Which helicopter is better for the beginner?

[Sander]

I'm thinking of buying an ECO helicopter and wondering which is best for the beginner, the ECO 8 or Piccolo? Can I learn it to fly myself or need I profesional training?

[Aceman2000]

I bought the ECO-8 with the 16 upgrade as a begineer. It is a very flyable model...but these new motors are so powerful you can get into trouble very fast.

I had a lot of help from a local heli expert and luckily did not crash it. He flew it in his living room 2 feet from a 12 ft mirror.

Let me give you this caveat though. The ECO is a fragile machine and will not tolerate hard landings. Make your self a sturdy set of training gear and forget batteries for a while and train on a tether connected to a car battery. The tether and training gear will give a little stability and if you start to take off it will stop you.

If this model crashes under power upside down...you might have to re-kit.

FYI: I bought an excell .46 to learn on and only suffered minor mishaps despite incrediblbly hard landings....that would have destroyed the eco.

What kind of radio gear do you have? Invest in a good gyro too.

------------------
Robert Harker

"Facts are stubborn things"

"Flying is heavenly ...hovering divine...electric is ecstatic!

[Aceman2000]

PS: As a general helicopter rule--Bigger is always better to learn on. Especially in the wind!

[Sander]

In the meanwhile I bought and build the ECO8, I didn't fly it yet becouse I'm still waiting for my radio, a Futaba Field Force 8. I'm using the Mini gyro.
Thanx!