Hello all, I am planning to join in on the Heli hobby...problem I know nothing about the hobby itself just yet so i wanted to ask you guys a few questions like What should I look for when shopping for a new/used heli? What is a good heli for a beginner that can still perfom and be fun to play with? What equipment will I need? Are micros good for training or are they more or less performance crafts just smaller? Any help in selecting a first helicopter would be greatly appreciatoed as well. Thanks in advance...

I think I have decided to go electric because I will spend a majority of the time playing with it in the street or in my back yard and I dont want to drive my Neighbors crazy. I do plan to go nitro once I am good enough to fly at some of the meets. What is the best heli for learning and if I want to uipgrade parts on it perfomance?

If you are just starting out, take soe time and read through the [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=342744]EHBG[/link]

You would do well to get a decent simulator. Realfight G2 is in the $100+ range, and Reaflight G3 and Reflex XTR are a bit more. All three are awesome. You will need a current computer and a 3d video card.

If you plan on flying outdoors, you will do best to get a bigger heli. Corona by lite machines is reported to be the best outdoor trainer.
Many people will also tell you to start with a T-Rex or Shogun. These are really not entry level machines. Doable, with enough time in on the sim and a lot of attention to detail and tweaking before you fly. But the Corona gives you a better chance of success.

Read a lot here on the forum. Ask questions. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Thanks for the reply, I will look into simulators now.... How likely will it be that the corona will be a heli that I will stay interested with after i have spent a considerable amout of time with it? Can it be upgraded to a more aggressive heli? I probally will not be buying a heli for about 3 months because I want to run the simulator first for about 2-3 months after work and on off time and i want to get the exact heli Ill want to keep for a while.

A very good friend of mine and flying partner had a corona and he flew it for a very long time and beat the heck out of it from what I saw it was a good learning heli for him and he enjoyed it quite a lot.I myself did not fly it and so I cannot give first hand experience at it after my friend decided to move up he sold the corona and purchased a JR Voyager E after he saw mine and has been flying it with me for some time now.From what he told me the corona is a very durable heli and can take a beating as for upgrades I cannot say again because I only know what I have been told and have seen from his.I don't know if this helps or not but I just thought that I would pass his experiences on to you.

The Corona is a fixed pitch, and durable. I have read about people converting them to collective pitch, but I have not heard much about the results. I think that it is the perfect heli to start with and after you get your skills up to the point where the heli is less capable than you are, you buy a second heli. I really think that this is more cost effective than starting out with a heli that is too advanced, and then failing. And the Corona can be sued for a lot of training before you outgrow it.

The T-Rex is a heli model that allows for more advanced flying. It is less suited as a first time heli.

Thanks for the info... I was going to go ahead and possibly purchase a T-Rex v2 because they had a used one for pretty cheap at the LHS but Im glad I didnt. I will probally still spend the time and try to master as much as I can with the simulator and then purchase a heli (Corona) when Im sure I can enjoy it opposed to being nervous the whole time. I am planning on going with the corona now because it sounds like a good first timer for me. Thanks again

Is there anything I need to purchase along with the heli that would help maint. and care as well as functioning it? Should I stick with the stock or OEM Transmitter and reciever or would it help to go with a more advanced radio system?

Corona does not come with a radio that you have to purchase separately,again this is something that you have to decide on yourself and how much money you have to spend.Around here the consensus is that the Futaba 9chp is the best but it is also one of the most expensive,I own it and love it but it was not what I started with that was a Hitec Eclipse 7 which was a good radio but the 9c is all that I will ever need.You need to do some research on radios on the net and find one that you like you will need at least a 6 channel to fly the corona and some of the more advanced heli's although I don't exactly know how many channels is needed for the corona but I don't think that it would be more than six but the bigger radio you purchase the less likely you would have to purchase a upgraded radio in the future that is why I and many others here say get the 9c if you have the money in the bank.

I will only comment on the way I learned which is the school of hard knocks or should I say the School of hard landings.


