How many Helis to enjoy the hobby?

[kpod]

Originally Posted by Zaneman007

IMO - that depends on your category

Fly boys - they are out there getting in the flight time. They usually fly one manufacturer all the time. They have the go to and the spare. After that the cost of maintenance starts to add up.

Builders - they build and seem to have a collection of helis, in various states of readiness. They don't fly, so much, as bring their collection along. Showing off different helis each week. More than five

Combo guy - flys and has a collection. Never know what these guys will show up with. Number unknown.

Hoarder. This guy doesn't fly, but seems to have every model out there. You can tell this guy as he often brings partial builds and new products such as motors to the field with him. Thirteen plus.

Where do I fall? 1 heli, not currently flyable due to NEO not being installed and setup yet. Still check out the forums daily.

[rstekeur]

I think the perfect number is 1 of each.

[mkovalcson]

Originally Posted by rstekeur

I think the perfect number is 1 of each.

[niget2002]

Originally Posted by rstekeur

I think the perfect number is 1 of each.

I was just about to say... 'All of them'

[jbaum81]

"Combo guy - flys and has a collection. Never know what these guys will show up with. Number unknown."

Guilty!

[CrashCanuck]

I'm down to 5 after selling some older micros.
1 MCPX v2 for the front yard or indoors/winter
1 MCPX BL which needs a board repair or replace so it is shelved for now
1 300X which I like to start out with at the field and get the thumbs loosened up
1 Trex 500 DFC which flies great and really helped to progress my flying
1 Goblin 700 that is new to me and I only have a couple flights on but the size and power is pretty awesome. Whole new level of pucker factor.

So now that I've added the 700 I will try and get the 300,500 and 700 in my Caravan as well as my 1700mm (67") P51 Mustang and 58" Beaver. No problem getting the 4 in but that Goblin takes up some real estate. That will give me some real variety and I should never have to worry about charging at the field. The one reason I could never get out of a van and into a car. The guys I fly with the most have pick-ups and they can't hold as much as my van. I'll find out Tuesday as that is the first good weather day in over a week.

[Jimini]

I think its better to have two only.. One as a large one for big places, and one small to practice and brake when needed to learn. This hobby can be expensive, you should do it with knowledge.

[Wind]

Originally Posted by Jimini

I think its better to have two only.. One as a large one for big places, and one small to practice and brake when needed to learn. This hobby can be expensive, you should do it with knowledge.

That is an excelent idea. But one more.
One small 450 for small places. 360 blades.
One mediun 500 blades
One big, about 600 blades.

[cudaboy_71]

Over the past 11 years I've had as many as 8. I'm down to 3 now. Before I had kids and all the time and money to fly these things, 8 was doable. Now, I really don't have the time (or inclination) to be tinkering all week long constantly. And, if you actively fly 8 aircraft regularly, something will need work pretty well weekly.

For me, 3 gives a little variety (a 500, a 600 and a 700), and I usually spend about 1-2 days per month working on something. At this rate, I'm able to regularly fly once a week (3 hours at the field is typical). I can grab 3 helis and run out the door on 2 hours notice.

[Crowbar]

I currently enjoy having two that share packs (550 and 700) which fly quite differently and a small one (450 or so) to squeeze in anywhere for travel. Lately I just bring the 700 and a little 2S E-Flite EDF jet. The jet is great just to warm up and annoy the plankers at the field.

I like having 2 big helis as it is not as frustrating when one is down for repairs. Rescue mode on the FBL was a game changer for me, new things are tried on the sim and then on the log boy high up, press rescue when in trouble. The 700 flies pretty much like the sim only more fun. And the 450 is good because I can swap out the packs in a couple seconds whereas it's a somewhat big ordeal on the 700.

[Raptorapture]

Originally Posted by Jimini

I think its better to have two only.. One as a large one for big places, and one small to practice and brake when needed to learn. This hobby can be expensive, you should do it with knowledge.

I must say, having more than a few heli's myself, that matching knowledge and capability with number of heli's is probably the best advice out there. Trying to know how to repair more than one or two different models at a time can be quite taxing. This is where having spares and possibly a backup comes in handy to reduce the frustration of downtime. There will always be a latest and greatest model waiting for you when you've mastered heli's enough to decide how many to have in your fleet. Unfortunately, it can be quite tempting to get "just one more!"

[mattbeau]

I like to try new stuff so I have a lot of helis at times.

This was May:


Since May:
I sold my JR Forza
Totaled my Trex 450
Sold the 150 DFC
Built an X3
Bought a 180 CFX
traded the 180CFX for a 300x
Converted the 300x to 300 CFX

I still have the 120sr and it still works but it doesn't really have any resale value and I always hated flying it.

i think I have it narrowed down for a while with my nano CPX, 300CFX and X3. I have my quadcopter if I need a break from helis. I was eyeballing the 230s but I actually said no to myself .

[cobieg]

Oh, the 120sr, I never could fly that thing!

[jbrandt]

Originally Posted by Wind

I used to see many of you have a lot of helis, 450, 500, 550, 600,700...... but why? if you only can fly one at a time? Why so many?
I think that 3 is a good number of helis, well equipped with good components, and nothing more is neccesary.
Of course is all about your purchasing power.
I use to sell one to buy another one, in order to keep them well suited.

The simple answer is:

"Because it's there"

We are grown men (and women) who play with toy helicopters.

There doesn't really need to be a reason beyond the reason you play with these toys in the first place. The reason you have one helicopter is the same reason other people have 25. It's fun.

[Nelsonisms]

Speak for yourself. I do it to impress chicks.

I'll let you know if that ever happens.

[KiloXray]

Originally Posted by Nelsonisms

Speak for yourself. I do it to impress chicks.

I'll let you know if that ever happens.

[jbrandt]

Originally Posted by Nelsonisms

Speak for yourself. I do it to impress chicks.

I'll let you know if that ever happens.

Yeah...

They tried to tell me the same thing would happen playing DnD and Magic.

I never believed them...

[cudaboy_71]

Originally Posted by Wind

…if you only can fly one at a time? Why so many?.

Do you only eat one thing for dinner? You can only eat one thing at a time

[Flying Foot Doc]

The actual formula for this comes from the world of bicycling but applies here too: N + 1 = S - 1... N is the number you have plus 1 to equal the number it would take for your spouse to leave minus 1

Andy

[mkovalcson]

Originally Posted by Flying Foot Doc

The actual formula for this comes from the world of bicycling but applies here too: N + 1 = S - 1... N is the number you have plus 1 to equal the number it would take for your spouse to leave minus 1

Andy

I don't think that bicycling analogy works well for me.

My wife has a road bike, a hard tail and full suspension mountain bike. I have a single speed, road bike, hard tail and full suspension mountain bike.

We got our suspension mountain bikes together. My wife is up for new bicycles as long as she gets one too