Quick question, I wonder if anyone else has the same childhood dream as me.
I am quite old now, but since I was a child my dream of flying a helicopter has never died away. I was never granted enough income, or another opportunity to learn how to fly, and now that I am blessed with my lovely kids and wife, the dream to fly a real helicopter has all but been eaten away
But, a remote control heli is still within my sights. Not one of those tiny rattly ones, a high end electric one, with rotors about 40-70cm long, and that can be controlled like a real one (and hence, as close as possible to my dream..)
Until I came to Switzerland, I was in a very big city, where it would have been impossible to find somewhere to fly a remote control helicopter, but around me now, I have fields all around! Its a great area.
Does anyone know of what would be the best way to get into this (I dont speak German, which could make things hard..), and where I could go to buy one, or get to know others who have and fly them? Where do people do this sort of thing around Basel..?
Does anyone else have a childhood dream that they realised (sort of) as an adult? Please share your story!
I can't help with the model, but I might be able to help with the dream... see
this thread from earlier this week.
I can't help you with the logistics of finding one, but I do encourage you to do so. Keep in mind that if you get something 'serious', and not one of the toys seen at every flea market nowadays, you are entering into a hobby. The flying will be but a portion. Soon you will be a member on helicopter model forums, subscribed to magazines, constantly upgrading. Friends will be alienated and replaced with new, obsessed ones. I'm only slightly joking .
Hahah.. yes, I know. This is what hobbies do to men somewhat. But, we need our interests don't we. I just have to find a way to juggle it with the family activities. I don't have too many friends anyway (in Swiss) so it might be a good way to make one or two..
Thanks for the replys.
Hi, I have a few petrol engined planes in the UK which I was thinking of bringing over, I have all the RC gear and servo's etc. I was also thinking of moving to helicopters once I get into my new appartment.
I will let you know if I find a hobbie shop, cheers!!
the conrad stores in Emmen (Luzern) or Dietlikon (Zuri) spring to mind. Or just order it online ? I one ordered a small Picolo from Ikarus direct on their website (
http://www.ikarus-modellbau.de/ ), they have a cool Eco 8, electric chopper with 1 meter rotor and all the control like the real thing. Check out the video on this site:
http://www.ikarus-modellbau.de/onlin...tz-ohne-Motor/ .
There is a shop that sells that stuff in Baar. I'm there today so can have a look for ya.
There is a largeish model shop in Binningen on Hauptstr. 95a (although the shop front is in fact behind the house block) that are specialists in large remote control helicopters - only a token one or two cars/planes on display.
They are called Helischop Kissling and are easy to get to on the number 2 tram. I've passed shop many times on cycle rides and often stop for a bit of window shopping .
The online shop can be found: http://www.e-helishop.ch/shop/index.php
Pat
CCHI- I think there is a model store shop at St. Johanns-Ring and Missionstrasse where Trams 1 and 3 stop at Burgfelderplatz in Spalentor/Kannenfeldpark. You will see the BKB on the corner, across from the Domino's pizza and Denner. Walk past the BKB on your right as you walk down St. Johanns-Ring, and the store is immediately on your right (I think!).
I am not sure if they sell the big "real" model helicopters but they have an impressive looking one in the window!
Good luck,
Hotspur
I see you are in Basle, so probably not that relevant to you, but there is also a shop in Zurich by Central if you are passing that way. It is in the street with the New York Deli - Stampfenbachstrasse. It is in the road next to the UBS if you are standing in Central. I used to pass it everyday and think about getting one or a remote control car.
Just remembered another one.
Just behind the SBB on Dornacherstrasse is a great model shop called "Modelbau Schleiss" ( http://www.schleiss-modellbau.ch/ ). Their website says they do 'copters, but the shop window normaly has large planes in it.
But I would try the shop in my previous post first, as the guy who runs it also has a website for is flying and club, so would be able to give you some advice about how/where to fly and not just the costs.
Pat
I think there is another one in Glattzentrum by Qualipet.
Thanks for all the replies. I will check these out over the weekend.
Does anyone actually own a rc helicopter? I have never seen people flying them in Switzerland..
I used to fly them about 5 years ago, great fun but very expensive and not exactly a relaxing pursuit. The analogy I've used before is that its like trying to keep a marble in the centre of a plate. A helicopter is inherently an unstable platform, if you take your eye off it for even a second it will fly off with alarming acceleration. In addition I spent most of my time on the flying field fixing issues, trimming the heli, making small adjustments to the pitch/throttle curve, taking it up/down and then re-adjusting etc... rather than just flying and enjoying the experience.
So in the end I sold up and moved to planes, and couldn't have been happier. You arrive at the field, fuel the plane up and you're ready to go. Any trim adjustments can be done in the air and the beauty of planes is that even if the wing is missing a chunk it will still fly, I used to have gaffa tape in my flight box which I used for about 60% of all repairs . You have no such tolerance with a heli, a loose nut or a small nick on a rotor blade will bring it down with a crash.
I hope I haven't put you off, but just be aware that flying helis is not for the faint hearted. I would definitely recommend you find a local club and see if they have instructors. Book a few hours with "his" machine and see if its something you think you could do. They usually work on a buddy system where you both hold a radio, but his over-rides yours in case you make a mistake. In addition he may be aware of people with equipment for sale, or point you towards a good shop. One thing to be aware of is that you want a model most people here fly since getting spares will be a major issue.
Good luck
Great advice, thanks Castro.. Now you have me thinking. Planes could be the way to go, but my dream...
They fly model helicopters and planes round by me all the time. There is even a little runway that seems to be the main area of activity
http://map.search.ch/oberaegeri?x=6339m&y=1290m&z=1024 .
Give them a call at FRS (Fernseher Reparatur Service) Hardturmstrasse 307
8005 Zürich
Telefon: 044 272 14 14
The guy sells helos as a side interest, from indoor twin-rotor to full-axis
outdoors (electric and i/c) . He's not always there so would defo call first.
.
You can have both since you only need one Radio control unit and one flight box (fuel pump, starter, glow plugs etc..) between the two.
So you can start with a plane and just make sure the radio (the biggest cost) is suitable for later use with helicopters. A plane only need 4 channels (throttle, elevator, rudder and aileron) but a helicopter needs at least 6 channels (throttle, collective pitch, rudder, elevator, aileron, gyro gain etc..). Therefore future proof yourself by getting a 6 channel computer radio that has heli and fixed wing modes.
That was of course a typo, and you really meant antitorque and cyclic,
didn't you
.
try getting a spread-spectrum 2,4GHz radio. This removes all the complications of having to make sure nobody else is using your channel.