[RC Heli] How I got hooked on RC Helicopters

Devo 12S w/ case

Devo 12S?, Mini-cp? Well, if you have been reading my blog for some time this is definitely a post out-of-the-norm, but I think you should no longer be surprised to see posts about rc helicopters here. I caught the “heli mania flu” while I had free time on paternity leave last month (thanks to my wife and grandparents!). The darn sickness will not go away – all I think about is developing the skills necessary to fly like this guy! It all started when my wife bought our five year old a 20$ cheap ccoaxial toy helicopter from the local store. After setting it up, testing it out and quickly mastering how to fly without crashing within a day or two I started reading about rc helicopters all over the net and watching all the YouTube video I could until I decided to buy one for myself.

This my friends is how I ended up with the “heli mania flu” and it will not go away! Well, not yet at least. 🙂 Since my addiction I have purchased:

• 1 x Syma S107G
• 1 x SkyWalker Quatcopter
• 1 x Walkera Mini CP w/ Devo 12S
• 1 x Phoenix RC Simulator Software w/ Specktrum DX5e controller

It all added up to a pretty penny, but I will not complain – not all the money you spend will be for a good cause! I would not have bought the phoenix simulator with the dx5e, but it was said it would not work with the DEVO 12S without a special adapter which I also ordered. Well, my son how has in own 5-channel transmitter to practice. However, to my surprise the DEVO 12S worked fine with the Phoenix Simulator software without a single hiccup and without the special adapter I ordered. I was able to fly all model helicopters and planes.

I look forward to more posts on the DEVO12S since I am completely fascinated with it. I plan to post the setup up configuring Phoenix simulator with the DEVO 12S and how to update the firmware so it can fly with non-Walkera helicopters. I am still a noob at flying rc helicopters, but below are some really useful information that helped increase my knowledge about the hobby, though I still have much, much more to learn!

• RC Helicopter Fun
• Smarter Every Day – Helicopter Physics Series Intro – #1 – #7
• Walkera Manuals – Devo 12S, Mini CP
• Devo 7 and Phoenix Simulator
• Helifreak Fourms
• Countless Youtube Videos
• Even calling and “picking the brains” of the folks at Horizon Hobby!

For now I will stick with the simulator until I master my orientations, circuits, lazy-8s and all the other basic maneuvers. Let’s just say the mini cp will now be used for dissection. Either the mini cp is just too fragile or I crashed it way too many times! 🙂

Check out this 11 year old, Tal Roglit, fly the Raptor G4 E720.