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Originally posted by p1mpdogg
spunky got me into flying r/c airplanes.. I have a piper cub.. pretty neat.. but he has some helicopters.. im sure he can contribute much to this thread.
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Yeah I've been flying RC planes for 17 years and I've had a couple of helicopters. Get a gas one, I suggest the Thundertiger Raptor because its pretty simple to build and fly and replacement parts are cheap, and you WILL be buying replacement parts.
A good, computer radio is a MUST. Dont skimp on the radio, get at least a Futaba 8UA or better. After you have your radio, get the Great Planes RealFlight simulator, and hook your radio to it. I also suggest buying the add-ons for the simulator, I believe #3 has the raptor helicopter. Use your radio to fly the simulator, dont use the one that came with it. Trust me, the radio makes flying the helo alot easier and makes you look like a better pilot.
On the simulator, practice hovering, alot. After you master hovering (with the tail facing you) practice hovering with the nose facing you. its not near as easy as it sounds. then try forward flight, fly in circles around you to the left then to the right. Then practice hovering some more and sideways flights. After you master all of that, practice backwards flight. The simulator will save you a ton of money and time.
Gas helicopters arent too loud, but if you fly it anywhere near your neighbors, you're crazy. these things can kill or seriously injur someone. Join the AMA
http://www.modelaircraft.org and then find a model club and use thier field to fly your aircraft, that way you have a $1 million insurance policy.
Also go check out heliProz
http://www.heliproz.com they have smoe good info on starting up and the are pretty helpful on the phone.