Q: How long do they stay up

A: That varies, depending on the main power source (battery or Nitro fuel). In general, Electric (battery) will get from 4-7 mins, Fuel (nitro) will get anywhere from 8-12mins, Factors such as tuning and flying style is what makes these figures vary.

Q: How far do they go

A: Given you have good battery power and signal, they will go very high and out of sight before the radio loses contact, there is no point having control if you can't see it.

Q: How fast do they go

A: This varies, Some helicopters could get over 60km/h, and some types of planes can reach as fast as 200+ km/h.

Q: How fast are the blades moving

A: Blades can spin from anywhere between 1500-3000rpm, depending on the helicopters setup.

Q: How much do they cost

A: Firstly you need a transmitter radio (from $300), after that, the price for the actual helicopter varies, you can get some small electrics in the air from $400, though this hobby is very much "you get what you pay for". Buying cheap is very rarely the best option, buy quality, it will give you less frustration later on.

Q: What kind of mechanical experience do you need to build a heli

A: Little to none, all helicopters come with detailed instuctions, and if you have any problems, there is always experienced club members to help out. It is highly recommended that you have a experienced pilot look over and set up your helicopter before you attempt to fly it yourself.

Q: Whats harder to fly ?

A: Helicopters are quite a bit harder to fly than a plane, planes are more stable in the air, most helicopters require constant input to remain stable, but in saying that, anyone with basic hand - eye co-ordination can learn to fly a helicopter.

Q: How do you learn to fly

A: The best way to learn is through a club with experienced members, most people that try to set-up and fly a helicopter with little to no help usually fail, crash, and give up. The way the helicopter is setup, will make a HUGE difference in you progression. There are also certain training aids to assist beginners, like training legs and flight simulators, 2 popular simulators are Phoenix and RealFlight.

Q: What happens when you crash

A: You try to avoid crashing, but even the best pilots crash, it's part of the hobby - expect it to happen one day. Nearly all crashes in helicopters can be repaired, A helicopter is made up of hundreds of pieces, if you break a piece, you just replace that piece, the severity of your crash will depend on how many pieces you need to replace, most crashes will break skids, boom, blades and bend some shafts, all these parts are available as "spares" from hobby shops or online stores.