confused

[mgar64]

I know this question has been asked a million times, but I want an RC helicopter and I’m an absolute beginner. I’ve been to two different hobby shops, both of which aggressively steered me away from the T-Rex 450 and the E-flite Blade CP / CP Pro and tried to convince me to get the an E-flite Blade CX / CX2 (of course neither shop had the CX in stock). I’ve read magazines and forums and I’m more confused than ever. The Hobby Shop Guys act as though I absolutely have to start with the CX, however, other sources indicate that the mini 3D helis are suitable for beginners though have a much steeper learning curve. I have a real problem with the notion of spending $200 on a CX then upgrading for another $200 to $300 and yet again for $800-$1,000. I realize repairs will be necessary, but I don’t want to keep having to buy another helicopter. Is there any reason I can’t / shouldn’t start with something more capable and take it slow using training sticks and a flight simulator,etc.? I’m thinking of ignoring the advice of the hobby shop guys and getting either a E-flite Blade CP Pro, an Air-tech Falcon 3D or a T-Rex. The CP Pro and Falcon 3D are certainly the more economical choices and are both RTF, but I’ve read nothing but good things about the T-Rex and it seems to have a huge following. I should say that I have no interest in competition, I plan to fly in my backyard or at the local soccer field. SO help me to decide once and for all do I start with the CX or comparable beginners heli or go ahead and get something I can “grow into.” I’m also interested in hearing specific recommendations for helis and why.

[hawkman]

No reason why you cant get the Trex....my Boss has got one and its His first heli.....its quite interesting to fly but can be tamed down.

Try www.trextuning.com for build and trimming/flying details....very good website.

The thing is is that if you are dead set on this heli then go and get it......the CX is a fine heli but if you want to spend good money on a good heli then get what your heart desires.

The Trex is:

cheap on spare parts
is popular worldwide
is nice and small
easy to look after
clean...unless you land it in a messy place
and looks to be nothing but fun

you dont have to aspire to stunt flying.....do get a good simulator though...preferably something that has a Trex in it....Reflex XTR is very good as is Realflight G3....if you can handle the small electric helis on a sim then the Trex shouldnt be too hard.

Go for it

and post here when you get it....love to hear how it goes

Rob

[SacHeliFlyer]

I bought the Blade CX to start with and it is a hand full at first I have gone through about 10 battery charges now and am getting comfortable with it. Have no problem flying from room to room and landing on tables, etc. Still have times when things almost get out of hand but I just keep flying and fighting from crashing and end up fine. I wanted to also buy a Blade CP or a Trex but decided agaisnt it in the end. Most of the posts on here say to buy a blade CX or a similar heli to start with. I would say if you don't buy the CX then get the flight sim for sure. I tried the flight sim in the store and flew the blade CX and the Blade CP and they are really diffrent. My son could fly the CX on flight sim but could not fly the CP. The flight sim costs $200.00 and the blade cx costs $169 to $189 depending if you get the blade CX or CX2 I got the CX and it is fine. The sim you can fly planes and heli's of almost every type and the blade CX only it then you have to upgrade but i think there is a big diffrence between sim and real. I am a private pilot that has flown fixed wing aircraft for a long time and the heli RC thing was a whole diffrent ball game.

Hope my thoughts help

What ever you decide I am sure you will have fun.

[Aztek1701]

Hi Mgar,

It IS possible to learn on a T-Rex and like the hawkman, I can see your point. I would however say that if you have no flying experience and nobody to help you, if you just go and get a t-rex, build it and then try to fly it, you will without a doubt crash the heli because its

A. quite a twitchy beast to fly at the best of times and
B. is unlikely to be set up correctly making an already hard task nearly impossible. (a good saying that Ive heard "flying a model helicopter is like balancing a steel ball on a sheet of glass.. If the machine is set up right, the glass is flat. If the machine is set up wrong then the glass is convex.)

Although the trex is a cheap model to fix, the cost of crashing them quickly mounts up especially, if you are flying carbon blades (look at about $50 a crash on carbon blades + all the rest of the stuff that you bend and break) If you look at it this way, buying a $160 blade CX seems like an investment because all it needs to do is prevent 4 crashes and its paid for itself.

My advice would be by all means get t-rex as your first heli BUT you should look at getting a good sim to go with it (Reflex XTR or Realflight are probably the best). Also try to find somebody that can fly to check the set up once youve built it. And maybe even give you some lessons. This is generally the advantage with the likes of the Blade CX, its already been test flown, also they are MUCH more forgiving than a T-rex.

Hope this helps.... Good luck with it.... Azzy