Hi folks, new to the forum and new to RC electric helicopters. I have flown planes for the better of 25 years, yet reading the forums there is a lot of difference in flying helicopters versus planes. I have been practicing on a flight simulator now for about 2 months and getting anxious to get my first electric helicopter. I do feel the flight simulator is pretty essential for learning to fly helicopters. So can I get some of your folks wonderful advice and I know it has been asked here before? There is just so much new stuff out there it can be a little overwhelming for a new helicopter pilot. I have looked at the Blade CX2, the Honey Bee MK3, and a few others. Would like something that would start me out on the right foot and where parts are readyily available. Thanks for your help!!!

I was in the same situation as yourself. Been flying planes fors years, but wanted to try helicopters. I do not consider myself an expert by any means, but I learned to fly helicopters with out a simulator and my first helicopter was a Blade CP. I still have it and fly it today. I do have other helicopters as well, and fly them around my yard as often as I can. In my opinion you would get bored with the twin rotor helicopter quickley. You may want to consider a single rotor helicopter and one that you can get parts for easy and local if possible. They are a challange to learn to fly, but not diffcuilt. You will crash and learn to fix them as you progress. So go for it and have a blast.

Seems like the Honey Bee MK 3 is a nice compromise between a collective-pitch model and a twin-rotor model. And you can go to Hobby Lobby and they have every part for it in stock, unlike the CX/2, where there are no parts anywhere. Seems to me a Blade CP might be a bit challenging for a beginner, unless you have lots of spare cash for repair parts.

counter rotators: like the cx and cx2 are great for ppl who have zero stick time because they lack a tail rotor, which makes the physics easier to learn. the problem with them is they are limited to mainly indoor slow flights, as the wind will blow them around and they get very pitchy when you try to get them moving fast.

fixed pitch (fp): fp machines like the honeybee you mentioned, are a step up from counter rotators, but being fixed pitch are not good performers in fast forward flight. they also can't handle much more wind than a counter rotator. having a tail rotor, an fp machine will give you experience with tail control, however the large changes in rpm you get with an fp will make the tail a little harder to control than with collective pitch.

collective pitch (cp): imo cp machines like the blade cp&pro are better for ppl who have some experience with orientations and corrections. these machines are a little more tricky to get the hang of, but with 25yrs of plank and some heli sim time, you should fair well learning on one. they do much better in wind, and can handle fast forward flight (as well as aerobatics when you're ready). also, the fact that the lift is adjusted through pitch also, makes a cp machines tail easier to control than with fp.

parts availability: this will often be the reason your heli is grounded, and you know from planks that stick time is what it's all about. for this reason, i recommend sticking with eflight's blade series of helis, whether you co cp or counter rotating. besides having ample support from your lhs, there is a ton more info and upgrade options out there for blades than any other micro (and yes, many blade clones have parts that are generally not compatible with eflight's).

brand quality: i found eflight manufactures their stuff more consistently and precisely. personally owning both a honerbee cp2 and a cp pro, i can say for sure eflight is worth the extra $$$ because the precision makes it sooooooo much easier to fly. i won't say anything more about other brands, but i've read that ppl have similar feelings when it comes to venom and other similar brands.

i also had over 20yrs of plank before i started on an esky cp2, and i feel that background has allowed my to advance fast with helis. the knowledge you have of how r/c equipment works, as well as a mind that is used to tinkering with r/c, all helps when you enter the setup intensive world of helis. whether you go for a cx or a cp, i'm sure you will acheive success faster than you think.

Just wonder if I am ready for a collective pitch helicopter. I know we all crash, I have had my share with planes. These helicopters just don't seem to take the abuse like a plane can. I have had some rough landings with a plane with no ill affects. E-flite does have some nice products but it seems like they are behind on production. thanks all for your comments and guidance.

The good thing about a helicopter is that when you do have a crash/mishap, etc you replace the broken or bent parts and your ready to go again. Airplanes tend to take more time to repair and tend to gain weight in the progress. "But I love them both".

I must be really lucky... my first heli was a Blade CP and I've only crashed it where I had to buy parts twice. my advice is, Fly A LOT on a simulator!

THe CP thing isn't really that big of a deal in learning. As you increase throttle, pitch (collective) is automatically increased. If you bought a decent heli, like a blade, when the head speed and pitch are high enough, it will lift off smoothly. While its true (I'm trying to view this as someone who's never actually flown a heli) the CP heli will be more responsive when trying to adjust altitude, the head speed will stay pretty constant. And because its (headspeed) higher, the tail will work/hold better too. When you fly a fixed pitch heli you end up chasing the left stick. THese CPs are set up very mild in normal mode from the manufacturer. So, while the response is faster, just like increasing throws on your airplanes, its actually smoother and more consistent. Having said that, don't buy a cp heli and expect to fly it in your living room first time out. Its very difficult to learn to keep the heli in one place while hovering. When you see guys learning at the field, they have their training gear on and drift around, getting used to the controls and little by little gaining skill and confidence in holding the heli in one place. HEAR THIS: its way different when you're flying a real heli that can break and ground you for a time. This is made much worse by having something to hit just a few feet away.

