leavin the 600 for a Raptor Titan

[jetblue2135]

The thought of buying a Raptor 50 Titan keeps running through my head...gas and go gas and go...and with 10 minute flights or so and not having to buy $300 batteries it seems like a good idea. Has anyone else shared these thoughts or am i just crazy going for a slimer?

[prancibaldy]

I started with a rex 450 and originally considered a 600 for my next heli, but those points you mention and more made me decide to go to a titan myself.

[stevehonn]

After flying a Raptor 50 for a couple of years I bought a Swift, then a Trex 600, tyhen the R50 stayed at home. To make up for it I've recently bought a Raptor E550, I lie the Raptor 50 but not the hassle and mess :)

[MarkWebber]

I've seen where guys have done the math on fuel vs battery life. With fuel climbing and batteries falling, the math was looking good for electric. And no mess. :D Thinking about going the electric route, myself.

[Rocket Man]

We have said it time and time again: You are buying all your fuel up front with an electric.

When I did my math originally, I calculated I would equal the cost of fuel with 225 flights. Properly maintained, your Li-pos should make this number. It's simple to do. Just figure how much fuel per flight, the cost of fuel per gallon, and how much a battery pack will cost.

Now the problem of making multiple flights per session comes up. Again, it's your choice as to how many batteries (how much fuel) you wish to purchase. The more batteries you buy, the longer it will take to amortize the cost. You should factor in how long you think you will fly the machine until a) you get tired of it, or b) something much better comes along that needs different batteries. :roll:

Anyway, I now have three electric machines (28 batteries in total) and three fuel burners. There are things I would do differently, but I would probably end up with the same result.

Enjoy the hobby either way you choose. :lol: :lol:

Ron

[prancibaldy]

I suppose technically if you were to do the math of battery cost vs fuel cost, you should also factor in the cost of the electricity to recharge the battery that many times.

[MarkWebber]

Enjoy the hobby either way you choose.

Excellent advice, Ron!

[Rodan]

I spent a lot of time pondering the decision (TRex600 v. Raptor) and ended up with the Raptor.

As stated above, the actual costs to fly are pretty close, you just pay it all up front with electric, and the up front can be pretty significant if you want more than a couple of 6 minute flights every time you fly.

Another factor: Used Raptors are plentiful. I got flying for a lot less than the cost of a 600 with one pack.... To get the same amount of flying I'm doing now, I would need $1200-1500 in lipos for the 600. That's more than I spent TOTAL on the Raptor and field kit...

That said, I still love my TRex 450, and fly it a lot!

Just do what makes you happy... if you've got the $$ to buy a bunch of packs up front, go for it! :wink:

[stevehonn]

I'd agree that nitro or electric is a choice you make which really has nothing to do with money, fuel cost or battery lives. I usually take 3 helis for a flying session, each with two battery packs, I have two chargers plus a generator for a power supply and can charge a pack for the Raptor E550 or Trex 600 in around 30mins so I can fly at least 10 times in a session, when I only had my Raptor 50 I used to get maybe four 8mins flights in a session, I found 8 minutes was about all I could maintain the level of concentration required so I actually fly more now I'm all electric plus all my helis live indoors in my study, I couldn't have done that in my nitro days.

[kama1]

i bought a raptor 50 from a friend of mine.
my thoughts on the nitro and electric were based on total flight time on any given day.
being only able to get the kit and one battery.
not to mention a charger for the bigger pack and a balancer.
cause the stuff i have for my 450 wont work.

i did think about it for a while.
talked to my friend about it quite a few times.
at this point nitro was the way to go.
300 bucks for 1 battery or 300 bucks worth of fuel.
300 dollars worth of fuel is ALOT of flight time
compared to the 1 battery.

well thats my 2 cents
happy flying
:mrgreen:

[DebianDog]

Plus you get cool smoke! Both are cool for there own reasons. I suggest you have one of both kinds.

[kama1]

thats a good suggestion Dog
if the bigger batteries come down to a more human price .
or if a win the lottery what ever comes first.
i would prolly get a 600.
till then its nitro for me :mrgreen:

[Kinger]

Another advantage to nitro is the fact that you don't pour out your $300 worth of fuel if you crash the kit. That is a possibility if you crash your electric. Both have their pro's and con's for sure, but for the time being I'll be sticking with the nitro birds unless they are small like the T-Rex or the new TT.

[jschief]

People are still forgeting it cost money to charge the batteries. Electricity is not free unless you use solar, wind, or have a personal hydro plant in you backyard.

Just my 2 cents

[jetblue2135]

yeah but it also costs gas to go buy gas :D