New Heli pilot
I am considering the purchase of a Blade MCX2. Horizon Hobby has a decent deal that includes a free upgraded battery. The deal expires on 11/3 so I am in a little bit of a hurry. I really want one that I also can use outside. From what I have heard, the MCX2 is a good heli but I do not want to be limited to playing inside with a micro. I know that I could fly outside with zero wind but want to see if there is one that would work for a beginner both inside and outside. Any additional suggestions will be welcomed. Thanks.
John is correct. The MCX will not be good for outdoor flying unless there is zero wind. Although it would be perfect to get your feet wet and learn the basic orientations while flying indoors.
If you are new to helis and are unsure if they are for you I suggest buying a flight sim. If you continue and purchase a heli the sim will be an invaluable tool and save you hundreds of dollars down the road. Phoenix is hands down the most realistic sim for helicopters. The physics are pretty much spot on. Take a look: http://www.phoenix-sim.com/welcome.htm
After the MCX a good next step would be something like the Blade SR. This would give you a taste of a collective pitch heli .
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH1500
There are many options if you decide to stick with helicopters after the above mentioned ones. Most people will go with a 450 size due to cost. My advice is to skip the 450 and go as big as you can afford. A larger machine will be easier to fly, easier to see, more stable and you would excel quicker. It all depends what your goals and budget is.
I received an MCX2 for Christmas. It seems just right for getting used to hovering and piloting a heli forward, backward, up, down, left, and right. That is enough for me to get started. I hit the ceiling a couple of times and crashed but with no damage. I moved the control links to the longer arms on the swash plate and increased my servo throw on the DX7 to 125% to increase the lateral speed from very very slow to just very slow. It seems especially slow going forward so I am spending some time flying backwards. Does anyone have experience with the optional tail boom which is claimed to allow faster forward speed? Hey, I just thought that perhaps I can increase the forward speed by moving the CG forward. For an extra challenge I try to hover in the airstream from the fan on the gas fireplace. That is not easy to do.
In net, this heli is a lot of fun and perfect to fly around my living room. I got to go and move the CG forward and try it.
Thanks for the great heli info. The reason I am looking so deeply into this is because I want to buy one that can enjoy for a relatively long period of time without the need to keep upgrading. I have been a pilot for 31 years and am pretty easy on equipment. Most of my flying will be outside. I want to stay with electric and around $200 or less. Thanks.
Blade CX2 or CX3
Hey,
My 2 cents, I know i've recommended the MCX/MSR to you in the past, while both mark and john are correct in that the MCX and MSR cant handle much more than a breathless day they are tough little birds.. I can smack the MCX and MSR into concrete, walls, and more at full speed as so long as you cut the power before impact, pick them up and fly again. I owned the CX (not the CX2... not sure the differences but they seem to basically be the same, possible just 2.4ghz?) but given the larger blades, flybar weights, and just the fact there is more mass that needs to be slowed down by the immovable objects like walls and floors it almost always broke. In short buy a few extra sets of blades and flybar's, and a main shaft and gear set.
Additionally the mSR is far more maneuverable than the mCX, or CX2, CX3. On low rates it can be tamed, and on high rates it becomes this crazy fast micro heli.
For the money I know you wont be disappointed with the mSR.
that is a great helo to start with, but id recommend the blade CX2 or CX3. Much bigger, and capable of outdoor flight with some gusty wind. Ive flown the Msr outside with a 3-5 mph wind, and it was ok, but a handfull. Ive flown the cx2 with some wind, and it wasnt bad at all. While you can fly it outdoors, its still capable of indor living room fight. Hope this helps