Blade mCX2 radio controlled helicopterWhen I first flew the original Blade MCX, I was amazed at its’ ease of control, overall stability and durability. I have flown a wide variety of helicopters and the MCX quickly became one of my favorites – that is until now. Eflite has managed to improve upon the original MCX and has upped the anti on, what I believe is the best overall value for the money, for the entry level flyer that wants more than the toy models sold in the malls. Yes I’m talking about fun, customer support, parts availability and overall durability.

The engineering is outstanding, as the unit includes a 4-channel transmitter which employs spread spectrum technology. This minimizes susceptibility from other potential nearby fliers.  It has a sophisticated gyro mechanism that provides outstanding stability and it can be taken apart and put back together in a matter of minutes using the provided Phillips head screwdriver. The dual counter-rotating blades eliminate adverse yaw arising from single blade designs and also eliminates the need and complexity of a tail rotor.  This is a terrific helicopter for those that want to spend more time flying than tinkering.

 Combined with the same advanced, small and lightweight lithium polymer batteries, used in the original MCX as well as other flying superstars such as the company’s Vapor radio controlled airplane. What makes this unit even better than its’ predecessor is a new multi-colored body that sports flashing lights along with what appears to be even better stability and performance.

 Everything needed for a rewarding first flight is right in the box, which also serves as a highly functional case with room for additional batteries. Getting to the first flight is quick and easy:

  1. Read the instructions, paying close attention to safety-related information. (Always make sure that the transmitter is turned on first and that the helo battery is disconnected before the transmitter is turned off).
  2. Insert four AA batteries into the transmitter.
  3. Charge the helicopter battery in the nicely designed charger which uses an additional 4 AA batteries to charge the helo batteries. Note that the charger does not need to be plugged into the wall – making recharging very convenient.
  4. Turn on the transmitter.
  5. Insert and connect a fully charged battery into the mCX2.
  6. Wait for the 5-in-1 control unit to initialize and arm (a few seconds)
  7. You are ready to fly.

 Clearly, much design ingenuity is required for such a small, lightweight helo. Yet, one can immediately see that the mCX2 design is of very high quality. Another remarkable aspect of the unit is seen in the mCX’s “crashworthiness”, which is quite good.  While it is easy to fly, “learning-related crashes” are inevitable. Yet, in several months of flying, I have experienced no significant damage nor any need for major adjustments even though I’ve hit walls, furniture, and other objects. After a crash, just pick it up, set it on a level surface for take-off, and you are ready for the next flight. Such damage tolerance is truly remarkable and much appreciated. 

Flight duration is about 8-12 minutes, I strongly recommend purchasing extra batteries as they are relatively inexpensive and do require a certain degree of care (such as not letting them run totally out of juice). A typically discharged battery takes about 15 minutes to charge, so you can fly almost continuously.

Important note – this helicopter is very lightweight (less than one ounce) and is optimized for enjoyment indoors in the absence of any breeze. Even flying too close to the air conditioning outlet will cause the aircraft to react strongly and will require compensation.

The unit is available in a bind and fly configuration for those that already have their own transmitters as well as in a ready to fly version that includes everything you need including the transmitter, batteries, charger, etc.

I love my mCX but I like my mCX2 even more. The flashing lights add a level of reality that makes flying a joy. It is fun to watch, fun to fly and won’t break your wallet in the event of unexpected turbulence (or a push to the right when you should have gone left). It is not priced like the cheap mall disposables because it isn’t.

Have fun!

Retail/ Street Prices  –   $119.99/ $  89.99  Bind and fly

                                                $159.99/ $119.99. Ready to fly

http://www.e-fliterc.com/