Setup Costs

Next Level Costs

Ongoing Costs

The other and probably the larger cost of the hobby, is the cost of replacement parts along with any spare parts that people often like to carry. No matter what size or type of helicopter used, it is generally the same parts that need replacing following a crash. These are:

Main Rotor Blades
Feathering Shaft (shaft linking the main blades together)
Main shaft (shaft connecting the helicopter head and blades to the main gain or motor)
Landing skids
Boom
Tail blades
Canopy

It will pay you dividends to check the prices of each of the items above before buying any helicopter of any size. Different manufacturers have very different cost models, and some often sell the helicopter kit as a loss leader in favour of ongoing parts revenues so charge a premium for items that are common to replace.

Below is a table comparing the current costs to replace all the common items listed above. The comparison is made across the models OMP M1, OMP M2, OMP M4, OMP M4 Max. We have used these models for the comparison as all of them can be flown indoor (less so the M4 & M4 Max). We have included the SAB Raw 700 to give a comparison of just how much more affordable indoor flight is when compared to flying a large (each main rotor blade 700mm) outdoor machine.

You would have to be incredibly unlucky to suffer a crash so severe that all the items in our list needed replacing in one go. A cost is provided for all parts both with and without a canopy. Canopies are not essential for flight and more about aesthetics and visibility. It is not essential to replace a canopy if scuffed or cracked.

As you can see, flying or rather crashing large 700 size (determined by length of main blade) outdoor helicopters aint cheap. The same crash for an M1 costing you £27.93 would have cost you a staggering £373.91 for exactly the same parts for a 700 sized SAB Raw, an increase in costs of 1,239%.

Flying large outdoor helicopters like the SAB Raw 700 is an experience to behold, but is it over 13 times the fun of flying an M1?

Based purely on the cost of our fictitious crash, we believe that large outdoor helicopters should be aspirational for the novice pilot. Once you have mastered basic to intermediate flight on a smaller indoor helicopter, only then consider moving to a larger outdoor machine. Get all the inevitable impacts out the way with a helicopter that is lightweight so bounces better, and has cheap parts.

If you are looking for RC helicopter clubs near you, please visit the BMFA (British Model Flying Association for a list of clubs in the UK.

If you are looking for advice on buying your first helicopter, please check out out types of helicopters used page.