Blade 450 Blades

Published: July 28, 2011
 
Inexpensive aftermarket blades for Blade 450 and Blade 400. Replacement Fiberglass (FRP) and replacement carbon fiber blades for Blade 450.

Article

Blade 450 Blades (and Blade 400)

FRP 325mm Blades
FRP main blade for electric 450 helicopter(325mm)

$3.62  

CF 325mm Blades

At first glance finding aftermarket blades for the Blade 400 (and now replacement blades for the Blade 450) can seem limited.  The stock blades that E-flite/Blade packages with and offers as upgrades come in two types: the traditional stock wooden blades that sell for $14 per set and the Blade 450 upgrade carbon fiber main blades that sell for $34 per set.

It might seem that these, while not the only choices for Blade 450 (and Blade 400) owners, should be the ones selected because they are recommended by the manufacturer.  In reality, though, 450-size helicopter blades (325mm blades) choices are among the most plentiful and inexpensive in the entire RC heli market place.

Because the size of this heli is so popular, choices abound and range from 325mm wooden blades with the traditional white plastic covering, to solid plastic 325mm blades (not as common as the rest), to 325mm FRP blades (fiberglass), to the most popular 325mm carbon fiber main blades.  Not only do materials vary, so do prices.  325mm carbon fiber blades can range from the $7 up to the $50 varieties.  So, what's the difference?

The difference can be significant to a hard-core 3D pilot who is pushing the heli to its limits. It could be likened to a pro basket ball player using an old pair of shoes vs. his new brand of choice.  To the typical entry level pilot who is just learning to hover and do circuits, though, he or she will never notice a difference.  Even the sport pilot who is into a lot of loops, roles, flips, inverted flight, and those types of things, will be hard pressed to be able to tell much of a difference.

Where's the real advantage of one over the other?  Simple: crash cost.  When you are a new, learning pilot and are not going to be able to tell the difference between the flight characteristics of expensive vs inexpensive blades, it makes more sense to crash/break the cheep ones.

A couple of blades that we have found to be the best value for the dollar are shown at the right. Give them a try for yourself. We think that you'll arrive at the same conclusion that we did.

 
 
 
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