ignoring you that wasnt the case. Its just that this forum does have quite a lot of users that only check in periodically so it can sometimes take a couple of days to get a reply.

Allow me to bid you welcome anyway.

The Fins on a model heli dont really do that much... It is quite possible to have one without them... What tends to be the case is that the vertical tailfin (the rearmost one) is normally there to protect the tail rotor from damage if you land with the tail down slightly.. the idea being that it hits the ground first.. The horizontal fin is on bigger models used as a semi decorative plate to anchor the tailboom supports and make a solid triangle with the tailboom. This prevents the boom from flexing too much.

On a real heli, the vertical and horizontal fins help to control the tail when the heli is in forward flight.

Hope this helps... Azzy