Starting helis - IC or electric

[leccyflyer]

Hi

I'm a current fixed wing flyer toying with the idea of taking up helicopters. As most of my fixed wing flying these days is with electric models I was wondering what opinions would be on the feasibility of a complete novice to helicopters learning to fly with an electric heli rather than an IC one.

Would anyone care to put forward the advantages and disadvantages of the two power sources for the beginner and perhaps recommend suitable.

cheers

Leccy

[Dangerous Dick]

Hi Leccy,

I started flying the egg-whisks a couple of years ago now - the first was the Kyosho EP bought from the Nationals trade stands.

This is still a favourite of mine to fly around, and I have now got the Hughes 500 kit on it - you may have seen it at Chester (there is a pic of it in RCM&E somewhere).

I bought the Ikarus ECO8 about 10 months later and in the mean time had 'acquired' a Nexus30 slimer. I never really got on with the ECO (you may have seen that also at Chester in the BO105 clothes) and sold it this summer.

I think as you already have all the gear for electric flight (half the battle) then the little EP would do you just fine - I fly mine in all kinds of weather conditions and it holds up very well indeed.

I suppose you need to ask youself just exactly what you want to achieve in flying helicopters - Scale, FAI, 3D, Sport, or just even mastering the hover (which is all some people do). How much you want to invest is another important factor to take into consideration - the EP the last time I looked was £140 complete with motor and it takes the standard radio gear (I use Futaba 3003's and they work just fine). The ECO needs CCPM mixing on the TX and Mini servo's and also doesn't come with a motor which is fine if you have the necessary bits / experience or want to go straight to brushless but for me, it took quite some time before I even got a decent flight out of it and for £120 for the kit, it doesn't offer (imho) as much value for money.

Now there is the JR Voyager, Mikado Logo's and the Picollo / Hornet if you want to 'do it indoors', there is even some 'top of the range' birds if you have somewhere in the thousands to 'throw at it'.

I know the weather is going to be against you in the coming months so the Picollo (almost indestructable) or the Hornet (not as forgiving, but easier to fly) might be a better choice.

You can get all the information from the zone you will ever need about the electrics, but for the IC's take a look at RunRyder's page.

Let me know what you decide to do.
Cheers
Richard.

[gpeden]

Hi Leccy,

I recommend doing what I did, which is work out on a flight sim and build a nice electric conversion of the LMH heli. Fly the heck out of it for a few months to learn a bunch of skills including nose-in hovering on a heli that is almost indestructible. This will save you LOTS of money and keep you from being scared of finacial ruin every time you try something new:) Sell it and get a LOGO, which will fly with the same skills and instincts that you have just learned, but be a LOT nicer. My LOGO 20 heli is such a fantastic product that I cannot help but think that the soon to be released LOGO 10 will set a new standard when compared to the other helis in its class such as the ECO and Voyager.

Cheers!

Glen