Best hobby rc helicopters according to redditors
We found 186 Reddit comments discussing the best hobby rc helicopters. We ranked the 52 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 186 Reddit comments discussing the best hobby rc helicopters. We ranked the 52 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Remote control heli. All metal construction, 3 channel with gyroscope. Literally 10000x better than any air hogs crap.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314579634&sr=8-1
Unlimited Fun @ $19.75
Ideas I've had or seen in the thread thus far:
It's the Syma S107. Here's a Link
there's several colors, all under $30, and they're awesome! I got one for Christmas too.
Those RC helicopters are the best!
http://amzn.com/8499000606
You know what to do
Two RC helicopters.
I wish they were this cheap when I was 6.
I suspect that it is a SYMA!
Can anybody verify?
E: I'm like, 97.2% sure it is.
A toy heliocoptor. I got this one for Christmas, its alot of fun. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8499000606/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325344441&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8499000606/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1376159623&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY190
They are surprisingly durable and easy to fly. I've slammed that thing into the walls and ceiling dozens of times so far and it still flies great.
Anything Nerf is fun, and there's plenty of Nerf sports equipment (like footballs) under $15 if their guns aren't your ideal gift (but the Nerf guns are fun).
Remote control helicopters (http://amzn.com/B00DPK11ZA) cost between $15 and $20. Remote control anything is fun though.
Robot stuff (http://amzn.com/B003GDDVPE) runs between $10-$20. Hex bugs (http://amzn.com/B00CMATSCC) are only $5.
Lego sets (http://amzn.com/B00NW2Q6ZG), K'nex sets (http://amzn.com/B00I2UZXZW), and Magic kits (http://amzn.com/B001BX3DQI), and paper airplane kits (http://amzn.com/B000MUQ2FU), which between around $10-$20.
Don't forget things kids can play together, like board games, cards (specially my favorite, Uno), dominos, etc.
These are all gifts that should work well for boys between 10 and 15.
The Blade mCX2 is really good for beginners, as is its predecessor if you want something a little cheaper!
It's a Syma S107G, they're dirt cheap, great fun too.
A Syma S107 RC Helicopter. <30 bucks, and friggin awesome. I've been playing with mine for weeks.
If you wanna give money to Reddit, use the link, (and/or read comments), in qgyh2's post
Get one of these !
Only $20, they are completely stable and maneuverable in any direction. I've dropped it from over 30 feet and ran them into walls and it still flies like a champ. With blinky lights too! Not sure what else you could want in a heli.
Get yourself a little 5.8GHz wireless camera and a 5.8 wrist monitor and have easy visual feedback too!
Edit: Seriously though. That camera combo runs on 5 volts, so I'd grab a 5V step down regulator and put the camera right on the print head.
I bought one of these a few weeks ago and it's so much fun. Great gift. I'm ordering one for my boyfriend this week.
First of all, I would never attach your cell phone to a helicopter (I doubt many--if any, could even hold it). They make cheap cameras that are made to attach to the bottom of RC helicopters. Go that route :)
Now I just sort've got into this hobby. I know very little but I can give you some advice.
There are 3 types of RC Helicopters:
-Coaxial = two sets of rotor blades (not including tail rotor) EASIEST AND CHEAPEST
-Fixed Pitch = single rotor with fixed blade pitch EASIER AND CHEAPER
-Collective Pitch = single rotor with controllable blade pitch HARDEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE
Those are also listed from easiest to hardest to fly. You can learn to fly a coaxial in like 20-30 minutes if that. Coaxial heli's will easily hover with little to no controller input as the gyro/accelerometer does all the work and dual rotors are inherently stable. A good first coaxial could be the Syma S107 @ $27. Feel free to skip to a fixed pitch heli if you are daring but with the Syma S107 being less than $30 you should still get it.
Fixed pitch heli's are an entirely different animal as I've recently learned. They are much less stable than a coaxial helicopter but not uncontrollable if you are patient and careful. The physics behind a FP heli is much different than a Coax. These heli's are also more powerful (usually) so be very gentle otherwise you'll be replacing parts even more so than you will normally. YOU WILL NEED TO BUY REPLACEMENT PARTS. YOU WILL CRASH. Keep in mind though, it's not completely terrifying :). Don't be afraid to learn. I love and recommend getting a Blade 120 SR @ $160-180. I just got one and I love it. It's so fun. It's so appealing to fly a single rotor heli because it's more realistic and challenging.
