Newbie looking for first bird....

[yzfdave]

Alright everyone. I’m looking for a little advice one what type of heli to purchase. I have found this site earlier today and have spent a many hours already looking through everything. The wealth of knowledge is amazing!! I would like a little direction of which one to purchase since I am eager to start flying hopefully next weekend and not trying to spend weeks doing research.

A little background first: I received a cheap 2-channel heli for x-mas this year and started playing with it in an open field near my house. After two flights we determined it doesn’t do what we really wanted it to do [forward/back/right/left, etc.] so we’ll return it for a refund. I figured I needed more control in the confined area and needed more than the simple 2-channel. I found a website (http://www.raidentech.com/6rche.html) and basically came to the conclusion I probably want/need a 6 or 7 channel helicopter capable of flying upside down, etc (although I know not to try that for a long while until I get the hang of it!). I’m a gadget guy and like to upgrade and get the best I can for what I need (within budget of course). I’m looking to stay within $200 or less. I don’t plan to move on and make this a full time hobby as I don’t have the time (although I would love to maybe years down the road). I’m more looking for something that I can charge up and fly around for a bit in my front yard or in the nearby park. I would like the option if possible to upgrade a few parts on it if necessary down the road.

Basically I was looking at purchasing the Walkera DragonFly 60 7 channel or the DragonFly #36 6 channel. I like the look of both of these, the metal body design looks good! Then I read on these forums that Walkera is a cheaper brand and not the best choice. What other models are similar to this in price, features and looks that would be a better fit for me? Or is this a great choice for myself based on what I have written?

Also, is there a page that defines all the terms (collective pitch, GRP frames, tail lock, servo, brushless motor, 3D, CH, ESC, etc)???

Can I get some input for you all on what to purchase? Maybe name off a few different models and why I should choose those? I would really appreciate it!!

[Aztek1701]

Hi Dave

Let me first say welcome to the forum.

Well to fly outside, you are correct in looking at Collective pitch helis. However, I will say that the jump from a 2 channel machine to a full CP (5 Channel + gyro head lock = 6 channel) machine is big.... Actually, its huge. I would recommend getting a simulator and getting some time on it before trying to fly a CP heli it will save you LOTS of money in the long run.

Also I would say that although SOME walkera helis work just fine out of the box (and I have seen several people posting on here saying as much) there are probably more people that get one of these machines and discover that their $200.00 bargain often needs another $200+ spent on it to get it to fly right. Thats not to say that it would happen to you but you have to be ready for the possibility. This hobby more than others bears out the addage "you gets what you pays for" and when a respected similar sized model (Align T-Rex) will cost you upwards of $500.00 to get flying you begin to see what I mean.

If it was me in your shoes, I think Id look at something like a Hummingbird 3d (bout $300+ transmitter) pro or a mini pred 3d (thats the UK name bout$300.00 including transmitter http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/ac..._Electric.html)

For a list of terms.. try here.. http://www.heliguy.com/nexus/glossary.html
It should give you a decent overview.

Hope this helps a bit sorry if it seems to be offputting but it is better to start off on the right foot.

Take Care.... Azzy

[uneverno]

Hey there,

Nice to have someone in my own back yard on the forum

I don't have a Blade CP myself, but there are many posts on the forum from people who seem very happy with theirs. If you do a little digging, I'm sure you can find it for less than the link below ('bout $ 250) - my local shop just has had it on sale for 220 or so w/ transmitter etc. (D&J Hobby in Campbell - not too, too far from you.) http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=EFLH1300

As Azzy has stated, jumping to collective pitch (CP) is a huge one both in terms of flight characteristics and set up of the heli and the radio. The Blade won't require that you have to do as much of that. The downside being that if you get hooked, you'll want to, and that'll require more gear down the road.

'nuther place to check is Century helis. They're local in San Jose, and make a good product. I have a Hummingbird V4 fixed pitch (FP) ($ 189 complete with radio etc.) and an Elite 3d pro, both of which I'm very happy with. The 3d will be considerabley pricier to set up than the V4. Not to put you off, but I currently have about $ 650 in mine with the radio gear, gyro, belt drive tail conversion, etc. and I got the heli itself used on ebay.

Also like he says, look into a SIM. FMS is a free download, and is very serviceable. G3 seems to be the way to go these days, but will run you more than the 200 you want to spend on heli itself...

Let us know how it goes - this is very much addictive

[New-heli-pilot]

Another choice would be the Esky Honeybee CP2, same thing as a Blade CP, but cheaper, and supposedly a little bit better. The only problem is lack of tech support. And something else I just saw at my lhs today, the heli-max Axe CP. It looks like my lhs is replacing their blade cp with this cheaper helicopter. I believe it was just at $199.99. Anyways to explain some of those terms you mentioned.

CP= Collective pitch, simply means that the blades change their angle in order to create lift. These helicopters can be harder to learn to fly than fixed pitch machines, but they are more rewarding in the long run. They are capable of having negative pitch, which will provide lift when upside down. Also they can react better to say because of the instant change of pitch, whereas fixed pitch ones must wait for the engine to slow down or speed up.

Tail Lock/heading hold= A gyro with this capability will keep the tail exactly where it is no matter what. Non heading hold gyros will add input until the tail stops moving, say a gust of wind hits the helicopter, they will just stop the tail, leaving it in a different position. A heading hold gyro will not let the tail move when it is set up properly.

Next, a servo=A servo is pretty much a little box with an arm coming off the top. Inside is a small motor which moves the arm. Servos are what control any moving parts on a helicopter, besides the engine(ex.they move the swashplate, which tilts the rotors causing the heli to move)

ESC=Electronic Speed Controller These will limit the power from the battery and control the speed of the motor. Without this the motor wouldnt run at different speeds.

By CH I am assuming you mean channel= Different channels on the reciever(normally throttle, elevator, aileron, rudder, Gear, Pitch)

Brushless motor=A motor without brushes on the inside, these tend to be more efficient, and dont wear down as fast, because there arent any brushes to wear down.

Fixed Pitch=The rotors do not change their angle, lift is determined by how fast the motor runs. These tend to be easier to fly than CP machines, but are not capable of 3d/inverted flight.

3D=Normally this means that the helicopter is capable of aerobatics, although some manufacturers consider it the ability to move in 3 dimensions, up down foward back, left right. So not all helicopters that say 3d ready are completely ready for aerobatics.


Hope some of this was helpful,
John

[hawkman]

Get a simulator.....regardless of what you intend to fly a sim will help you learn......FMS is ok but a bit limited.....I would opt for something like Reflex XTR or Phoenix which is quite a new sim, cheap and just as full of detail as other more expensive sims.

If you are a gadget guy then welcome.....you will love messing about with helis.

Century make some very nice helis.....prices are good....and there is a good range.....their customer service is not so hot though.....better off getting parts from a dealer should you need them.....but if you live fairly close to Century then go see them.

Rob

[yzfdave]

Thank you all for the input!! I have learned a lot since my first post just two days ago. The next morning after I posted I found on the main page the collective/fixed description. Anyway, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able for fly this weekend....it's waaay more intense than I had originally planned. More research for me! I'll probably be posting more questions here shortly. Thanks for all the input!