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Beginner RC helicopters

Helicopters that hold a hover for you while you learn. Every machine here is stabilised, ready to fly and stocked in the UK.

Ready-to-fly RC helicoptersFlywing RC helicoptersScale RC helicoptersAll helicopters

99 models81 in stock

Prices incl. VAT · Free UK delivery over £129.99
Buying guide

How to choose your first helicopter

A first RC helicopter should be forgiving. Twenty years ago that meant a cheap coaxial that could barely leave the living room. Today it means a flight controller that levels the aircraft the moment you let go of the sticks, and on the better machines a GPS that holds position against the wind. The models on this page all have one or the other.

At the cheaper end are small gyro-stabilised helicopters you can fly indoors on a wet evening. They cost less than a tank of fuel and teach stick orientation without consequences. At the other end are GPS-stabilised scale machines from Flywing and FLISHRC that look like the real thing, fly outdoors in a breeze and will still bring themselves back to a hover when you panic.

What you will not find here are fixed-pitch toys with no gyro, or collective-pitch 3D machines sold as beginner-friendly. Neither is, and we'd rather you came back for a second helicopter than gave up on the first.

Indoors or out?
Sub-100g gyro helicopters are indoor machines; anything with a 450-size rotor or bigger wants a field. If you only have a garden, start small and step up when you can hover reliably.
GPS is worth paying for
A six-axis gyro keeps the helicopter level. GPS also keeps it in place, which is the difference between drifting into a hedge and hovering while you work out what the sticks do.
Ready to fly means ready to fly
RTF boxes include the transmitter, battery and charger. PNP, PNB and BNF models assume you already own a compatible radio. Check the completion level before you buy.
Over 250g? Register
Any model over 250g needs a CAA Operator ID and Flyer ID in the UK. It takes ten minutes online. BMFA membership adds insurance and is the sensible next step.
Questions

Before you buy

Not answered here? Email hello@rc-helicopters.co.uk and a pilot will reply.

What is the easiest RC helicopter to fly?
A GPS-stabilised model. With GPS and a barometer the helicopter holds its position and height when you centre the sticks, so a beginner can learn one control at a time. Flywing's FW450L and FLISHRC's FL450 and FL500 ranges all do this. For indoor practice, a small six-axis gyro helicopter is the easiest and cheapest place to start.
Should I start with a coaxial helicopter?
Only if you want something to fly indoors for a few pounds. Coaxials are stable but they fly nothing like a real helicopter, and most pilots outgrow them in a week. A gyro-stabilised fixed-pitch micro or a GPS-stabilised scale model teaches habits that carry over.
Do I need a licence to fly an RC helicopter in the UK?
There is no licence, but anything over 250g needs a CAA Operator ID (for the owner) and Flyer ID (a free online test). Under 250g, neither applies. Most pilots also join the BMFA for insurance.
How long does it take to learn?
With a GPS-stabilised machine, most people are hovering confidently on day one and flying circuits within a few sessions. Learning to fly without stabilisation takes months, which is why we no longer recommend it as a starting point.
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