Remote controlled helicopters

[Sigarms]

Can any give me some hints on buying a remote controlled helicopter?

Looking for one for my father for Christmas. He's pushing 80, stays very active (just came back from a week long fly fishing trip in some cold weather) and he mentioned that he picked up a "cheap" (he said he paid $30 bucks for it) electric helicopter that he has been enjoying using INSIDE the house.

You've got to know my dad. If he doesn't own it, he doesn't need it. I buy him something he says he doesn't need, then he'll call me up thanking me when he finally uses it saying it's the greatest thing since slice bread (but he'd never buy it himself:laughing

I kind of figure that there may be something better out there that he could really sink his teeth into when he comes to visit since he'd have the room to actually fly something outside.

 

[merrickvilleguy]

Ready To Fly Helicopters

tons of options depending on skill level and budget

I fly a raptor 30 around the back, but its a bit more aggressive than the little electrics ... that being said there is a middle ground for a couple hundred bucks that can handle a crash and the wind

the small electrics are very light, and while they can handle a crash, the wind makes them very difficult to fly outside

 

[Code54]

Ok- I need a helicopter like I need a hole in my head, but darn them things look cool and fun! I wouldn't mine one myself by don't know a darn thing about them so this thread will be interest.... good post

 

[MarkV]

Hey Sig, didn't Pineridge post recently that he is into the multi blade choppers. They seem to have a bunch of advantages and it also seems you pay the price for them.

MarkV

 

[Sigarms]

Hey Sig, didn't Pineridge post recently that he is into the multi blade choppers. They seem to have a bunch of advantages and it also seems you pay the price for them.

MarkV

My dad is at a point in his life where he likes things simple

I could be wrong, but I thought in that thread the machines were running well over 1k.

 

[Tororider]

Check Harbor Freight. They have mostly airplanes, but they are inexpensive enough that if they crash and break, its not the end of the world.

 

[Willl]

My dad is at a point in his life where he likes things simple

And your thinking a RC helicopter falls into that column ?

 

[Sigarms]

And your thinking a RC helicopter falls into that column ?

Well, if he's already playing around with something simple around $30, I figure there must be something a little better for a little more money that he might have more fun with.

Give you an idea of what kind of man he is, after he got out of the service after putting in 25 plus years, he saved enough after he got out to pay cash for a house, retire from two other jobs, and still works part time at a fly fishing shop. He likes to stay busy and NOT spend money, unless it's on a trip with his buddies up to Alaska or Montana.

 

[6string]

My brother bought a small RC helicopter 2 years ago. He paid about $100 for it. You need a large open area to learn to fly it in. Be ready to buy lots of replacement rotor blades especially if flying indoors(lamps,light fixtures, picture frames:laughing By the time you learn to fly it, the motor will be worn out. I don't know how good the instruction manuals are now, but the one for my brother's helicopter was poorly translated from chinese to english. He bought another one from Hobby-Lobby RC with 30 inch single main rotor, it was real nice except for one little defect...the tail rotor servo would not work and the battery charger cable was also missing. It had a crappy owners manual with it too. He sent it back.

 

[ray66v]

The next easiest to fly from the $30 junk is the Blade CX2.

RC HOBBIES - Blade CX2 RTF Electric Coaxial Micro Helicopter

It's not cheap, but it's not junk.

Anyone can fly one of these with a few minutes of practice. And with a few upgrades, (change some of the plastic parts to metal pieces), it is relatively crash proof. You will only need to replace an occasional rotor blade, (cheap).

If you have a hobby store in your area, they will usually let you fly one of these in the store.

It can be flown outdoors, but only when there is no wind.

There are also battery upgrades that give it more power and longer flying times.

Don't even think about anything, but a Coaxial heli like this, without a tail rotor. Otherwise, you will spend all your time working on it, and go broke.

