Like most guys that have recently gotten into RC helicopter flight, I started out with a simple little IR controlled El-Cheapo helicopter called a PicooZ (also known as the Air Hogs Havoc). These little helis are nice and inexpensive, but leave a lot to be desired in the way of flight performance. Still, their small size gives them the ability to fly in the living room and that makes them a LOT of fun.

I then moved up to a heli that’s well sutied to beginner, the E-Flite Blade CX2. This is a coaxial helicopter and the inherent stability of the coaxial makes them excellent for beginners. They also are not as capable as a single-rotor fixed or collective pitch heli. Coaxial helis are still a lot of fun, though the Blade CX2 is a bit too large to fly in the living room for anything more than a hover. Outdoor flight is not the best with this heli either, because it tends to get blown around quite a bit in anything but the lightest of winds. I soon moved past the Blade CX2 and on to a CP heli, my T-Rex 450.

Since moving up to .50 class nitro helis and beyond, I found myself wishing for a living-room helicopter again. I was really excited (as were many others) when I read about the new release from E-Flite / Horizon: The E-flite Blade mCX (Micro-CX). Unfortunately, I’d have to wait a good long time (at least for an impatient guy like me) for the heli to actually be released. What made matters worse was that the E-Flite guys had them on display at IRCHA (not for sale) and wouldn’t commit to a release date. DOH! After about a month and a half, they finally started to show up in limited numbers to hobby shops and online retailers. My LHS sold out before I even knew they had any, so I ordered one from Ron’s Heliproz South and had it in three days with free shipping. Thanks Ron and gang!

The Blade mCX BNF (Bind 'N' Fly)

Underneath the thin, lightweight, and delicate plastic canopy is the frame, which is a very lightweight plastic skeleton, and a square carbon-fiber tail boom supporting a small plastic fin rather than the full-fuselage of the CX2. The battery slips into its place under the frame, and a pigtail plugs into it from the 5-in-1 board. The helicopter ships complete with an alkaline battery powered drop-in charger for this single-cell LiPo battery.

The helicopter comes in two models: The Blade mCX RTF and the Blade mCX BNF (Bind N’ Fly). The helicopters themselves are the same in each version, but the RTF comes complete with a 2.4 GHz Spektrum DSM2 transmitter (4 channel) whereas the BNF allows you to use your existing DSM2-type radio to control the heli. The RTF is about 30 dollars more than the BNF. Since I already have a DX7 transmitter, I chose to go with the BNF and save a few bucks. The BNF is designed for use only with Spektrum transmitters using the newer DSM2 technology, so it will work with the DX5e, DX6i (NOT the DX6, which isn’t DSM2), DX7, JR X9303, and JR 12X transmitters.

NOTE: It’s been suggested that I mention that the Blade mCX will also work with the Stock Blade CX2′s LP5DSM transmitter, but you will need to reverse DIP switches 6,7, and 8 as they are the opposite from the mCX. Thanks, Miller Time!

Next: What’s In The Box / Initial Impressions