Do you really need to start off with a 600+ size heli?

[sjm]

My 9yr old daughter learnt with a 450 T. rex last summer.

Im 41 no pressure then

[nicobec]

I think
1) SIM
2) MCPX
3) Anything you can afford

MCPX is the best thing apart from the SIM as it resets almost like on the SIM when you crash.
Unless you upgraded the thing then you may as well get a 600

[450man]

I started with a 120SR, then a MCPX, then a 450 and now have just got a 550 and a 600 (don't ask why I have both!).

Yup, I think anyone who flies helis will say that a 600 is much more stable and a better learning platform but it is not the recommended way to go if you can't afford the high cost of crash repairs. That is the main reason people start out small and work their way up as they gain the skill to not crash quite so often.

Given me doing it again would I go straight for the 600 or start out with a 450? I'd definitely get the 450 first and save the crash repair money to buy the 600 later... which is pretty much what I did.

As for the advice from your local club? There are many club members of lots of clubs it seems that have a thing against smaller helis. My nearest local club is like that and their attitude was why I didn't join the club that is closest to me. Instead I am a member of a club where people have sensible attitude towards smaller helis and encourage all heli flying. I would be cautious of any club that frowns upon smaller helis.

[aamacgregor]

If you ignore the fact that I first bought a Belt-CP and then a Walkera V100D01, neither of which I would recommend to anyone, then my purchase order has been:

1) Phoenix Sim (July 2012)
2) Gaui X5 FES (August 2012)
3) Blade mCPX (October 2012)
4) Blade nano CPX (October 2012)
5) Blade 130X (Christmas 2012)
6) TREX 450 Pro (Christmas 2012)

However, because I was outright scared of the of the Gaui, the order in which I learned was (practicing with Phoenix is a given all the way through):

1) Phoenix
2) mCPX (~10 flights) - found it was great for learning the basics, but under powered for anything else
3) Nano CPX (~50 flights) - fantastic for trying new stuff that doesn't require a lot of power (e.g. inverted flight) and for flying at the indoor club
4) 130X (40 flights) - great for flying in the park, and trying out new more taxing 3D stuff (I find it a bit under powered in stock form though - that said, I haven't upgraded it) - not good in winds of any real speed
5) Gaui X5 (16 flights now) - IMO it is simply amazing - does exactly what you tell it to, has a brilliant power to weight ratio, is extremely stable and isn't really bothered by the wind.
6) TREX 450 Pro - I have a BeastX and DFC head on mine with Hitec 5065MG cyclics and a 5084MG tail servo - it can be made made pretty docile for learning, or aggressive for 3D, but it does get pushed around pretty badly by the wind.

At the end of the day, I could say "If I was starting again, I would go straight to the Gaui", but I'd be lying. The reason why I didn't fly the Gaui is because I was utterly intimidated by it and I was frighted to crash it. I can still remember the feeling, which is why I'd not say that I'd have gone straight for the Gaui if I was starting again.

What I would say is your purchase of the Nano CPX was the right move - since you have that I wouldn't bother with an mCPX (V1, V2 or BL). I would say go for the 130X though - you can fly that in a basic manner (practicing hovering in all four orientations, piro's, slow circuits etc) in your garden if you have one, or take it to the park for more advanced practicing - you'll also no doubt learn to fly in a breeze or light wind. At that point, I'd say take your 400 to a club and start flying it, once you are happy, get something bigger.

At the end of the day, if you can fly the smaller helicopters, you'll be able to fly the bigger ones without panicking that you'll crash it in basic flight.

[sjm]

How much wind (in mph) can a blade 130x handle (thats probably a "how long is a piece of string" question).
Im wondering if im getting confused with mph and m/s.

[franky975]

I fly my 600 size birds up to say 10mph wind. If its steady may be more. While i fight whit it to keep it in one place on take offs and landings my mate can fly his like no wind at all. The 450 worse and the 130 even more. As i said earlier my 450 hardly flown at the past months due the wind up here at north east. If i take my 600 i likely will fly. If i would have only a 450 not so.

[sjm]

I thought 10mph was the magic number. Just nice to check
I know its relative to your skill

[franky975]

Yes it is depend on your skill the heli size and if it is steady or gusty. I am not too experienced but work on it. I seen lads flying no problem when it was so windy so i was hope i can just land it in one piece(i did). That's why loads of people advise to start on 600 size helis. Steady, easy to see from a distance and more weather resistant than smaller birds.

[tomatwalden]

I thought 10mph was the magic number. Just nice to check
I know its relative to your skill

I fly mine in winds greater than 10mph, but it's definitely less fun. The as3x keeps the heli stable in terms of roll, pitch and yaw, but translation lift blows the heli up/down in gusts.

ive seen vids of good pilots though flying their 130x helis in stroing winds, and still doing 3D! IIRC, Nick B has just such a vid.

Anyway. For learning, I find the 130x can handle surprisingly strong and blustery conditions.

[dogbiscuit]

Good debate that looks like it may go on forever......
msr, blade 400, trex 500, 600nitro was my order. The 600 is a great machine. Its all about thinking time when you are trying to progress..... and the 600 gives you plenty! It wins hands down, no comparison to the others....

However, would i have felt the same if it were my first heli? who knows. Its impossible to say, as it would have been very intimidating. Geek kindly pushed me into trying his 600n for my first time (thanks) and I'm really glad he did as I love it and my flying is really moving on because of it. I do all my new moves on the sim and 600 before trying them on the 500, plus tons of flight time with nitro. brilliant heli.

If you can, get one sooner rather than later!!!!! and then enjoy !!!!!

[jjjjdup]

How is the 550 compared to the 600.
Looks similar in size.
I am thinking of getting a bigger heli and not sure what to get.
No 3d yet, other that my first forward flip on my 450 this weekend.
best part is that I did not crash !

[franky975]

How is the 550 compared to the 600.
Looks similar in size.
I am thinking of getting a bigger heli and not sure what to get.
No 3d yet, other that my first forward flip on my 450 this weekend.
best part is that I did not crash !

I think the 550 is a 600 head/tail and power system in a smaller airframe. If i look at the parts for my 600 efl pro most says its for 550 as well.
Congratulation for your firs flip. It the gear get home in the same state as left from home is always success.

[450man]

I have a Trex 550 and a Trex 600 and the 550 does seem to have a slightly shorter boom. I do know that the 550 can take the 600 boom and blades though if you want to upgrade.

[bulldog5046]

The main difference seems to be the 550 is 6S and the 600 is 12S.

If you go for the 550 with 6S 500mah packs you are then ready for a 12S 700e when you decide to upgrade as it uses 2x 6S 5000mah

[jjjjdup]

I am now flying a 500EFL.
How does the 550 compare in terms of stablility.

I have to say, the 500 is much nicer to fly than the 450.

It the 550 even nicer?