I started with a HB FP heli and in my opinion this is a POS! I had this for about a month and learned tail in hovering so so and refused to sink any more money into it. I bought G3 and never touched the HB again. Over the course of the next 3 months I put a lot of time on the SIM and slowly accumulated a T-Rex and all the parts for it. By the time it was ready to fly I was very proficient at flying on the SIM. Hovers all orientations, loops, rolls, funnels, inverted hovers, flips all sorts of flying.

I got the TRex out and was able to nose in the first pack. I was thinking man this cool it’s going to be just like the SIM WRONG!!!!! I was able to FF and FFF by the third pack but anything else was a disaster.

I am better now I usually only wreck because of mechanical failure or I am trying something new on occasion theirs is still the dumb thumb. I am still a novice only been at it for 6 months.

I’ve had wrecks that only cost $4.00.
I’ve had wrecks that cost $50.00
The wreck will cost something with the T-Rex

From what I’ve read here and other places with the Corona most of the time pick it up straighten it and start flying again.

Me I like punishment and if I had to do it over the only thing I would change is no buying the HB.

I like CP heli’s and will never go back to FP, just me!

If you are very detail orientated and like tinkering and lots of reading it’s not to bad to go the route I have. I could have done it a litter better with more patience.

No matter which way you go please save your self some money in the long run and get the SIM.

Tony

I have been looking at several SIMS but my LHS does not carry them so Im finding it hard to select which SIM is the best to learn on. What has everyone else learned with? Is there a really good SIM and is there really bad SIMS? I ask because Im going to have to order online and I dont want to spend 200.00 on something that does me no good. Thanks again guys...oh yeah I think I might have found my Corona!!! But Im lookng into getting the radio gear first!

Thanks agian for all your help.

As Vince said Reflex or Great Planes G3 are the best It all depends though if you have a computer that will run them they both need a great not good video card and a fast processor and if you have a laptop forget it they won't run I know I have tried and failed at it on my laptop.If those won't work then the last choice is aero flight deluxe from Ikarus,this is not as good as the other two but it will teach you and you don't have to have a super computer to run it.The one to stay away from is the one that is free I don't know the name of it but I have seen it and you would be better off trying to learn with Microsoft's filght sim game than that junk .I think that the name of it is FMS or something like that,also Reflex you need your own radio and have to order the reflex that comes with your radio trainer cord to use it,the other two G3 and aero flight you can order a sim radio that looks like and acts like a real radio and plugs into your computers USB port.If you look in the market place here under software you might find a old copy of Great planes G2 with a sim radio for around $100.00 even though this was replaced with G3 it is still a great learning sim it is what I learned with and it is one that will run on a laptop.I hope that this helps in some way and you get what you need do some research on the web find the one you like and get it then you will be on your way to some great fun.ENJOY

A word on the SIM. I have yet to purchase my first heli as well, but since ive been looking, i know that some of the helis (including the Honey Bee 2 CCPM) have a SIM included, and also include the radio for the heli but have a cord that connects it to the computer for the SIM. So youd be using the same controller for both SIM and Heli.

As i said, this is only what ive seen and im not a pro on the topic, but this seems like a great idea to me. plus the fact you can get all this, a collective pitch heli, the battery, a charger (crappy one ive been told) and training gear, all for about $170 new on ebay.

it seems okay to me, but maybe someone else knows more about this product.
but if your gonna spend 200 on a SIM anyway? maybe this is alot better move?

UPDATE: There is a dealer in Cali that has a deal on Ebay now for the Kit and its $136. Add $35 shipping costs in US.
Hope this might help? If you need to search "Honey Bee" under toys and hobbies and it should come up.

To buy a heli on ebay is foolish they sell junk and most of the time they do not back their products as the old saying goes you get what you pay for and that free sim is the one that I said to stay away from it is junk and will teach you about as much as Microsoft flight sim which is nothing.You want to get into this hobby then you have to be prepared to spend money because you cannot do it on the cheap,well you can but you will be sorry in the long run,I would say that you should use that search button at the top of the page and search the heli forums and read all about your honey bee and then you may see that it is not as good a deal as you think.This is only my opinion but I have two heli's and never purchased from ebay,you want a good deal go to the RCU Market place and buy a used heli there at least you know that you are buying something that flys and is from a RCU member and not china.

