Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / December 2005

I flew a friend's Venom Night Ranger II this past weekend (I fly a Raptor
50, my friend doesn't fly anything but got it as a gift and wanted me to try
it first), and the Night Ranger II is closer to a Blade CP than a Blade CX,
so I'll give you my impressions of the NR II as a data point for comparison
to what you might expect with a Blade CP (and no, I haven't flown the CX).

If you don't currently fly a heli (other than the CX) and haven't done time
on one of the simulators and gotten to the point you can hover, then you're
probably better off with the CX or with simulator time prior to a CP.

Flying the NR II wasn't a whole lot different from a control/skill
perspective than flying my Raptor.  It was twitchier than a Raptor which
made controlling it in a hover (calm day) a little bit tougher.  Flying
circuits wasn't too bad except it gets real small real fast as it gets
further away from you and its orientation becomes difficult to judge (first
step in the sequence that usually leads to a crash).  I did cartwheel it
into the ground once in forward flight and it survived with no broken parts
(which was nice - it would've been a $250 crash with my Raptor).

My recommendation to my friend was that he needed to get to the point of
hovering on the sim before he tackles trying to fly his NR II - otherwise it
will likely be an exercise in frustration.

My 2 cents worth.

Jim

I picked up a Blade CP the other day... I am not new to Helicopters. I used
to have a Baron 30 MX... Flew the old Baron without a GYRO.  Even with the
Gyro the CP is a Handfull.. Must be the ole Eye Hand Coordination is
lacking... My Son has one and he is already Hovering in a very large area
his second day... I can keep it in a 20x20 area in a light wind... Gotta
have the Carbon Fiber Blades, the wooden ones are too fragile... I can go
through one set every couple of hours...

Fubar

This is kinda funny.  I was at the LHS on 12/26 picking up some
electrics for a oamy biplane I'm building and the owner was up to his
neck in twisted up CPs..  LOTS of folks got 'em for Christmas and
promptly wadded them up shortly after opening the box.  He sold a LOT
of training gear in the hour and I half I was there.

Some guy from Northern CA was in the shop with a busted up airplane
(newbie RC guy)  and decided he wanted a helicopter.  Owner showed him
the CX and how easy is was to fly and then the CP.  The guy walked out
with a CP, a set of training gear and a couple sets of blades.  I
wonder if he's got any blades left.

I asked the owner's wife if it was a typical day after Christmas.  She
said it's usually the nitro car guys and the helicopter guys that come
in looking for parts and help...