Help me please

[Gunnerboy]

Hi I'm new I want to buy a heli, have looked around and seem to think that a raptor,is a good place for me to start but from here on in I'm stuck, what version what engine etc, I have two small children, and a company to run, so in an ideal world I would buy and then build my heli, I simply don't have that time, so a pre-built. one would suit me.

I have looked on eBay, but it seems a mine field with all sorts of variations, PLEASE HELP ME, your experience would be very much appreciated, I like the idea of a used unit to get started, my office is set in 4acres of fields so have perfect place to practice flying.

Maybe someone has a used unit for sale, any help would be fantastic

Regards

[Sheldrake]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

You really want to find a club or someone to help/advise with the initial purchase! if you have a look at Vikki's latest post you will see what is possible in only a few short months with practice and a sense of humour!

But first off you will definitely want a simulator (phoenix seems to be the favourite).

Good luck in this very addictive hobby.

[trillian]

Do you have any flying experience as yet or will this be your first heli? Do you already have a good sim?

Depending on how often you think you'll be able to fly and / or if this has to be very spontaneous or you'll be able to plan your flying days / times, it may be that electric is more convenient than nitro or possibly the other way around.

[Sburv]

If your not wanting to build you can't really to too far wrong with a Blade.

Maybe a Blade 450 3D, or even a 450x if your feeling a little flush.

[matt t]

The raptor 30 and 50 are very good helis for learning and can get you further in the hobby aswell rather than just hovering. I'm sure that soon maybe one will pop up on here in the for sale section aswell.
If you did buy one new there are people that do build services, or theres UBF which sell ready built helis ready to fly (Ultimate Build and Fly)
For beginning you don't need top gear, servos don't need to be super fast, say for cyclics the futaba s3152's which are relatively cheap.

For an engine there is a variety, for a raptor 50 a os55hz or os50 are very good reliable engines which can be bought from most places... Fast lad performance and midland helicopters are very good if you phone them up and ask about anything

Hope this helps

[Vikki]

Although the 450X is dearer it is easier and cheaper to repair without the flybar to worry about.

Vikki.

[paulsouthport]

Something like a Raptor is best flown/learned at a club, it could quite easily maim or kill and these things take an awful lot of practice to even get into a hover. Every crash will be end of the game until you repair. I know, I went it alone, albeit with a far smaller heli, and spent a fortune on repairs.

As said above, a sim, is a good place to start, also get a DX7 (assuming you want to go the nitro route later) and a Blade MCPX

[Gunnerboy]

Gonna get a simulator as advised think Phoenix seems a good bet, would be able to fly most days during lunch time, have wanted a heli for a long time, can anyone recomend a club near Portsmouth or southampton

Thanks for your replies

[Vikki]

A sim really helps and is a necessity not a luxury so you can feel ok about getting it. A Smaller, durable heli might help as a start point because bigger ones come with a built in fear factor LOL!

[SamS]

Blade 300x and Phoenix sim

[Vikki]

Yes. The 300x being just a bit smaller than a 450 and a noticeably smaller rotor diameter is not as intimidating yet flies well. Doesn't handle winds as well as the 450 but does a fair job.

Cheap to repair, too.

Vikki.

[trillian]

Just to add to the above. What might be useful is if you can go along to a nearby club and see some different models and ideally be able to see a bit of a range from smaller to bigger electric and nitro. When I started the choices were more limited. I had always been fascinated by helicopters but was very tentative about it and I spent probably 6 months on a sim before ever deciding I could actually fly one. Not wanting to spend a lot of money, my first heli was a 450 size and although I could hover and fly around a bit I was not totally comfortable with it. I went to an RC flight school and flew a Raptor 30 and 50 with an instructor on a buddy box and that both inspired me and also focused me on the Raptor. So I then got a Raptor 30 and very quickly felt quite comfortable with it. I had spent so long on the sim that by the time I got the Raptor I could fly circuits and basic stuff on my own (my very first flight with my own Raptor I had the help of another instructor at the club. I bought mine 2nd hand so it was also good having someone experienced look it over and make some adjustments etc.).

The point being, there are different ways to learn to fly and lots of choices so it's a matter of finding what suits you best and inspires you the most.

[PKNEC]

Hi I'm new I want to buy a heli, have looked around and seem to think that a raptor,is a good place for me to start but from here on in I'm stuck, what version what engine etc, I have two small children, and a company to run, so in an ideal world I would buy and then build my heli, I simply don't have that time, so a pre-built. one would suit me.

I have looked on eBay, but it seems a mine field with all sorts of variations, PLEASE HELP ME, your experience would be very much appreciated, I like the idea of a used unit to get started, my office is set in 4acres of fields so have perfect place to practice flying.

Maybe someone has a used unit for sale, any help would be fantastic

Regards

A raptor 30 v2 is an excellent place to start.artf kit
Most good model shops offer a build service which will ensure everything is set-up correctly especially if your buying from them as well.
A flightsim is also an excellent addition as it will teach what the inputs from the transmitter will do to the heli and you can crash as much as you like and it wont cost you a penny plus you can fly any time in any weather.
Find a club local to your self and just pop down and have a chat there might be someone who's been in your shoes and wants to move on with their flying and has a good set-up for sale.

[aww]

Can I recommend these DVD

Traplet Publications Ltd | Online Shop | HeliTeach
Also there is another one
Traplet Publications Ltd | Online Shop | HeliTeach
I used the previous versions of these to help me get into the hobby without joining a club ( not an option for me)
Anthony

[Gunnerboy]

Thank you all for your info, will defo get a sim, the phoenix seems to be the one of choice, if I get the dx6i with the sim is this a good way to go, if I was then to go on to purchase a raptor 30, or is there a better reciever, would rather get a reciever that I will grow into, than have to purchase another one.