Beginner

[Skyline]

I am new to r/c helicoptor as well as this website, so, Hi!

Anyway, I have several things which I am not sure about.

Firstly, which affordable heli should I get for a beginner and what brand is best?

I came across a plane where the remote control is connected to the plane by a wire. Are all planes like this?

Thanks

[Brandon Chng]

hi there, welcome to this great hobby and forum. in order for us to help you, we'll need to know what kind of helis you are into
there are two main kinds here, the micros and the nitros.

Micros are small, simple and portable. they are electric powered and can be flown at home. flight wise, the simpler micros are limited to up-right flying. due to their small size, they are less stable than a nitro. however, their light weight means they are very durable. starting cost approx $500.

Nitros are bigger, more complex, very powerful and quite large. they are fuel powered and require big spaces. flight wise, nitros like the raptor can take one from learning hovering to advanced 3d flying. due to their bigger size, they are more stable and less resistant to wind than a micro. however a crash might prove costly. starting cost, approx $1500 - 2000.

regardless of what you get, you'll need these to start off.

1. heli kit
2. transmitter, min 4 channels for basic micro, 6channels for basic nitro.
3. receiver, corresponding to your radio transmitter.
4. servos, 2 for basic micro, 5 for nitro.
5. gyro, to keep your tail managable.
6. relevant tools

if you go nitro, you'll need starting equipment as well, and possibly the following things, if your heli kit doesn't include them:

Engine, muffler(exhaust system).

either way you go, you'll enjoy this hobby. i'm personally flying nitros now, and i feel that i can learn faster. however, that is just my personaly opinion and may differ from other people.

[Brandon Chng]

planes or helis which are connected by a wire are very limited. i have a feeling what you saw is called control line flying. these are quite limited. the only flyers in singapore who fly these are the sec school kids in the youth flying club. these literally fly in circles.

the only heli i know which has a connecting cable is the hirobo XRB. this is a stable training helicopter. the cable is there so that the heli can have virtually limitless flight times when connected to a electrical plug. aircraft like these are limited to how long their cable is, and the more cable the heli or plane has to carry, the worse it'll fly.

[Skyline]

Thanks everyone for the help.

I'm a sec school kid myself and this sounds expensive to me. So for micro, $500 includes the heli kit and on top of that I need to make modifications? $500 is the minimum required?

Thanks

[Skyline]

1. heli kit
2. transmitter, min 4 channels for basic micro, 6channels for basic nitro.
3. receiver, corresponding to your radio transmitter.
4. servos, 2 for basic micro, 5 for nitro.
5. gyro, to keep your tail managable.
6. relevant tools

Are all this included with the kit?

[Brandon Chng]

if you are to go for micro, the FEDA drangonly would be good.
you can get the entire set for $500. this includes everything you need to fly, the transmitter, servos, receiver, helikit with motor and speed controllers, and a gyro.

you should also check out the market place in the forum for any good second-hand deals. i just grad from sec school, now waiting to start poly. where do you live?

[Skyline]

Near Jurong Pt. hee..

So is modification needed for the plane and is this plane ideal for long term use?

[Skyline]

Hee.. Wht poly..? U developed this interested since Sec sch..?

[HZM]

Hi Skyline.....welcome onboard....age is not the limiting factor. Money is

Brandon had given u a comprehensive breakdown, so bottom line is how much u prepare to spend. If you really tight on budget, go for a used FEDA mini dragonfly..... Please seek members assitance if you getting a used heli.....

Mike

[Skyline]

Opps.. haha... ok.. thanks all of ya..

[Brandon Chng]

hey there, i'm waiting to enter singapore poly's aeronautical eng course. i love stuff that fly. i'm also a student pilot from the youth flying club. i came into this when i was not allowed to join the aermodelling arm of the yfc, which fly control line. something i've not regret.

[MicroHeli-Nut]

Branzzz, it really sucks that no local varsity has courses in aeronautics ..... So that means after poly, u have to continue in the US or Down Under(Australia).....

Prob, I'd finish my degree in science first, and see how the market goes. There's a push towards building better aircraft. and unmanned aerial vehicles..... There's really a future in whateva we are all playing aful with in this hobby......

[Skyline]

Wow.. how I wish I were you.. haha... Anyway, I also thought of joining this club but my degree is far more than 300. So, something I regretted is not taking care of my eyes when I were young. hee..

[Brandon Chng]

i thought so at first ray..but apparently there's a course in mechanical engineering in NUS and NTU that can specialise in aeronautics... however i don't think such a cert might be recognised. it'll probably look something like "Degree in Mechanical Engineering(Aerospace)"... i'm studying to try to make it in a university in UK or US to at least have a "proper" degree in aeronautical engineering. if you're interested, take a look at this place. its a entire university dedicated to aeronautics and space physics and travel. http://www.embryriddle.edu/

i emailed them about entry and they said they can arrange something with the poly then. apparently there're already 5 singaporeans studying there...