This is going to be expensive - n00b

[tbourner]

The advice I've read on here is good, although most suggested a DX6 and SIM software, I actually went and bought a Blade nano QX instead, rightly recommended by some.
I love it! Great fun. I've played through maybe 5 of 6 charges of the battery and just about getting my head around flying it on low rates in stability mode Still get confused when it's not pointing away from me or if it goes somewhere bad and I panic, but overall not doing bad.
So, I will next be buying a DX6 and some SIM software, as well as another battery so I can practice lots more - I'm thinking SIM and getting to grips with agility mode on the nQX should prep me for proper stuff.

But wanted to tell a funny story; wifes friend from work get her son (mid 30s) an R/C heli for Christmas, I don't know what one but apparently it was £200, I'm guessing it was something with a tail rotor, maybe even a CP, I'll have to try to find out. Anyhoo - he powered it up, took off, hit the ceiling, panicked and cut the power, on the downward journey it hit the table and shattered one of the blades (and who knows what else). £200 for 5 seconds of fun isn't bad!

So I'm glad I came on here and didn't do what they did, although my first heli is actually a quad I'm happy enough, I can see this hobby being bad for my wallet.

[10x]

He got off lightly, Not a good thing to fly indoors....
Essex man left blind in one eye after flying his toy helicopter into face | Daily Mail Online

[tbourner]

True enough. I really need to find out what it was.

[myxiplx]

Congrats on the quad, it's a great way to dip your toe in the water, much more fun than a sim when you're first starting out :-)

Quad -> Sim -> CP heli sounds like a good plan to me

[Mike Sanders]

Yes, expensive. We are not called heli addicts for nothing.

[Peteski]

Yes, nQX is a great painless and fun way to get started. I learned all my upright orientations on that little quad last winter and it set me up perfectly for flying CP helis outdoors in the spring. I must have racked up several hundred trouble free flights on the nQX between Dec and Feb last year. I still fly it regularly indoors now. I used it for learning backward upright circuits a few months back and it was great for that too. It takes a good while (a month or two at least) to get confident flying it on full rates in agility mode, but then you will have more than enough confidence to fly a CP heli without any trouble. I was flying decent circuits on my 130X within literally a handful of packs after coming from the nQX. I did use the sim a lot too, but the nQX was actually more fun and a good link between sim and reality. On a calm day it's tons of fun in the garden too!

[Peteski]

He got off lightly, Not a good thing to fly indoors....
Essex man left blind in one eye after flying his toy helicopter into face | Daily Mail Online

I'm afraid that's a Darwin award winner right there. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to fly a 450 in their flat for the very first time is asking for trouble. I wear my tough mountain biking glasses when flying my mCPX indoors just in case and always wear them outdoors - but more for increased contrast against the sky than safety.

Don't worry about the nQX though, it's totally harmless. Just don't be tempted to remove the prop guards as some people do. Then it could possibly damage an eye.

[tomatwalden]

I'm afraid that's a Darwin award winner right there. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to fly a 450 in their flat for the very first time is asking for trouble. ....

I never flew my (Blade) 450-3D in my house, but I did spin up the blades on the ground. This was before I knew any better - I'd come from a small fixed pitch heli and didn't fully understand the differences or the potential consequences.

I later did some maths on the speed of the blade tips(*) and woke up to the reality of the dangers!

(*) If you haven't done this, try it! ... It's an eye-opener for sure ... if you'll excuse the pun!