Raven X T-Rex 600N

[jackheli]

The Raven is a great heli overall, but has been neglected by Century for a long time. Only minor updates were done to it in the past 5 years that I can remember. It is in need of a major facelift if it aims to compete with newer airframes.

I think we will all benefit from the 600N blitz since it will compel Century to finally shift its focus to the Falcon/Raven line.

It's about time!

What do you guys think?

[Chris DeSain]

We as reps have been asking for years for a new 50. Not to kill the Raven line but for a 3D 50 from century. Don't forget the have a new fan and a all metal head so they have worked on the 50. But they have not moved on to the light weight gigh CG designs of the newer 3D market.

With the align focus and things getting normalized with the Century move the wheels are turning so wee will see.

[jackheli]

Well, the new fan with the one-way bearing is in my modest opinion a move backwards from Century.

The starting system on the Hawk/Falcon/Raven with the metal fan was unbeatable. It was one of the things that made the line worthwhile. Nothing to dial in, bullet proof and very effective.

I think that if Century doesn't keep an eye open on this one they will take a hard beat.

[Chris DeSain]

I think that if Century doesn't keep an eye open on this one they will take a hard beat.

I don't think you will find any dis-agreement there. and I hope they are hard at work with a new 50. Like you state if not :bomb:

[RAV50]

Looking over some of the "new generation" 50's at the Toledo show, I found a number of them "tooting" some of their innovations.

I was ammazed at how many of these "new innovations" have been STANDARD features of the Raven 50's for many years. I guess that would mean the Raven 50 was far ahead of its time.

e.g. features such as:
1 - Machined rotor hub - and many still did not even clamp to the mainshaft as does that of the current Raven!
2 - full CNC machined metal double ball bearing swashplate - many of these "N/G 50's" still had swashplates like you will find on the 30 size Hawk Pro, with a metal inner star but a GRP outer star!
3 - oilite bushed washout hub
4 - 4mm flybar system
5 - heavy duty full flybar control yoke
6 - eCCPM swashplate control system (I would like to see it all push/pull though)
7 - torque tube tail drive system (a very expensive U/G on the new generation units - where available)
8 - triple bearing tail rotor blade grips
9 - machined steel tail rotor hub.
10 - light and big flybar paddles

So IMHO, the Raven 50 has been "new generation" for a LONG TIME :D

The only area that can modernize is to a push/pull eCCPM and maybe stacked carbon frames with seperate bearing mounts. But that being said. I have always loved how strong the Raven upper frames are. I have yet to find any stronger.

That being said. I have been told that now that they are wrapping up the new Freestyle 90 and the Electric 550 and 620 versions of the Swift, the heli that has been on the drawing board for a few months now is their next versions of 50/30 helis.