LG John

Ok, I'm thinking of maybe getting a model radio controlled helicopter for some flying fun I'm thinking of something relatively cheap, small and easy to learn on like here....Example of the sort of copter I'm thinking of

What are the rules for flying a craft like that? Can I do it in a large open space with good visibility and no people around or what?? Outside my flat we have a massive communal grassed area that hardly anyone uses would that be suitable if flown responsibly (can I do that )

ProperCharlie

i can see the headline now:

Edinburgh man blames fuel surge as remote controlled helicopter careers into pylon, wiping out scotland's national grid

sorry - had to be done.

LG John

Its electric for that very reason

milo

what's the fun in that?!

New To Scoob

SB, it isn't so much as can I fly it responsibly, it's more like can I fly the bl@@dy thing at all?????? also it looks a big titchy for outdoor work more suited to big halls etc.

Never flew one but I know a few people who have tried and failed, I'll stick to four wheels thanks.

John.

eClaire

LMFAO

I want a shot when you get it

Seriously though, I recommend giving the real thing a bash Absolutely fantastic. You can watch me when I take my next lesson

Freak

is that all they cost now???

Im sold Gonna go and price one up tomorrow.... and a remote spy cam attachment.....

imlach

Your flat is rather near the flightpath for Edinburgh airport's 2nd runway
Hope it doesn't go too high...

seriously, *proper* r/c aircraft need special licensed areas to fly in. I'm fairly sure one of these areas is a field on the 'top road' between Hillend and West Linton somewhere....

LG John

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I hear neighbours upstairs sh@gging - out comes chopper and cam...............well hello there luv

Dougster

Be careful Kenny, it might be someone you know.

Watch out for battery surge.

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

you should be fine mate, what I would do though is join your local flying club =. usually around £30 - 40 a year.

be sensible is the main thing.

however

have you ever flown one before? I had a hirobo shuttle z and that was a petrol one, I bought it without knowing anything about them. expensive stuff.

and more to the point if you try to fly it without instruction you will find that you will only fly it once. and then it will be in bits....

imlach

my mate spent ages building his petrol chopper....

Tethered it down in the garden as instructed to learn to fly it......first tethered flight, it flipped, and even at a height of 1m, it managed to self-destruct....

Oops.

LG John

I like the look of these wee plastic ones because there is less to go wrong if you crash

krazy

OK that ones pretty small.... It's really gonna be an indoor only one.. i'm not familiar with that specific one but quite a few indor electric r/c helicopters have come out over last few years.. there ok, you're not gonna cause much damage with one of those.

SiDHEaD

tskk all this talk of fuel surge... It got me on the track today

Didn't make use of the scenery though

Andy

LG John

The electric ones can be flown outside in fair weather conditions though can they not?? Thats the impression I get

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

yes mate they can, but they dont have much weight or power to them, so its not advisable to use one even if there is the smallest amout of wind!

jamo

LG John

Its ok I'll fit a frount mount and a bigger turbo to it Seen some vids of the small electric ones in action and they are cool as ****

Leslie

Just make sure you don't irritate anyone else with the noise or frighten them and be certain to get third party insurance against accidents. There is cover available through Radio Modelling societies, it never used to be very expensive.

Les

midget1500

i used to fly model planes years ago. not easy, you crash and wreck them a lot.

choppers are another kettle of fish altogether - they are VERY hard to fly. you WILL not buy one, take it to a field and learn to fly it. It will be in bits within 10 seconds. you need to join a club and be taught. i knew people that had been flying them 3+ years and still couldn't hover the things that well, very, no EXTREMELY difficult. even real chopper pilots will tell you it's easier to fly the real thing!

insurance, yes, you need this. your local club will sort this, not expensive and gives you millions in liability! you can do serious damage to people and property with these things. they aren't toys!!!

midget1500

and you can get simulators for your pc now that hook into the radio controller to give you an idea of how difficult it is!

LG John

How many 'sticks' 'adjustments' or movements can you make on these wee electric ones. For example on car you have a stick for fwd/reverse and one to turn. What do the choppers have?? The little electric ones are marketed as being far easier to fly

jaf01uk

I used to fly radio control gliders years ago and bought and part built a Bell 300 helicopter but didn't finish it, they are horrendously difficult to fly and you will crash a lot, that one looks as though its fairly flexible so might not be too expensive for spares, there are a few boys at our college in Peebles flying RC who have got an agreement with a farmer down the Penicuick to Peebles road to use some land there and there is also a club who use Kirknewton airfield beside Livingston but i cant recall seeing anyone up there with a heli. You do need public liability insurance and it used to be the case that you were not allowed to fly alone in case the thing chopped/partially chopped yuor head off! I can see about giving you a number of one of the guys to give him a phone and get the full story if you like,
Gary

LG John

Seems I might be biting off possibly more than I could chew here. As it happens I live a 5mins walk from Edinburgh's (poss scotland) biggest model shop so I'll go talk to them and get brought up to speed with the legal position, price of spares, how difficult to fly, etc Any more experiences welcomed Anyone actually flown one?

Diesel

I had a go in a real (full size) one and GOD was that hard!!!! It was SO twitchy and jumpy - the smallest hand or foot movement had a HUGE effect. I tried hovering it - absolute nightmare, and that with a 'fun loving' instructor that let it go so nose down and heading for the ground before saving at the last minute every time !

Great challenge!

D