I have played around with gyros for a few years, futaba 401's, here is my 50cc sbach with gyros. It has 3 gyros, yes 3, all surfaces. My normal flight mode I fly with very little gain, 20% non-head hold, it just makes the plane smoother and more stable (IMHO) it flies like a bigger plane.....then for some really low harriers and hovers, I flick the switch, go 80% Head-hold. Plane is rock solid, only 50cc, flies like 150cc. The 401's are great, they have remote gain, so I have 3 flight modes, and then another switch to turn them off. Honestly, in a 7 min flight, I might really use the gyros for 1 or 2 minutes. I approach the field, slow the plane down, line it up, then flick on gyros, and then focus on throttle management. Here are some videos of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvfUQ...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhYs2...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSNUS...eature=related


I am sure someone could do this without gyros, but I just don't get enough "stick time" to practice...gyros good way to cheat.

My 85cc plane also has gyros, I don't like as much with gyros, bigger planes are more stable and don't really benefit as much. I also have 50cc Yak, its a blast with gyros.

What I can say, when I do all out crazy 3D, (bend the sticks), I flick off the gyros....as they can work against you.