Buying my first heli

[idbvideo]

I personally only ruled out the Innovator because of its dedicated TX. I want to be in a position where if I end up with more than one model I don't have to re-learn transmitter layouts for each model. It does look good though.

I most definitely agree that a simulator is the way to go. When I first started about 18 years ago I eventually got one for my Commadore Amiga. Wilst it wasnt a patch on todays sims it worked, even though it was wire frame only!

Anyway this isnt a discussion on sims but which heli is best for the beginner. I am all ears on this as I am returning to the fold after around 15 years away.

So far I have spent £45 on a sim + usb tx and its worth the investment

[tiddler]

Lol, the Innovator tx is a perfectly normal layout. Either mode 1 or mode 2. Mode 2 is the most common and favourite amongst most heli pilots. The positioning of a few switches makes very little difference when actually flying the heli

[idbvideo]

Yeah Graham but I am a snob lol. I want a computer radio I like flash looking gear - can't afford it but would like it

[kungpo]

I'd suggest the Blade 400 and a copy of Phoenix - that'll give you a reasonable TX to use with Phoenix and a fairly decent Heli to fly once you feel you are ready.

I went about this all wrong of course. I bought a T-Rex 600N to begin with. Then I realised I had no chance without a sim so I bough a Blade 400 and Phoenix. Of course I didn't really enjoy using the sim so everything just sat on the shelf for years. Then earlier this year I decided to get on with it, and finished the T-Rex and joined a club. Of course time still prevented me from going very often but got to the stage of being able to hover the T-Rex without training gear.

I took my Blade on holiday this year and just practiced every day for 2 or 3 packs taking it really slow until I was comfortably hovering, then took off the training gear and did more practice until I could hold the hover for a whole pack. The Blade is harder to fly than the T-Rex, but I took the view that it's cheap to repair and if you can tame it down a little.

Now, after getting that far, do I find the sim useful. Having masted the controls in real life I find the sim really useful in more practice, as well as trying some more fancy moves which you wouldn't dare in real life (unless you have a suitably big bank balance).

And as far as crashing etc is concerned - it will happen while you learn. I've smacked my Blade a couple of times, but the average repair bill is usually under £20 if you stick with the wooden blades.

HTH,

Eric

[Smudgyboy]

I started with 'Heli-X' runs on my Mac and PC, you can use any usb controller. You can try it out, download it, I think its about 30 Euro for the full sim.

MSR is a good choice to start to learn, even outside on a calm day it handles it very well.

[Madcowz]

I'm a beginner to all of this as well and on the advice of this forum went for a Blade 120 SR BNF @ £99 (I have a friend with a spare controller) as it is docile, cheap to fix and bigger than an mSR so I would have more chance of flying it outside.

So far in 2 weeks I have been able to fly outside every day, although a couple were a little on the interesting side with the gusts of wind and have only broken a battery holder (£1.75) so it hasn't been too much of a shock yet.

I have now bought a 2nd hand DX6i/rx and Phoenix for £140 so I can practice nose in which is confuzzling my little brain somewhat and gives me a TX that I can use with my other heli's later down the line, sssh don't tell the wife.

I'm very happy with the 120 as it has been very forgiving as it is so light and bounces rather than ploughs into the ground. Spares are readily available and to date there are no upgrades available so I'm not tempted to spank money on it blinging it up.

Of course, this is all advice from a complete noob who has never flown anything else.