Common power sources are nitro (nitromethane methanol internal combustion), electric batteries, gas turbines, petrol and gasoline. Mechanical layouts include cyclic/collective pitch mixing (CCPM) in all power sources, fixed pitch electric rotors and coaxial electric rotors.

Practical electric helicopters are a recent development but have rapidly developed and become more common, overtaking nitro helicopters in common use. Gas turbine helicopters are also increasing in popularity, although the high cost puts them out of reach of most people.

Nitro or glow fuel helicopters come in different sizes: 15, 30, 50, 60 and 90 size. These numbers originated from the size of engine used in the different models (0.30 cu in, 0.50 cu in and so on). The bigger and more powerful the engine, the larger the main rotor blade that it can turn and hence the bigger the aircraft overall.

Typical flight times for nitro helicopters is 7-14 minutes depending on the engine size and tuning. The maximum height of operation for RC helicopters, be it nitro or electric, is only limited to the height at which the controller can see the model. Most radio systems have a range of over a mile, and the person controlling the model will have long lost sight of the model.