 

[hawkeye08]

YouTube - Hexacopter

 

[F250DSLPWR]

Best advise is don't. I have broken a lot of expensive RC helicopters. They are difficult to fly without a LOT of practice and they have to be tuned to fly right. If you are just starting out, build and fly model airplanes until you get comfortable flying them. Then move to the helicopters. Your Dad will enjoy it a lot more if he is actually flying and not spending money to buy parts to fix the broken helicopter. Now the little dual rotor inexpensive electric helicopters are fun to fly around inside but after crashing them into things, they break too. But they are inexpensive and fun to fly around inside the house.

 

[irvingj]

Ditto ray66v and F250DSLPWR. Helicopters tend to be tricky, expensive, and easy to crash.... and expensive to repair. There's a huge difference between the small ones and their larger, more accurate cousins, although that Blade CX2 might be OK.

I'd also suggest an RTF airplane. They do require more space, but are much better suited to lower budgets and can, IMHO, be just as much fun. If your Dad enjoys building things (sorta like tying flies), you might consider an airplane kit....

 

[sal64]

Can any give me some hints on buying a remote controlled helicopter?

Looking for one for my father for Christmas. He's pushing 80, stays very active (just came back from a week long fly fishing trip in some cold weather) and he mentioned that he picked up a "cheap" (he said he paid $30 bucks for it) electric helicopter that he has been enjoying using INSIDE the house.

You've got to know my dad. If he doesn't own it, he doesn't need it. I buy him something he says he doesn't need, then he'll call me up thanking me when he finally uses it saying it's the greatest thing since slice bread (but he'd never buy it himself:laughing

I kind of figure that there may be something better out there that he could really sink his teeth into when he comes to visit since he'd have the room to actually fly something outside.

junk i bought 2 or 3 in the past yrs for my son they lasted a day or two all three of them, you cant control them they crash then the back wing breakes then we threw them out .

 

[FastPauly]

If you plan to advance beyond the indoor toy helicopter arena then invest in an RC simulator program for your computer.....it will save you a ton of $$$ and aggrivation in dealing with crash recovery. The simulator will greatly help you get over the three big humps......initial hover, nose-in hover and forward flight.

The attached links are to me flying my Venture 30.

YouTube - Backyard RC Chopper Fly

YouTube - Airport Chopper Fly

 

[Egon]

Sigarms, you can be my son any day!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[budgie9]

I would suggest to you that you buy a Blade MCX2 helicopter.
Why?
It is easy to get spare parts for this helicopter they trading under Elite parts.
Available in most local stores
Easy to fly being a 4 channel - 2 channel are difficult to control. 3 Channel are easier, but give less fun when flying.
The blades are tough, as is the rest of the helicopter, mine has hit the wall so many times, ( wife likes to fly it) I would have thought the blades would have disintergrated by now, but it still flies with only minor damage to the blades.
There are two versions sold, one with the other without the controller. You need the controller version unless you are buying a second helicopter.
I would avoid the Esky make. I but a Chinook helicopter, bought by mail from a company in California who was nothing but a pain to get faulty parts from. Took them four months to send a replacement for a faulty battery The helicopter has never flown correctly and is fragile to say the least. First flight the blades just broke, without hitting anything. The second the gears gave way requiring replacement.

I now have another little Chinook from a company called Syma, which is superb to fly, very controlable and sturdy.
Like others have said they need a bit of space to fly them in and they can't be flown outside without it being totaly calm. Enjoyment level is really very high all the same.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

I will also recommend the Blade MCX2 Micro Helicopter as I own one ($120). This model is very light (1.1oz) and easy to fly INDOORs. I would recommend going to an RC Hobby shop and looking at what they offer. The new micro's have 3 gyros and control board that make learning to fly easy. The outside hellicopters are bigger and cost more. Ready To Fly Micro's range $100-200.

Dave

 

[Sigarms]

Sigarms, you can be my son any day!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

For the record, how my father didn't kill me when I was in my late teens is beyond me. I put him and my mom through ****. Mom always told me that I'm going to get mine someday, and then I'll know what I put her through.

Sincere thanks for the input. I've now got a course of direction.

 

[Chooglin]

may I suggest this.
www.realflight.com
I owned one of the older versions,but this is as close to the real thing as you can get.
you can crash as many times as you like,and it doesnt cost a dime.