Finally, you have Collective Pitch helicopters. These are what the "pros" use. The rotor blades have a variable pitch that allows for very intense and tricky maneuvers. These are sometimes called 3D helicopters because (if you are skilled enough) can fly them upside down or any direction in between while zipping through the air. I don't know too much about them because I'm still learning to fly a fixed pitch heli. Do NOT start with one of these helicopters. The Blade 450 3D @ $470 is a common example of a Collective Pitch 3D helicopter. As you can see they are quite expensive.
Helicopter Cameras: EXAMPLE
TL;DR: Start with a coaxial (Syma S107) to learn. Then move up to a fixed pitch helicopter (Blade 120 SR). Buy lots of replacement parts/training gear/flight sim (optional). Get used to crashing. Don't fly too high at first. Have fun!
$20, Sima 107
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1371512528&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=sima+107
I have a yellow one.
For kids ages 8-12. Get them something remote controlled if they're boys. Just about every Christmas season JCPenny's sets out little remote helicopters for about $20. They're actually not bad for the price since I have about 3 just for myself. But my cousins went crazy over them last year. If you can't find them in store, amazon.com and a bunch of other sites carry the Syma S107 for about $22.00. Great starter copter. Stay away from Air Hogs.
Little girls are harder for me. My only two female cousins, sister are easy; they basically tell me everything they want and where I need to go get it. And my sister does all the shopping for my mom and grandmother; I just hand over the money.
The one female (well male and female) I bought for on my own this year was my sisters best friend (my sister from a different mister) just got married this year. I took photos from her wedding, went to shutterfly and had a coffee table book made of pictures from their wedding. Basically a more professional looking scrap book. However, unless they're into photography, kids that age probably would not appreciate that.
As far as your female interest...you're on your own. You know her, I don't.
get this one. its a great little electric heli that uses dual rotors to keep it stabilized and it can fly for like 5-8 minutes. it can also take a lot of abuse and crash from 20 ft and not break
Came here to post this! They are tons of fun. Each of the grad students in my lab owns a set, and we have combined them to make some really sweet huge stuff!
We also have two of these in the lab:
Syma S107 Remote Control Helicopter. They're a TON of fun.
Syma 109 for anybody interested.
They're really extraordinarily good.
remote chopper
If they're sending out free helicopters that they expect anyone to be able to fly it's probably a super cheap brand that they could get without metting with anyone. Probably a Syma S107.
RC cars are fun to play with. I got an RC18 a while back and it is a blast to bash around. If you want, you can get really into upgrading / modifying them. I kept mine stock, to avoid dumping too much money into it!
Edit: If you want something cheaper, this helicopter is pretty rad.
That thing looks awesome. How did it fly? My first "multirotor" was this micro heli that I got it from Amazon in 2012 when they were first starting to put gyros in the micros. The little guy still flies really great too. Since I've watched quadcopter tech advance so quickly I wonder how much better the helis have become since 2012. I haven't heard anything about them in recent years. I'll have to look into them and see if they've gotten into FPV now.
I'm working on a 3D game engine for controlling electronics.
Just finished a filming session driving my robot around with this screen.
Working on a lot of shader stuff and working on a new screen for controlling model helicopters with touch screens.
Actually they're pretty fun. I have one similar to this one and it's awesome for flying around indoors.
I don't know if I would buy one from a mall kiosk though because the price would probably be super high.
But for $15 it's a blast.
Only problem is that the battery dies really fast.
You should check out this remote-controlled helicopter for about $20. I just got one to give away, felt compelled to test it out and it is awesome!
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323554972&amp;sr=8-1
The most fun i've had for $27 in a really long time
Remote control helicopter.
They're all over Amazon, this is the first link: http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606 . And for the record, this and all small coax helis will not lift ANY weight. Maybe a penny or 2 tied underneath (at the center of gravity).
This
A Mini RC helicopter. Best $20 ever spent.
