Flying weight once again

[Rob43]

Well, since my new years resolution was to lose a little weight, I stepped on the scale yesterday morning. The bad news, it read 3322g. The good news, is that before I removed the receiver battery and regulator, it read 3454g. I can see it weighing a little less with lighter servos, perhaps a lighter pack, but no way it's weighing what the early specifications said, or what RCHELI reported in their review article last year (2900g with 6S5000). Is the silver composite especially lighter than carbon fiber edition? I didn't think so... Were the first run of kits perhaps built with thicker frames? I think mine might be a first run kit, as it included a Delrin gear.

[DominicD]

Lipos and servos are a huge chunk of the 550 weight, so different options will provide for different weights.

[Rob43]

Last I read, you run the 8417's on the swash...whatcha got on the tail featherer?

[Slyster]

I never know how to weigh helis. My .1g scale goes up to 1000g... othewise I have to use a people scale.. accurate to +/- 3 lbs!

[Mecos]

I never know how to weigh helis. My .1g scale goes up to 1000g... othewise I have to use a people scale.. accurate to +/- 3 lbs!

Take the heli to your nearby post office and ask if they could put it on the scale and provide you with a kg or g weight.

Just tell them that you are trying to see how much it would cost to ship the heli.

One of our Club members did this. We had a good laugh about it. But he now knows how heavy his heli is. ;)

[Rob43]

Oh, didn't I mention? Our Materials Engineering lab has several calibrated, certified scales. One is accurate to 0.1g and weighs what I'd believe is up to 5kg. The other is used for measuring minute weight loss for monitoring corrosion losses of metal coupons. I weighed a set of tail rotor blades for a Blade 400 once on it. Was like 2.895g or something like that. Sick precision. Kind of like me. We cross checked a sample weight on both to make me believe the heavier scale. Was spot on to within 0.1g. Of course, all this with a grain of salt, since I never really considered the 550 heavy on it's skids. Was just that it felt might close to same as a 50 nitro for it's smaller disc dia.

[Slyster]

I'll just go up and weigh myself on my people scale.. and then hold the heli and weigh myself again.

Close enough.

:)

[DominicD]

No need to weight just yourself, your weight is printed on your drivers license.

[bkc77]

You can also use a fish scale. They are pretty cheap, for a dial type, to alittle more pricey for a digital. You also should get one that has a range closest to what your ttrying to weigh. dont get a 300lb scale to try and measure 5lb. They are most accurate using in middle of the range. Check out sporting goods stores.
:thumbup:

[Slyster]

AH! i should have thought of that. I am into bass fishing and actually HAVE a digital scale :arggg:

[Rob43]

Is your scale somewhat calibrated? Fishing scales are sold to liars! I were one in my former life as a Musky Fisherman, so of this I am knowledgeable. LOL!