Deciding on my First Helicopter

[PTRogers85]

Deciding on my first Helicopter, I know I don't want a coaxial, and I'm leaning towards a Blade series bc I have a Spektrum Dx8. I have been doing research on the Blade 120sr, but I'm afraid I will outgrow it too fast. I have been flying a Tricopter for a little while now (its been a long time since I have any accidents with it)so I get the concept of flying a heli. I would like a Blade mCP X or a Blade SR so I don't have to buy another heli in the not so distant future. Any thoughts? Can I get a more advanced heli and just fly it mild then wild after a long time. Then I can work my way up from there or should I just get a blade 120 sr and be stuck with it for a long time (bc my wife wouldn't be too happy with me buying multiple helis months apart lol)?

 

[Jolly Swagman]

Go for an MCPX, they are a great heli , allot of my buddies have them , just wish I could afford one too

 

[FlyingMonkey]

If you're going to get in trouble for multiple helicopters, don't even buy one then...

That said, I had the mSR, and I wore it out. I should buy another one, or the SR120.

I don't see how you could outgrow it. It's always good to have something like that to keep your skills up, even once you have progressed "past" that level.

 

[Minfang Duan]

get a MCPX and trun the rates down a bit.
the good thing about the MCPX is that bit wont fly every where if you crash but sr and the MCPX comes in bnf and the sr comes in rtf only.

 

[PTRogers85]

Yeah I was also thinking the mCP X, for a few reasons1) I already have a turnigy nanotech 300 mah 1s (ordered the wrong battery at the time) but turns out its made specific for the m CP X. 2) I figure it being light weight like most micros if I chop the power it won't do too much damage( if I'm over grass) 3) I have a big enough back yard for it to practice with it before taking it to the flying field and make a fool out of my self lol.
But I would definitely fly it on low rates for a while

 

[ananas1301]

Just to remind you flying a mCP X is not easy. It is still a full collective pitch helicopter.

I would recommend you the mSR because that is some kind of an intermediate thing. If you´re going to get the SR I can pretty much guarantee you that you will crash. Those helis aren´t anything like your quadcopter. The quadcopter balances it self out because it has gyros on nearly every axis. But Helis only have one Gyro, for the tail. They don´t hover on their own. They need to be hold in place by very gentle stickmovements and you will have to make those stickmovements into 4 directions!
You can go for the mCP X but I think that is more for better intermediate. The only good thing about it is that it can take crashs, but for ever.
The mSR is much better in that point because it can stay in place/hover without much effort from you and you can much more easily adapt the controlsystem of a heli. Because believe it is different.

Okay I don´t want to scare you off but it is just a fact that many people can´t fly 450 sized full 3D helicopter within a 2 days.
Don´t overwhelm yourself and go on easy. I can understand that you don´t want to waste your money on a coax heli and that is what the mSR is kinda good for in my eyes.

 

[PTRogers85]

Thanks Ananas1301, yeah I don't expect to be a Expert 3D pilot by lunchtime. I will definitely consider the mSR.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

I'd say go the SR120 route, you can still fly it indoors, and practice orientation, hovering, etc. But it is bigger, so you can see it better when trying to fly outdoors.

I am not sure I'd go the mCP X route yet. There is a huge difference in what needs to be replaced in a crash from a fixed pitch heli, and a collective pitch heli. Sure you might be the one guy who is an instant natural (everyone thinks it will be them...) but odds are you'll be like me, and crash often while learning. It's a lot harder to learn, when you're waiting a week at a time between two minute flights.

 

[Rcjim11]

If you are willing to spend the Funcopter is a great FP heli. The blades for up in a crash so it is good for beginners. Check out a few vids on the tube:

 

[spaniel911]

Hi there,
Im new to the forum BUT NOT NEW TO THE HOBBY. My main area of the hobby that i focus in is ROTORCRAFT. I have lots of experience in identifying and fixing helicopters (for friends) but am progressing in actually flying them!!! Yeah i know...what a joke. However i have started with a Blade SR (which is a CCPM - Collective Cyclic Pitch Mixing) which is capable of 3D flight (providing you have lots of experience).

My personal opinion is that: I have flown the Blade MSR and the Blade 120SR and now my very own Blade SR and i can honestly say that Fixed Pitch heli's (MSR and 120SR) are TOTALLY DIFFERENT as the fixed pitch heli's can be flown in ideal conditions indoors and only have to be trimmed (to stop rotation) before you can spool them up, let go of all the sticks and they will maintain a stable hover... The SR is totally different as to start off with:

1. It is a CCPM helicopter
2. It must be tamed (trimmed out properly) in a wide open space (unlike mine where i had to keep buyin' rotors bc i flew it in my small garden for the 1st time)
3. You must have a good, reasonable amount of knowledge in order to identify and solve the problems YOU WILL FIRST FACE for example: the tail wag problem!

HOWEVER IS IDEAL FOR A BEGINNER IN THE SENSE THAT IT PROVIDES PROBLEMS IN WHICH THE BEGINNER THEN HAS TO SOLVE MAKING THE BEGINNER AQUIRE MORE KNOWLEDGE!

Hope this helps. Any questions just ask.