Looks like a good learning experience, but I personally learned what I needed to know online. Furthermore, looks like the quad you build in class is a lower level version of something like this link, but for about the same price you'll get a FPV setup out of the box with the ability to add an 'action' camera in the future. http://www.amazon.com/Eachine-Quadcopter-Camera-Transmitter-Monitor/dp/B017BGDT12/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464535691&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=250+drone
Edit: After reading your comment, I realize that if you want Photography you should get a Phantom or similar, only $140 more than that nicer racer, and they are MUCH easier to fly, and much harder to lose. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dji-phantom-3-standard-quadcopter-white/4406800.p?id=1219743453736&amp;skuId=4406800&amp;lsft=ref:212,loc:1&amp;ksid=af53e6a5-bce6-4e97-b8b2-6a0e00ab6b66&amp;ksprof_id=14&amp;ksaffcode=pg28541&amp;ksdevice=c&amp;ref=212&amp;loc=1
I am flying one of these and like it quite a bit, not sure if it is represented on your list - http://www.amazon.com/Crazepony-Carbon-Unibody-Racing-Quadcopter/dp/B01CXQ66N8?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
It has gone on a bit of diet since this - https://imgur.com/a/6OS8r
RC Helicopter. It is VERY stable and fun to fly. $15 http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Gyro-/dp/B00F4WMAAW/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462581942&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=syma+helicopter
Fun Toy that's not expensive. I have one and it's ridiculously fun: http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321847149&amp;sr=1-1
Other Gifts: In thinking back on gifts I've really enjoyed from my dad, I would say books that he really loved and got for me. Even though I didn't read some of them until years later, I eventually was so glad I got them and we've talked about them on numerous occasions. One that comes to mind was Asimov's Foundation.
But also, helicopter. Fun!
I have this and it's big brother. I did manage to break a blade on the larger one but I found replacements for about $12. The little has more flexible blades so it doesn't seem like they'll break as easily, also it seems to handle better. It's actually much easy to fly / control than the bigger.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1311232674&amp;sr=8-1
Halloween Hijinxery
Gotta love a tiny remote control helicopter!
I run this and bottom mount the battery.
https://www.amazon.com/Crazepony-Carbon-Unibody-Racing-Quadcopter/dp/B01CXQ66N8
The standoffs are weak but its pretty light so it holds up well.
I want an early present!
My birthday was actually last friday but i guess this can count for next year :)
i've always wanted one of these
This thing can take a beating
http://www.amazon.com/Single-Rotor-Helicopter-Version-Improved/dp/B009SE5DRO/ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_z
Is this the same one?
I'd save up a bit more and get a Blade MCX: http://www.amazon.com/BLADE-EFLH2200-Blade-mCX-RTF/dp/B001D7O6JK
Great heli, i own 2.
How about a mini helicopter? http://www.amazon.com/BLADE-Blade-mCX2-RTF/dp/B003EXPDAC
An 11 year old should be able to fly one around the house without a huge learning curve, they're fairly tough and you can get all the parts as spares.
You'll probably find them cheaper elsewhere too.
The s107 is persistently cheap on amazon
The price actually went up to $25+ around christmas time but it sits at under $22 the rest of the year from what I've seen.
I think there's only one FPV kit specifically for the X5, but it's a drop-in replacement for the stock camera, which is nice. It's heavier, and the quad is a bit of a pig with it mounted, but it still flies pretty well; you just can't fly as fast, and definitely can't come in as hot when you land. Also note that it didn't really say the exact tx power, but it's almost certainly over 25 mW, so expect to get your ham ticket if you want to be law-abiding and/or want to join the cool kids over at /r/amateurradio.
This is what I bought, though you might find it a little cheaper elsewhere.
Yep, pretty standard for that type of helicopter.
https://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606
It's not to bad, this is above average RTF (need FPV goggles though, that will set you back about R3000, but it's a one off purchase.) after that, the props, motors, arms ect ect aren't to expensive.. bulk buy some good props, a few sets of motors & you should be fine.. unless you fly into walls!
So i actually went with this. It's a little gimmicky but it works all in one.
It appears that your heli doesn't have fwd/backward control. When given enough throttle, the tail rotor begins to spin tilting the helicopter forward. You'll have much better luck with one of these Syma S107 helicopters. They are the best for toy-grade helis.
Mini RC Helicopter!
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=lp_166591011_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1389380950&amp;sr=1-1
Funnily enough, I know a guy who is both an IFR certified pilot and an aircraft owner who happily flies his Phantom quadcopter in Class D airspace, as well as the busiest circuit in my area.
Having a PPL means nothing if the common sense isn't there.
Furthermore, 99% of "drone" operators still aren't causing problems. Most of the quads being sold are basically toys, and absolutely no different than the little coaxial helis that were all the rage a few Christmas's ago.
Banning every unmanned flying device or somehow trying to regulate them will be quite literally impossible. You'd have to regulate the sales of all 72 Mhz and 2.4 Ghz radio control gear, which is on it's own a multi-million dollar industry.
Are you suggesting the FAA sends officials to someones house if they are caught flying something like this?
So Much fun for so little money.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1346261592&amp;sr=1-2
I bought myself an RC helicopter for Christmas this year. I'm 29.
I was shopping online when I stumbled across one for ~$20. It got pretty bad reviews, but I found one on amazon that had great reviews, was good for indoors, and was only ~$35.
