How much does it cost to learn to fly a helicopter?

RC Helicopter (crash)Landed in water?

• My father got a Digi Scout 3.5CH Gyro Metal Video Camera RC Helicopter for Christmas. He told me to learn about it and I did, figured out how to record video pictures and the like. I fully charged the RC 'copter and I take off and find it rather difficult to fly, but with no problems get it to hover a little. Then My father comes outside and asks me to show him how it works, I show him the pitch and stuff, and the helicopter takes off by my command and the wind blows and pushes it farther down the yard to where it's descending quickly into our dough-boy pool. I quickly reach out to grab it as it hits the water and it shuts itself off, and appears to be dead. I think it short circuited or something, but I have no idea if this thing is supposed to stay out of water, (which I believe it was supposed to given the obvious outcome) and I dried it off until that thing had lower moisture content then when it came out of the box. I turned it on and it flickered to life and died. So I took out the battery and began to charge it fully, I plugged it into the helicopter and same thing. This time I left the battery connected to the helicopter, connected to the wall and I turned it on and the LEDs flashed like it was supposed to, and seemed to be fine, but once unplugging it, it died instantly. I tried flying it connected to the wall to see if the rotors would turn, but they twitch like there isn't enough power to them. SO I guess I would like to know if anyone has an idea about what's wrong with it, and whether it can be fixed, and what cost for such repairs. Or if it's just trashed (merry Christmas dad!) and I have to just buy a whole new one.

• Answer:

  It appears that the batteries aren't fully charged or they aren't receiving the charge ( not charging). Else, some batteries (NiCd) generally need 15 hours to full charge. Note- if you keep the charger the engine works. Doesn't it? And when you unplug the voltage ( and power) is provided by the batteries. I don't know what kind of batteries you are using. About NiCd I have some skills, but new heli I think are powered by LiPo. Try charging the batteries overnight, if NiCd. Some electronics may fail when have moisture. I don't know if you have sunny days now, but sun is good for dry your equipment. Don't go to the repair shop right now because the problem can be easy to solve. Good luck!