First Flights On New Swift!

[Steve Rogers]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Put the first real flights on my new Swift today & man is this going to be a great beater!! Couldn't believe how axial it rolls & how steady it is in flips & stationary rolls for a small heli.

The only thing I have ran into that I'm going to have to play with is the heli is balanced perfectly & the swash (was) perfectly level but it still wants to pitch nose up in a hover or ff flight. Even with full down elevator trim it still wants to pitch slightly. Nothing I cant deal with but I'd like to get it completely neutral!

All in All its a GREAT bang for the buck!!

[broke-again]

Thats Great Steve :D , im not to far behind you - weather sucks just now so i cant get out to play :(


Couldn't believe how axial it rolls & how steady it is in flips & stationary rolls for a small heli

Small Heli :shock: ...After flying a 450 the Swift is like a Jumbo jet to me, a little bit intimidating.

[Steve Rogers]

I know what you mean on the weather - it sucks here to. Fortunately our flying club has an indoors & a heater!!

Jumbo Jet :shock: wait till you get ahold of a 90 machine!! Difference is like comparing a Suburban to a Geo!

I normally fly 50 machines & I had a M.A. 90 but the cost/pucker factor just made it a hanger queen. I really enjoy the 50 size but I wanted something a Little smaller to take the place of my Trexes but a little larger than the Trex. I think I've found a keeper here!
Good Luck with yours & keep us posted!!

[broke-again]

I know what you mean on the weather - it sucks here to. Fortunately our flying club has an indoors & a heater!!


Rub salt in my wounds why dont you :mrgreen:

Good Luck with yours & keep us posted!!

Thanks Steve, its torture having the heli just sitting there gathering dust...patience is a virtue....at least with the bad weather i have taken my time setting it up. My only concern is the tail, i have a little free play on the tail shaft, not a lot maybe a mm or two of play within the bearings. Is your like this?

[dm-digital]

I maidened my Swift a couple of weeks ago at an indoor event. Taking time to make sure everything was set up right paid off as I just spooled it up and lifted off, didn't need trimming or anything. Since then I have put about 5 short and gentle flights to break in the pack. My last flight about a week ago was in -12 degree C weather and gusting winds to the point where standing was getting challenging while flying. The flight was short due to numb thumbs but I couldn't believe how well the Swift handled the wind. I can't wait for some better weather so I can get out and see what this machine can really do.

[aramsdell]

These Swifts are a blast! I've got about 10 or 11 flights now. This morning did some acrobatics then shot 2 auto approaches.
Third approach for an intensional go=around left me in pieces on the frozen ground. My fault. I should have continued and landed would have been less damage. Shaft.boom,tail blade, plastic head block,blades, front t/r transimsion case. Now is a convenient time to add all the upgrades that were sitting in my shop. Missing 2 parts or I could fly tomorrow. Coming Tues.

[Finless]

I too am loving mine! IT CRANKS on cyclic doesnt it?
Power to weight is one of the best out there (on 6S anyway).

Bob

[Steve Rogers]

Broke I dont have any on the tail shaft its self but I do have a small amount at the blade grips. Not enough to hurt anything I dont think.

Sorry to here of you mishap aramsdell. I konw how you feel - on my first hover tests I broke the landing gear doing a "mini auto" from about 4 ft. I guess we all have dumb thumbs every now & again.

Ya Bob I agree with you 100% on that. I owe you a big thanks for the build video. I watched the servo arm selection & boy what an eye opener to ccpm & doing away with interaction! Thanks :noteworthy

[aramsdell]

Finless,

Swift even on 4S 3700 is a blast. 11 tooth. 520mm liftoff's around 26 amps on 600+ motor. I'll improve with practice on those autos. My Trex's aren't able to be considered practice for that. The Swift is sooo cool floating down. The blades making a whistling noise and no motor. I didn't think it would come down so slow. My fault crashing. I had set up I2 to practice up high. When I added throttle down low I lost headspeed when the collective came up and dropped the last 10 feet. Maybe I'll do it proper this time!

Have You tried the Maxamps batteries? My new 4S4000 came yesterday as luck would have it. They have 10,000 mah cells/ packs ! Al.

[Steve Rogers]

I'm using the Maxamp 6S 4000 packs on the Swift. I have been doing 5 min flights to break the packs in & so far the hardes flights I put on the packs only took 2000 mills to top them back off. I also have some 4900 F.P. packs, Putting the Max packs beside the F.P.'s it looks like the Max's are only 4 cell, there that much smaller & are considerably lighter. Only time will tell if they hold up like the F.P.'s. So far I really like them & if they do hold up they will be an excellent choice for the Swifts. Have you heard how the 10,000 packs are doing from any one yet???

As for the autos does your tail stop pretty quick? I havent done any from way up yet but the ones I have done the tail stops pretty quick. I've thought about adding a some throttle to the hold to keep them turning a little.

[broke-again]

I'm set up for four cell at the moment using PQ 4S1P 4350 20C & 550+ motor with 9T. Im told you can get pretty good flight times using 2 in series, may try it at some point.



Broke I dont have any on the tail shaft its self but I do have a small amount at the blade grips. Not enough to hurt anything I dont think


Thanks for letting me know, i'll see if i can figure it out - dont recall having any free play when i first built it. Guess i am probably being over cautious. Todays a good day for it anyway - its snowing -again :(

[Steve Rogers]

Today was a beautiful day! Got to put 4 or 5 good flights on mine & I'm liking it more & more. On my last flight I started getting a little tail kick so I'm going to give it a good going over. I have to say I believe I like this heli better than anyone I've had so far.

[WillJames]

Sorry I missed getting to fly with you guys today Steve. I got your message this morning, but honey doo's took me over....

[dm-digital]

I can only dream of getting some flying in. Between cold temps, heavy snow, strong winds, or a combination conditions just haven't made it possible. At least I have Bob's videos to help pass the time that I'm grounded. :D

[aramsdell]

Finless, Can you send me high speed I-net for Valentine's day so I can watch your videos? Wife is holding me back on this.

[Finless]

Finless, Can you send me high speed I-net for Valentine's day so I can watch your videos? Wife is holding me back on this.


Hehehe.... cant help you there ;)

Bob

[Steve Rogers]

Got a few more flights on the Swift today & I can say it dosent like the wind near as much as the 600 does. Once it calmed down it was back to having WAY to much fun!

[dm-digital]

Mine seemed to be great in the wind. I'm sure the 555mah blades helped. Of course I'm used to my T-rex 450.

Glad to see you having so much fun with it, wish I could be experiencing some of the fun factor with mine.

[WillJames]

Steve let me fly his swift a few times today and I really like it. LOTS of fun and handles 20 gusting to 30 mph a lot better than I expected it to. Good fun machine to fly. Thanks Steve, that was fun!!

I will be curious to fly with you next time Steve when we can compare the EVO packs to the max amps packs. I think the fun factor is about to go up man!! :)

[Steve Rogers]

Oh I know it will! When I stuck my 4900 evos on there the head speed was slightly higher than with the Maxamps thus meaning the evos are carrying the inital voltage a little longer but the 4900's made it feel heavy. The 3700's should carry like the 4900's & be less weight so I should get a greater "pop" out of it!

Had a blast yesterday even though it was windy. Maybe the weather will cooperate & we can hit it again this week!