Syma S108G 3.5 Channel RC Helicopter with Gyro

I'm writing this review for the Syma s107g, s108g ands111g helicopters.I gave all 3 of these choppers 5 stars for their class of 3 channel helicopters. My first helicopter was a copy of the 107. It was nearly an exact replica. I had fun with it but at the time I had no idea what a piece of junk it was compered to a real Syma.The Syma 107g is the easiest to control and the most likely to survive a crash. Mine came with the spring on the throttle. This is the best for beginners because all you have to do is let go if you are about to crash and the throttle will shut it's self off.The Syma 111g is also pretty durable. Flying it is fairly easy to control but it's a little twitchier than the 107, especially the throttle. It's also a little lighter so it flies longer unless you are maxing it out and it has more power.Next up is the Syma 108g. This model is very twitchy and by far the hardest to fly. It's small body makes it possible to fly in light wind and it will fly much further into my fan then either of the other two models.You wont be happy with the 108 model unless you've mastered the 107 or 111. If you are really serious about rc choppers though I recommend only buying the 107 to learn the basics and then upgrading to 4 channel helicopters. If you can hoover or keep the 107 in the air for 30 seconds to a minute and keep from crashing under power then you are ready to upgrade to 4 channel. At 43 dollars the V911 is by far the best 4 channel helicopter for the money. It is frustrating to switch from 3 to 4 channels because the controls are all different... Flying 3 channel helicopters is fun but flying the V911 outdoors full throttle under (semi) control for my first time this morning was a total rush! I will probably not fly 3 channel's at all anymore unless I am demonstrating or teaching friends.UPDATE: I just got my first quadcopter. These things are more durable, easier to fly and way more fun than the v911. The model I purchased was the Syma X1. It's harder to fly than any of the 3 channel copters I reviewed but well worth the extra cost and effort. It also can handle quite a bit of wind when it's in mode 2. I begin by facing into the wind and flying into it as well. That way when I get in trouble I only need to let go of the direction and control the altitude and the wind will bring it right back to me no matter what direction the copter is facing every time. Great toy for the money. It makes the 3 channel syma's look like the toys they are. I doubt I will ever buy any more 3 channels or v911's. There are several different canopy's on the x1. I wanted the bee because the bright yellow looked like the easiest to see plus I saw a video of a guy doing cool tricks with is, but wound up buying the space ship because it was cheaper. This week the bee is on sale so I ordered one of those. All the x1's are the same and you can just pop off and on whatever canopy you want. I think there is a new and old style battery though but that they are interchangeable as well.

I've just recently gotten into the mini RC helicopter world, but man, these things are a blast. Yes, they are only good for 4-10 minutes, then you have to recharge, but those 4-10 are a fun. I am quite amazed at how easy they are to control, how sturdy they seem to be and how great they look for under $30.I now have two of the copters and I'll give you my impressions. First, they both are Syma, which from reading other reviews and experience, seem to be the best or near best for this entry level (less than $30) item. My brother bought a different brand and model from Sears, it is almost impossible to fly. It needs constant trim adjustments, so anything beyond just up and down is tough to do. Based on that experience and my experience with the 2 Syma models I purchased, I'd be very hesitant to recommend anything other than a Syma.The first helicopter I bought based on reviews mostly, but also talking with some friends who had purchased rc helicopters, was the Syma S108G. It is modeled after a Marine Cobra and looks excellent, a very cool looking helicopter, IMO. The remote has 3 channels (A, B, C). I call this out, because my second purchase, the Syma S102G (modeled after an Army Blackhawk), has 2 only channels (A, B). Not sure why there is a difference, since other than that, the remotes appear exactly the same. I have a sneaking suspicion that the quality control varies widely among these "cheap" rc's so I wouldn't be shocked to purchase another S102G and end up with a 3 channel remote (again, just speculation on my part). For me, having only 2 channels might be an issue, since my daughter (12) and father (65+) have also been bitten by the mini-helicopter bug (so that will be 3 of us flying these things around at times), so that 2 channel remote may become an issue.On to comparing the Syma S108G & Syma S102G. First, there is not a huge difference between the two and I suspect that the differences I`ve noticed have to do with quality control and may not hold true to every S102G & S108G, but here's what I've noticed. The S102G seems to be more stable. The body is more "boxy" and might weigh just a bit more, maybe that comes into play? TheS108G seems slightly more responsive, but that also means it can get out of control pretty quick if you aren't real smooth on the remote. The S108G feels like it is faster, but we're talking barely. The S102G is easier to land in a tight spot or more accurately, as the S108G tends to "float" or rock back and forth when you go from flying forward to hovering. I like the look of the S108G better, but that just a personal preference, as both look great. I had both for a little while now and both have hit the wall, floor, table, etc. pretty hard with no signs of damage. Just for reference, my 12 yr old daughter can fly these just as well as I can, my 10 yr old has more trouble. You do have to be able to make very subtle changes and adjustments when you are flying to keep from shooting into the ceiling or wall. The S102G lasts a bit longer per charge (about 8-9 minutes) than the S108G (4-6 minutes), but I suspect that this is more "luck of the draw" than anything else. If I had to only pick one of the two, I'd probably go with the S102G, but it's a real close call.One note when I compared it to the Sears purchase, the Syma have a spring loaded throttle stick, so when you let off, they return to "off", the Sear model has a free floating throttle, so it stays wherever you put it. I think I like that feature, and might see if there is a Syma model that has it. The Sears model also has the trim control on the top right of the remote and you use your index finger to adjust it, which is much easier than the single dial stick in the center of the remote like the two Syma models. Again, it seems as though the Sears was better designed than the Syma, but it was still almost impossible to fly. So even with what appear to be better features on the Sears helicopter, my next purchase will still be a Syma.Hope this review helps you in your search, I do plan to buy another Syma (maybe the Coast Guard looking model), I'm curious to see how it compares.