ORIGINAL: rotor09
True, the 450 is less costly to repair then the 550 or 600. But I find I crash my 450 at least 4 times more often from getting disoriented because of its small size then I do the 550 or 600. So even if my 550 cost 2 or 3 times more to repair, the cost over a year of flying is less, and I seem to learn faster on them, as I can see them at any distance better then I can the 450's.
I also find that my 550' & 600's or so much more predictable in any winds of consequence that this also contributes to more flying and more confidence while doing so.
Dont have a 550 and dont really know what one consists of. Is it a 600 with shorter blades/boom. Or is it a 500 with longer blades/boom?
I have a 450 and a 500 and have crashed both. Other than main blades...crash cost is only slightly more on the 500 than the 450. If you go FBL, its even less as there are less parts to break in the head.
So, IMO...the 500 is the happy medium. Larger heli with a relatively low crash cost.