Hi everyone, I am new to heli's I have spent some time on Real Flight G4 just the demo and I really would like to get into the hobby. I used to have RFG2 and I was ok with the impala trainer and not to bad with the raptor Also I do ok with the heli on G4. Not saying I'm good but I can keep them in the air a while. My question is I just got an older Blade CP it is not brushless and has the 650 mah batt. I haven't flown it yet just tried to fire it up in the house to see if it all works. She looks to be in good shape but I can't get the main rotor to spin. I did once but now I just get the tail. I'm wondering if I should try to fly her or if it's too much for a beginner. Maybe I should sell her or trade for a better heli for my skill level. what do you think?

Learning on a Blade CP can be done, but your skills won't progress very quickly. My second heli was a CP Pro and I spent months just trying to learn how to keep it in the air through a full battery. I then moved up to a 450 sized heli and my skills progressed pretty quick. In a month I could do what I used to do with my Blade CX. A good cheap beginner heli would be a fixed pitch or a 450 sized. If you have money a .50/600 sized heli is even better. They are expensive to buy and fix and are intimidating, but they will hover hands off and fly very easy in most wind conditions. Another good idea is to visit/join a local flying club. I setup and test fly people's helis at my club to make it easier on them to learn.

Nick

Nick - I didn't know you set up and test flew other flier's helicopters. That's one heck of a service for a newbie. One of my biggest bothers was never knowing if it was me or the helicopter. Actually, just knowing I'm a lousy flier and the helicopter is fine was a major advancement. We can fix anything but we need to know what to fix.

Over the years there has been a whole lot of discussion about the advantages of the first heli being a coaxial (any of the CX series), fixed pitch (HBFP) or collective pitch (Blade 400).

I'm still of the opinion that the $100 spent on an HBFP is money well spent. I wouldn't expect a new flier to keep it too long or he'll become frustrated with the limitations of a fixed pitch. With a larger budget a high grade fixed pitch is a wonderful learning tool. And of course with a healthy budget available and a good (athletic) skill set a Blade 400 could be a great first heli. Boy, where to start with advice. It's a tough for the advisor as it is for the newbie.

Soloboss

It is the least I can do with all the help I have received, since I started this hobby.

Nick

Thanks for the tips guys but what is HBFP and do you think the Eflight sim for $20 is any good should I stick with the G4 demo I have to pratice. I'd rather stick to "less fun" heli to start I think. Cheaper and less frustrating. Although I know the larger heli's would be more stable I don't have the cash to go nitro right now or to fix an electric than I'm crashing all the time. So I think I should look into something a little less expensive and better to learn with. maybe even an indoor one if that would at least teach me the basics.

HBFP is short for Honey Bee Fixed Pitch. It is made my E-Sky and the pitch of the blades are fixed, so you control altitude my the speed of the rotors. Here is a link to a good helicopter supplier that carries the HBFP and carries parts for it.
http://www.helidirect.com/esky-honey...29_223_681.hdx

A lot of people on the Struggling with single rotor basics thread have/had that helicopter.

Nick

Thank you I will give it a look.