i am now a heli pilot

E-Sky Lama 2 Coaxial Helicopter

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=594

using the 10% off first order coupon code ( 9aa7ac ) and free shipping it came to $116.99. this is everything. rtf. control and everything. i got both of my brother each one for solstice (yes i am a damn hippy) too.

the first "flight"

http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_33.asf

these are more of the same. i am not kidding about being similar. i just want to have the whole series here. lots of ground effect going on.

http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_37.asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_39.asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_41.asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_43(2).asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_43.asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_15_33.asf

the best flight of the videos. i actually kinda hover for a bit.

http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_12_22.asf

more of the same scoot'n

http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_12_25.asf
http://z425.com/videos/video_2005Dec08_21_12_29.asf

janel got bored of cameraing at this point, but i did manage a couple of good 10-20 second hovers later on. omg. it was awesome.

i've attempted the rc helis a couple times over the years. it was always half-assed attempts because of lack of funds or just plain shitty beginner helis from back then. this one actually worked and i "flew" a whole battery without breaking it. crazy.

i'm hoping to get up to speed with this one and move onto a nicer collective pitch heli (still electric). what i'd really like to do is make one of these puppies autonomous. there is a whole community of very rich people that build rc autonomous vehicles.

btw. if you've never seen how crazy a rc heli can be, check these out. these are gas helis, but the electrics are getting there in performance now.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=rc+helicopter+ircha

btw2. if you want to see one of these lama2's actually flying (besides soon from z425), you can find a video here..

http://hobby-lobby.com/cocolama.htm (damn, x360'd, they keep raising the price, their forum pre-sale special offer that i just barely missed from them was for $99)