Was initially going to get it for a roommate, but decided to get them more practical gifts. I still wanted to play with that helicopter though, so I added it on as a gift to myself. Arrived yesterday, but I'm waiting until Saturday to open it. =D
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606
I would go with the X8C with this camera http://www.amazon.com/GoolRC-Real-time-Transmission-Display-Quadcopter/dp/B013HQCK88
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606
So much fun... So little cost...
I like the de-pinned because it makes the whole receiver smaller. That way you can shove it between the fc and the pdb. I solder the wires directly to the fc and directly to the x4r-sb. This keeps it from falling off, which happens sometimes.
You shouldn't need to change camera if you buy the skyzones or fatsharks. I didn't see what camera you were getting. But the 600tvl cameras are all good enough and they're like 40 bucks. I use this one. http://pirofliprc.com/Pyro-Drone-Sony-Super-HAD-II-CCD-650-tvl-IR-Block-Orange-25mm-Lens-_p_3379.html
I have the qav210(favorite and has lasted the longest). I had the qav-r 5" clone that everyone talks about on here. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DBR4OE6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 Which isn't a bad frame. It just has a bad bottom plate design. I just ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HLT3L08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1. I think I'm going to do a build video on it tonight. I really like this frame but it's pricey, http://xhover.com/collections/new-products/products/mxp200b-4mm-racing-quadcopter
You can spend 40 bucks on a frame but you get what you pay for. I went through three of those qav-r clones. I could have just bought the xhover.
Another tip - make sure and use a sma pigtail for you vtx. It will save your vtx from breaking at the connection. Or, get a vtx that has a pigtail soldered on.
This hobby isn't cheap. I'm really bored at work today.
350qx quad copter RTF (ready to fly with remote) for $469.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DUW8NXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1395242925&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SL500_QL40
I'm getting this for all of my friends. Who doesn't want a helicopter?
Oh my god dude, the S026G is by far the best, most stable, and easiest to fly. Noticeably better than the S108. WAY better than the U809's
Get one, get one, get one!
So stable, so maneuverable... and the shoulder buttons will give you a really small, stable forward/backward cruise control. (I think that's what they do? the manuals are garbage).
Def my favorite of the three models. Though the S108s are fantastic fliers too. The U809s are fun to harrass friends with, but they're really, really hard to control compared to the S108, let alone the S026G.
You can get a 5.8GHz FPV system for the Syma x5c.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013HQCK88?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01
I purchased this last month for mine. The screen is very bright, even outdoors. Camera is about the same quality as the 2.0MP/720p that comes with the x5c (slower exposure compensation, slightly sharper image).
Here's footage I took the other day
[from the camera]*(Removed link since it's from my own YouTube channel. PM me if you want the link).I highly recommend it for a beginner/trainer quad. Under $130 all in for the quad, FPV and extra batteries.
Not going to be the best but very available - Syma X5C-1 - Banggood/Gearbest/Amazon/Aliexpress.
You can get a very basic 5.8ghz FPV setup going with http://amzn.com/B00MNG37C2 and http://amzn.com/B013HQCK88 - Its Toy grade but can get you started on an expensive hobby.
We chose to get ten of these for the price of one DJI.
The camera isn't worth much, but it has altitude hold, and they can fly it in the classroom, gym, or cafeteria. In addition to this, when (not if) the students crash it, it bounces back fairly easily.
Thanks I'll look that one up! Battery packs are a good idea
Is this it? Syma X5C Explorers 2.4G 4CH RC Quadcopter with Gyro/Flash Lights, A 360-degree 3D Helicopters with HD Camera, White https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L54Y4X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_32vlDb25AYC9T
Have you checked out banggood.com? A lot of quadcopter stuff there, pretty cheap too!
As for the motors, I've only used the Emax RS2205 2300kv. It's widely used by the community. As far as durability goes, RS2205 motors are incredibly durable.
For the frame, people started shifting towards 220's and lower. I would recommend a QAV210 clone or the QAV-R 220 clone. You can purchase spare parts off of GetFPV. Also, I agree with the unibody frames. If you break them, you'll have to replace the whole frame. That's why I went with the QAV-R. It hasn't broken on me yet!
If you're not doing racing, then a Naze32 Rev6 with strongly tuned PIDs should do the trick.
Littlebee 20a will do fine. You may want to upgrade to 30a if you plan on using 4S w/ triblade props.
As for the C rating, this video should explain it better than I do!
