RE: Optical tach quirk
1) For one thing, no nitro heli that I know will hover at 1000rpm head speed. This is the only time that you'll be wanting to check head speed.
2) If you check your engine spec (power range at xx rpm) and compare it with your gear ratio of your helicopter, you will find that any nitro heli is going to be in the 1,500 to 2,200rpm range