Heliorb.com

Customer Video Review Length:: 1:54 Mins

I have had a number of RC toys. Helicopters, kit Planes, boats, cars, etc. I have never had a quad copter though. I have seen these around and they look so cool. It almost doesn’t seem like they should work. I was impressed at what was included. Of course you have the copter and a controller (there is some simple assembly required) but also included is a memory card for the camera, a USB card reader to view your videos with a usb card, replacement blades, and even a tiny screwdriver to help with assembly. I was skeptical of the video quality but it really is pretty amazing and you can get some super cool shots. This is stable in the air and flies well but there is definitely a learning curve. I would suggest a wide open space. With a light flying craft there is also a decree of fragility. Don’t get me wrong, it is well constructed, but a blow or twist the wrong way would probably not be good. The included charger charges the Lithium Ion battery in about an hour and provides 10-15 minutes of flying time. While it can fly when the air is moving it can be challenging and in some cases it struggled to fly against an oncoming wind. That is pretty much common sense.

My 8yo son was dying to try this and while I think some would be tempted to get this as a kids toy I would suggest against that. This is a daddy toy. Honestly it has delicate and potentially fragile parts and you need someone old enough to recognize that and respect that.

There are lights on the underside to let you know which portion is the front and rear of the craft even in the dark. The controller pairs easily, has controls for the camera to use video or photos. There is also digital trim controls on the controller to fine tune the craft if it is drifting in the wrong direction. There is a flip button that makes the ship to really cool tricks effortlessly. Also an easy button and controls to slow the responsiveness of the quadcopter to make flying it more stable and easy.

I have played with this over the weekend and am just starting to get the hang of it. There is a learning curve. THat being said the challenge is a blast. This is a great entry level quad copter that is sure to please. Full disclosure, this was provided to me by the seller to review. If you have any questions please leave a comment and I will gladly reply. Thanks!

Update 9/16: I have played with this guy nearly every day since I got it. I have had a couple of close calls fishing it out of trees and had to get it off of my roof but it is still going strong. A couple of pointers; The record function is awesome but for the file to save you have to stop recording as well. This took me a while to figure out. Also I have periodic issues syncing the controller to the quadcopter. The best indicator I have found that it is ready for pairing is the led lights underneath. When they stop quick flashing and turn steady you can power up the controller to sync the two.

Update: 10/5: Boy the review trolls are out in force. Not sure why I have 30 not helpful votes. Either way, this is still working out well for me. I have had it stuck in a tree and managed to knock it down without damage. I have had some issues with pairing the controller with the drone but typically get it without a problem. The loop button is pretty neat and works well. You press it and wait (maybe the drone stabilizes first) it then does a flip although the flip doesn’t happen immediately. With the camera I think the quality is impressive for what it is. I did realize that for the video files to save you need to stop recording prior to ejecting the SD card. Also my sd card reader that was included died but that wasn’t a big deal for me. I wound up getting more batteries and a quad charger for this and the extra batteries and flying time is nice. I did decrease my rating to 4 stars because the card reader died and also because of the periodic pairing issue. Aside from those gripes this really is a cool little quad copter that is tons of fun.

10/21/15 Update: I finally figured out the loop function. You have to press the button and then press on the directional stick. The direction you press is the direction the quad copter flips. You can do one after another. I have also let go of control and allowed my son and some of his friends to play. They did ok but we were in an open soccer field and I had to stay nearby to cut the throttle if they lost control. The quadcopter is super stable and my son enjoys just tossing it in the air to launch (must be upright) then hitting the throttle and watching it catch itself. I have had it pretty far away and am impressed with the range.

WOW! I have has several small remote control helicopters! that cost as much as $40-$50. but this little Quad blows them away. I have never had so much fun with a flying R.C. as I have with this! the instructions and remote are easy to learn. after I figured out that the most important step is to turn on the drone and remote with the drone sitting on the most level surface possible “It has a self calibrating and gyroscope.” By my third flight it felt as if I had almost mastered the controls, The average battery ran from 7.5 minutes on the first flight using the video capture the whole time. to over 10 minutes only taking a few snap shots. The camera is mounted on the battery door and is done so in such a way that with the removal of a few screws and simply unplugging the lead you could fly without the extra weight of the camera if wanted. The trick mode is awesome, bump the trick button and flip the control stick in any direction and the Quadrcopter will do a barrel roll/360 degree flip in that/any direction. before ordering I did lots of research and for my first this has far exceeded my expectations especially for the price. when I ordered I also ordered a repair kit for all the landing gear, bumper gear. props. motors, and gearboxes for less than $10.00, I also ordered a 4-battery and charger kit. for less than $18.00 so for less than $80.00 I have an awesome toy great for an afternoon of entertainment! also was able to install a video player through the Google App store and plug the micro S.D. card directly into my smart phone and watch the video instantly in the field !!