Hi guys, so recently it seems everyone is pushing me into RC planes and helicopters. But I've always had a thing for copters. plus the area i have to fly in is only about 3 acres.
I used to fly rc planes with my dad, but that has been about 6-7 years ago. Up untill I've done model rocketry. And I have extensive electronics experience.
I want a casual flyer, something stable. I'm not too concerned about doing tricks. I just want to fly.
You know go to the park out in the back yard. easy stuff.
I don't plan to spend a load either but I'll do about $150 on a helicopter, plus repairs and such haha.
I've search through the posts for awhile now and see a few recurring names.

I've picked up this link,
I like most of these planes.
I want something that looks good. But I'd rather have something that flies easy.

http://www.raidentech.com/20nereracort.html
http://www.raidentech.com/bles4colav4r.html
http://www.raidentech.com/reracortfdr4.html- I just like the way this one looks. haha. I haven't much about it though.

also I'd like to have something that is easy to ?modify? if i really got into it.

I like most of the ones on that page but I'm totally open to other suggestions!!
also, I'll probably be buying a flight sim.

thanks in advance!!!
-matt

Buy a sim for $200... then save up for a "good" helicopter is my suggestion. You do not get much "good" for $150 these days although there are a lots of "toy" helicopters that you can have fun with for less than $200. But to really have fun with them you have to know how to fly. i.e. they are not particularly good to learn on.

People will tell you they are cheaper but, when you are having 3 or 4 +$10 crashes a day it adds up quick.

When you are ready... the minimum I would look for a is used Trex 450

For ease of control I would suggest a coaxial like the Blade CX/2. The next step up would be either a Blade CP/Pro or a TREX. The CP/Pro's are lighter & smaller than the TREX and thereby quite a bit harder to hover & control. It's been said many times that if you can fly a CP/Pro you can fly just about anything else.

A new Blade CX/2 will run you right about $180-190 brand new. Upgrades such as the aluminum swashplate (a required upgrade in my opinion) and some spare blades will only cost an extra $55-60 bucks.

The Blade CP Pro is $250 new in the box with everything you need to fly it, transmitter included. The only thing it doesn't come with is an AC adapter for the charger. (Why is beyond me, they give you a charger but no way to plug it into a wall? DUH) Again the aluminum swashplate upgrade is a MUST! Everything else can be left stock until you're ready to upgrade it. The CP Pro can get expensive when you start "blinging" it out, to the tune of a couple hundred more dollars. The CP Pro comes with a standard rate gyro built into the control unit located on the front of the bird but upgrading to the G90 heading hold gyro is also, in my opinion, a must have. It can be connected to the control unit on the chopper to tie into the 5th channel on your radio allowing for in-flight adjustment between SR & HH modes as well as the gain value of the gyro.

Cost wise I can tell you from my own experience that I spent around $400 upgrading & repairing my CX/2 (included in that cost is 3 extra batteries) and close to $600 on my CP Pro (1 extra battery). This is an expensive hobby and if there's any question about how much it's going to cost over time you may want to consider something else. I've heard it put this way on several occasions... "model rc helicopters are the most expensive rc hobby you can get involved in, second only to rc jet powered aircraft." A TREX with a good transmitter, HH gyro, digital servos... the "works" will cost upwards of $1100-1400.

I would strongly suggest that you begin your chopper hobby with something simple like the CX/2. Learning & getting comfortable with orientation (especially nose-in) is MUCH MUCH easier on a coaxial bird! Repair costs are also kept minimal since most parts for the CX/2 cost less than $5 to replace. When you feel you've mastered the CX/2 is when you should consider moving up to something more powerful. The CP Pro is an awesome bird that is fully capable of advanced aerobatics as well as some light 3D.

I agree with DebianDog. A Sim and a T-Rex are a great way to start.
Just to add to that, it looks like the ones you listed are pretty much indoor models. The co-axial model can only be flown outdoors on absolutely calm days.

A sim is a GREAT way to start out. The only reason I wouldn't suggest a sim initially is that a chopper in a sim is going to be trimmed out perfectly, whereas a real world bird wont be. There's a difference in flight between the sim world & real world that just can't be learned any way other than getting out and practicing. This is also why I wouldn't suggest TREX to a beginner. A nasty crash in one of those birds can set you back a few hundred dollars. Start with something inexpensive to learn on and THEN move up to a higher dollar machine.

VinceHerman makes a very important point about the coaxial birds... any wind at all will blow it around uncontrollably. They're excellent for indoor flying and outdoors on very calm days. Also, they aren't meant for any sort of abrupt maneuvers as blade clack is almost too easy to achieve and it'll drop your chopper out of the air like a stone.

Another thing to consider is looking into the RADD method. If you've never flown a chopper before, sim or real, his method of learning will save you many broken blades & bent spindles/shafts.