I was thinking of getting this...but I haven't fully decided yet.
https://www.amazon.com/Eachine-Quadcopter-Camera-Transmitter-Monitor/dp/B017BGDT12/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468373360&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=racing+drones
A simple 4 channel heli will help you learn the basics. I'd recommend the v911
TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDEDOWN, FRIEND! D: ---> :D
I think this rc heli would cheer you up! :3
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-BLH3100-NEW-120-SR-RTF/dp/B003TRECZA
My boyfriend really wanted this for his birthday, but I lost my job and I couldn't afford it. Yes, he is a child at heart. He's really 25, and he said he would take a "derp" photo.
edit: um... he's 26 now, hence the birthday. woops.
a remote control helicopter from Amazon for $18.
(http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321131163&amp;sr=8-1)
oh dear god yes. I bought this for a buddy's bachelor party (he and all of the other guys went to RPI). It was great success.
i ended up getting this one http://www.amazon.com/U809-Launcher-Helicopter-Gyroscope-Missiles/dp/B005OS745W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_t_1
i couldnt resist the missiles
One of these
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323797187&amp;sr=1-1
They are cheap, and are utterly mesmerizing to many people. Now, the price I am seeing is $19.99,but the price for you may be different, depending on amazon.
Word of warning however: if you charge from the controller, make sure you have good quality batteries. If not, they will leak trying to charge the chopper.
This RC Helicopter
19.50 shipped, the greatest toy ever. Charges via USB and has a built in gyroscope. It is also indestructible, I crash it into anything and everything but it is also maneuverable enough that within my first hour of flight it got it to perch on top of an iMac. I showed my dad and he immediately bought 5 and gave them to his buddies, everyone can fly it and love it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HQCK88/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_ncPoxbEN0SCGV
Eachine Racer 250 FPV Quadcopter Drone with HD Camera Eachine I6 2.4G 6CH Transmitter 7 Inch 32CH Monitor RTF Mode 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017BGDT12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7EtnxbB0JVWWB
Would something like this be a good deal?
Syma S107/S107G R/C Helicopter
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1324983043&amp;sr=1-1
marked down from over $100
I haven't seen that FT video, and this is 9 days late... but isn't what you're talking about the same as the Blade mCX2?
So there are a couple of options for pre-built quads with most of them coming ARF (air ready to fly) and a couple BNF. (bind and fly) All of these quads have approximately the same size motors, (22XX class) propellers (all about 9 inch) run the same battery voltage (3 cell lipo) are approximately the same size (350 diagonally) and weigh about the same (700-800grams with out a gimbal) so there for should have roughly the same flight performance with the phantom lasting the longest as it carries a larger 5200mah battery over the others which carry between a 2700 and a 3500mah but the phantom being the least agile because of it. All of these quads have GPS enabled flight controllers with the 3DR iris+ with the most advanced, folowed by the Phantom and then the Quanum Nova and Blade 350 qx being the the most basic (but sill very powerful supporting features such as return to launch)
Phantom 2 is the most expensive and comes completely air ready to fly (an advantage for some) buying the phantom from that retailer you can also get it set up with FPV ready to fly (immersion 5.8ghz is good you should get about 1.5-2 km on cp omni antenna) but it will cost you a pretty penny, at £1,080 completely setup, before you buy some more batteries( 3 more at the least, which you will need to do if you want to charge by the hour) at £80 a pop, it gets quite expensive very quickly, and thats before GoPro. With the phantom you are paying for an ecosystem where every thing should work flawlessly.(just watch out for fly always) If in future you do want to upgrade you can pull the Naza M v2 flight controller out of it and use it in a custom build, there are many people on the internet that have turned phantoms into F550 hexacopters and im sure they would help, there are big threads on RC Groups. (http://www.quadcopters.co.uk/dji-phantom-2-fpv-edition-222-c.asp)
Another ARF option is the 3DR Iris+ the latest version of this quad has just been released, newly upgraded with 3DR's powerful Pixhawk making it the most capable option of autonomous flight coming with telemetry radios as well as a controller the user can set way points and other pre-planned flight features from a phone or tablet (like take a picture at this point, pretty cool) and some awesome follow features there promo video shows these off.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yOCTgVqmeQ) It comes in at USD$750 ready to fly, but to this you will your self have to add FPV and a GoPro gimbal (they have the option to add a 2 axis gimbal, but you can just buy your own as it uses standard mounting you could buy the H3-3D, USD$370 i think or there are some other options, the cheapest 3axis i know of costs USD$190) once you add a gimbal and some more batteries (only USD$40 from them and you can buy alternatives from USD$20) it should only total USD$1200 (even with a Zenmuse gimbal) this comes out to about £750 with everything, alot less than the phantom 2 before you add batteries. Unlike the phantom you will have to add fpv and get the gimbal going, this is not to terrible as 3DR package the iris with good manuals, the parts are meant to go together... the internet is always there to help if you face problems :) (https://store.3drobotics.com/products/IRIS)
