I recently bought, during what my DW swears was a moment of insanity, a fairly sophsticated remote controlled model helicopter. My thinking was that it would be a fun "toy" to take along when traveling in the RV. After all, I am a FAA qualified airplane and helicopter pilot so how hard could it be to fly this thing?
I have soon learned that to be a mucho wrongo assumption. I've decapitated the dog's head, gouged holes in the RV, knocked over half dozen satelitte dishes in the CG, and gotten official warnings from NORAD.
Does anyone else do this for a traveling hobby? Perhaps more successfully.
Bill Adams said
07:08 PM Apr 3, 2011
Janet and I are giant scale R/C airplane pilots but I only gave helicopters a brief try. That try cost me $100 so the owner could repair his model and I returned to airplanes. I am still a very good instructor if anyone needs info on flying R/C airplanes but I can be of on assistance to your rotorheads!
Necro said
05:35 PM Apr 21, 2011
Really looking into the helicopter thing. I have ideas for incorporating video of waterfalls to my photography, and being good at a heli would really assist in this.
The Bear II said
12:16 PM Apr 28, 2011
The next door neighbor started buying RC Helis a couple of years ago. I watched him fly several times in the beginning and he would sit in a chair and just practice hovering the Helicopter. He would hold it steady in one spot and them move it, hold it again and then move it...on and on and on. It seemed so boring.
However, now after a couple of years I can understand why he did that. He has great control. He can make the helicopter do whatever he wants it to do.
He's added all kinds of doodads...GPS, gyros, altitude lock, auto pilot, video camera...etc.
It's a work of art to watch him fly it.
The videos come out really nice from a camera that's about the size of a key fob. I think he said it cost $9.99 plus S& H. The camera has a 1 GB memory.
I used to take my 30-40% IMAC airplanes in my Georgie Boy to IMAC aerobatic competitions. It was great as I had everything I needed for repairs, (I wont go there), and could carry all of my airplanes in one pop.
I was thinking about what to take with us this year and will probably settle in with small electric helis. THey are the most portable and clean since they are electric.
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
07:50 PM Sep 27, 2011
I'm waiting on another set of rotors, again.
The Bear II said
12:50 PM Sep 29, 2011
Here's one I've been looking at, It's controllable from an iphone:
It looks easy to fly plus a good mount system for additional cameras.
janni said
04:27 PM Sep 29, 2011
We attended the Warbirds over the Rockies this past weekend. We highly recommend this show. I believe they put on two a year. Show includes flyovers, pyrotech. military history, vendor booths, and champion remote control flyers. Just purchased a Super Cub in Longmont last week so ready for winter flying in AZ.
Bob and Cheri said
08:15 PM Sep 29, 2011
I have been wondering how much room that i would have to devote to something like this. I have been flying a simulator for the past 6 months, not really enough courage to purchase the real deal.
pequeajim said
07:42 PM Sep 30, 2011
The Bear II wrote:
Here's one I've been looking at, It's controllable from an iphone:
It looks easy to fly plus a good mount system for additional cameras.
Very Cool! Since the rotors are protected by the guards, you don't have to worry too much about breaking the blades!
Bill Adams said
06:03 AM Oct 1, 2011
Brookstone has these in their stores if you are passing through a local mall. They are not cheap but would be a lot of fun. Because you can't go very far and it has to be pretty much dead calm wind conditions I suspect it would be fun "for awhile" and boredom would set in pretty quickly. Flying R/C planes/helicopters is a real challenge at all times and keeps the mind quite active (or you crash).
pequeajim said
06:21 PM Oct 1, 2011
You know Bob, you really do not need much room to carry an electric RC model now a days.
There are many high performance electrics that will fly as wild, (or tame), as you would like. And the "fuel" is free because you can charge off of the campsite's electric which you ar already paying for.
They have quite a selection. I would also go with a 2.4ghz radio as they are much less prone to interference.
Blue Skies Jim!
-- Edited by pequeajim on Saturday 8th of October 2011 10:57:04 PM
axleman99 said
04:01 PM Jan 3, 2012
I too purchased one of the expensive. Complex Rc helicopters a year ago..."thinking" it would be fun....bad decision...after my inaugural flight(controlled crash)..my $200.00 bright yellow investment spent the next 6 months affixed to the top of an 85 foot pine next to my home to the delight of my passing neighbors...
I recently purchased a new toy helicopter for $49.95 at BJs and absolutely love it....I actually fly it and enjoy it...rechargeable batteries last 15 Ms....made by cobra....not expensive..not complex...but it works....what a concept...
I recently bought, during what my DW swears was a moment of insanity, a fairly sophsticated remote controlled model helicopter. My thinking was that it would be a fun "toy" to take along when traveling in the RV. After all, I am a FAA qualified airplane and helicopter pilot so how hard could it be to fly this thing?
I have soon learned that to be a mucho wrongo assumption. I've decapitated the dog's head, gouged holes in the RV, knocked over half dozen satelitte dishes in the CG, and gotten official warnings from NORAD.
Does anyone else do this for a traveling hobby? Perhaps more successfully.
However, now after a couple of years I can understand why he did that. He has great control. He can make the helicopter do whatever he wants it to do.
He's added all kinds of doodads...GPS, gyros, altitude lock, auto pilot, video camera...etc.
It's a work of art to watch him fly it.
The videos come out really nice from a camera that's about the size of a key fob. I think he said it cost $9.99 plus S& H. The camera has a 1 GB memory.
Here's his Youtube site
http://www.youtube.com/user/cardoc525?blend=2&ob=5#p/a/u/1/fxvrhjlqHuM
I used to take my 30-40% IMAC airplanes in my Georgie Boy to IMAC aerobatic competitions. It was great as I had everything I needed for repairs, (I wont go there), and could carry all of my airplanes in one pop.
I was thinking about what to take with us this year and will probably settle in with small electric helis. THey are the most portable and clean since they are electric.
http://ardrone.parrotshopping.com/us/p_ardrone_main.aspx
It looks easy to fly plus a good mount system for additional cameras.
Very Cool! Since the rotors are protected by the guards, you don't have to worry too much about breaking the blades!
You know Bob, you really do not need much room to carry an electric RC model now a days.
There are many high performance electrics that will fly as wild, (or tame), as you would like. And the "fuel" is free because you can charge off of the campsite's electric which you ar already paying for.
Try the following sites.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/
www.towerhobbies.com
They have quite a selection. I would also go with a 2.4ghz radio as they are much less prone to interference.
Blue Skies
Jim!
-- Edited by pequeajim on Saturday 8th of October 2011 10:57:04 PM