Hello everyone

I've been into Electric/Nitro Cars for a couple of years now. And have recently gained an interest in Heli's.

Is there any particular Heli or manufacturer, you'd recommend for a beginner? Also considering Planes.


Thanks.

For planes look here http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm

For helis, ask in here. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_165/tt.htm

Good luck and welcome to RCU!

If you want to start with RC helis, I highly recommend doing the following (in this order):

1) Get an RC plane/heli simulator (FMS, [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNYN1&P=ML]RealFlight[/link], [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HANS2000]FSone[/link], etc.) and spend some time on it 1st!
2) Get an EFlite Blade [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH1250]CX2[/link] or [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH2000]CX3[/link]. Those are very stable, easy to fly coaxial rotor helis.
3) After some experience with 1&2 above, move up to a good quality CP (collective pitch) heli, electric or nitro. If you want to fly nitro or large electric helis, I highly recommend that you find a local RC aircraft club to get help and have a safe place to fly.

If you want to get started with RC planes:

1) Get an RC plane/heli simulator (FMS, [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNYN1&P=ML]RealFlight[/link], [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HANS2000]FSone[/link], etc.) and spend some time on it 1st!
2a) If you have an RC aircraft club nearby, talk to one of their instructors and get advice on which nitro trainer and radio equipment they recommend. The [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML]Tower Trainer RTF[/link] or the [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN4400]Alpha Trainer RTF[/link] packages would serve you well, but you may be able to pick a used trainer from a club member for less $$$.
2b) If you want to teach youself, get one of the beginner electrics that Horizon sells, like the [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HBZ7100]Super Cub[/link] or the [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HBZ3600]Aerobird 3[/link]
3) Move on to more advanced planes after that.

Blade CP (collective pitch). I think
the Blade CP "Pro" now comes with
a Gyro,which is a must IMO. Order
extra Blades,Main shafts and use the
training gear also. Use very small
stick movements also.


Bob

opp's


Bob

I bought an ESky Lama V4 from Hobby Lobby:

http://www.hobbylobbyrc.net/product_3913_detailed.htm

It's also available in a 2.4Ghz version:

http://www.hobbylobbyrc.net/product_3911_detailed.htm

This is a very smooth and easy-to-fly helicopter that is about as easy to get started with as anything in the market. Not only did the helicopter package include the transmitter, transmitter batteries, LiPo battery, balancing LiPo charger, AC and DC adapters for the balancing LiPo charger, and a full set of extra rotor blades; the box even included a copy of the FMS flight simulator on CD-ROM along with a trainer jack-to-USB connector cable so you can use the included transmitter with the flight sim.

Extra parts are readily available through Hobby Lobby as well as a number of other ESky retailers. Simply Google the phrase, "ESky Lama V4" and you'll be inundated with shopping options.

I've been told by experienced helicopter pilots that the "crashability" of the Lama V4 is much more impressive than the E-Flight Blade CX2. The Blade CX2 comes with much more rigid rotor blades that are apparently more prone to breaking. The softer blades of the Lama V4 can chip and tear easily, but apparently they tend to take the brunt of many crashes while protecting other parts of the helicopter.

I'm enjoying flying mine, and the reaction of every experienced heli pilot I've let fly it so far has been very positive. You could certainly spend more, but why?

This past weekend I was at a mall show and a local hobby store owner dropped by and asked for volunteers to fly some electrics and pass out his cards. I'll fly anyone else's planes, anytime. But the other two guys grabbed the airplanes and I ended up with a dinky helicopter. I told him I didn't know how to fly a helicopter, but he said "play around with it anyway." By the third three-minute charge I was taking off and landing on a table-top in the same spot after circuiting the 30 foot square table enclosure where our models were displayed. The heli was a e-Flite Blade mCX. This thing HAS to be the easiest helicopter there ever was to fly. A member who also flew it who does fly r/c helicpoters said it was similar to a "real" tail-rotor model, but MUCH easier overall. It would be a great indoor practice aid in any case. All the basics are there even for aircraft, though the "conversion" from fast = up, up = backward, down = forward would lead to misery if you knew only this and tried to do aircraft. I'm really impressed how crisp the yaw is. It will snap 90ΒΊ or 180ΒΊ and lock on the new heading solidly. Seems a lot of "dumb-thumb" has been engineered out of this model.

$130 gets you the heli, a 2.4GHz (!) transmitter, flight LiPo battery & the charger base (uses 4AA - kind of a bummer for an indoor heli).

I own a E-Flight Blade MCX. I love that little thing! I didn't have Heli experiance when I bought it, now I fly it like a champ... all around the house, chasing cats and being chased by cats etc. I haven't smacked into anything yet so it still looks brand new.

The new CX3 has better electronics ( Guess it's the Gyro?) than the CX2. The CX3 is next on my " I WANT" list. CX3 and CX2 bodies are interchangeable from what I heard.

I have the Blade CX2 with the black Seahawk body on it (see photo below). It looks cool and is easy to fly indoors or outdoors (with very little wind). The CX2 has a rate gyro that holds the tail pretty well, but it will drift a little, and as the battery runs down you have to adjust the rudder trim a little to keep it from drifting. The CX3 is supposed to have a heading-hold gyro, which will not drift at all, should make it easier and more fun to fly. Not to mention the cool light kit that you can add to it, with remote on/off.

I've heard good things about the mCX, and have been trying to hold back my urge to buy one to save some $$$, but I may just have to get one afterall!

The MCX is an amazing little helicopter. Nothing that small should fly so well.

Well, I've only flown the MCX and the Llama for a few minutes, but I would confidently recommend either to a beginner. I had never flown a helicopter before (I'm big into airplanes), but I could fly either one of those.......except for a little mishap on the last flight. [sm=red_smile.gif]