Another option is the Cheerson CX20 or Quanum Nova, this comes ARF and is the cheapest option, at USD$319 with free shipping it is considerably cheaper than the phantom 2. To this you will need to add a gimbal (same standard mounting anything will fit) get some extra batteries (USD$15-25) and FPV with all of the additions it should come out to about USD$700-750 or about £500 it will not have the power of the iris+ flight controller and you will need to make the fpv and gimbal additions but for the price it is a very strong contender. (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__55106__Quanum_Nova_FPV_GPS_Waypoint_QuadCopter_Mode_2_Ready_to_Fly_.html)
The blade 350QX is another option, it comes in a BNF form(bind and fly) without a gimbal for USD$450 but they have been having sales taking it down to USD$350, to this you will need to add a spektrum transmitter (a dx6i costs about USD$200, you could get away with 4ch but you will want pass through for gimbal control and flight modes) and then you need to add a gimbal (standard mounting, has great connectors for gimbal control and power built in to the frame making setup easy) FPV and some more batteries( about $20-$30USD) this should come out to about USD$1100 or USD$1000 if you get it on sale to come out to about £650 all setup. the blade's flight control has very good learning features called safe, making it easier to get a grasp of, one thing about the blade 350qx i dont like is the propellers they uses a weird propriety mounting system, making replacements more expensive than the need to be (im complaining about 5 dollar props) but hobbyking do sell an adaption that allows standard mounting props so its ok.(http://www.amazon.com/350-QX-RTF-with-SAFE/dp/B00DUW8NXG)
(http://www.horizonhobby.com/electric-helicopters/350-qx2-bnf-with-safe-reg%3B-technology-blh8080) Flitetest have a good review of the blade, and show off the safe features.
I would go with the 3DR iris+ as i like the autonomous features of the Pixhawk flight controller, and the price overall as well as batteries makes it attractive.
But make the choice that best suites you, at the end of the day they will all shoot stabilized video which is what you want.
Also i do not see the point of a 3 axis gimbal on one of these quads, as soon as you pan all you will see is the landing gear and that doesn't make for good footage... but that's just me, i can only see the third axis being useful in a dual operator setup with retracts and the gimbal rail mounted forward so not to get the props in shot.
I thought about a drone.
How does it seem? https://www.amazon.it/JMT%C2%AESyma-Camera-2-0MP-Quadcopter-Drone/dp/B00L54Y4X4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1541163522&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=Syma+X5C+Quadcopter
I am thinking about getting the following Syma FPV kit:
http://www.amazon.com/GoolRC-Real-time-Transmission-Display-Quadcopter/dp/B013HQCK88/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457369103&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=syma+fpv
and fitting it on a standard, DJI 450 knockoff quadcopter that I built. Would this work? What battery would I need to power the camera on the quad? I have spare batteries from an old Hubsan X4, would those work?
I understand this is cheapo, but any feedback or input would be great! Anyone with experience with this kit, please chime in.
Syma 107's are incredibly durable and easy to fly.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606
Super cheap too, but it does look like a "regular looking helicopter".
I went looking around and http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18283__2_4Ghz_Micro_Coax_Helicopter_4_Channel_RTF_Mode_2_.html seems to be a really cheap model with a cyclic. If you're in the US, http://www.amazon.com/Blade-MCX-Mode-2-mCX/dp/B001D7O6JK/ looks like a better deal when taking shipping into account. Nowhere near $16 for the heli itself though.
If you're really alone for the whole night, and work in a big openspace office, check out these things. They're hella fun. Side note, I won't say whenever I did or did not fly RC helicopters in my corporate offices.
Beside that, learning to code is fun, and quite rewarding.
It's not directly trees related, but I spend twenty USD on a toy remote control helicopter a few weeks back (http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Gyro-/dp/B00F4WMAAW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1419348786&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=toy+helicopter) and it's very fun to fly after burning.
Mom: gift card to Michael's or a nearby crafts store, or maybe some beads and string for her to create some jewelry?
Pops: remote controlled helicopter
Sister: Apples to Apples, Cards Against Humanity, Shot Glass Roulette Drinking Game or some similar entertainment piece.
BIL: Microbrew kit? Check out www.odditymall.com for really obscure stuff.
