First of all great flying.
Secondly check out my channel CoasterFuelPhil!
www.youtube.com/team222badbrad
I even have some vids from this years Rochester Heli Event!
You
do not have to have a AMA (
http://www.modelaircraft.org/) to fly.
It is a very wise decision to have AMA though as RC is dangerous and the world is sue happy.
If you do not have an AMA membership you cannot fly at many club fields all across the country.
I do have my AMA membership though. It is about $60 a year and that includes insurance (theft, liability, etc)
http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/overview.aspx
A micro heli such as the RTF (ready to fly) AXE CP is about $150, a 400 size such as the RTF Eflite Blade $470, and nearly all 30 sized birds up to turbines must be purcashed in kit form.
My buddy actually called me today that he is now being sponsored by Kyosho!
If anyone here is interested in helis I suggest you head on over to
www.rchelimag.com, join the forums there and subscribe to the magazine for $25 a year.