And if you're trying to avoid buying something from China - in this case you can't. Seriously - Almost every damn bit of RC stuff is made in China even by the Japanese manufacturers.

There is stuff made in the US and Europe but not as much as I would like.

Damn you! I really didn't need to be parted with 60 bucks....

What did you pay for shipping from that place?

I used that link for the quality pictures - I actually got mine for $34 each including shipping.

I got mine from 'bigsaleonline' on ebay. Took less than a week to get to me.

Zis one Mike?

New BETTER Version 3CH channel RC Mini Helicopter 9120G - eBay (item 110497739131 end time Mar-22-10 21:00:19 PDT)

dunno if anyone mentioned it...invest in a training stand.

No, not that one - this one

Also, there are other versions - like the S105 - you do not want this version (I have one). It doesn't have a gyro so it is very hard to control.

The 107 is like a rock.

You could spend $100 or more on an mCX or Novus CX (don't get the Axe, it's old) but they are harder to fly (though still easy for an adult) and are much less durable than the ones I am showing you.

Mike, can you get parts for the Syma? When something breaks I'd like it to be repairable.

You can't usually get pats for these little ones but they don't cost that much. I just bought parts for my nano sized heli and the total was the same as one of these Syma's. Just consider it a rung in a ladder. Once the learning has been done and the bird is worn out, then you can decide to buy a more advanced helicopter if the child is ready for it. My 12YO is nervous with the Novus CX and he has a ton of hours on the AirHogs.

I have a similar dual rotor that I got a couple years ago. I have repaired it twice after the dog knocked it down by making new tiny parts from aluminum and carbon fiber..... kind of fun to tinker with.

I found quite a few parts on ebay

I have 2 extras for spare parts, one is the S105 I mentioned, it is mechanically the same as the 107 but the logic board does not include an accelerometer (Gyro).

I have seen people get parts for them but I have never had to myself.

Here is a thread on rcgroups.com about the birds:

Syma s107 Helicopter - RC Groups

SO.....no one has a Vario ? (Benzine Trainer ) 23cc gas engine I think......

No. Nobody.

the only gas heli i've seen at the field has been a 50cc camera ship. Everything else is electric or nitro. People mostly fly Trex helis by Align at my field.

50cc is pretty HUGE !

How about a turbine heli?

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definitely get a simulator like realflight. It is the best way to practice for sure!

Would love a turbine........$$$$$$$$$$$$$ BUT WOW on the price tag

The guy who owns it did a presentation on the bird at our January club meeting. He got that bird used for a bargain of around $7000.

You bastards...got me all focused on this and stopped at the hobby store on the way home and bought a freaking Novus CX (preparing for the races you know...)

Alright, you sold me. I'm getting one for my son.

I'm getting one for me...

Oh and what kind of RC Helo's does radioshack sell? The pharmacy I just got a job at has a radioshack that I will have to work some... they always have a few of the latest toys out on display....

Get 3! One for you and one for parts!

I stopped in a radio shack a few weeks ago looking for these or something like them. I didn't see anything but crappy 'surface' toys.

You should get a commission.:D

When I was a kid Radio Shack always had great R/C stuff that was much higher quality than the typical Wal-Mart junk. Now it's no better.

I should but I won't.

I got that Novus and 4 channel birds can be a lot more difficult than the 3 channel birds. The roll screws me up and mine seems to be suffering from 'Toilet Bowl Effect.'

I figure I'll get my son the Syma to play with, then somehow spin that into getting a bigger one in a few months for myself. Easier to justify spending a few hundred in the interest of father/son quality time.;)

Hmm....that's what I do... SmileWavy

Isn't it great when they get old enough to enable your hobbies as well? My son's spring activity? Golf with dad!:D

I do Radio Control Airplanes primarily - my oldest isn't quite there yet but he's been participating quite a lot. I let him try to fly but he generally aims for the ground. He does it in the simulator too. He laughs a lot when he does it - it is entertaining.

My youngest is about 18 months (I only have the two) and he LOVES the indoor helicopters. He will sit down right next to me on the floor while I fly them. When they crash (and they do) he will go pick it up and bring it over to me.

Novus can take a bit more of a beating than I expected.

Matt wait till he gets bug enough for cars. My dad and I spend money on autocross in the name of father son time

Mikester, what Novus do you get?

Too late. He's already told me to buy an old car so we can "break it up and put it back together". He also has a go-kart that he's damn good on, my driveway looks like a skidpad. I'm so proud.....:D

I got the Novus CX - I'm not ready for a real helicopter.

Heck, I barely like 'em.

I got bit by the r/c stadium truck bug over the past year, since we have a killer off road track about 30 seconds from my house.
Been racing in a stock corr truck series and kicking ass, good fun.
I was into nitro planes years ago and have been thinking of getting something electric airborne once I get some life things in order.....
We were at a friends private track a few weeks ago and a friend brought out his 3ft prop span elec copter and was doing some pretty amazing things with it.......cool stuff ;D

I ordered a Syma S107 for the boy, I'll report back after his b-day on 3/18.

I'm trying to remember to order one tomorrow.... I don't have my own ebay account and with no credit card its just easier to get dad to order stuff.....

I got my son an AirHog last weekend and he LOVES the friggen thing. It's the one that shoots missiles although he is not too into that feature - he just loves to fly it and is really good already. I am surprised that it has survived the learning-curve crashes. Seems like they are more durable than the ones I recall from years ago.

I showed him some of the youtube videos and may now have sparked off a new hobby for him to grow into. There are certainly worse things he could get interested in...

There are certainly cheaper things he could get into too.