Friend's daughter: Doodle track car, Moon in my Room or Inanimate Stickers. Little kids typically like stickers, drawing and toys so anything that's easy cleanup for parents would likely be a real winner.
I would get him one of these instead, much better and a great entry to the indoor choppers.
I did not end up getting it, found a different gift.
Another option I forgot to mention is a quadcopter - depending on how you fly them and the level of electronics, they can be easier than a plane, or about the same as a fixed-pitch (simple) helicopter. The micro ones are really cheap (~$50) and fun to play with, though I find them a little boring compared to helis.
I don't know much about boats but yea I did see the self-righting feature of the barbwire. Personally I would hate to have my boat flip over and have to go out into the water to get it. Depends how convenient it is to go into the water though. It's all about your situation. If you're standing on dry land in normal clothes and your boat flips over or somehow dies, I guess you just have to be prepared with a long stick or rope or something to get it out. That's what turns me away from the idea of boats. But if you're in a swimsuit and planning on going into the water anyway, then I guess it wouldn't be a problem.
I guess one more thing I'll say is, what are you looking for in terms of fun? Do you know what you will find amusing? Everyone has their own underlying reasons; I personally fly helis because of the big challenge of controlling them, keeping their orientation in your head and avoiding the ground. Some people like the act of building and the joy of seeing something you built actually work (or not), thus the other comments here about building your own foamie plane. R/C car guys are often into racing others around a track or crawling over rocks, which sounds like it can be challenging.
In terms of helicopters, the starter ones are usually the mCX 2 and the mSR X (wow that's cheap! must be about to announce a new one). Good starter planes are called "trainers", they usually have a high wing and only 3 channels (throttle/elevator/rudder, no aileron), popular two are Champ and Super Cub. For quadcopters, you simply start with a full-featured but micro one, the Syma X1 is most commonly recommended and very cheap. I don't know enough about the cars to recommend. But notice all of these are cheaper than the boats... Granted, they're all smaller than a boat, but when it comes to something flying through the air, smaller and lighter means less likely to break in a crash. Only once you have your orientations down and can keep the micro size in the air, should you graduate to full size. That's not a fact but a commonly accepted opinion. On the other hand, for boats and cars, you basically can't break them unless you try (slam it into a wall, drop it off a cliff, make it go over a huge jump) or of course if something just goes bad on its own, so you can start with the biggest boat or car you can find and be just fine. If you're looking for size from the start, cars and boats are the way to go.
Absolute best thing you can buy for that price is a hubsan IMO. They are almost bullet proof, parts are dirt cheap, readily available and they fly amazingly.
--107c+ which is at the top of your range but is quite nice--
[--or the 107L which is on the bottom of your range, no camera--] (http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107L-Channel-2-4GHz-Quadcopter/dp/B00IZC6C8E/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451252092&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=hubsan+x4)
Both fly Awesome and you can buy batteries and multichargers for them to have nearly endless fly time, for extremely cheap. I have drones ranging from a chroma 4k (1200$) to the 107L (50 $). Of all the drones, i think the Hubsans gives the most enjoyment for the money, they fly great and are super durable. Its a totally care free and chill experience, knowing they are so cheap and easy to fix you can enjoy they capabilities guilt free.They can fly extremely fast out doors, are powerful, do flips at speed, banks corners well, and have a good yaw rate. They are quite the little machine.
This.
Everything else on my list has some purpose or use... this... well I just thought "I want a helicopter!"
$20 RC mini helicopter!
My brother got one and its pretty cool flying around with precise control
I'm 45 and got one of these for my 12 yo son. Lets just say he hasn't spent much time with it. BTW, this things is WAAAY better than those air-hogs crap helicopters.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1293342181&amp;sr=8-1
This is the exact one i bought, Its a sturdy little guy too.
This post made me realize how much I've always wanted an RC copter. I just ordered one on Amazon. Can. Not. Wait!
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1293349448&amp;sr=1-1
I'm 30and my mom got me the Syma s107 this Christmas. My dad is in his 50s. He got one too.
These things are awesome! Surprisingly easy to fly.
i got this, i researched helicopters for about a minute, and this was the best
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&amp;coliid=IP99X04CA4PL6&amp;colid=3T02BRXWTLCPO
Syma S107/S107G R/C Helicopter
One of the coolest things I've bought in the past long time, and it's only $20.00.
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1342975319&amp;sr=1-2
Might as well order one of those bugasalt. I'm sure you can put this to good use.. An RC helicopter is always a lot of fun. Try it during your work break. It makes the day go better.. I swear!
It seems you have an interest in programming stuff, so you can't go wrong with a RaspberryPi. And who doesn't want a LEGO TRex!!!!!!
