JR Airskipper 90 [REVIEW]

[nando v. arnhem]

[Moderators, could you move this to the reviewforum? Thanks!]

Hi,
I think you will all know the Airskipper 50. The Airskipper 90 is a pretty new model from JR which has a better price than the Vibe or Sylphide for example. The Airskipper is designed by the WC Hiroki Ito (and I’ve heard Curtis also).

The Airskippers have all a belt driven tail, so there are less vibrations and less sound. The crashcosts are also much lower and it is much easier to build.
The swashplate has two options, 120 eCCPM or 90 MPM (like a Raprtor). The rotorhead is about the same as the head of the Venture 90, THE 3D model of JR Japan. So it should fly very good!

I found some videos of the AS90:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KvlRSAHslY (an F3C testflight)
http://www.zippyvideos.com/9771196446924386/airskipper_90/ (this is a cool 3D flight)

The price is very reasonable. In Europe it is 800 euros and in Japan about 450 euros (600 dollars).

I got the Airskipper a few weeks ago, so I thought it might be interesting for you to write a review. I’m sorry for the bad quality of pictures.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/908fb0e0670382080bfa7c3b95dff4ca.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/ce9e5480674c2dd69af8e5c6733a1d42.jpg
Some of the bags with parts.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/8fb98cc99013a117e0269362bc92269c.jpg
Very nice light canopy. It weights almost 100 grams less than the canopy of the Vibe!

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/48d89c27b71769a8e7f3273d0f9ef5bc.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/1e6abaa9bc76bd8013c00f50c3e25a9a.jpg
All the aluminium parts have a amazing quality, there is absolutely no slop!
I have to mention, watch carefully how the bearingblock has to be mounted.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/e8a60a89d5594c7683acb73169fb2021.jpg
This is the upperpart of the frame. The aluminium sticks are mounted IN the holes, so the frame becomes stiffer. The frame is made out of “G10”, a sort of carbon. It is light and very stiff. It is a bit less stiff than carbon, so there are no vibrations in the frame.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/43be9a148cb313cd5b0b162a2daf6453.jpg
Both frames- The tank is very good and hard. The ‘tanknippels’ of the Raptor are always a weak point. The Airskipper has a bit different mounted tank. The “nipples” are in the tank, so it won’t leak.

The coolfan is quite big. The coolfan-case is just one piece

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/fec7692d65bfed64dcefa8b183f11ea3.jpg
The rotorhead- The bladegrips are the same as the Vibe. The dampers are four O-rings mounted in the aluminium block. You can’t see the block completely. The block is going through the plastic hub, so it is a really stiff rotorhead.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/b5d66dcc0ba2dd4696bc930e755f0c6e.jpg
Some parts from the tailrotor, it is working the same as the Raptor 50. Very simple 

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/6db29c8aec0185c839ac62d5e3317cd3.jpg
The tailrotor is absolutely slop-free. You can move the tailwashout very smoothly.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/a35e14bc1f43e413962030f4f85d5b30.jpg
It is not really mentioned in the manual, but you have to move the “washoutstopper” (with the pins) till the washoutarms are 90 degrees with the flybar.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/f91dc6ffe87312e8c65513015905d8a9.jpg
You can just see the belt in this picture. You can place the gyro-plate in the front of the heli or on the tailboom. I don’t know how the balance is yet, so maybe I put the gyro in the front.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/a80c66a837a2a68d96c085aaa2128912.jpg
I have chosen for the 120 eCCPM option.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/e6d5f34804f1bc404174d4c3b77864f7.jpg
And from this side….
You can see how the landinggear is mounted on rubbers. It looks like it is going to fly witout any vibrations :glasses2:

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/85971dd672e71695047f05788d50f921.jpg
Isn’t it a nice heli?

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/d4aba5e2fb504f42788bfb716b5f4786.jpg
I changed the stock paddles to K&S FAI paddles. The plastic fins are stock.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/933754f2143cc0955edb8b75b90a1ab3.jpg
I will use the DS8321 servo because I’m going to fly F3C with this heli.
Maybe I’m going to use it for 3D next year, I’m not sure yet.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/544b294f16bce8ce5f22f41611e406f6.jpg
The 8900G mounted on the non-muffler side. Because the servo is mounted in the frame, I don’t think much oil will reach it.

I’m waiting for the G770T gyro and the ATG. Once I arrived them, I can install the engine.

I hope you like the heli,
Nando

PS, send me a PM if you want better quality pictures.

[nando v. arnhem]

Does anyone on this forum has an Airskipper 90? Or maybe the Airskipper 50?

What are your experiences with that model and what is your setup?

Nando

[Bestview]

I'll be getting an Airskipper 50 by the end of May. From what I've read, it's a good quality heli with good solid performance.

[newbie]

Hi there "freaks"
so engine broken in today,maiden flight done,here is my report
initials impression:
no vibrations,the tracking was spot on,and only 3 beeps of trim on the cyclic were required
i spent several tanks hovering around the patch,testing the cyclic(+/-8°) and pitch(+/-12°) response.
the cyclic was good,pitch was fantastic!
At this point i increased the rpm to +/-1850 further enhancing the pitch and giving a better cyclic response too.
Even at this higher head speed,the model felt remarkably locked in and not at all twitchy.
I exercised some pitch pumping climb outs,hovering rolls,hovering pirouettes,forward and back flips(can't do anything else sorry
in all manouvers the machine handled itself with ease and felt predictable:)
so i like it very much

set-up:
futaba s9451x3
futaba gy401/9254
futaba 3001
futaba rx 149dp
nhp razor 600mm
92mm carbon rudder blades
no governor


http://bart.mabul.org/bart-8-3vw87lbdbjx8sh2g9dx507g.jpg.html

[eskiserkan]

Hi . Nice review Nando . This is the first time I've seen the detailed photos of the Airskipper 90 . It looks everything is same with the Airskipper 50 . Just a larger version . My fifty has aluminum blade holders and AS90 has aluminum swashplate . And one of them is 50 class the other is 90 .

On my Airskipper 50 , I'm having tracking problems . It changes continuosly . I read in other forums that some people have the same problem and its because of the soft dampers in the head . I've ordered harder dampers from Japan . Still waiting . Except from this , I think the Airskipper is an excellent helicopter .