Is the Blade 400 really a great starter heli

[rdlohr]

I started with a Hirobo Lama, then got a Blade CP, then moved on to a TREX450 which I concider my first real helicopter. Many of my friends see me flying and think its really cool but have a hard time justifying dropping $1400 on a toy heli. Thats the kind of money most people have to be addicted to shell out. So, on with my poll. Does it make sense to start with a Eflite Blade 400, see if catches, then proceed to higher quality birds.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Well I started on a Blade CP and it was fun and yes I learned to fly it. My next heli was a Raptor E-620.... talk about going up a size or two. Then I moved on to bigger and better things. (See signature)

Knowing what I know now I would tell a person who is REALLY SERIOUS about getting into the hobby to buy a .30 size heli. It's really not much more money than a 450 rex and they will learn a lot faster. Oh the joy a Raptor 30 could bring to a newbie or a HDX500-RV or even a Trex500. Just stay away from little birds if your budget will allow. If you do learn to fly a Blade CP or simular, you will be a champ at a 50 or 90 size bird.

This reminds me of someone I met at the Southern Rotory Classic in Mt. Pleasant TX last fall. This guy was sitting behind a Raptor .30 and was just kicking back enjoying the event, selling his cyclic rings on a peg board. Every once in a while he would jump up and run out to where Curtis was flying and just stand their and hover his Raptor, tail in. After a good 10-15 minutes of hovering he would run over and yack Curtis's ear off then run back to his tent and sat down pulling out a cold beverage. I got curious and walk over with my chair and asked "Hey can I barrow some shade and talk with you a minute?" He was more than happy to have my conversation. I asked "How long have you been flying?" He said "6 months." He proceeded to tell me that the first thing he did before he bought any equipment was ask the pros what the best way is to get started in the hobby. The rest is history with his Raptor 30 being his first heli. He was quite a wise fellow if you ask me.

[terrybeb]

Well I was torn on this issue myself and unsure of the B400. I had some of the money from Christmas gifts so I bought the T-Rex instead. After looking at the E-Flight parts wall at my LHS the prices really hit home. I understand the servos are not going to last and the Gyro is probably going to go and upgrades will be made to the head. But, not right away and probabaly within the learning curve of the new enthusiast. Down the road they can uprade to a T-Rex 500 or buy one of the many 450's that will be up for sale used. But at least they will have a fairly decent Transmitter already and probably by that point the upgraded parts that can be transfered over to the T-Rex or other higher end heli's. My 2 cents

PS lITHIUMSTATIC has a good point, I got my 50 first for the same reason. I bought the rex as my practice heli for when I'm on the road and not at home. Big ones are easier to learn on but you need the club environment as well.

[widower]

Many years ago, I learned on a Shuttle which is a 30 size machine. I still have it but it's been collecting dust for many years. I crashed multiple times. Each crash (usually caused by a tail strike) usually cost around $120. Since then, I've tried to keep up to date using simulators starting with wire frame sims, and now realflight g3.5. I love g3.5. Over christmas, I bought a b400 (great way to get a good radio) and I haven't looked back. It's so easy to go out and fly the small electric, versus the gas. I had one crash so far, and it cost around $60 ($45 of that was for a new tail servo because the collective servo blew). Parts are so cheap, and the heli has good performance for me so far. By the time summer comes around, I figure I'll pull out the old shuttle and fire it up.

BTW: the sim is a must in my opinion

[sixstringlz]

I started using Realflight G3 and I know this is crazy but my first heli was a Maxi-Joker 2. I put 4 flights on it, all just hovering but I tried one turn and it scared me so much I decieded to learn on a cheaper but quite capable Blade 400, which is going very well.

[skigolfmike]

I'm not sure I should say as I am not a beginner, I just haven't flown in a while.

For me, I think it's a good heli since I've flown helis before, I had a 30 back in the early 90s, and I was looking for something reasonable, reliable and capable. For someone who has never flown before, I don't know if this is a good heli or not.

I have a potential son-in-law, who likes helis, and I convinced him to start with a CX type heli. We found a really good deal on a Lama V4 with spares included. I might get one too to play around in the house and for the kids to play with.

I guess I believe for the beginner trying this on their own, it too much heli. If you had a good, experienced heli pilot to make sure it was setup OK and to coach you, and you got plenty of sim time, that would work.

I got a B400 last week. I haven't flown it yet as I haven't had time to go through it and make sure it's right. Plus the weather here has sucked. I know an experience local heli pilot who has one, so I'm going to get with him first. In the mean time I'm going to RTFM and get up to speed on this little gem.