Mikado VBar Control
Mikado VBar Control is widely regarded as a premium, heli‑focused ecosystem with tight integration between the transmitter, VBar flybarless units, ESCs and telemetry. Pros include heli‑specific workflows, very polished ergonomics, app‑style configuration, live logging and vibration analysis, making setup and in‑field tuning unusually fast and clean.
The cons are mostly about ecosystem lock‑in and cost: you are largely committed to VBar flybarless hardware and compatible receivers, and both radios and FBL units sit at the expensive end of the market. Fixed‑wing and non‑Mikado use cases are possible but not the main design target, so pilots wanting one radio for every type of model may find it less flexible than some open or multi‑protocol systems.
Pros:
Simple to use.
User friendly interface.
Reliable.
Seamless integration with the VBar NEO/EVO.
Compatible with most ESCs for full telemetry.
Flies great.
Cons:
Expensive
Locked into the Mikado way of thinking.
Closed ecosystem.
Addons such a Power Backup are more expensive than the equivalent for other systems (albeit with less integration)
Spektrum
Spektrum have been around a long time and are compatible with a wide range of flight controllers or FBLs.
Pros:
Cheap,
Compatible with most flight controllers.
Cons:
Telemetry and integration can be complex to configure.
RadioMaster
TX16S
TX15
Spirit Wave
Spirit Wave is built around tight integration with Spirit flybarless units, aiming to give a “VBar‑like” experience to pilots who already favour Spirit controllers. Pros include direct telemetry, parameter access from the radio, and firmware that continues to evolve with heli‑specific features, so pilots can tune head‑gain, rescue and governor functions without a laptop.
On the downside, the ecosystem is newer and less mature than long‑standing brands, so receiver choice, third‑party accessory support and community documentation are not as extensive as Futaba or Spektrum. Pilots who fly many non‑heli models or want broad BNF compatibility may find Spirit Wave more limiting than general‑purpose radios.
Pros:
High-Performance Hardware
Modern Connectivity
Built-in flight simulator
User-Friendly OS
Cons:
No Trims
Limited Hardware Inputs
Closed Ecosystem
FrSky
Spektrum
Futaba
JR
