Choosing Your First Radio Control Helicopter

Helidirect Beginner Series: How to Choose Your First Radio Control Helicopter

Choosing your first RC helicopter can be a challenge with all of the choices on the market. Which model is best? What size? Which radio? The options can be overwhelming. HeliDirect team pilots Jeff West and Nick Wisdom sat down to talk through their paths into the hobby, and what they would recommend to new pilots facing the many choices available.

0:00 Introduction
1:37 Flight Simulators
6:41 Micro-helicopters
15:20 Choosing a Transmitter
18:14 The Experienced Helper
24:10 Maintaining and Tuning
26:00 Learning on Your Own
31:00 Rescue Mode
33:30 Mid-size Helicopters
37:17 Closing

Have more questions? Drop them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.

Below you’ll find links to all the helicopters, radios, and simulators mentioned in the video.

Popular Radio Control Helicopter Simulators:

(an asterisk * = Nick and Jeffs Favorites)

Next Helicopter Simulator:
https://www.helidirect.com/products/next-cgm-rc-heli-flight-simulator-download-version

Accu RC Helicopter Simulator for PC or Mac:
https://www.helidirect.com/products/accurc-2-0-rc-flight-simulator-download-version

Micro Helicopters (in alphabetical order by brand)

Fixed Pitch:
Blade 120 SR
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/blade-helicopter-kits/products/blade-120-s2-rtf-with-safe-technology

Blade 150 FX
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/blade-helicopter-kits/products/blade-150-fx-rtf

Collective Pitch:
Blade Nano S3:
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/blade-helicopter-kits/products/blade-nano-s3-bnf-basic-with-as3x-and-safe

Blade 150S
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/blade-helicopter-kits/products/blade-150-s-smart-bnf-basic-with-as3x-and-safe

*Blade 230S
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/blade-helicopter-kits/products/blade-230-s-smart-bnf-basic

*Goosky Legend S2 RTF
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/goo-sky-helicopter/products/goosky-legend-s2-helicopter-rtf-blue-green-mode-2

*Goosky Legend S2
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/goo-sky-helicopter/products/goosky-legend-s2-helicopter-bnf-red-yellow

*OMP Hobby M2 Evo RTF
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/omp-helicopter-kit/products/omp-m2-evo-red-helicopter-rtf

*OMP Hobby M2 Evo
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/omp-helicopter-kit/products/omp-m2-evo-yellow-helicopter-bnf

*SAB Goblin Raw 420 (kit, not recommended if you don’t have local help as a first model)
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/sab-goblin-kits/products/sab-goblin-raw420

*SAB Goblin Raw 580 (kit, not recommended if you don’t have local help as a first model)
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/sab-goblin-kits/products/sab-goblin-raw-580-kit-white-orange-with-s-line-main-and-tail-blades

*XL Power Nimbus 550 (kit, not recommended if you don’t have local help as a first model)
https://www.helidirect.com/products/nimbus-550-kit-with-mini-servo-mount-blades-not-includes

Transmitters to Consider:

Radiomaster TX16S
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/aircraft-radio/products/radiomaster-tx16s-mkii-hall-v4-0-4-in-1

Spektrum NX8
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/aircraft-radio/products/spektrum-nx8-8-channel-dsmx-transmitter-only

Futaba 16iz
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/aircraft-radio/products/futaba-16iz-18-channel-fasstest-2-4-ghz-transmitter-no-receiver-heli-version-1

FR Sky X18
https://www.helidirect.com/collections/aircraft-radio/products/frsky-tandem-x18-transmitter-black

AMA Club Finder:
https://www.modelaircraft.org/club-finder

Any questions? Drop them in the comments below and our team will do their best to answer.