 CYBERHELI
is the title of the website of Cyber Heli Inc of Hong Kong and is
the doorway to a rather remarkable virtual shop - in other words, an
Internet mail order supplier. It was launched in November of 1990 by Joe
Howard and Stephen (surname as yet unknown to me), specifically as a
supplier of model helicopter kits, parts and related items.
What's remarkable about this set-up is their
pricing aims and policy. Joe and Stephen are two very keen model
helicopter pilots who deliberately set about finding the means by which
they could m ake
available to individual modellers some of the pricing benefits that can
only normally be obtained by large bulk buying, which is usually
the domain of the big distributors, of course. Joe and Stephen's stated
purpose is to bring good deals that are exposed to them to the heli
community all over the world. They are not a regular stocking
distributor, but go for individual products that they feel the market
needs and that they can re-sell at a lower price than anywhere else.
They will also act as a broker to obtain parts you cannot find -
"Tell us what you need", they say, "and we will get you a
price and a delivery".
CYBERHELI is a practical "get down
to business" type of site, fairly quick and certainly easy to
navigate. Pages on the site explain a bit about the company ("What
is CHI"), with other pages concentrating on bringing details of the
deals available under classifications such as Wallet Reachers, What is
Hot, Monthly Specials and Shop by Brand (you will find every major
model heli supplier here as well as radio gear, etc.). The remaining
pages cover the practicalities of ordering and paying for your goods
(all major credit cards accepted!) - all very straightforward and
clearly explained.
A bit of mouth-watering interest is added by the
inclusion of a Gallery and there are some equally juicy illustrations on
some of the brand pages. Here's a couple off the Hirobo page which will
also illustrate the sort of savings that Cyberheli
have to offer. I have also put a couple of Joe Howard's creations on the
photo gallery page.
| This is
the Hirobo Eurocopter Tiger, utilising Hirobo's FRP
fuselage design and SWM system.
Angled tail gearbox to improve rudder response. Typical price
US$2,076 - from Cyberheli, US$1,499 |
 |
 |
Here is Hirobo's Eurocopter
AS365 Dauphin 2, their first Fenestron model since the
Gazelle in 1976. FRP fuselage, SWM system and with retractable
gear.
Typical price US$2,743, Cyberheli's price US$1,999.
I was also very interested to
see that there is an electric self-starting kit available for
this and other similar models.
|
Want to see more? - visit http://www.cyberheli.com
|
