The biggest problem is that many folks come on here, asking about a perticular heli, never stating what their skill level is. So you tell them about the heli, and then they go get it, crash it, and then come back here ranting and raving about how the heli is bad.

If your a beginner....admit it. Explain what your experience level is, and then those of us that have flown helis can help you decide on the best option.

I am not an expert, Im not an advanced heli pilot. I would consider myself intermediate. Ive graduated past beginner heli's like the XRB and am now flying CCPM. I learn stuff everyday. There is still alot I dont know.

The other problem as Dark Wombat stated is that hobby shops readily sell full blown heli's to beginners with no advice on how to learn. Its not necessarily that they are just doing it for a buck, sometimes they themselves have NO heli experience.

How can you sell or recommend a heli if you've never seen it fly or flown it yourself. That's precisely the reason I got involved in flying demos at hobby shops. I not only want the customers to see whats involved in flying a heli, but also to show the hobby shop folks exactly what that heli will do, and how difficult it is to fly. I wont BS someone thats a beginner. Ill tell them flat out, that unless they get some help, and learn correctly, they have NO chance of flying a CCPM heli the first time. Its just not gonna happen.

For instance, I went to a local hobby shop and flew one of their Blade's in the store as a demo. They had never seen one fly, and certainly not flown one. I explained that even though I could get it in a hover in the store, and fly it that they could not do that until they learned to fly it like that. I told them if they wanted to learn to get a beginners heli like the XRB. Then I brought my XRB in there and let them try it out. The first reaction is "WOW this is a little difficult" and then it clicks. They realize that they thought they could handle the Blade, but now they know they didnt have a chance.

Alot of times people see a heli fly, and think "I can do that".....but they dont see the hundreds of times that pilot planted one in the ground or the frustration he had learning as he broke part after part after part, or the pile of shattered blades he has sitting at home from all the mishaps.

Unfortunatly, they never will understand that until they do it themselves.

The thing we need to do as pilots with experience is not to get frustrated at the beginners that dont know what a trim lever is, but to have the patience to try to help them as much as possible. Dont forget that you were there at one time too. Ill help anyone that asks.

For those of you that are beginners, if you crash your heli. Dont blame it on the heli. Accept the responsibility, realize that flying heli's is difficult, you are learning. Unfortunatly its a violent learning process most of the time. Although you are having difficulty now, it will pass, and you will learn if you are patient and persistant.

Sky-pilot,
Do you know how to balance the blades? Since you havent flown the heli yet, lets assume that the shaft is straight. And since youve already tracked the blades, lets assume that all that is ok. If the blades are not balanced it will cause the heli to vibrate...ALOT.

Remove the blades from the heli, and check to see if they are balanced. If one blade is heavier than the other, add some tape to the bottom of the light blade until they are balanced. Then reinstall and try it again.