Aaand crap... I just read Needs to be able to ship to Australia.
I'm guessing pick one in this case...
It wasn't a post, per se, but a featured ad for this guy.
http://www.amazon.com/GoolRC-Real-time-Transmission-Display-Quadcopter/dp/B013HQCK88/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1453322889&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=syma+x5c-1+fpv
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017BGDT12/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_a2dOwbDTVFNNZ
My second thought is if this body breaks i should be able to swap components to a new body, assuming they were in good order.
A remote controlled helicopter. Good ones are relatively cheap and they are endlessly fun.
Here's a good one, but cheaper on Amazon
Happy Birthday! I turned 31 a few days ago, and didn't get a card ON my birthday, since the mail is slow.
I don't need this at all either, but I'm still a kid at heart and "need" some toys.
I might suggest an indoor vehicle. I personally have these:
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1369769242&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=syma+s107g
http://www.amazon.com/Maisto-Lamborghini-Mucilage-Colors-Vary/dp/B003PBPHBS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1369769256&amp;sr=8-8&amp;keywords=maisto+rc
Great fun if you just wanna screw around inside :)
Here is the mobile version of your link
I was looking at this one. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013HQCK88/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458673210&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=syma+x5c+fpv+kit&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41to6J6rd4L&amp;ref=plSrch (sorry about the huge link) it seems to have good overall reviews. Ill look at the onenyou suggested though!
The only problem with 3ch helis is they have the controls reversed on the transmitter, so you'll end up learning the wrong way. If you're never planning on upgrading to "real" helis (4ch fixed pitch with swashplate, 6ch collective pitch with swashplate) then this won't be an issue and you can just buy the cheap ones and have fun. If this is the case I suggest something like a syma s107
If you want to learn the real control scheme (mode 2) then you can start with an easy double horse 9116 that will auto-balance when you let go of the control stick (thanks to the weighted flybar) which makes it a good beginner heli.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8499000606
The camera is kinda crappy. Like novelty crappy. It's pretty much unwatchable because there is no gimbal to stabilize the shot.
Have you seen this? It's pretty clever. The resolution is better and you get the advantage of flying with FPV. The price is right. Quality of recordings is so-so because again, no gimbal but otherwise it's not bad.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013HQCK88?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01
This same kit is on banggood, gearbest, and a few others. I spent 56 on an experiment. I am trying to mount it internally to lose the 8g shell
Here is a cheaper link sold by another store, fulfilled by amazon.
LINK
This is a little over budget, but what would you guys say about this one? http://amzn.com/B017BGDT12
Basically, it is capable of doing more things than other similarly priced helicopters. It is trickier to fly, but that's because it is doing less of the flying for you.
On something like the S107 (or other coaxial helicopters), if you stop giving it any inputs, it'll level itself out and just kind of sit there. The V911 (and other single rotor helicopters) will do less of that for you, so you have to learn more control. It'll help prepare you better for flying larger helicopters and (IMO anyways) will keep your interest longer because there's more you can do with it.
I personally went from the S107 to a Blade MSR-X, but the blade is probably more than you're willing to spend ($90). If this is your absolute first helicopter, the S107 (http://amzn.com/8499000606 for example) may not be a bad idea - it's less than $20 and will let you start learning how to deal with orientation.
Get the $20 syma indoor helicopters on Amazon. They are great and cheap. They only work indoors though. It’s great for beginners, it’s only 3 channel. Once you master it you can move on to 4 channel. Enjoy. I saw them at fry’s also, same price.
Syma S107/S107G R/C Helicopter with Gyro- Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F4WMAAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_filkDb5QFAWP8
There aren't good cheap helicopters. There are three channel dual main blade machines everywhere. I like the syma brand. Less than 20$ on ebay and they are as good as walmart gets. This heli will go up and down, turn and slow forward flight. http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107G-Channel-Helicopter-Gyro/dp/B00F4WMAI4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1418266749&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=helicopter
A nice step up from that is the blade mcx. It's still dual rotor, but a real helicopter. This heli will do exactly what you tell it, but still be extremely stable. http://www.amazon.com/Blade-MCX-Mode-2-mCX/dp/B001D7O6JK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1418266853&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=blade+helicopter
There really is $30 of difference between them. Good Luck.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8499000606 I saw this in the best 20 dollars you can spend thread yesterday. I am anxiously waiting its arrival.
?? Take it easy Killer, I'm not saying they don't exist, just that none I've ever had haven't had variable pitch. I had this, which is variable pitch and is 20 bucks. Calm it down.