Hello all,
I don't want to start a fight but I fly electric Helis and I want to try a nitro one but would just like to ask.
Do you think that nitro is worth the trouble?
Thanks,
Huey

That is a loaded question and the answer is actually very subjective, not objective. For some ppl it is, for some it isn't. Regardless of how much work it may be or how much better (or not) over electrics they may be, whether you like nitros or not is basically up to each individual. Some try it and return to electrics, some try it and sell off all their electrics.

Yes... especially if your talking .60 or .90 size.

For larger machines, it can be cheaper (up front) than electric. You also get the benefit of refuel and fly convenience instead of waiting for batteries to charge so it can be better for learning and advancing your skil.

That said, performance wise, a good electric machine will out perform a nitro by a fairly wide margin. Which route you go depends on personal preference. Nitro machines still offer excellent performance, but there is a different learning curve involved. You'll need to learn about engine tuning and maintenance if you go nitro .


They're both good choices, just go with whatever you're more comfortable with.

Myself, I find electric to be a lot more fiddly and annoying than I ever did nitro . . . .

- Tim

Oh, absolutely.
Like I did.
Agreed 100%. I learned more in two weeks with my Rappy 50 than three months with the Trex. More stick time = improved skills.
One of the reasons I'll never go back to electron motivated aviating.
Give the Nitro a try, and you will likely find them a blast and end up with one.

Well this is a much debatable topic and has been addressed a lot.

But to say my opinion, I prefer electrics but also own a nitro. I like to get more flights in between when the batteries are charging.
Most of the people end up having more than 1 heli anyway. So why don't you go ahead and keep both. Later on you decide.

As I said, I prefer electrics, but generally like to have both.

Well I've been flying glow'gas planes for years. Dealing with these electrics for 3 months, I'm looking forward to glow.

It depends on the heli and setup I think, I have a Titan with an OS 50 Hyper engine in it and it has given me no problems at all. I love it as it is powerful, stable and aerobatic all at the same time.
I also have an old Nexus 46 that I bought second hand and it has not been so easy going, there is a pin in the starting shaft that shears quite often that puts an end to your days flying before you even leave the ground.
In ballance to the above I just got a Trex450s and put the 3rd and 4th flights on it today, I love it already. Clean, powerful and aerobatic, not as stable as the Titan, but I expect if you get an electric heli the same size as the Titan it will be stable as well.
As stated above, I take both the Titan and the Trex to the field, so I can fly the Titan while the Trex charges. I intend to use the trex to learn new moves that I can do on the sim before I risk the Titan as it costs over 3 time the price.
So if you have good kit that dosen't give you hassle, both power plants are 'worth' it, IMHO. [8D]

I'm mostly mechanically-inept, so I find the plug-and-go convenience of electric appealing. However, I hate being at the field and having to wait for batteries to recharge, so I've decided to add a nitro to my fleet. Will I get rid of my 450 class electric? No way! It's just too nice for traveling. I don't want half my cargo space taken up by a helicopter when I'm on a vacation.

I also have both, I don't usually have to wait for charging batteries though as I've got enough to keep me happy for about as long as I care to fly anyway. Plus, i'd probably be finishing my last battery as my first one finished charging.

Myself, I still find nitro simpler - no need to pull the canopy and change batteries. Fuel, connect glow driver, blip with the starter, and go fly . . . rinse, lather, repeat until you need to charge your radio battery . . . My YS engines were tuned about 2 years ago, and have not needed any changes to speak of since (maybe a click or so here and there for temperature extremes, but not mandatory . . . ) - I suspect that you are falling for the myth that nitro is somehow more complicated. Myself, I find all the issues with care and feeding of lipos, ESCs, motors, chargers etc. (not to mention having to fly with a timer, or kill major $$$ batteries . . . ) to be a lot more work and hassle than dealing with a nitro engine . . .

- Tim

I love the smell of nitro in the morning! I've been flying nitro for thirty years now (save a few years off here and there) and the new battery stuff just looks so complicated and costs just as much as nitro machines. Throw in the dangers of lipo batteries exploding and the stories i have heard first hand of motors powering up on the bench and attacking them. They don't to my knowledge make a "NITRO BUNKER". Just my opinion of course. Besides, it is now about thirty degrees here in South Florida which just ain't right. I am doing my part to help the global warming thing so i can enjoy my morning coffee and smoke on my pool deck in relative comfort. [sm=shades_smile.gif]

I started electric with an axe cp and bought a mini titan after that. Both of them have their own niche's, I love my MT because I can fly it on lunch breaks/after work with a quickness with no hassle. Plug and fly. I have enough batteries where the flight time isn't much of a concern for me because my hands/brain will tire before I run out of packs.

I just got a raptor titan for xmas and can't wait to get it going. I think the ability to land/refuel ought to make for a bit more flying on saturday plus I just love the size of it. I couldn't see going electric for that size because the battery cost would get way out of hand IMO. I have it all built more or less and am waiting on the last few items to complete the setup, can't wait to get going with it.

redvtr1000,
Your gonna love the Titan, and yes the ability to land and refuel is a must if you want a lot of flying in a shore amount of time.
I have heard it said that a good lipo pack is just like XX number of litres of fuel, true, but then again we don't need to but XX litres of fuel all in one go.

I love both, the quiet trex 450, and the size and smell of the Titan. Now...... turbines, hummm!!!

I'd like to know that quote. For my Trex 450se using a 2200 3S1P the equivelent for that size helo whould be 1oz of fuel per flight (small motor, short flight times), I could see the battery lasting 100 flights on average before it's poofed for some reason... 128oz = 1 gallon. So $70 battery = $16 gallon of fuel... it would take more than 500 flights to break even...

I await the flaming...

I have both! One for the park after work, one for the weekends at the field. (well a couple for each)

They both have their advantages and drawbacks.

If noise or space is an issue, electric is the clear choice.

If consistent power and 12 minute flights are your thing, and space and noise is no issue, nitro is a good way to get lots of flights in on one day.

Hi,
First let me say sorry for posting without checking for typos, my brains dead after work, first day back, what can I say. [&o]

This quote was actually in relation to planes and the battery in question was £160 ($320 ish). Given fuel is in the region of £16 a gallon this equals 10 gallons. That said I have never used 10 gallons in one season before, (it rains lots in Northern Ireland), and I certainly have never purchased 10 gallons in one go. My point is simply that of an up front lump cost as opposed to smaller ongoing payments.
In turth I have never sat down and worked out a per flight cost, I have read other threads where this, shall we call it a debate??, is hammered one way and then the other. I honestly am happy to have a foot in each camp on this one as I fly both Nitro (and petrol) and electric powered planes, nitro and electric powered helis too.

Evan, no flaming from me, far to happy with both power sources. I think BH puts the flying case for both well, after that its down to cost and personal preferance, IMHO.

I agree, and I fly both, they both have their place.... I think that someone will still want to argue, one way or the other...