Reasons for noobs not to go nitro?

[frankyg]

ok, at the huntsville heli fun fly this past weekend, i got to be around lots of rc heli's for the first time, and talk to people...

it looks like (to me) that electrics can be a hassle to deal with, with the expensive batteries and recharging times.

Would a good first heli need to be electric? i wouldn't think so, but i'm asking you guys...

i really like the looks of nitro's, so what would be a good one to start out on?
i saw a fully built knight 3d for $350, does that mean it's not that great?

all info is appreciated

[TheBum]

it looks like (to me) that electrics can be a hassle to deal with, with the expensive batteries and recharging times.
I hate to tell you, but nitros are even more of a hassle in many respects. With an electric, you don't have to worry about tuning an internal combustion engine or messy clean-up or lugging a bunch or fueling and starting equipment around.

Would a good first heli need to be electric? i wouldn't think so, but i'm asking you guys...
IMO, the advantages of a nitro outweigh the disadvantages, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd still go for the electric first just because of the plug-and-go nature of electric. Once I got the hang of flying, I felt more comfortable taking on the challenge of a nitro.

[Skarn]

Get both!

Seriously though, I just got my first nitro. Not counting my mistakes (Blade CP, etc.) my first real electric is my TREX 450 SE v2. I think it's a lot easier than my nitro so far.....but like anything, once you learn it, no big deal! But I like to be able to go out back and fly the rex. With the nitro, it has to be taken to a field due to the noise alone.

You think batteries are expensive? what about nitro fuel? You can get over 200 flights out of a single $60 battery.......

But both have their advantages. The nitro generally are larger and thus more stable and easy to learn on. A Raptor 30 or 50 would be a great one to start with.

Good luck!
Skarn

[wlfk]

If you have people teaching you to fly, then I would consider getting a bigger helicopter. If you're teaching yourself to fly, then I would certainly go for a 450 size electric - much cheaper to make mistakes with.

K

[JasonJ]

If you have a nice big area to fly, nitro is great. If you only have a modest back yard and would have to drive for 30 minutes to fly at a field, nitro isn't so great. In my mind, the ability to come home from work and fly in the yard with an electric puts it heads and feet above nitro because you can just do it. Having to pack up every time you want to fly means flying less, which means learning slower. Besides, neighbors get fussy listening to the insistent whine of a nitro helicopter engine.

[FlyJ]

I learned on nitro but that was only with prior nitro experience and an experienced flier. Raptor 30 would be the way to go if you were to get a nitro. Electric is a good option too if you have little space to fly in and the field is far away. Time in the air is the only way to learn and nitro will get you more flights at a field, park or large backyard but electric will do it if you only have a garage, driveway or small backyard.

[scott9999]

This is great info since I am struggling with the same quetion.I don't feel like spending $500. on say a 400 blade then want to upgrade 2 months later. I'm reading the bigger helis are easier to see they are more stable,and I would assume fly time on a tank of nitro is much more.I'm just researching at this point but am leaning toward a 60 size nitro. I'm on 5 acres in the country closest nieghbor is a quarter mile away....so I'm thinking put the $500.00 toward the size I am interested in flying and be prepared to pay a more for parts because I am told I will crashit nomatter how carefull I am.

Thoughts?? Thanks for the good info.

[swales]

I keep reading the same message... "I am going to crash it so buy something small and cheap".. Good thing we don't buy cars that way... we know we will have an accident some day.. so buy a cheap car until that happens.. not necessarily. If you are careful, work with an experienced pilot, fly within your skill range, and do your preflight checks... you should not crash. I doubt you jumped in the car the first time and drove yourself with no help... so don't try to fly a heli that way either.

Just buy a nice heli... not the top of the line... for example... in Nitro... get a Raptor 50... just don't worry about all the metal bling if you are trying to save a little cash.. you won't need it for a VERY long time... by that time you will probably buy another heli.

Nitro or Electric... who cares.. they both are alot of fun... each has their plus and minus. Nitro's sound cooler than electric... Electrics require less cleaning...etc..etc...etc.

Just pick a heli... forget what others think about your decision... learn to fly it (with the help of an experienced pilot).. and enjoy... I guarantee it won't be your last heli if you start the right way...