Thanks for the info, Im still learning as I go.. so would it help me to learn with collective pitch? or is it better to learn with fixed pitch? Im really ready to get going so I have been shopping around on some sites for new heli's and used ones as well. Im not goint to fly too ewarly but I really want to have one to start looking ver and trying to figure out. Is there a good site that sells used heli's that has trustable people?

Yes right here at the market place you will find all kinds of used ones that have been taken care of and are at a good price plus you are helping support RCU and it's members,go there and take a look at what is there.Fixed pitch is hard to learn because of the small heli's collective pitch is not as bad because they are larger but more expensive and also more expensive to fix when crashed.I started out with collective pitch but that was after months on the simulator and then I decided to go right into collective pitch and now fly a JR Voyager E so it is really up to you and how you want to go about it you are your own boss and so you need to make your own mind up do not let someone tell you how to make up your mind.
Oh and I have only been in it since last September but a lot of sim time and some ability to overcome the fear of crashing I am progressing quite well.Also I have given up my sim and sold it I went about as far as I could with it I was starting to get to the point where it was more of a game than a learning tool so it went and the real thing took over it's place and you some day will do the same.You have to progress at your own pace some are faster than others.

Good deal, I plan on putting a lot of time on the Sim now. Everyone here Im sure must be pretty familiar with everyone selling in the heli market place right? I know the car guys and i know a few I will never buy from again. Im not asking to point out any bad business people just if anyone knows any that are selling on this site right now that would be considered upstanding people to deal with and what looks like a pretty good deal on the heli market place...... I know thats asking a bit much and Im not asking someone to pick out my heli, I just dont want to buy a heli that i think "Looks Cool", get it home and realize that its not a good heli or that my skills or really immature to fly it.

Thanks You guys have been a huge help and have answered all of my questions and have really helped to take the doubt out of going ahead with this hobby.

We really are not suppose to push any ad's in the forums and so the best thing is to find a heli you like and then look at the feedback on the seller it will show you the members rating and you can read what is said about that person.It is not that bad a deal I have been doing business on the market place for some time and really have not ran into any one bad there,I would say that most seasoned sellers will have actual pictures of what they are selling and a good description of the heli.Also look for names of people you recognize from talking in the forums you can get a good idea about a person by reading their posts.GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY.As for your skills the sim will help with that you can get the heli you want and when you are ready you will fly it,I started with a Trex 450x and quickly decided to get a larger heli which is my JR and now my Trex sits on the shelf.I flew it about three times and it has sat ever since.

I bought an hb2 cp heli on ebay and it works excellent. I think that people just don't read the descriptions of the helis well enough and don't ask enough questions.

If you are buying on ebay, you have to make sure that the seller has good feedback. (96% should be almost the lowest rating that's still good) Anything below that-I wouldn't deal with the seller. Make sure that the seller is not in China or Hong-Kong or anything because they will most likely trick you. The only other country that you should buy from, should be Canada and even so, I'd stick to the US. Ask many questions if you're not sure and read their feedback. Some people leave positive feedback even if some parts are missing or shipping takes forever. Also, neutrals don't show on the percent so the seller will have 100% feedback with a bunch of neutrals and people don't look at the feedback thinking that it's perfect.

As for the corona. I think you should go with it. A friend of mine used to have one, he has since moved up to a bigger heli, and it was great and very durable.

Moe3754 is right, the sims on ebay are crap. They won't teach you a thing.

So, you decide if you want to buy from ebay or not. Personally, I've never had a problem, but that's just my experience.

Thanks, the feed back here has got me in the right direction and Im planning to go ahead on the corona and the sim.

Ill keep everyone posted as to my progrees and woes.

Thanks

Well I've bought pleanty of items on ebay and you simply have to be careful and read. if the seller owns a store this also helps. as was the one i posted. and in california.

but i simply have to disagree that if you dont have alot of money you shouldnt try to start flying. i think its something everyone can enjoy. its not a cheap hobby, but i dont think you need to be rich to enjoy it.

Good for you!!!!

The Corona is a very nice heli but if you don't have a lot to spend for it or replacement parts the HoneyBee 2 cp is also a good choice. The parts are very reasonable, there are plenty of upgrades for it and it flys great. Just my opinion though. I got mine off ebay for $139.00