I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend in college. I like it because it was a decently priced 3 channel helicopter that can go forward/backward (as opposed to the 2 channel ones with only go up/down and left/right). The reviews made it sound like a sturdy helicopter and with my budget, I could not afford to buy a warranty, so I tried to get the most stable thing. The helicopter look and flies great, but it is not the sturdiest thing. The description talks about it being half-metal; I have no idea where that metal is. Perhaps they were refering to the lithium in the battery. The only major concerns in terms of stability are that when the helicopter battery is fully charged, it goes up FAST and can hit the ceiling. Also, I would only fly is where you had carpet, to help cushion any crash landings. If you can, I would also suggest you get the warranty, just in case. Definitely a fun toy though, and my boyfriend loves it.