Hi cragmor,

What kind of budget are you trying to keep with? That above all else will determine what to do next. Also, do you know of any RC clubs near you that have heli's fly? If so, visit one on a weekend and talk with the heli guys there and learn, learn, learn. (Heli guys love to talk of their experience )

Next, a collective pitch heli as your first heli experience can be a hairy experience...esp using a small heli (like the SR) and going at it by yourself. When your ready to try it again you may want to first get a pair of training gear for it.

A simulator of some sort will be your best teacher...it will be very cost effective as your just hit the spacebar after a crash and your flying again...something you can't do in real life.

Larger heli's are better but there's the financial issue to deal with, hence my first question to you.

For me...I started out on a coaxial heli (a Blade CX2) then moved to a collective pitch heli. Just be prepared to use the coaxial for a few weeks only as your skills will progress beyond its capabilities quickly. It's just meant as an intro to heli's and will give you the basics to try out indoors.

Good luck!

Mark