# Are there any decent r.c. airplanes or choppers for under $100? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625 "2010-11-23T03:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/1 "2010-11-23T03:27:48Z")
I’m thinking of getting one for my brother in law for Christmas or his birthday (a week before). I know that you can spend as much as you want for these things but what’s the least you would expect to spend for a decent one? And do you have any suggestions for a specific one? I have read that if you give one of these you should give an extra wing or other spare parts for when it crashes, which it will. Any other advice? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/2 "2010-11-23T16:01:36Z")
Electric: 200-300 for ‘‘decent’’. 50-100 for parts/power and must-have field equipment. Start here: [http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0093p?&C=AFA](http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0093p?&C=AFA) RTF = Ready to Fly (you need to charge batteries and go) ARTF = Need to install radio system and maybe motor, but kit is built (radio and/or motor needed to purchase and install) Kit = parts to build the craft, but you need radio and motor to be purchased seperately. I’d **definitely** go for a 2.4 ghz radio (because there are no channel conflicts until you have 100 flyers. Constantly scans for free channel. Just power up and go). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/3 "2010-11-23T16:15:33Z")
After messing with several inexpensive models I got a Blade CX for about $180 several years ago. I can buy any part I need for that, and upgraded parts were (are?) available. There were no parts available for cheap choppers. I’d think planes would need spare props and choppers would need spare rotor blades. A spare battery would be welcome as well. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/4 "2010-11-23T17:26:55Z")
I learned to fly with a hobbyzone mini super cub plane. Very sturdy. Can be had for approx 100 bucks (this includes everything you need to fly it) , ebay has the best deals. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/5 "2010-11-23T22:19:38Z")
Thanks for the input- I think I’ll wait until I can up the ceiling a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-decent-r-c-airplanes-or-choppers-for-under-100/561625/6 "2010-11-24T00:26:21Z")
That said, the Airhogs Havoc is a fun little copter for flying around the living room, and it’s pretty cheap.