Helicopter control directions

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The pictures below are for a MODE 2 radio. A popular mode in some other countries is mode 1. This is where the elevator is on the left stick and the throttle in on the right.
Aileron Left Aileron Right
Swashplate tilts down
on the left
Swashplate tilts down
on the right
   
Elevator forward
(airplane pilots refer to
this as down elevator)
Elevator backward
(airplane pilots refer to
this as up elevator)
Swashplate tilts down
on the front
Swashplate tilts down
on the back
   
A common misconception is you steer the tail.
You are supose to steer the nose.
Rudder left Rudder right
Control rod pushed to
the back
Control rod pulled to
the front
 
This is Collective Up.
This will make the
helicopter go up. Or as
I like to think - skids go
toward the blades.
 
This is Collective down
This will make the
helicopter go down.
Or as I like to think -
skids go away from the
blades.