SYMA RC Helicopters, S51H Distant Management Helicopter 2.4GHz Navy Military Toys for Boys Ladies Children with Altitude Maintain, One Key Take Off/Touchdown, LED Mild, Low Battery Reminder

Easy and Safe
I got this helicopter as a Christmas present for my eight year old son, and it was a winner. Syma’s coaxial helicopters have traditionally been extremely stable and easy to fly, and this AH-64 Apache version is no exception. In fact, this version takes that ease to an entirely new level with the inclusion of altitude hold and automatic takeoff and landing capabilities. Essentially, with this helicopter, the RC pilot mostly needs to focus on steering rather than making constant throttle adjustments, or figuring out how much throttle input is needed on takeoff and landing. This is because the altitude remains relatively stable throughout the flight, due to the altitude hold feature, and takeoff and landings are automatically given the appropriate throttle input with the push of a button.I have flown several different Syma coaxial helicopters for more than 10 years. In fact, I have the older version of this helicopter that lacked the altitude hold, and it’s a night and day difference between the two. My son took to this new version almost immediately, and has really enjoyed the experience. The scale model detail of the AH-64 Apache version is really quite nice as well, which adds to the experience. My son loved how real it looks.The other thing I really like about the newer Syma models is that they use actual radio transmitters rather than legacy infrared transmitters. On the earlier infrared versions I’ve flown, I used to occasionally experience signal loss or interference from LED lights or sunlight shining through the windows. However, this current generation of Syma helicopters have solved that problem by using 2.4 GHz radios for controlling the helicopter. I suppose even a 2.4 GHz transmitter could encounter interference, but I personally haven’t had any problems yet. The new features do add to the cost, but they are a welcome improvement compared with the older versions.All that said, nothing is perfect, and this helicopter does have some disadvantages. However, those disadvantages are fairly minor. First, the altitude hold, while very nice, is not perfect. The helicopter does not always maintain a fixed altitude during a flight. So, the pilot may occasionally need to make some minor throttle adjustments to avoid a coffee table, sofa, etc. Next, the automatic landing feature brings the helicopter down for a landing at a slow and steady rate, which makes landings simple. However, the descending rate is hard enough that the helicopter will bounce on landing, which does take away from the realism a bit. Again, it’s a minor quibble.Other things just to keep in mind. First, the blades do spin fairly fast, and they do sting if they hit your skin or a pet’s skin. They could cause eye damage as well, so be mindful when using them. The blades can also scratch leather furniture, TV screens, finished woodwork, etc., so you want to avoid crashing into these things or cover them with a blanket while flying. Lastly, Apache helicopter’s wing-like weapons hard points (places where the rockets and missiles are attached) can catch drafts and impact the flight characteristics. So, in a room with strong HVAC vents you may encounter “turbulence” if your furnace or air conditioning is running. This could be either a fun challenge or terrifying experience depending on the skill of your pilot 🙂 Some of the models that are more streamlined than the Apache version of this helicopter are less impacted by HVAC systems–although even these other models will experience some flight impact from any amount of wind or HVAC vents. Oh, and along those lines, these helicopters are nearly unflyable outdoors because any amount of wind will hinder flight.One other consideration is that the controls on these helicopters differ significantly from drones, fixed pitch helicopters, and collective pitch RC helicopters. So, it’s actually a little challenging switching from one of these Symas to another version of RC aircraft. Honestly, if you are planning to use these Syma helicopters as a trainer for a fixed pitch or collective pitch, they are actually not that great due to the control differences. If you are planning to start flying more advanced drones or helicopters at some point, you might as well skip one of these and purchase a fixed pitch helicopter that has altitude hold since the controls are so different. Those fixed pitch trainer helicopters are not significantly more expensive that these coaxial Symas, and they give a much more realistic flying experience and better preparation for more advanced RC systems. But, if you’re just looking for a fun, fairly realistic looking helicopter to fly around the house, these are a great choice.

Don’t waste your money
While this helicopter looks cool and it does have easy maneuverability..it is cheaply made and breaks easily. We got this for our son for Christmas and it lasted one day. It doesn’t hold a charge well at all. And the top blades now keep falling into the lower ones causing it to crash. We’ve troubleshot everything and even watched youtube videos to see how to fix it. Nothing worked.

Helicopter
Fun little toy lasted about 4 months before the battery wouldn’t stay charged for longer than a minute of flight. The lights on it are very bright. It is a good size for in the house. Easy to fly even for someone who never has