Hi all,

I wanted to get some input from you Helio guys and girls.
I am looking for my next copter, and I am looking at three
Helio’s. First let me say what I am flying now.
I have a Dynam Phoenix and a Blade CX-2.
Now I know that there is a world of different
In what I am flying and what I want.
The ones I am looking at are
1. Blade CP
2. Blade CP-Pro
3. Heli-Max AXE CP

I fly all three in the simulator Real Flight G3.5
Are the above three that hard to control in real life?
I am getting better flying them but BOY is it harder
Than the two I have.

I would like you to let me know which one you would
Buy?

Thanks!

Eddie

I have the Axe CP and yes, it is hard to master! I have all but given up on mine as it's just impossible to get it flyable. Even an excellent flier said the same thing. I solved it all by getting the T-Rex 600 (yes -- it's not cheap) but what a world of difference. After spending time on the simulator, I could do all the basic stuff on my first flight. i had one minor mishap on the 12th flight due to a gust of wind but only minor damage. I will probably trash can the Axe CP. Parts are horrendously expensive and cheaply made (if you can even find them.) Just my 2 cents worth.

eatkins-- any CP is harder to fly than the Blade CX, but the motor tail helis are a good (read: cheap) way to get into the sport. You have other options, though. One that is recommended a lot is the Honey Bee FP v3-- it's not much easier to fly than the Blade CP/P or Axe, but it is built like a tank and mechanically simpler, so you can spend less time fixing and more time getting used to a conventional (single main rotor) helicopter. This is a good learning heli.

If that's too tame for you and you have some mechanical ability, then a 300 size (Compy, Honey Bee King 2) or 450 size (TRex, MX450) may be in order. They're easier to fly than the motor tail birds, but repair is more expensive. The 300s are kind of transitional, but the 450s you fly outdoors only (or in a good sized inside forum like a gymnasium-- not your living room!). They will require you to learn a lot more to make them fly right-- I don't recommend this course for that reason; it's enough just to learn how to control a helicopter, without adding the maintenance that a full CP heli requires.

So in between are the motor-tail CPs, like the Axe and Blade series (and all the others in this family-- there are clones of clones forever in this segment). My first "real" helicopter was a Blade CP Pro, perhaps the hardest of these to fly. I actually enjoyed the battle of learning to fly it and fix it all at one time, but I have a history with other RC planes, so it wasn't at all intimidating. A lot of people, otoh, buy a Blade and never learn to fly it because it's too much, too fast. They are much cheaper, but much harder to learn to fly with, than the other ones I've mentioned.

HTH. Whatever you do, sorry, WR4CF, do not buy a 600-class heli. They generate far too much energy to be safe for a neophyte, and they can seriously damage (or kill) things that they hit.