&lt;meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" />&lt;meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" />&lt;meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator" />&lt;meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator" />&lt;link href="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\J&amp;K\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip _filelist.xml" rel="File-List" /><![if gte mso 9]><xml><w:WordDocument><w:View>Normal</w:View><w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom><w:PunctuationKerning /><w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /><w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid><w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent><w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText><w:Compatibility><w:Br eakWrappedTables /><w:SnapToGridInCell /><w:WrapTextWithPunct /><w:UseAsianBreakRules /><wontGrowAutofit /></w:Compatibility><w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetE xplorer4</w:BrowserLevel></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]><![if gte mso 9]><xml><w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"></w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]><style type="text/css"><! Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}></style><![if gte mso 10]><style> Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:#0400;mso-fareast-language:#0400;mso-bidi-language:#0400;}</style><![endif]><p class="MsoNormal">Hello!

My first post here... I'm returning to R/C helicopters after a long absence. My last and current helicopter is an X-Cell 30 with a HP 40 in it. The HP makes about the same power as a good 30ish helicopter motor. I will be using my JR X347 radio after I get new batteries for it. I'm thinking about a new machine and am curious what would make a good next step up. I want to stay with nitro. I am also aware that my 347 can have the CCPM activated so that should be one hurdle I don't need to worry about.

My first helicopter was a ???. I don't remember the name but is was built kind of like an old Schluter machine with a flat belt tail drive. It was a collective pitch head but it was very fragile. You worked on it for two hours and flew for two minuets... if you were lucky. If you looked at it crossed eyed, you were back to square one. The next helicopter was a GMP Cricket. Never had much success with that and traded that for a GMP Cobra 40. I upgraded that to a 60 with a Webra and a tuned pipe. Had a hoot with it. It was an auto rotating fool. Very light disc loading. I still have it although it is not in flying condition as the last crash broke the blade holders. Then came the X-Cell 30. And now after about seven or eight years I want to give it a go again. The X-Cell is in the process of being torn down and being referbished. It is in amazingly good shape.<span style=""> </span>I&rsquo;ve always flown wood blades and I know just about everybody flies carbon blades now.<span style=""> </span>What would be a recommendation for a carbon blade for this machine?<span style=""> </span>I&rsquo;m thinking I&rsquo;ll get my feet underneath me with something familiar and then make a move to a new machine.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o></o></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance for your input.</p>

Hey kenh - wttb.  I can't really help you with your next helicopter selection as I am in just about the same situation as you are!  My first heli was a Schluter Super Helibaby (w/collective pitch).  I still have what is left of it but we had a blast building, rebuilding and rebuilding it in the late 70's!  I spent years flying planes then got back into heli's, flew a couple of Concept 30's and then a Tsurugi powered by an OS 60.  I still have the Tsurugi and it is in pretty good shape.  I have a couple of electric heli's (have batteries ever changed over the past 10 years!) and am having a blast - and I'm sure you will as well.

Happy hovering.

Hey, thanks JB! Time will tell if things turn out as intended. What seems to be the most bang for the buck 50 nitro out there? I am still looing for some input for my next machine.

I'm not really sure.  If I were looking for that size heli I'd probably look at the Trex line as they seem very popular, kind of like the xcell was from our day...

Welcome back, Ken. Things have changed since you left. Tail gyros have come a long way, and you'll think you died and went to heaven. Also everything is going to CCPM (which you mentioned) which reduces all the mechanical linkages on the heli.

There are many nitro 50 size helis on the market, and more adding every month. If you have a local hobby shop, which brand they have parts for, might help you make the decision. I'd look for one with "direct servo-to-swash" links which takes linkages down to bare min; helps to reduce slop. I even saw a gasoline powered (maybe 50 size), but they tend to be louder than nitro. Lots of new stuff. Have fun.

Raptor 50, Trex 600, Vibe 50 (probably the nicest of the lot), Vision 50, there's plenty.

Dont be fooled into thinking you have to have CCPM, the Raptor flys just fine and it's a mechanical mix.

Part of my problem is the fact that the nearest hobby shop that knows anything about helicopters is 120 miles away. the other shop is 150. My choices are Des Moines or Minneapolis. Anyway I'll figure something out and probly wind up on the internet to order something.

Thanks for the advice all!!!

Yes, I'm in the same boat as you. The nearest any kind of hobby shop is at least an hour from my house, so all my heli stuff comes from the internet. Here's a list of internet sites that aren't too far from you. Closer might be quicker shipping. Not in any particular order.

Hobby Lobby, Tenn
Advantage Hobby, Ill
Horizon Hobby, Ill
Hobby Zine, Minn
R C Planet, mid-west somewhere
Hobby Warehouse, Kan
K R Hobbies, Iowa
Big Sky Hobby, Minn
HeliProz, Montana

then there are the big guys a little farther away
HeliDirect, Mass
XHeli, Calif

Hope this helps.

If you like the X-Cell helis, they are still out there and working on the final stages of sending out a new .50 size, the Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Fury 55. X-Cells have been a bit pricey in recent years, but the new Fury 55 looks to be a very nice machine. They are supposed to be going for about $630 for the kit. I'd keep my eyes on HeliProz Miniature Aircraft section for when they do come out and final pricing (HeliProz's parent company recently bought out Miniature Aircraft).

HeliProz's MA Section (No Fury 55 yet):
[link=http://www.heliproz.com/products.asp?dept=41]http://www.heliproz.com/products.asp?dept=41[/link]

Here's the MA home page:
[link=http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/]http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/[/link]

Here's the Fury 55 info page on MA's website:
[link=http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/gallery/Helicopter%20Kits/XCell%20Glow%20Powered%20Helicopters/XCell%20Fury%2055%20Helicopter/album.html]http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/gallery/Helicopter%20Kits/XCell%20Glow%20Powered%20Helicopters/XCell%20Fury%2055%20Helicopter/album.html[/link]

Link to the Fury 55's MA USA Store Page:
[link=http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/1028-Fury-55-Nitro-Helicopter-Kit-P394.aspx]http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/1028-Fury-55-Nitro-Helicopter-Kit-P394.aspx[/link]

A link to the rest of the MA helis on their store page:
[link=http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/Helicopter-Kits-C80.aspx]http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/estore/Helicopter-Kits-C80.aspx[/link]

Really, you can hardly go wrong with just about any 50 size heli on the market today. If I was to be looking at buying a new 50, my personal picks would be from the Raptor 50 Titan SE, Vibe 50, T-Rex 600, Hirobo SDX, or the new MA X-Cell Fury 55. There are others on the market, but I haven't heard much about them. Some of them are the Compas Knight 50, ElyQ Vision 50, Outrage 50, Audacity Pantera 50, and Synergy N5.

Barracuda's right, the Raptor is a very nice flying heli. My 50 V2 is very stable, yet responsive enough to get me through evertything that my abilities will allow me to put it through. It's also very simple to set up due to it's mechanical mixing.

Welcome back.

Edit:
Added Fury 55 price and 2 more MA links.

Thanks for the links dartswinger. I've looked at some of those sites already. My helicopter budget got blown this week. I had to buy a new impact wrench for work. I can't be without so, I guess priorities prevail. Still haven't given up hope and there is a short while until spring gets here.

Oh by the way, where the heck is the spell check? I see the blurb about the "old" checkers and the new checker, but don't see or understand hou to use it.

Ya, I know, I suck at the internet!!!

Right click on the mis-spelled word and it will give you some suggested spellings if your original word is close. Then left click the one that looks correct.