 

[RCLEE]

It all depends on you and your learning ability. If you think you are the person that will take a while to grasp it then go for something like the MSR. They have a new flybarless version which should be very stable. But if you pick things up very quickly then you can go all the way up to the Blade 450 if you want. Put some train wheels on and dial down the settings, and you should be good.
My first heli was a Trex 450. I had no one to show me how to build or fly it, but i spent a month trolling the internet for advice. Once it arrived i felt comfortable in building it and knowing i could rebuild it after the inevitable crash.
Day1 was hovering, Day2 was figure 8's and by Day 8 i did my first loops with only one crash.
So you know the type of person you are, and what you are capable of. Good luck and happy flying

 

[FlyingMonkey]

RCLEE, I wish I had someone to tell me how to dial mine down when I started!

I finally set my 400/450 sized helis to fly more like an FP even when in the acro modes.

I set my pitch curves so it had just a slight amount of negative pitch at full negative collective. I also toned down the headspeed so when I flipped the switch, it didn't go to bleeding ear screaming speeds.

 

[Flying Koala]

Hey,

My path with helicopters went route Blade mCX => Blade mSR => Blade mCP X.

mCX was quite good for learning orientations but it became dull quite quickly. mSR was a lot of fun until it found its route to a pine tree that is growing on our backyard. There it still is...

mCP X is a lot of fun and like said in the other thread the crashes come quite cheap. I find it a very good way to start learning 3D flying with CP copter.

At the moment I'm building Align T-Rex 450 but even after the Rex will get ready I will continue also with mCP X since it is so good for practicing.

I wouldn't recommend mCP X for a beginner though, even to get it hover nicely you need to have a steady hand. It's a big leap even from mSR.

If you're allergic to the menus and setting up a program, you can download at Spektrum's community a ready program for DX8 for mCPX and transfer it via mmc to the transmitter. I found it handy but I tweaked the curves a bit to fit my needs.

edit: Still I strongly recommend also a simulator!

 

[spaniel911]

As I have said in a previous post I went down the Blade SR approach and found it very interesting, exciting and motivating. I also
found that my SR defined a unique category for itself as it is bigger than a Align T-Rex 250 but smaller than a Blade 400 so I couldn't buy a nice sturdy aliminium case for it so I had to make my very own.

-> My opinion: the bigger, the better as it becomes more stable (due to the weight and bulk of the aircraft) and therefore a better trainer

+ I have to agree with Flying Koala as an mCX is good for learning orientation
+ BLADE HAVE RELEASED A 450 FLYBARLESS MODEL BNF
->HERES THE LINK FOR THE 450: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=BLH4380#quickMM

Any Q's just ask. For more information about the fleet I fly please visit: www.subwavenetwork.co.cc which is my new website dedicated to RC AVIATION + Please can I have so feedback on it & some features haven't been enabled yet?

Cheers!

 

[glydr]

It was a GWS Dragonfly that taught me where to put my thumbs. They are a fixed pitch machine slightly larger than a 120SR These things are old; I think Noah had one on the ark.



(That's me, not Noah)

The big advantage of the fixed pitch machines are that they are durable. Bump the rotor disc on the ground and all should be ok. Do the same to a collective pitch machine like a Blade SR, 400 or 450 and you need a new feathering shaft, blades, etc etc.

Having said that, the mCPX is a durable little thing when flown over grass. I have one myself but haven't crashed it yet. I saw one go in yesterday, the owner popped the links back on and flew again!

I have owned a Blade SR (and enjoyed it very much) and do think that it would work as a first step into collective pitch.

However, I do recommend the fixed pitch machine for starters as parts and repairs are relatively cheap and easy.

By the way; you won't likely 'outgrow' a good fixed pitch heli. My very first GWS Dragonfly still gets regularly used doing circuit ops and patrols around the front yard on a calm morning.

G

 

[PTRogers85]

Thanks guys for All your input I might be buying a helicopter this weekend at the JR E-Fest from one of the vendors. I went last year and they had stuff cheaper than normal. (i bought a micro T28 last year $30.00 cheaper than anywhere else) ill keep you posted on what/ if I get one there

 

[sukhoi69]

If you have no experience or little time flying heli's I would go for the 120 SR. I have both the 120SR and the MCP X. The MCP X is stable but very quick and agile. A fixed pitch heli would be best for a start. Yes maybe you will grow out of it sooner but it will help you greatly with getting the hang of flying heli's and is very stable. I fly 450's and still love to fly the 120. Here is a clip of my first flight outside on the 120. Was the heli that gave me the start to take on the 450's.

 

[PTRogers85]

Well I bought my first heli...I ended up getting the Blade 120SR, its definitely easy to fly. I had it up 3times already No problems. My tricopter is actually harder to fly than this heli...prob should have gotten the mCPX oh well next time.

 

[ananas1301]

Well I bought my first heli...I ended up getting the Blade 120SR, its definitely easy to fly. I had it up 3times already No problems. My tricopter is actually harder to fly than this heli...prob should have gotten the mCPX oh well next time.

What system do you use on your tri? Just 4 gyros or a KK board?

And would you recommend a Blade 120 SR for everyone gettin into to rc helis or is it just because you had a lot of sim practice?

 

[PTRogers85]

Well I'm using a a HK board.
I could prob recommend the Blade 120sr, I was super easy for me to fly. I gave it as much throw as possible and already set up the swashplate to the most advanced setting on my second flight. I guess its all on how fast your learning curve is. I don't have a flight simulator I personally don't care for a simulator...but if you can use a simulator more power to you.