The 6ex is a fantastic little radio and a personal favorite. It comes in a heli ready version http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXSFY4&P=0.. This version works great for airplanes also.

That being said the 7C is like ten dollars more. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXTTM2&P=0

Either radio has a heli mode with multiple swash/mixing functions. The heli versions do not have a throttle ratchet, and default to heli mode. The airplane is opposite.

Any version of either radio can be setup to fly either airplanes or helis. You will not find many problems with either. They are rock solid radios.

You can get the regular air version of the 6EX with just tx/rx for 199. With the discount codes the 7C is probably the better deal for the future.