A face only a mother could love... A blind mother...

Hello! Welcome to my blog! My name’s Jeff. I’m your typical (some would say atypical) thirty-something guy from Northeast Ohio. I began my fascination with RC modeling as a young person of 10 or 11 with a Tamiya Grasshopper. Sure, I’d had small toy RC cars and such from Radio Shack prior to that, but this was y very first “real” RC model. I went through more sets of tires on that car than I can shake a stick at. Probably because I lived in the city and drove it around on the street, drifting all over the brick road rather than the dirt tracks it was meant for. I think I still have it somewhere…

Anyway, sometime after that, I started down the road to technology and general geekdom. As someone who’s always been fascinated by technology, I’m always on the lookout for any way I can combine tech with other hobbies. RC helicopters are at the cutting edge of the hobby, IMO and so I think it’s natural for me to be drawn to them. I was always intrigued by RC flight, and dreamed of one day flying an RC helicopter. Sadly, for a young person, the cost of RC helis was prohibitive, so several years ago, when I had reached a point where I could afford more toys, I opted to learn to fly fixed-wing models. Still, the draw of the RC helicopter kept poking at me. I was discouraged from pursuing it by some of the guys I flew with, who told me that RC helicopters were almost impossible to fly. The RC simulator was still in its infancy at the time. I had a copy of Dan Brown’s RC flight simulator, and I rushed out to buy a copy of RealFlight version 1.0 (which I still have), but the physics of those early programs was lacking and RealFlight didn’t even have helicopters in it.

As it often does, life happens, and I put my RC models away for a few years. I really wasn’t following the hobby for some time, and when I did come back to it a few years ago, I was amazed at how far things had come. With the advent of Lithium Polymer battery technology, manufacturers were able to design fast, light, and nimble electric aircraft, including helicopters! As I was dusting off my old airplanes, I decided to pick up a decent RC simulator and with it, I started playing around with helis for the first time. I went ot the hobby shop one day to pick up some parts, and an E-Flite Blade CX2 followed me home. I picked up the basics rather quickly (at least, as many of the basics as a coax heli will allow), and began looking for a collective pitch heli.

My first experience with an CP helicopter didn’t go so well. I picked up a Helimax MX450XS package from Tower Hobbies and the quality just wasn’t there. The fasteners were weak and any attempt at tightening or loosening them resulted in a snapped screw, which resulted in a wait for parts. I think the heli had about 5 minutes of total flight time on it, and its skeletal remains are sitting on my shelf collecting dust. With that disaster, I was beginning to become discouraged, but having read so many positive things about them from varius internet forums I went for a T-Rex 450 SE V2 as  my next heli. The difference between this and the Helimax (a re-branded Ark 400) was like night and day. I still have the 450 and fly it (well…sorta…It’s in a twisted heap needing repair at the moment) whenever I need a quick flying fix in the front yard.

A year ago, I decided to start writing down my thoughts on the various hobby-related products that I came into contact with and to share that information with others. As RC helicopters become more affordable to fly and repair, the stigma surrounding them is starting to disappear, but there is still a lack of accurate information available for newcomers. Websites like Helfreak, RCGroups and the like are setting the gold standard in assisting with educating those new to the hobby, and for providing a place for the “old timers” to hang out. I wanted to make my blog something useful as well.

My blog is a place where I can share the good and not so good points about any of the products I’ve used, models I’ve built and flown, and just general musings about the growing world of RC helicopter flight. Everything you’ll read here is based on my experience. I’m far from an expert in RC helicopters… there are plenty of guys out there that know more than I do, and even more who fly a lot better than I do, but I always have fun and strive to bring the most accurate information I can possibly bring. Just as I do at the flying field, I’m always willing to answer questions, or assist someone whenever I can. All you have to do is ask!

It’s my sincerest hope that in wandering through my blog, you will find something of interest; some useful information to take away with you and bring you back in the future. If I can help some folks to progress in the hobby, or to even just stick with it, I’ll consider this all worthwhile.

Thanks for reading, and don’t be a stranger!

-Jeff