thunder tiger innovator (great first time Heli)

[wayneswan]

hello there

just a quick question about the innovator from thunder tiger

does anyone know if its available in the UK yet, ive heard many great things about this heli as it appeals to the novice and is a great first time Heli

im based in london so if anyone knows of a store in the greater london area please let me know

if anyone has any useful info on these models that would also be very much appreciated
thanks
w

[robgt]

Midland Helicopters have the Innovator in stock.

Best thing you could do to get all the info is to phone them tomorrow and ask all the questions you need.
I'm sure they will be glad to help.

Cheers,
Rob

[matt27]

it is from fastlad

[gramey]

I thik most places have got them now as they've had them in ym LHS for a week or so. Good luck with one if you buy it, I'm a bit sceptical about having all your electrics controlled by PCB and being in one lump.

[Tom Burgess]

Revolution models have one in.

[Holst]

I had a very brief look at the one in midland heli.

It looks very well built. Certainly much stronger looking than an equivalent blade.

I can see the advantages to a beginner like myself as you dont have to choose from a million different parts options. But they are fairly expensive.

Are there any reviews avalable yet?

[saints7]

Holst/wayneswan - the only thing I can find is that Rotorworld did a review in a fairly recent edition - you might have to back order it though unless you know anyone who's got it

http://www.rotorworld.co.uk/frames/issues/issue030.htm

[NELLYXFACTOR]

had a good look at one the weekend at LMS

seems quite well built "BUT"

expensive and you have to buy the software extra £40 ish!!!

and looks like a hard hit in the front will smash all the electronics to pieces

can see a lot of problems and cost!! in the future

neil

[Holst]

had a good look at one the weekend at LMS

seems quite well built "BUT"

expensive and you have to buy the software extra £40 ish!!!

and looks like a hard hit in the front will smash all the electronics to pieces

can see a lot of problems and cost!! in the future

neil

I wouldnt want to be the first to buy one.
Im not saying its a bad design, it looks very good.

But I would probably let others do the crash testing before I buy one

[rspblake]

hard hit in the front will smash all the electronics to pieces

Think your find that bit is over £200..

[EtheAv8r]

Well I bought an Innovator MD530 three weeks ago and love it – can’t get the software, still waiting for my LHS here in UK to get it. I bought a pact of 4 sets of extra blades – at £13 excellent value – especially as I have not needed them yet – the flying for me as a CP beginner is great with the two out-of-the-box setups, though now after a few flights I am ready to wind down the Expo on all channels, but particularly the rudder.

For me flying RC helicopters is very difficult, I tried with an Hirobo Shuttle some 17 years ago I - but it was beyond me (I had flown fixed wing RC OK to "B" Certificate standard some years prior but gave it up to fly full size fixed wing).

I restarted RC flying a couple of years ago with both fixed wing models (Multiplex Acromaster, Precision Aerobatics Addiction and Precision Aerobatics Extra 260) - all still in one piece and relatively 'as new' and also on the helicopter side with the Hirobo XRB Lama – and I still have it – but am about to sell that on eBay. I learned to hover and get some orientation skills and forward/backward/left/right leading to circuits and had great fun with the contra rotation XRB, and I also got the RealFlight G3.5 sim. After about a year I then got myself an Hirobo SRB Quark – and learned a lot more, flying out-doors in calm or near calm weather – absolutely great fun and I still love this heli, plus of course I got an eFlight Blade MCX for indoor fun.

For Christmas I bought myself an Outrage G5 kit – wonderful helicopter I am sure – but two much (too lively, too quick, difficult to get properly set-up) for me at the moment, and I have repaired it more that I have tried to hover (3 times). The Innovator is absolutely great. Had it been available 6 months ago I would not have bought the Outrage G5 and would have saved myself £1000 (I also got a Helicommand for it). I am sure the G5 will be great when I can get it set up properly (now just about there I think – but a steep learning curve for a solo self learner), and I have gained a bit more flying experience.

The Innovator solves the proper set-up problem that we beginners have. It is brilliant technology. Spares are very reasonably priced (unlike the Quark spares which are outrageously priced) – though the batteries are rather steep, and the TX is a bit tacky, and the main control unit is expensive to replace, but having now had about 30 flights with mine, I think you would have to have a prety big smash to total it - and this is probably unlikely. Some say it is expensive at £370 ready to fly or £400 with software. Well a Blade 400, once upgraded to perform like the Innovator EXP would be a similar cost - and I have direct experience of the Blade 400, and the Innovator is a better buy - it can be easily tamed for the beginner or re-configured for an expert. When I fully priced up the total cost of my Outrage G5 it came to £700 - or £1000 with the Helicommand! A T-Rex 45SE v2 would come in at a similar price. Most Innovator spares are very reasonable, and comparable favorably with other 400/450 Helis.

I wish TT had an Innovator option without Rx so you could plug in your own Rx and use your own Tx (DX7 in my case). However the reality is they don’t so we have to put up with multiple cheapTx’s.

However the Innovator works! It is a great package! It flies and gives us beginners (particularly old uns… like me) a chance to actually fly a RC helicopter successfully and keep it in one piece and make good solid progress.

I am so pleased I also bought an Innovator EXP on Saturday….. The G5 will have to wait! We just need spares and the software ASAP here in UK! If you like the Quark, you will love the Innovator MD530 - I am so glad I bought one, I am making such good progress now actually flying a CP helicopter and keeping it in one piece. I have tried a Blade 400 that my pal has - for me the Innovator is a better buy.

The Software is essential to make further progress (settings changes to curves and expo etc). the main thing to be aware of is you MUST raise the throttle trim high enough to keep power going to the rotors at all times. Do not fly with the trim at full low or if you lower the throttle stick too low during flight the motor will stall and will take a second or so to power back up.........the heli will fall out of the sky. This heli has a govenor and that keeps the revs constant low stick with low trim = govenor off = no power. ACE in the USA have an excellent two page set-up document that tells you all you need to know - yes I am in the UK but that is one benefit of the Internet!