Fixed pitch heli.

[RON F]

Currently working wit a CX2 , but , I'm already thinking about the next step.
I've been reading and researching a little bit and everything seems to point toward the HBFP.
I was wondering what other quality fixed pitch helis were out there?

[HeliDan]

Honestly, in my humble opinion, skip the fixed pitch and move to a TREX-450 or something like it. Fixed pitch birds have a couple issues that make them more difficult.

Also, make sure you have a good simulator and use it a lot!

Good luck.............

[Skarn]

I too would recommend against a small micro heli. If you want to save yourself some frustration and money in the long run, go to a bigger heli...at least 450 size.

Good luck,
Skarn

[TheBum]

If you're limited on funds, a Blade 400 would probably be a good choice.

[Skarn]

Ron,

All of us failed to answer your original question. If you are set on getting a FP heli, the Honey Bee Fixed Pitch (HBFP) is the standard micro-heli FP and is very cheap.

Good luck!
Skarn

[TheBum]

All of us failed to answer your original question. If you are set on getting a FP heli, the Honey Bee Fixed Pitch (HBFP) is the standard micro-heli FP and is very cheap.
That's why I bowed out of this discussion at the very beginning. I have no experience with FP helis, so I couldn't be much help.

[RON F]

Thanks , your responses confirm what I thought.
My next heli will be something like a Blade 400 or a MINI Titan.Most of the people around me had been reccomending a fixed pitch as the next step.

[teeson]

im on the same boat, i got a sim and now am wondering where to go, FP or CP. On the sim i much much prefer CP helis. Its between a honey bee FP or a king 2.
this is just my opinion, but i cant see buying a 450 trex heli right after a CX2.... need to start cheaper... :banana

[tfoutch]

I started with a Honey Bee FP. Although you will find a lot of people applauding the HB, it is a whole different animal from the larger helis. If cost is your driving force, then a good sim is the answer. If you want to get for sure, and you have some funds which are always required with any hobby, the answer is go as large as you can afford.

The middle of the road, and what was probably the right answer for me is the 400. I have a buddy who has never flown anything (including planks). He started the helis with the CX2. Within two weeks he bought the 400. I bought the MT after the HBFP.

Although I believe the MT is hands down a better heli, he has progressed more quickly for less money. I bought a DX7 for the MT which is obviously a little better radio, but the 6i that came with the 400 will work for most applications as well.

I have since bought a 600 which is where I knew I wanted to go from the beginning, just had a hard time wrapping myself around the expense. In the long run, I would have spent a lot less total money to have just bought the 600 from the beginning, then I would have one heli.

This is the age-old question with many answers. The Universal Truth is still - get what you want to start with; if you can't afford it now, save 'till you can. Sim in the mean time.

Just my inexperienced two cent's worth, but several hundred dollar's worth of experience.

[Skarn]

this is just my opinion, but i cant see buying a 450 trex heli right after a CX2.... need to start cheaper... :banana

I thought the same thing. But in retrospect the fact was that in the long run I would have been better off going straight to the TREX 450 SE v2 that I own now. The reason being is that yes, it's much more expensive at first, but it is so sturdy and the crashes have only averaged me $25. But the BIGGEST factor was with the 450 sized heli, it is SOOO much more stable and easier to fly, you simply will not crash as often...which leads to more air time and less downtime...which leads to a much faster learning curve!

Skarn

[TheBum]

this is just my opinion, but i cant see buying a 450 trex heli right after a CX2.... need to start cheaper... :banana
I essentially made this jump (I bought an RC-Tek Diablo) and I'm really glad I did. It all depends on how devoted you plan to become to the hobby. I decided that it was something I really wanted to do and I think I saved myself a lot of frustration by resisting the urge to go cheaper.

[RON F]

I think I'll go with a Blade 400 for my next heli.
Based on what I've read here I'll be not only saving money,but,also will be much happier in the long run.
Thank for all your comments and advise.

[Bignose13]

I started with a HBFP and fair play to the thing it taught me to hover, but moved onto an Ark 400 and although not the best heli in town, I moved on with my flying 10 fold. It was much more stable and easier to fly but like most are saying here I wished that I had saved up for my ultimate heli,because in the long run I would have had it sooner rather than later if I had not bought the 400, it was the "got to fly syndrome".
What I'm trying to say is dont go for the next step get what your after, after all you can tame a trex600 beast into a kitten.

[londonrommel]

I owned the Dragonfly 4 which is more or less the same as the honeybee. It put me off flying helis because it was literally impossible to fly. Glitches and unstable behaviour caused a crash almost every flight. Frustration.

A year later I spent 4 times as much money for a Blade 400 and -boy did I LOVE it.
I dont even know why those FP helis are on the market. They are worthless.
In the meantime I am flying Trex 450 SE V2 and I still love it.

IMHO, beginners should buy the blade 400 and practise on the sim before you fly and you cant go wrong.

(counter-rotor toy helis are good fun but they dont have much to do with serious heli-flying)

[stvjeep]

I have a HBFP. It's great for learning to hover, thats it!. It will not tolerate any wind at all. Almost as bad as the CX2. It was a complete waste of money. About the cheapest you can go for non crap is the Blade 400, and that's debatable. Also the B400 is probably still too small for learning quickly on as bigger is better.

A SIM is worth it 100% totally.

[xptical]

I absolutely loved my HBFP. Within weeks of buying it, I installed a brushless motor and 3 cell LiPo. THe extra weight made it better in the wind and the higher headspeed made it more stable.


The HBFP is awesome for hovering. The tail is RATE mode, but that just gets you used to using the rudder more.

You can easily learn all orientations of hovering on a HBFP. And you will do it on less than $200. Considering every crash of a TREX costs at least $20, you may be better off with a HBFP for learning.

And if you think a HBFP can't go beyond hovering, check this out:

WEFksW5hmSg

Finally, once you get bored with the bone stock bird, you can look into the CompyFP upgrade path. Belt driven tail. Wood blades. 401 gyro. Brushless motor.