Newbie needing Advice

[crasher]

Hi, New to the forum and thought I would seek some advice before rushing out and making a mistake. I am interested in the Electric Helicopter and done some research. I like the E-Flight Blade 400, although appreciate this helicopter is for more someone than a beginner I do have some experience with flying planes a few year back, but again appreciate it’s a different ball-game.
I thought about purchasing some training software rather than buying the Blade CX2 more appropriate. Whatever I decide to do I think the training software would be a good purchase, what Controller do you suggest, as I don’t particularly want to end up buying two. Do the controllers that come with the CX2 and 400 work with the software?
What training software do you suggest?
Any help will be appreciated.

[BaRoN30s]

Well ive never flown planes (would love to give it a go) but as far as i can understand its a totally different ball-game to heli's.

i'm not the best at giving advice as im still a newbie myself to helis. the training software aint a bad idea. BUT it only gives you the basics of the controls. its nothing like the real deal (just my opin) I bought both sim & coaxial heli to start off with & found the coaxial hel helped more than the sim.. Prob due to me actually flying it around the house than being just a video game on the PC..

best of luck with your research..

[stuskimac]

the transmiter for the cx2 does work fine on pheonix ( you might have to change dip switches ?, i did ), definately a worthwhile simulator, more so as you progress.

cx2 is a good co-axial, did help build my confidence, but has become redundant now, once you go full ccpm.

my first ccpm was a blade 400, i do still rate it, but it is a steep learning curve to begin with, took me 6 months to learn to hover. it just takes a lot of time and patience. ccpm is ccpm which ever heli you buy, the principles are the same, once you crack it the skys your limit

the best advice i could give for learning to fly ccpm is little thumb movements, avoid big movements on the sticks, these movements transfer directly to the rotorhead, a big push on the sticks could put your heli into the deck !

best of luck & happy flying !

[Mike W]

blades are a good starting point and as for the co-axial heli's i went straight to a CP one and jumped that bit of learning ....the TX with a blade will work with a sim and the best one out there is Phoenix ... I flew planes 6 months before I took up heli's and TBH in FF they alot alike .. using more rudder commands though ..

[dougtucker]

. the training software aint a bad idea. BUT it only gives you the basics of the controls. its nothing like the real deal (just my opin) I bought both sim & coaxial heli to start off with & found the coaxial hel helped more than the sim.. Prob due to me actually flying it around the house than being just a video game on the PC..

best of luck with your research..

The mCX is ideal as its light and reasonably robust. You can fly it indoors without a problem (like it doesn't damage things when you crash into them) :O)

[debrooker]

i would recommend the Esky HoneyBee Fixed Pitch (HBFP). These will teach you basic flight control and are pretty tough and parts are cheap and plentiful. When your comfortable with hovering and forward flight you'll be surprised how well you will get on with a 450 sized CP.

[crasher]

I am amazed how many people have replied so quickly with great advice. Thank you so much I will keep you posted on what I get. I am currently looking around for best prices and eBay.

[cyberman]

I started out with a Blade mCX and the Phoenix sim along with a Spektrum DX7 transmitter.
I found the mCX great to start getting used to the controls and also getting started on nose in control.

The Phoenix software has been invaluable and I think not getting would have been a real mistake, it gives a wake up call but its then a good starting point to build up skills.

I have now added an mSR to my collection and continue to practise with all three bits of kit in the hope of moving onto bigger things next year!

Hope you enjoy whatever you choose and have fun.

[Holst]

I am amazed how many people have replied so quickly with great advice. Thank you so much I will keep you posted on what I get. I am currently looking around for best prices and eBay.

Phoenix sim is what most heli pilots use and its as accurate as you can get (not perfect but good enough)

Most transmitters will work with phoenix.

If you have a decent budget then the spectrum DX7 transmitter is a good place to start.
If you dont want to spend that much then look for a second hand DX6i

Although a heli is different to a plane your previous experience will probably help with flying in different orientations and once you move onto forward flight it is fairly similar.
Most people who can fly a heli can fly a plane.

[scoobystig]

i started with a raptor 30, but decided this was a bit big and intemidating
i bought a Twister 3d storm, which is pretty much identical to the blade 400 as most parts fit both
started with a training undercarrage, but wasn't long before i took this off
you get to a stage where it hinders more than helps
learning to hover is where us plank flyers suffer, once into forward flight stick movements become more familiar
parts are cheap, easy to come by and you usually get more than one of each in a packet
i have now moved to a trex 450 and raptor 50 and trex600nsp, so as you can see it gets addictive
i still have the twister but rarely fly it now, was thinking of selling so PM me if you are interested,

[tiddler]

I Have the Phoenix sim and can say for me, it was easily the best investment for learning to fly a cp heli.
I started with the usual coaxial machines mCX, Cx3, etc. Then got Phoenix and like you was looking into the Blade 400 until a forum member here ( EtheAv8r ) put me onto the Thunder Tiger Innovator MD530.
I can honestly say that as a beginners heli the innovator is in my opinion by far the best choice and has allowed me to progress rapidly on from coaxial to cp in one very easy step.
So many times you hear of new pilots buying a Blade 400 or similar and then taking the next six months just learning how to get them into a hover.
With the Innovator I was straight up into a good solid hover and within a couple of hours I was circling it around and manoeuvring it with ease.
It really is a great and very stable beginners machine.

See this thread for more info > >... thunder tiger innovator (great first time Heli) ...< <

[matt27]

i personally think you could buy the blade 400 basically for the tx and for the blade 400 itself later on and then get a bnf msr (there great fun after youve learnt to fly aswell) and phoenix to practise on
hope you have fun