This looks like the same model that Brookstone sold for $29.95 last Xmas. I see a difference in the placement of the tail rotor. It looks to be moved to a horizontal position from vertical. You also look to be in more control than I ever had. Try as I might, I could never control the flight as you did in the video. I suspect that the main rotor blades are overpowering the effects of the tail rotor, at least in the Brookstone model it appeared that way with a constant rotation that made directional control impossible.
I seem to remember similar destructions with mine, like, "The product is not toy, keep away from childred". I keep it away from all "childred" in the neighborhood and I certainly didn't feel like it was a "toy" after my frustration.
Thanks for the article.

I enjoyed the review and video and am happy to see that I am not the only one to suffer the frustration of the Brookstone helli (typo intended).
It took a few exchanges to find one that would stabilize and become controllable. This season one can find a two-pack with two birds, two landing pads and mini hazard cones for under $30 at Costco.....yep, I bit again.

Nice review. I've had limited Heli experience (have been flying slope off and on for 20+ years) so when I tried my hand at Heli, I opted for the Blade MCX (the 2.4 bind and fly version). This allowed me to use my familiar 9303 2.4 (somewhat overkill, as I'm told, for a beginner heli).

It took me about two batteries to get control of the MCX. After a week of flying, my 13 yr. old son gave it a shot (he has 0 RC experience) and he loved it. He was flying all over the house in about an hours time.

Not sure how the MCX compares to the Stealth, but the MCX doesn't feel like a $30 toy. I'd be curious what others think who have flown both helis. The MCX cost about $100. They offer a "toy" radio (that's like a game controller) that brings the total to about $120, I believe.

That's my .02 on the micro helis. I'm off to buy a Trex 450 SE.

Jim
bit by the heli bug

PS The MCX has a full-line of replacement parts that are just becoming available. The consistency of flight, for me at least, seemed to be resolved by minor trim adjustments.

The mCX Blade is an excellent 4 channel helicopter and it sells for $129.00 RTF and about $100.00 bind and fly if you have a Spektrum DSM2 transmitter already. My review of it is in the edit queue. The two are really not comparable when one looks at the price difference and the complete controlability that comes with the mCX. The Black Stealth in its price range is a very enjoyable product.

Great review love those copts

nice looking heli. i've never seen a 3 channel have smooth ff or even ff for that matter. is this an automatic ff?

Forward flight and reverse flight is controlled by the tail rotor that faces up and not sideways. Thus the helicopter has both a true hover and the tail rotor is still as well as forward and reverse flight as directed by the tail rotor. Mike

So is this how it goes:

Left stick - rudder and throttle
Right stick - forward / reverse

Or is the rudder right stick?

Tony read the first paragraph under basic flight in the review. Left stick is throttle only.

Ah ok. Just like the micro mosquito

This is my first RC copter and unfortunately after a particularly bad spill, the tail shaft has cracked. It didn't separate and I can still fly it, but I imagine if it takes another spill it will be done for.

My question is, is there anyway I could possibly repair this? I was thinking about maybe a dab of super glue to strengthen it up. My girlfriend said I should put a small piece of tape around it, but wouldn't that screw up the balance and the way it flies?

Thanks in advance.

Does this heli offer any improvement in control/precision over the Micro Mosquito or are they pretty much the same?

Has anyone else managed to get this heli to fly well? I got one for Christmas and after two days I've pretty much given up trying to get it stable. Basically it has these problems:

- I can almost never hover. Even with extremely careful, tiny throttle adjustments, it's always either ascending or descending. The exception is when the battery starts getting low, I can sometimes hold an altitude.
- It won't trim. Once I get it as well trimmed as possible, it will still want to fly in a circle while also rotating (usually in the opposite direction).
- If I attempt to fly forward or backward, it develops a deadly oscillation that I can't recover from. Even a very brief stick input will trigger this.

Is there a trick to taming this beast or should I send it back?

Thanks,
TB

Replying to myself...

I just noticed that the tail fin isn't fixed in place and moves pretty easily along the boom. I guess it was too far forward. I've moved it back and definitely have better stability now, but I still have a way to go before it's as good as Michael describes. It generally wants to fly backward and in a circle, which I can't seem to trim out. I'm wondering if a bit of weight on the front will help so I'll probably try that if I can find some putty.

EDIT: Think I found the problem. See this thread.