Any RC Helicopter pilots up in here?

[Bini]

I thought I recalled someone on here getting their spouse a RC Helicopter for Christmas last year. My husband got the BIL a RC Helicopter 4CH and the look on his face when he wrapped it said it all - he'd love to have one himself but would never buy one for himself. I found an opened but apparently unused RC Helicopter 4CH online for $75. And, I found a brand new factory sealed RC Helicopter 6CH at a pawn shop for $175 (the guy said it retails for about $300). Both measure about 29 inches in length. Does anyone know how much more superior a 6CH is to a 4CH? The guy said that the differences are mostly function and ability to do tricks. That already sounds better, I guess.. Is the $100 difference worth it?

[Guest]

It really depends on your husband's skills as an RC driver.

We bought this $300 RC Helicopter 2 years ago and by Christmas morning it sunk in the pond behind our house...

[selek]

Anatess is right on the money.

Unless your husband is already an experienced R/C pilot simpler is usually better. R/C helicopters are notoriously finicky to get "dialed in" and can quickly "get away" from novice pilots. They require a deft touch and experienced hands to bring out the best in them.

First things first: check out the box containing the helicopter itself. The manufacturer will have listed the recommended type of radio you need on either the side or rear panel. Start there, and you can always upgrade later.

Also, make sure you're getting an "airborne" rather than "ground" frequency. A number of experienced R/Cers insist that there are differences in function and range. More importantly, depending upon your locale, you can face some fairly stiff fines for using the wrong type.

In the simplest terms, each channel on the RC radio controls one servo. R/C cars and boats can get away with two channels because you only need two functions: steering and throttle.

A helicopter is going to need a minimum of four: pitch, collective, throttle, and tail rotor (steering). Six channels will allow for two more functions- so what the fellow at the counter told you is technically correct, but it sounds like he was trying for an up-sell.

Finally, for the reasons listed above, prepare for the possibility that you might become an aviator's widow. The R/C choppers are almost as complex as the real thing- and are an enormous time-sink.

If he likes puttering around with such things (as I do), it's going to eat an enormous amount of his time (even when it's NOT flying).

Edited December 17, 2012 by selek

[Guest]

I got my hubby a simple $30 one last year. He loved it and asked for something "fun" again this year.

[Vort]

Is your husband FCC-licensed?

[selek]

I got my hubby a simple $30 one last year. He loved it and asked for something "fun" again this year.

Not to be dismissive (cuz they are a heck of a lot of fun) but the $30 dollar variants are mere toys by comparison.

Most of those are simply two-channel units that use counter-rotating propellers (stacked above each other and turning in opposite directions) to cancel the torque and rely on variations in pitch and throttle to steer.

The bird Bini is talking about is a full order of magnitude more complex (and thus more frustrating and time consuming to work on).

[Bini]

He's not a novice but he's not a pro, either. I would say that he's in between, so maybe an intermediate level.

[Bini]

It really depends on your husband's skills as an RC driver.

We bought this $300 RC Helicopter 2 years ago and by Christmas morning it sunk in the pond behind our house...

Best place to fly is an open field away from traffic or ponds :)

My husband knows a lot about these things but I don't, and I'm trying to do this without him knowing.. I've been reading up and I'm understanding the differences between helicopters. You really do get what you pay for with these.. And I thought $300 ballpark was pricey - these helicopters get up over the $900 range!

[selek]

Best place to fly is an open field away from traffic or ponds :)

My husband knows a lot about these things but I don't, and I'm trying to do this without him knowing.. I've been reading up and I'm understanding the differences between helicopters. You really do get what you pay for with these.. And I thought $300 ballpark was pricey - these helicopters get up over the $900 range!

Ayep.

I do R/C boats because they're cheaper and more durable. Instead of plummeting from the sky to wind up a collection of bits at the bottom of a smoking crater, they just kinda bob there to be carried away at the whim of wind and wave.

Still-some of the fiberglass hulls can cost upwards of $1200 dollars (which is why I do mine out of balsa).

[viannqueen3]

I'm not familiar with the specifics but we've owned some of the smaller toy versions ($30) or so and they are a big hit around this place. We usually have to replace them every few months though. My BIL had a much more larger one- a 4C believe. He loved it but was outside flying it one day in his backyard. Somehow it got away from him and he watched it fly off into the sunset (literally) and since they live in the suburbs they never did find it.

[selek]

The old adage is "Never put something something out to sea (or the air) that you want back."

[Guest]

Ayep.

I do R/C boats because they're cheaper and more durable. Instead of plummeting from the sky to wind up a collection of bits at the bottom of a smoking crater, they just kinda bob there to be carried away at the whim of wind and wave.

Still-some of the fiberglass hulls can cost upwards of $1200 dollars (which is why I do mine out of balsa).

I used to do the Monster Trucks when I was a teen-ager. Those were super duper fun! I had the Subaru Brat and my friend had the Black Foot and the Clod Buster. All 1:10, all Tamiyas! We were on this Kyosho versus Tamiya war so we would go to race tracks (where they race the RC formula cars) and be the unofficial "intermission show" where we would run over Kyosho trucks. LOL. Wow, I'm aging myself...

[Bini]

I got him the RC Helicopter DH 9118. I think he'll enjoy it.