14-02-2017, 09:01 AM
Welcome Richard! I understand what you mean about life getting in the way of helicopter flying 
RC technology has really progressed in the past six years, and if your Blade 400 is of the older flybarred variety you might want to look into a flybarless (FBL) conversion. The heli will be cheaper and easier to fix after a crash because it has fewer moving parts in the head assembly, slightly more efficient because there's less metal and plastic rotating against air resistance, and better behaved in flight according to most pilots' preferences.
A quality FBL unit (the controller) will cost say $200, but there is also the question of whether anyone still sells an FBL head for the Blade 400.
FBL or not, it's all great fun and I look forward to watching your heli fly down at the field!
Andre
RC technology has really progressed in the past six years, and if your Blade 400 is of the older flybarred variety you might want to look into a flybarless (FBL) conversion. The heli will be cheaper and easier to fix after a crash because it has fewer moving parts in the head assembly, slightly more efficient because there's less metal and plastic rotating against air resistance, and better behaved in flight according to most pilots' preferences.
A quality FBL unit (the controller) will cost say $200, but there is also the question of whether anyone still sells an FBL head for the Blade 400.
FBL or not, it's all great fun and I look forward to watching your heli fly down at the field!
Andre