Blade’s new QuadCopter, mQX Review / First Impressions

[Tailbender]

I just picked up the new Blade QuadCopter that comes in both a Ready to Fly (RTF) and Bind and Fly (BNF) configuration. I bot my BNF locally at AmpDraw for just over $120, (the store has an online site as well where you can get the BNF http://www.ampdraw.com/product/29215/Blade-BLH7580-BLADE-mQX-BNF, or the RTF version for just over $140 http://www.ampdraw.com/product/29200/Blade-BLH7500-BLADE-mQX-RTF for those of you without a DSM compatible radio. I set it up with my JR11x DSM radio in airplane mode per instructions and it was off to the races!

Although not the thrill of flying my Atom 500, or even the mCPx, Blade did an amazing job getting such a cool, yet sophisticated novelty at an incredible price point. How it can do smooth rotation just by changing motor speed is amazing. It was stable enough (after minor right trim) to do a hands free hover that let me unlock my smartphone and take a quick pic. I was flying in 50-degree weather with no wind and even after 10 minutes of flying the motors were still cool.

It’s super stable and in my hand reminds me of when I was flying fixed pitch helis, yet has the ability to do banked turns.

I’m not sure of the flight time yet (I’m up to 10min and still has power, albeit had 3.74v left so it was close) running on the included eFlight 1S, 3.7V, 500mAh 12C the same $10 battery that powers the Blade 120SR heli. I’ll keep increasing the time and testing batteries to see how long the flight times really are and report back here.

Bottom line if you want something that looks weird, sounds weird and is very relaxing to fly this is the new toy for you. Remember if you're new to flying take it slow at first and start by just hovering around...

Here's a quick video with a small Key Chain video camera attached to the battery pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ9kEXeWpA4

[Crob56]

I think more people should see this... BUMP

[Agibbs996]

My LHS let me fly one. Very nice and stable. I like the sound.

[Jasmine2501]

I did a quick review of the little thing. It's a lot of fun to fly around the house! VERY responsive AND very stable at the same time. You gotta feel it to believe it :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI6sEQctp70

[heliaddict2424]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFqQnC8xJQ&hd=1
I have since cranked up Travel Adjust for faster flips will post new vid..

[JesusFreak]

Looks fun, but you need lots of altitude for flips it seems. ;)

[Tailbender]

Jasmine2501 (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=59911) well done on intro video with step by step. Cute intro with the dog sniffing the box

heliaddict2424 (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=118661) man that’s some serious skills – didn’t realize it had the control surface to do flips… especially since, unlike the helis we normally fly, you don’t have the advantage of negative pitch to give you an inverted bump..

[Maypole]

Damn it! I was hoping the first reviews on this thing were going to be bad!

Now? Three days shipping, I'll probably have one Wed or Thur.

[Tailbender]

Well... look on the bright side - at least this review wasn't about a new $1000 Heli you just had to have!
:cheers

Hey does anyone know how much flight time you're getting and does the ESC allow for a slow decent if the lipo gets low or just it just drop out of the sky. I've been up to 8min and from tester looks like you could do more / just wondered what kind of mileage people getting.

[Creaky Cactus]

Dang you both!

I can resist vendor promo vids,, but HF user vids? Now I want one!

Must... resist...:drool:

[SU37]

Cool video!

[Tailbender]

Resistance is futile... at least with Heli's that's been my experience.. :fly

[Jasmine2501]

Jasmine2501 (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=59911) well done on intro video with step by step. Cute intro with the dog sniffing the box

heliaddict2424 (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=118661) man that’s some serious skills – didn’t realize it had the control surface to do flips… especially since, unlike the helis we normally fly, you don’t have the advantage of negative pitch to give you an inverted bump..

Thanks :)

I took it out to the park today and ripped around - you need to have it on full rates for that, but the 50% rate was comfortable inside. It sure didn't feel like it could loop or anything, but it rips around pretty quick, so maybe I'll try it.

[Blayd]

:face And I JUST promised to NOT buy another heli and just fly the ones I have...I'm in trouble. Anybody got a garage I can crash in?

[Tailbender]

Hey Blayd (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=124394) your in luck... it's not a Heli... it's a QuadCopter... at least that how I justified getting it when I promised myself I would just fly the 4 helis I have left. I sold all the rest of the fleet here on HeliFreak.

Wow... I forgot about that the fact I'd sold stuff... so the mQX was FREE... there you go, no worries.. :peace

Updates:


I still don't know how long the mQX will fly on a single battery. I'm up to 10 minutes (albeit not hard flying) and tester shows I still had 3.74v (above the 3.7v threshold I've heard is the magic number for Lipos). With that I still don't know if it fails gracefully on a low battery or just drops out of the sky.
Even after 10 minutes of flying the motors and battery were still cool (my TRex 450Pro wouldn't have that report).
Notice that everyone on the thread are experienced heli pilots - I hope I'm not making this look to simple. If you're new to flying take it slow 'n low and take your time to learn.

[Bri]

Thank you TB and Jazzy for the vids.

Now I am going to have to figure out the finances to get one of these little things. :YeaBaby:

I have always wanted to try a quad and I am thinking this is going to be a good (cheap) intro into them. I am VERY interested in doing some A&P stuff, so this would be a start in that direction.

Thank you to those of you guys who have shared your experiences with it.

.

[Tailbender]

Bri... you're right about one thing, like the mCPx, Blade has a very inexpensive entry point on some incredible technology. It's a bit on the cheap side build wise but flies well right out of the box and so far I'm up to 10min on a single battery about 2x any my helis... Be careful though, like the mCPx you never know where it may lead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENirki9SSB8&

[wwdragon]

I wanted one since I saw the promo vid, now that I have seen this thread I really want one, Any idea if it will be able to lift a keychain cam?

wwdragon

[Tailbender]

My guess is that it would... perfectly balanced, I've found using the JR display the mQX hovers at 50% throttle, meaning I'll bet it would have plenty of power to lift a small key chain video camera.

[Jasmine2501]

Yes it can lift a keychain cam no problem. There's onboard videos on Youtube already.

[wwdragon]

Sweet, thanks, I know where I will be on Monday :peace

My guess is that it would... perfectly balanced, I've found using the JR display the mQX hovers at 50% throttle, meaning I'll bet it would have plenty of power to lift a small key chain video camera.

[heliaddict2424]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hY4SfSkIIg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Jasmine2501]

NICE :D

I like that, but it does highlight the problem with HK LED strips... that they need 12V is a big problem. I'm planning to wire up some LEDs using two small batteries, like 2032s maybe - that should be much lighter weight.

[Tailbender]

More I see how stable these multi-rotor machines are more it seems like the hot ticket for aerial video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vu32f2FvE&

[Jasmine2501]

More I see how stable these multi-rotor machines are more it seems like the hot ticket for aerial video.


That idea is already firmly entrenched already in the FPV community. Professional video teams are using them heavily as well. It's approaching critical mass I believe, and we're gonna have issues on our hands soon. But they are fun for sport aircraft as well.