[scott9999]

Thanks for the input.I will continue to fly on the sim and gather info that will help me decide 50-60 nitro or E. I'm in central Canada, and a little concerned about getting parts.Should I let what my local RC shop carry dictate what I end up buying or rely on the
internet ?

I appreciate any and all input. Thanks

[TheBum]

Should I let what my local RC shop carry dictate what I end up buying or rely on the internet ?

It depends on how quickly you want to get back in the air after a crash. I've been known to crash on Saturday morning, run over to my LHS for parts Saturday afternoon, do repairs Saturday night, and then fly again on Sunday. You can't do that with Internet merchants.

[Mutt]

Nitro all the way.

[BenHeli]

This is great info since I am struggling with the same quetion.I don't feel like spending $500. on say a 400 blade then want to upgrade 2 months later. I'm reading the bigger helis are easier to see they are more stable,and I would assume fly time on a tank of nitro is much more.I'm just researching at this point but am leaning toward a 60 size nitro. I'm on 5 acres in the country closest nieghbor is a quarter mile away....so I'm thinking put the $500.00 toward the size I am interested in flying and be prepared to pay a more for parts because I am told I will crashit nomatter how carefull I am.

Thoughts?? Thanks for the good info.

If you cannot tune the gas engine to run efficiently and if there is no local support, electric is the way to go. Bigger helis are great but for a total newbie, without local support, it's not the way to go. Wait untill the heli is spool up. The speed of the larger heli with bigger engine, gas or electric, is nerve wrecking. I'm a newbie to heli and IMHO the best helis to learn on are used Rex 450s or the Mini Titans. Plenty used 450s forsale and replacement parts are priced reasonably and are plentiful. Unlike learning to drive a car, you will have many crashes during the learning curve. If possible buy two used Rex 450s or Mini Titans so if one crashed you still have another to fly while fixing the damaged one. One piece of equipment you want to invest in now is a good transmitter, such as the DX7.

[Skarn]

Should I let what my local RC shop carry dictate what I end up buying or rely on the
internet ?
I appreciate any and all input. Thanks

That depends on how knowledgeable they are on heli's. In my area, there are very FEW people knowledeable on heli's at all. If you went to a LHS near me, they'd prob. recommend a Blade CP to you! And unfortunately, since you are new, you really don't have a way to judge their knowledge. In my opinion, I'd take the majority advice/opinions from a good forum like helifreak any day over what the guys at my LHS say.

Skarn

[scott9999]

Is it common for the guys that have been at this a while to buy out right crash kits with most of the common parts that could be damaged in a crash.Where I am it sounds like they stock some of the common parts for say a blade 400 but not for what I am interested in, 600 electric /60 size align or raptor etc.

[mporlier]

I think you should start with electric for certain. I am all for nitro but as someone mentioned, the plug and play capability is what you need to begin. Any 400-450 size heli will be great. I had a T-Rex 450 and loved it.

Lets remember we are talking about learning here, not devoting your life to one or the other. Once you get better, then the choice is yours. At that point you do get a real debate.

I personally hesitated a long time between the T-rex 600E or N. The one factor that tipped the scale for my was battery cost. I would be really pissed off crashing and breaking a 350$ lipo. With nitro, you carry on board about 3$ of fuel for 8-9 min flight time. With the 600E you get what, 5 min? That did it for me.

[scott9999]

Experienced folks please state your option on what you recommend is best to start out with. Nitro 50, 60 - electric 500, 600.I'm trying to gather as much info as I can so I can make and informed decision. I have been spending a fare amount on a sim and can see myself ending up wanting 60 size, space isn't a problem I'm on an acreage.Did I here it right that some of the bigger helis come allmost ready to fly?

Sorry to keep asking the same question over, just seeking more info from thoughs with the experience. Thanks

[scott9999]

I think you should start with electric for certain. I am all for nitro but as someone mentioned, the plug and play capability is what you need to begin. Any 400-450 size heli will be great. I had a T-Rex 450 and loved it.

Lets remember we are talking about learning here, not devoting your life to one or the other. Once you get better, then the choice is yours. At that point you do get a real debate.

I personally hesitated a long time between the T-rex 600E or N. The one factor that tipped the scale for my was battery cost. I would be really pissed off crashing and breaking a 350$ lipo. With nitro, you carry on board about 3$ of fuel for 8-9 min flight time. With the 600E you get what, 5 min? That did it for me.

