http://www.xheli.com/shopbychannel.html

This site is cool, and has tons of different RC helicopters.

I just got a three channel.

Hahhahh! Cool; I'd always wanted a radio-controlled helicopter like that, ever since I was a kid; but the cost and other wants and needs always seemed to preclude it... Looks like an awful lot of fun, not to mention the potential for mischief!

I have a tiny, mini RC helicopter. Coolest little thing. I've looked, several times, at the larger guys.

Is this something you have gotten into? Be sure to look for copters that have extra stabilization. They can be really tricky when you first start out.

http://www.xheli.com/mi3chinfldoc1.html

This is the one I got. It is a 3 channel micro. It was only like $25.

I love it, it is small but it really flies forward and backwards well, left right, and can hover. Plus it has a bunch of cool lights. The one in this video isnt the same color though. Mine is black/grey. Pretty stable design.

But if I could go back, I would UNDOUBTEDLY have spent an extra 4 bucks ($28.00) and gotten this one:
http://www.xheli.com/90emmihumihe.html

This brand is WAY more powerful than the normal micro. Also it charges in the wall so you don't have to clown around with batteries.

They are pretty powerful for a micro, and are built sturdy. I think it could be dangerous around kids or animals.

I flew one this weekend. It can haul ass around the room.

Similar to mine. The problem I had is, it took me about an hour to set the trim. The room was fairly small and I kept hitting the ceiling. The throttle on mine is so touchy, it was either flying straight up, full speed, or it was off. When I finally got used to how much throttle to give it so it would hover while I set the trim, the batteries would be dead. So I'd recharge it, but then it would be more powerful and the spot I had set the trim to was no longer any good so I had to start again.

I eventually started setting the trim, "on the fly", if you'll excuse the pun. I've gotten quite good at flying the thing.

It's really led me to want to upgrade to a nice model. Something a bit bigger.

Well, check out some of the links I posted, or just browse the site I posted. There are TONS of choices.

I think that Double Horse one I posted about looks like about the best cluck for the buck. $28, it can't be beat.

I've only every owned the one mini-helicopter. Does the one you own suffer from the same issues mine has? Is it a bit of a chore to get it to hover? Do you need to continuously adjust the trim?

Well, it is a trick to get it to hover in 1 spot. With mine I can do it, but it is kind of a trick of balance between the backward control and the throttle.

I am assuming yours is a 3 channel, not the 2 channel that can only swing left and right.

For some reason stores simply do not sell the good ones. If you go to Target or Walmart, they only carry 'Air Hogs' (which was my first, and I loved it!). Not only are they SUPER expensive, but they are terrible quality and look cheap and stupid.

They have a 3 channel that looks like it is made of styrofoam and it is like $50 or something.

Mine is made of strong plastic and is designed to last. It also only cost half that!!

For $50-60 you can get an incredible helicopter from that site I posted. The Airhogs are the bottom of the barrel in quality, and the most expensive.

http://www.xheli.com/newtfualal3c.html

This one looks badass. It is made of aluminum alloy.

The air hog is made of styrofoam.

I just wonder why airhogs are the only ones at any chain stores. Seems like right now would be a perfect time to open a store that catered to RC helicopter crowd. Not one of those stores that sells the kits for $590 so you can build it for a year before you wreck it.

But that sells fully built working models. Like this website in a store. DUDE, that would be a success. These are too cool, and too cheap.

I want to probably get a 4 channel next. I am willing to spend around $100. When I am back in Taiwan I am sure I will find it, possibly cheaper because many of them are made there.

You can also get software that allows you to plug in your control to your PC via USB. They have simulator software so you can practice flying the copter before you actually fly it. That way you don't crash it 500 times the first hour. They are sturdy but if you have someone flying them who doesn't know about how to crash... Thats how they get ruined.

You kno, the rotor is just stuck in the carpet and the person keeps gunning it and bends the rotor.. Stuff like that.

Yeah, mine is a plastic, three channel. I did get used to the throttle for hovering and can hover quite successfully, but the trim is off. It tends to spin. I can adjust the trim all the way, one direction and it will be fine for about a minute, until the battery starts to drain a bit. Then, the trim is off and it starts to spin. Eventually, it spins so bad, it can't be flown.

I messed around with it a bit and I think it's just a cheap design. I was looking to replace it with another, miniature one and someday, get into the bigger, $150 two foot ones.