E-flite Blade CP RC helicopter

[The original CP talked about here has since been upgraded to the CP+,
please bare this in mind when reading this page]

The Blade CP rc helicopter (now upgraded to the Blade CP Pro) from E-flite is a great example of an electric rc helicopter that can be really flown, and isn't limited to hovering six inches off the ground.

Fully RTF, the sleek looking Blade CP is potentially a very agile 6 channel aerobatic (3D) helicopter (with the optional upgrade package), thanks to its electronic CCPM mixing abilities (Collective/Cyclic Pitch Mixing).

But even without the upgrade and straight out the box, the Blade CP is just about suitable as a first-time electric rc helicopter with care. It is very important to understand that radio control helicopters like this have a very steep learning curve, much harder than learning to fly an rc airplane.
If you are a complete beginner and choose to buy such a helicopter, get yourself a copy of John Salt's (rchelicopterfun.com) excellent ebooks Setup & Tips For Electric Collective Pitch RC Helicopters and 120 & 140 Degree Swashplate Setup & Levelling, both books will save you a lot of time and money!

The Blade CP rc helicopter will inevitably need some degree of checking over and setting up prior to flying it for the first time, but each and every model is test flown at the factory to ensure that the helicopter operates as it should.
A clear and precise instruction manual guides you step-by-step through every stage of flying the Blade CP, from unpacking the helicopters to taking to the skies. If you've never handled a radio control helicopter before (and even if you have!), carefully reading the manual before doing anything is of paramount importance and should give you all the basic understanding needed.

Incidentally, for a complete understanding of starting out in the radio control helicopter hobby, check out my popular ebook The Beginner's Guide To Flying RC Helicopters.

In true E-flite fashion , everything about the Blade CP rc helicopter represents good value. A 6 channel transmitter is standard which controls a 4-in-1 unit (found in similar electric CP helicopters). This tiny electronic unit is made up of the 6 channel radio receiver, the gyro and two electronic speed controls, one for the main and one for the tail motor.
There are 3 micro servos connected to the unit, to control all pitch movements of the rotors.

As mentioned earlier, the Blade CP can be upgraded to a fully aerobatic '3D' helicopter for advanced flying. This is a great option as it means that you don't have to change your helicopter to a different model as you progress up the learning curve.

Incidentally, the transmitter supplied with the Blade CP has the 'buddy box' function, whereby a second transmitter can be connected via a cable to permit one-on-one training with an instructor, if you prefer this kind of reassurance. That's a nice touch, and is rarely found on radio gear that comes with RTF models.

Blade CP features & specifications

These include...

Main Rotor Diameter: 20.8 in (528mm)
Tail Rotor Diameter: 5.8 in (148mm)
Length: 20.7 in (526mm)
Gross Weight: RTF with Li-Po battery, 10.5 Oz (298 g)
Motor Size: 370 main motor, N30 tail motor

In summary: the Blade CP is a very neat looking electric rc helicopter that fills all the requirements for a first-time advanced collective pitch (CP) rc helicopter.
Suitable for anyone looking for an electric helicopter that can be flown at a higher level once basic flying has been mastered. While not the cheapest model around, the Blade CP is certainly worth the (little) extra money if you're serious about enjoying your rc helicopter hobby.
Note - the Blade CP is now upgraded to the Blade CP+ for even better performance.

See the Blade CP Pro rc helicopter at Red Rocket Hobbies.