by Guy

Created on: March 29, 2007   Last Updated: March 31, 2007

If you are going to get into Helicopters or even planes, there is one bit of advice I can pass. Start small and inexpensive. I had started with the little Micro Helicopter that is sold by many manufactures that is controlled with Infrared. It was durable and crashable to a point and still flyies. The controls are easy enough and will get you used to have a lot to keep track of. Yes it is a battery copter and needs about a 1/2 hour to fly.

Now I have upgraded to a channel (two sticks that move 4 directios each) and they have two sets of main rotor blade that turn in opposite directions. The helicopter itself is much larger (about a foot and half long) and runs on a Battery. It is a lot more to manage price wise considering fixing up but not as bad as the gas ones. The advatage to having the other is that it kinds train (low risk mind you) me for this one. I am flying this one much better than if I had not had the other one. My dad and bother got the larger one and have has much more difficulty and cost trying to learn with theirs than I have (even taking into account the cost of the first Helicopter which still works and has never broken over many crashes).

The Counter rotaing props are more stable and will recover (restablize)for you to make an easier flight compared to one with just a main rotor and a tail rotor. You will be able to control it better and get the hang of it. I would also get into a forum on-line to read about which ones the people are using and what they think of them. Look for easy of flight, durability, and ease of fixing. Anything else is too much of a hassle.

I am thinking that gas powered would be to expensive as a "trainer" until you have really thought about how much you like the activity. Starting off with the most difficult may put you off of the whole thing right away before you have a chance to like it.

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