Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have a nephew who is immersed in RC flying. He bought a Blade Nano QX (herinafter, "quad") before he left for a trip, during which he knew he would have a fair amount of free time. He emailed me on the first or second day of his trip and told me that this might be a fun way to introduce myself to the RC experience. We're both pilots, so he knew I was intrigued. Because the price was so reasonable, I ordered one after doing a little more reading about it. The next day, I ordered a couple of extra batteries and the separate battery charger (Celectra 4-Port 1S 3.7V 0.3A DC Li-Po Charger; see separate review). Both orders arrived on the same day, which was nice ... I had multiple batteries and therefore longer flying time. In addition to the quad, the package, which doubles as a carrying case - with handle - comes with a transmitter, one battery, and a USB charger. This allows for one flight (about 7 minutes, give or take) before recharging, which takes about 30-40 minutes. I learned this from my nephew; it would have been a little disappointing to learn this by myself. I think it's much easier to learn with the minimal interruption of changing the battery than it would be with the interruption of the charging time. Out of the box, the instructions were simple and easy to follow. Li-Po batteries are NOT charged before shipping, so the first thing to do is charge the battery(ies). The battery slides into a simple plastic bracket on the bottom of the quad. Pushing it all the way forward places it in the correct position for balance. AFTER turning on the transmitter, assure that the throttle is at its minimum setting (fully back), connect the battery, and place the quad upright on a flat surface. The red LED blinks a few times while it syncs with the transmitter. When the LED stops blinking (turns blue in stable mode), it's ready to fly. Here are a couple of things the manual doesn't explicitly state: ease the throttle forward to check that each of the four motors spins up. They almost always will, and the quad will just sit there. When there's a problem, you won't watch the quad go off into the nearest obstacle. After this, give the quad enough throttle to make it "jump" slightly off the surface; try to level it off at about eye level. Trying to take off gently makes control more challenging, because of the turbulence it's creating close to the surface. Next, try to just keep it at the same height. This becomes easier with a little experience, but it's a good way to begin to get used to control response. More important, you will find out whether or not the quad is trimmed properly. If it's not, you'll be fighting your own inexperience PLUS the instability of the aircraft ... not fun. The manual does a fair job of explaining the trim buttons. The important thing is that you can't assume that the aircraft is trimmed properly, because there are variables that can change - even during a flight. Get used to using the trim buttons on the controller; it will make flying easier. This quad uses "smart" technology to stabilize the aircraft, which makes it perfect for beginners, but it also has a setting that allows for "acrobatic" mode, which should challenge even the most proficient. No aircraft is indestructible, but this quad is designed to deal extremely well with hard landings, bumping into walls (in any direction), and flying up against the ceiling without it being a problem. I haven't managed to damage it yet. In addition to having extra batteries for the quad and a multiple-port charger to charge several at a time, you'll probably find that you want to have the AC adapter for the charger (sold separately, although not expensive). You may also want to have 4 (or more) D cells, which you can use to power the charger when you don't have access to AC power. And 3 or 4 batteries won't last forever, so if you fly the quad a lot, you'll want to buy more than just a couple extra. I gave the Blade Nano QX 5 stars because it seems to do everything it's supposed to do perfectly - at least so far, and I've had it several weeks and flown it 3-6 flights most days. Although the things I've mentioned in this review may sound like criticisms, they are intended only to help prospective buyers recognize some things that may not be apparent. If you're experienced in the RC world, you'll know all of these things, but what my nephew told me he got for "about $70 out the door" has turned into more of a $150 toy, give or take. That's not really a complaint, either. The fun has already been worth more than that.