Looking for my first Heli & Equipment

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

I have been flying planes for a few years & now I want to buy a Heli but no one in our club has one. I have been looking at the Titan & wanted to see what everyone thought of them. As I was reading on the Heli Proz web page it said it is nearly impossible to fly a Heli with a plane transmitter so I would like some suggestions on equipment needed. I'm not one of these "money is no object" guys but I not want to buy equipment that will need to be replaced a few months down the road. I (like anyone I'm sure) would like to get started as cheaply as possible but don't want to waste my money either. So please help me out! :?

Thanks

[Seeker]

My first heli was the raptor 50. Plenty stable enough to make learning easier yet big enough to allow simple 3D manuvers. Price wise.. not much more than the 30 size and more power. Replacement parts are not too expensive, my average crash cost has been around $100 or so ($65 in main blades each time).

I bought the Futaba 9CHP. More than I needed but gives me a good heli radio with 5 points on the curves, nice display and fly's my planes too. Should be a radio to last me 4+ years of flying.

[Mylee]

Good advce that ^^^^^^^^^^

[BarracudaHockey]

What radio do you have? Many do both.

[Finless]

Yep... A Raptor is a very good nitro to start out with. Parts are available at almost any hobby shop and are cheap. You cant go wrong with one as a first heli.
Personally dont go cheap on a Raptor 30 and go right for the 50 as it will allow you to grow as you learn.

The best nitro 50 out there in my opinion is the Hirobo Sceadu Evo 50... You wont buy any other 50 after owning that.... I know this is a Raptor forum but the question is about starting out so I thought I would tell you what I think is the best flying 50 out there as well. But ya cant beat the Raptor for durability and parts prices!

Bob

[BarracudaHockey]

On the other side of the coin, I have a Raptor and EVO 50 and had to sell one to get an Avant and I kept the Raptor.

The fact of the matter is, these helicopters will fly better than most of us are capable of pushing them.

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

What radio do you have? Many do both.

It's an Optic 6. I realize that a 6 channel radio is the minimum needed but I had hoped to be able learn with it then upgrade latter so I wasn’t out as much money just to get started but looking at the Heli Proz web site it said it couldn’t be done. What is the difference between a Heli radio & a AirPlane radio?

[BarracudaHockey]

Dude, you're there (according to the hitec web site)

Select a different model memory than one you are using and set the type to HELI, it has helicopter programming which is the most important part.

The main differences are software (you have that) switch position and throttle ratchet. You cant do much about switch position but if you flip the spring clip over on the throttle axis the throttle stick should be smooth.

[bgjames111]

your optic 6 will work fine. You probably will want to upgrade later, but it will absolutely work.

[eerie]

Yeah the optic is a solid tx....i use to own it...

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

Thanks for the help! That saves a little start up fee. Now I just need to decide on a V2 Pro, SE or Titan. And then what Engine, Gyro & Servos to buy.

[BarracudaHockey]

I'd get a Titan and eventually a metal headblock
Engine is easy, 50 hyper is the best
Gyro is easy 401/9254 is not the very best, but its the best value performence versus price.
Servos, lots of good choices, 9252's being the most popular for collective and cyclic, 9202s are good and a bit cheaper. Almost anything will work on the throttle.

[Seeker]

I'd get a Titan and eventually a metal headblock
Engine is easy, 50 hyper is the best
Gyro is easy 401/9254 is not the very best, but its the best value performence versus price.
Servos, lots of good choices, 9252's being the most popular for collective and cyclic, 9202s are good and a bit cheaper. Almost anything will work on the throttle.

Agree with the Titan... if you're trying to save a few bucks, the kit can come with a TT50 engine. Not nearly as much power as the OS-Hyper but good enough for the difference of price for a beginner.

Gyro/servo.. best choice for the buck.

You don't really need 9252's yet and I run 9001's on all inputs (except rudder) for all summer long. In the process of changing to 9252's though.

You'll want the digital servos down the road, but they are expensive for starting out.

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

So I would need (4) four of the 9252's & then I could use one that I have for the throttle?

I'd get a Titan and eventually a metal headblock
Engine is easy, 50 hyper is the best
Gyro is easy 401/9254 is not the very best, but its the best value performence versus price.
Servos, lots of good choices, 9252's being the most popular for collective and cyclic, 9202s are good and a bit cheaper. Almost anything will work on the throttle.

[ferincr]

I would say (3) 9252's for the swash plate (if you get the GY 401 w/9254 combo).
That is not counting the throttle one.

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

Okay, I guess I was thinking I needed a total of 6 servos.

I would say (3) 9252's for the swash plate (if you get the GY 401 w/9254 combo).
That is not counting the throttle one.

[BarracudaHockey]

5 servos 6 channels, throttle and collective pitch are mixed.

Aileron
Elevator
Throttle
Rudder
Collective Pitch

The other channel is used by a second wire attached to the gyro to set mode and gain.

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

Now that we got all that worked out, anyone have suggestions on the best place to order all of this?

[Finless]

Last thing to think about.... A governor for the throttle. It makes it less of a hassle messing with throttle curves and getting them right. A TJ Pro or GV1 or even the new Curtis YB gov. makes for a great way to get started easy in nitro and keep a handle on head speed.

Bob

[BarracudaHockey]

http://www.heliproz.com

or

http://www.ronlund.com

[ferincr]

Last thing to think about.... A governor for the throttle

I'm thinking about ordering some upgrades for my R60, SUS tail hub (for sure), may be a set of blades since I'm still flying woodies and have a spare of carbon (but they are Mavvrik and I only heard bad things about them). I also been reading a bit about govs. I always thought that they where for 3D fliers but since it's important to keep the woodies under 1700rpm so they stay with the rest of the heli I'm thinking either gov or tach (I think gov wins there)
I saw some people uses the "Revlock" any suggestion about revlock vs GV1, and what about the throttle servo? would anything work orshould I get rid of my (cr@py) 3004?

[Finless]

Personally.... I like the TJ Pro over the rev lock... Probably a personal preference....

I have not tried Curtis YB governor yet but I want one! From what I have heard so far might be the best gov out there now. I dont this Curtis would put his name on junk.....

Bob

[BarracudaHockey]

The revlock is easy to set up, doesn't require a tach, is half the price of the gv1 and lightning quick, it supports both digital high frame rate and standard servos, if you get the rl20 it has both governor and rev limiter mode and Colin, the designer, is very available to users with support issues.

The downside is the engine has to be well tuned, if its running too rich some governors will mask it, the revlock will hunt and act up, some people consider this bad but to me it helps me know if my tuning is off.

[A_LOTA_NOTA]

Did you fly a Heli with the one you had?

Yeah the optic is a solid tx....i use to own it...