Folks,

I'm new to this forum and would appreciate your insight on a long-range control, long-duration flight heli (application: fitting a small long-range wireless cam).

Desired parameters:
* Micro / electric category (no bigger than around 2ft);
* 1000ft or greater range; 15 min or greater flight (the more the better, to be flown by wireless video feed);
* No hard budget limit but $80-$300 for chopper with options not counting camera is probably it, with preference towards $100-$180 range unless there are options outside of it dramatically changing the distance / duration equation;
* 4 channels or more - with forward speed and altitide capability preferred over aerobatics or control sophistication;
* Clear canopy which can fit a small camera looking forward;
* Ability to take on extended LiPo battery;
* Room for a longer range video transmitter desired;
* Should be reasonably stable in reasonably quiet weather, though having to learn to fly anything new/different is something I'll happily invest in.

Sample camera: http://www.amazon.com/Pinhole-Wirele...715208?ie=UTF8
(will ultimately pick a greater range model + use with somewhat directional receiver antenna)

I've been looking at this chopper:
http://www.hobbytron.com/RCTypeXRTFE...elicopter.html
(WALKERA 60B looks interesting to me too, but shorter control range)

Possibly battery ranging from
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMDM6&P=FR
to http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMDN4&P=FR

Any suggestions / insights / resources would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Alex

Well all I can say is that it will take all $300 to get a heli like that.

I doubt those requirements can be met. Remote flight will need more stability than a $300 micro heli. It's also against the safety rules, at least for AMA.

How about a used Blade CP Pro?

A long range cam needs a strong transmitting unit, which would need its own pack.. You'd need at -least- a 400 size heli, probably greater, and the setup would cost you like $2k or so assuming you don't already have remote equipment..

-Kyle

Not to mention that the low-end cameras lack the refresh rate to properly fly a heli.

A heli that small can't fly well outside in the wind, and being small it can't fly far away unless you fly by video, which might be interesting. 1000 feet is pretty far. A blade CP is probably better than the heli you linked, but still have the above limitation.

what are you gonna do with that setup?

You looking at tuned T-Rex for stable duration flight (low rpm flat bottom blades etc. $1500+) that will lift camera and might be able to see at 300ft. Probably still too small for the job.

Then you have to learn to fly which might take 6 months/$300-$1500.

1000ft? It would be much easier and practical to get a plane.

Originally Posted by DarkHorse

You looking at tuned T-Rex for stable duration flight (low rpm flat bottom blades etc. $1500+) that will lift camera and might be able to see at 300ft. Probably still too small for the job.

Then you have to learn to fly which might take 6 months/$300-$1500.

1000ft? It would be much easier and practical to get a plane.

A Corona would probably fit the bill the best.. Not to menton the durability factor it posesses for newbie pilots.

I agree. Get a plane for remote video flying o.O

-Kyle