So my rec is to get a CP heli like a blade pro, use training gear and learn in a gym or back yard, someplace where the pressure will be off. Next point: I've been flying fixed wing for 30 years, and flying "nitro" helis for probably 4 years. So this winter I wanted to get a little heli to join my friends who do that during the winter. I got a lesser brand and had tons of problems. THe heli would jump off the ground when it was ready to fly, not lift smoothly. The cyclic (ele ail) was really dead around center and would then respond abruptly when the right input was reached. THis made for a jerky,. scary flying experience. Plus the thing was really delicate and would break often. Its still sitting in my basement. I gave up on it, viewing the cost as a total loss. So then, after a crash and the day before another local indoor fly, I went to the LHS and got a Blade CP pro. No problems. Very easy to fly, very smooth, very consistent. Now, does the tail feel like my Raptor 50/GY401? not even close! But for what it is, This machine is a very reasonable package.

You asked for thoughts. I didn't mean for this to be a testimonial, but I had a very frustrating time a few weeks ago. And now I'm having fun. Crashing is part of it. But at least with a quality heli you're dealing with something that's worth your time.

Best of luck,
Dave

Hi Everyone, a lot of good info, and thank you!!! So AeroDave and Troglodite and anyone else out there, do you really think I will be able to handle a Blade CP Pro as my first helicopter? I continually work on the flight simulator and the CP Pro is quite touchy set at normal flight characteristics. I generally set it down to 50-60% of normal flight and work up to 100% each time I fly. Are there any other suggestions for a first time helicopter? I had first thought of a Blade CX 2 but I think you folks have talked me out of it and to go with something a little more controllable. And I do know we all crash. I just want to make sure parts are readily available for repairs. Thanks again everyone!!!

Dkrob,

I think with your time involved in the rc world is a big plus, also, that you have been on the simulator.
Here's a link that you can compare prices of the CX and CP versions and the parts pricing. Repairs are very easy on any of the blade helis. http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_helicopt...ade_cp_pro.htm

Too, check out Radd's school of rotary flight. Very good, step by step training for a new heli pilot:

http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

Always a hard decision,

Dave / Choppersrule

I have to thank you Dave/Choppersrule on Radd's website. It gave me some really great info and techniques that I will use in learning to fly helicopters. What is neat is Radd's techniques are somewhat how I learned to fly airplanes. I started with gliders and just hand launched them and learned to glide. Got a lot of walking time in picking up the glider and my arm even got sore at times from throwing the plane.

I still don't have a sound feel for my first helicopter purchase..............but hopefuly reading the forums and the input I get from all of you I know will definitely help. I have tried the E-flite CP and CP Pro on the simulator and they seem pretty touchy.....I know, practice, practice, practice.

Thanks again everyone!!!

Dkrob,

No problem, that's what the forum is all about, helping each other. Follow Radds to the letter and you'll be amazed. It takes time and lots of battery pack. But take your time and you'll save the $$$$$ in repairs. Actually, the Blades are pretty easy to repair and less expensive than most. Plus, parts are readily available. They are touchy, but not that aweful bad. Took me about 1 month.
If you have a big wallet, consider the T-Rex family. It's very stable.

Dave / Choppersrule

Dave/Choppersrule, would you recommend the Blade CP or the CP Pro and which one did you start out with? How long did you fly your first helicopter before jumping to the next step up in helicopters? If you fly the Trex, which model? Thanks for the assistance!!!

Dkrob,

Been flying just a tad over a year, my very first heli was the Blade CX. It was alot of fun, but after you've become efficient with it, it becomes somewhat boring for everyday flying. It is very limited in what it can do, not knockin' it at all, just has it's limitations. It's a great little heli.

My second heli was the Blade CP, only because the CP Pro was not out at the time. IMHO, I'd go for the CP Pro. It comes with the 3-in-1 controller, which gives you the ability to upgrade to a brushless motor and/or a head holding gyro. The CP has a 4-in-1 controller and doesn't have that capability for upgrades..

I flew the CX for about three months, then the CP for about 4 months or so, then the CP Pro came out. Hmmm, had to get one of those, because of the upgrade potential. Still fly the CP and the CP Pro. Then the T-Rex 450XL, I've had it about 3 or 4 months.

I purchased the T-Rex on an impulse buying spree and glad I did, it's super.. It was a combo special, heli, servos, motor, ESC, TX, RX, the whole nine yards, with the Spectrum DX6 technology for $499. (DX7 is better, but wasn't available at the time of purchase)

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.. I don't monitor all the treads everyday.

Dave / Choppersrule

I got the CP pro for Christmas and love it. Been flying planes for years too. Gone thru a few sets of blades and worn off the bottom of the skids on the pavement. I can now fly foward and side to side. The CP pro is my recomendation. It flys as tame as you want it to. Just take it slow and follow RADDS 100%. One good thing about it does handle light wind good. Even learning to hover with a breaze is fun.