How do you choose a heli?

[mark_w]

This may be a bit in advance, but I will ask anyway as it is on my mind!!

My first heli was a KING 2 which I dont really fly so mych these days but is great for the park. I then got a second hand Raptor 30 v2 which did me well untill the engine went pop. I then upgraded it to a 50, so currently fly that.

I have been saving hard for a new heli and i have £800 so far so not quite there. I want a new heli that can be my pride and joy and I will use the raptor to hack around. My current skill level is just starting to learn to hover inverted.

I quite fancy a 90, and the only one I have seen in real life is the trex700. From all the positive reviews on here the LE seems to be the front runner!!

But when spending all that money on a heli, how do you choose? I mean I dont really get to see ofther helis (unless I drove for a good few hours to fastlads) and you certainly dont get to try them!!!

Cost of spares is a consideration, but by no means a deciding factor

At my level would I even feel the difference?

I will want to use the heli for the start of the summer, so how long does it generally take to make one? I dont want to buy it too early and have it sitting round or discover that a newer verson has come out even before i fly it.

Any help/advise most welcome, including other models to consider.

[Dannyyy]

The BMFA Classified Ads Service / TRex 700 Nitro RTF

Very good price and BNF!

[Mike W]

trex 700 then ... tbh the spares on these are not much more than a 50 ... apart from blades , but even these are coming down as well .... I had a raptor and went to a knight 3d as I has seen them fly and also they area little bigger than a trex600 ... personally ... wait for the new 600 .. .i heard on here that its supposed to be released next year ...If/when i go 90 then its a 700 for me .. as for another 50 will stick with my knights

[mark_w]

thanks for the link, but I really want a new heli. May be just me but after having a second hand one i would love to have one from new.

and kind of have my heart set on a 700, might then get a 600v2 later on and switch my running gear from the raptor

[Mike W]

if ya get the 700le ... you can get it now and build it up and save for engine pipe along the way with the money you already got saved

[Jamin_00]

If I could have any heli it would be the Aurora, oh wait I got one hehe

but seriously I'm desperate to get a 700 again after selling mine to squeaky and will be getting the LE soon enough.

The 700's are just an awesome package in one with the cost being a major contributor to everyone wanting/owning one.

Grab it before the VAT goes up too

[mark_w]

I was looking at the LE on fastlads and you get it with everything, so would rather save for that. Assuming that is that the gear they supply in the package is would would be recommended

[mark_w]

If I could have any heli it would be the Aurora, oh wait I got one hehe

Grab it before the VAT goes up too

May be a silly question but - why is the Aurora better? flys better? better made? better support?

and as for the VAT i dont want to rush, so put the money in a savings account paying 3% monthly, so wait 1 month and have beaten the vat increase

[Jamin_00]

Not a silly question if you have never seen one, made better and flys better.

Support is worse though as Trex spares are everywhere, Aurora are not and they much dearer.

[Jamin_00]

As for the gear in the LE package,spot on, I just changed the gyro and tail servo on my 600LE.

[mark_w]

As for the gear in the LE package,spot on, I just changed the gyro and tail servo on my 600LE.

[Jamin_00]

And to clairfy why I changed the gyro and tail servo, it was only because I have never used them so went for what I know and from what I see and here they are just as good as what I use anyway

[moonmanflyer]

If you are in bristol why not make a trip down to the hobby hangar in yeovil, they also do combo deals with engines and pipe also.
I would also concider the 600LE running a OS55 and say align pipe, only other things you would need is a rx and throttle servo so say another £80 and that would come in about £800 ish.
They stock both the 700 and 600LE.
If you want to take a trip down to our club next weekend, my mate has a 700le you could see in action and i have a 600LE in the process of being built and will be flying by then also

[SRH990]

If you're going the 90 route then you need to spend just about the same on electrics whatever heli you buy, I'd suggest Align 610's and a 650 on tail with a Spartan, CSM 720 or even the Align 750. The engine is going to cost the same too, as is the exhaust so the only big difference is the kit cost.

If I was buying a 90 at the moment I'd really like to go for the Aurora and I'm giving some serious thought to the Aurora E but if I was in your situation I'd still be leaning towards the 700. In the right hands the 700 is still a championship winner and I doubt most of us will ever push it to its limits, the Aurora is a nice heli to fly, it's well engineered and flys very precisely and if they can get the price down a couple of hundred £'s I'd buy this instead, but I doubt this will happen.

Spares prices is a big factor, there's nothing that affects your flying like being scared to death of the repair bill when you crash (and you will crash!). There's nothing to touch the 700's spares prices at the moment with most being cheaper than the Raptor 50 so crashing isn't such a big deal, chop the tail boom off an Aurora and you're looking at £100 plus, the 700 is nearer £30. I think you'd really like the 700 and it's a good price, the LE with the servos and gyro is a good deal with respected servos and a good gyro - just remember you'll be getting through fuel around twice as fast as the 50

[mark_w]

James, thanks for the offer, but I think I am busy this weekend. I may PM you in a few weeks tho and arrange another time.

Steve - I agree the 700LE will be more that enough machine for me, and I do really like the look of it.

I just want a heli i will fly, looks good and I can get spares and advise for. I kind of like a mainstream heli for that fact!!