The Helicopters I learn how to fly with:
My second helicopter was an Esky Belt CP V2. I crashed it a lot but I did learn how to hover with it. I sold that helicopter, and regret it because the guy who bought it destroyed it in the first five minutes right in front of me. I purchased a Clone of a Trex-450 an EXI 450pro, with a belt drive. When I build the EXI I used the cheap EXI 9g sevos, exceed 450 motor, volcano 30Amp esc and a Detrum GY48V gyro. I was still in the hovering and beginning Forward Flight (FF) Stage. I then met a good friend of mine who introduced me to nice expensive Gyros and tail servos like the FUTABA 401. That was the game changer, even with the cheap servos, motor and esc, with a good solid tail is when I really began to learn how to fly. My personal experience, is that there is nothing wrong with saving a few bucks and purchase a cheap clone kit to start this hobby, but DO NOT cheap out on a good tail servo and a good gyro. With the new gyro I really started enjoying the hobby and flying, I became ADDICTED. I was still a new pilot and still crashed often, so I purchased another cheap EXI clone, and build it the same way, except I got a JR3073D gyro and a 3500JR servo for the tail for that one. The reason I purchased the second one is so I would always have a helicopter to fly whenever I had a crash. This really help me to learn, because aside from a good simulator, there is nothing better than some real stick time.