Thanks much for your opinion, that run time is one of the things I'm struggling with.I would be spending $700 on batteries that' is alot of fuel. Even for learning I'm thinking I would just get hovering and the battery would be dead..

Thanks

[frankyg]

If you went to a LHS near me, they'd prob. recommend a Blade CP to you! And unfortunately, since you are new, you really don't have a way to judge their knowledge.

thats the exact advise i got from my hobby shop

and thanks for all the input guys, and i am glad i'm not the only one out there debating.
I heard the same thing about the batteries, over $300 for a battery, then when you break it, you mail it back to the company and they send you a new one for $150.... soon you have a battery worth $1000.... i agree thats a lot of fuel.

When i get a heli i am going to fly at the huntsville heli flyers club, so size isn't going to be a problem.

What nitro's are availiable for around $500+- fully built (not saying rtf packages, just the price of making a bird ready to fly) that wouldn't be a bad start for a beginner with people at the local club to advise him?

[liaan]

ok, i just have to jump in as well

everyone always say 200 - 300 flights out of a lipo... my personal exp even on flight power due to noob mistakes(ie low discharge for that extra min of hover) is about 70 flights, then there just not enough power left in them.. i've heard of some lipo's going within 20 cycles, I even lost 1 in 5 cycles.. expensive when you start counting them all together.

but still i also would recommend electric 450 to learn on.. i fly mine everyday in the drive way.. my nitro kept for the field.... learn much quicker fly bit every day....

L:

[Leaf Blower]

If you are wanting cheap- as in cheaper for batteries, consider a TRex 500. They use smaller, cheaper batteries and supposedly fly like the larger birds. A lot of people fly them both at the home and the field. A 450 flies quite well- but is smaller and might have a tougher time in the wind.. Batteries are cheaper meaning you can buy 4 to 6 quite cheaply and get you a lot of air time.

However, if the Knight 3D caught your eye, and you like it- I'd say - go with it. As you saw at the funfly- hopefully- people fly nearly everything out there. Consider parts availability or how long it will take to get parts- and go from there. Just understand that most helis are basically similar in construction and operation- the folks at the field won't likely turn their backs on you 'cause you have a Knight. I'm sure that they would appreciate having one on the field. However, they will be more familiar with what they fly- and I believe that looks more like Align than anything else. Raptors have a presence as well- find out their next "meeting" and attend. You'll figure out what [models & parts] is good and what is not and even why.

Who knows, they might even have a used bird for sale as well.

Personally, I'd go with a 500 or 600 ( or a .50 ) anyways. The questions that you should ask yourself is whether or not you will want to fly at the house or will it be just the field? If you want to at the house- will the noise from the Nitro cause issues? Once you answer the questions- you can narrow down your scope of what you want. A Nitro should give you more airtime at the field. An electric should give you more airtime at the house.

Maybe the answer is more complex- such as having a 450 for the house, and a Knight 3D for the field! Unless you are right around the corner !

[frankyg]

well flying at the house will be virtually impossible...
My parents are building a house on the side of a mountain, and the front yard is composed of tree's... as in NO room to fly... and until i'm done with college at UAH, the only place to fly will be at the HHF's field

I'll go and check out what the guys at the field think, but if i can get an ok nitro for 350 I think i'll take the bait...

are you a member at HHF leafblower?

[Skarn]

I'll go and check out what the guys at the field think, but if i can get an ok nitro for 350 I think i'll take the bait...


$350 for a complete nitro? That would be tough to do!

I just got my first nitro...a Raptor 50 v2 with all the servo's, engine, muffler, gryo and carbon blades for $500. I took my time waiting patiently and found it on one of the other forums.....In a month of waiting, I didn't see a better deal.

Skarn

[frankyg]

at the fun fly i saw a fully built knight 3d for $350...

[liaan]

Build k3d for 350.....

that will be kit alone... my knight now stands at about $1750 with all electronics. (exluding transmitter). i just recieved the last servo today..

L:

[Skarn]

at the fun fly i saw a fully built knight 3d for $350...

Wow, I'd be skeptical of that one. An engine like an OS 50 hyper alone is $200....sure less used, but still.

Be careful buying used....you don't know how worn the bearing are, or anything else for that matter. I'm not trying to scare you, but just be cautious.

If it was in decent shape with decent electronics and engine, I'd say at $350 that's a steal!

Skarn