90 (nitro) sized helicopters. Blitz Avro, Avant Aurora, Stratus...

[Kinger]

Duncan won the 3DM a few years ago flying a Fury Extreme. In the vid posted he's flying a 600N and I'm guessing he's also sponsored by Align. Dominick Haegele won the 3DM in 2007 with a Hirobo Freya. Here's his victory flight. http://www.3dx.eu.com/3dMasters2007/Victory_DominikHaegeleMasters.wmv

[Caleb Phillips]

:oops: Sorry, I got Duncan and Dominick switched up. They're both great pilots though.

[Randallhurd]

I'm like the BORG,,, They all add to the Collective....
:YeaBaby:

I getting so use to the .50's when I want some excitement I grab the T450....
It's almost as if your chasing chickens, when switch from the T600's to the T450.
:lolol

The Only thing I hate about Helis, is that I don't have one of everyone of them..
:mad:

[R1R 7humbs]

Not to be a downer, but with only 12 T-Rex 600 flights under your belt (according to your signature), why not revisit whether you even need a 90 by May of this year instead of thinking you'll purchase one in May? Not only do 90's have a high initial start up cost, but they also require a hearty fuel budget and you don't want to crash them often unless you have quite a bit of money laying around to repair them. Best to be pretty comfortable in your flying before you make the jump to a big machine unless you just want a sweet looking object sitting in your hobby room that your are deathly afraid to fly. It's really sweet when your flying has advanced to the point where you no longer sweat every flight wondering whether or not the bird is going to come home in one piece because you don't know all your orientations if something goes wrong.

Take the hobby slow and learn to enjoy it for the long haul. IMHO, too many people run out to grab the hottest 90 out there when they are barely above flying circuits. Then they crash it a few times, say the hobby is too hard and too expensive and sell everything. Of course, maybe you are a kick butt pilot already after only those 12 flights and the sim time (wouldn't be the first time) and if that's the case, please disregard what I've said thus far and go buy that 90 :)

90's are the sweetest flying birds out there without question and every one of them (Stratus, Avant/Aurora, Synergy, Raptor and others) is completely 3D capable in the right hands. When the time comes, see what's on the market and which one pulls at your heatstrings the most. I'd imagine by the end of summer (or even next year) the market will be quite a bit different from what you see now.
Kinger, :)

I couldn't agree with you more... but I do fly well already. There's nothing like flying for real but the sim helped out a ton. I certainly wouldn't say I'm a kick butt pilot, that's what I'd call someone like an Alan Szabo, Lucas Riva, Curtis Youngblood, and now Duncan Osbourn, etc... Although I'd be lying if I said at least getting close to that wasn't a goal. I actually left the pro video games because I can't play them any more (docs can't find anything wrong but trust me something changes physically after even 30 minutes of playing now). You're probably saying: "then how the hell are you playing the sim"... it's different, not nearly as intense or as fast paced, at least that's the only thing that's obviously different and I don't have problems playing it.

Once I get into something, I really get into it (golf, video games (not any more) and web development). I'm just waiting until May / June because I'd like to hear what people think and to do more research. Plus, this time of year in PA isn't good for flying helicopters anyway.

[R1R 7humbs]

I'd love to say the Stratus owns all other 90's but I haven't flown all other 90's. From experience, I can tell you that you will actually be able to buy a Stratus and it does fly great. As already mentioned, the Avro is ridiculously expensive.

If you wanna see some videos of the Stratus, check out this site.
http://www.bobbywatts.com/videos.html

I haven't watched them all, but of the ones I have seen, Clint's B-day Bash 2007 Motor Tuning is up there.

If it makes any difference, the MA factory is probably closer to you than Avro's and Avant's.
Wow! That's the first time I've seen a Stratus fly and that guy is a damn good pilot :YeaBaby:.

[R1R 7humbs]

Jon,
next time your at BS and i'm there your more than welcome to fly my Avant FX...


Speaking from experience, a 90 is a great flying heli. I absolutely love my Avant FX. I got a great deal on it, but after pricing everythign on this heli, it would take approx. $3800 to build it up the way it is right now. Thats a large cost, and 90's are a completely different machine as far as setting them up. When i first got mine, i set it up exactly like i do my 50s and was in for a VERY big surprise when the first time i spooled it up w/ a 0-50-100 throttle curve and got 2300 rpm headspeed at mid stick.

I would honestly suggest waiting till you get alot more time in with the 600N. I've got a 600N and ever since i got it, my 90 only gets flown a few times a month. the 600 is just more cost forgiving heli, and performs almost as well as the 90.
$4,000? What did you do?

Our Trex has run us around $2,700, including the radio.

The kit was around $900 and it included:
- The OS 50 Hyper
- Align D Carbon Blades
- Frame, Boom, and all other core components

We added:
- Radix flybar paddles ($20?)
- Metal grips ($50)
- Metal tail grips ($60)
- Carbon boom ($30)
- VBlade tail baldes ($40 - 50?)
- ATG and GView ($150 and the Gview isn't needed)
- Flight Power Evo 4340 2s2p ($100)
- 2 gallons of gas so far ($40-50)
- JR X9303 (around $700)
- Fuel tubing and misc stuff ($30)
- 7703D gyro ($160)
- 3 Futaba 9452s and 1 9351 ($400)

Total: $2,690

If I added the cost of a .90 engine and blades (minus the price of the os 50 and align D's) it could be as high as: $2,820



If I got a Stratus kit @ $1,000 + engine + rotors = 1,500

Add a gov($95), rx($170), JR servos ($440)+ battery($100)+Futaba GY611 with tail servo ($300)
= $2,605 * 6% PA sales tax = around $2,750 (If I bought it through my LHS I could save some money).

I can't think of anything else, unless the 90 kits don't come with things like the clutch, head assembly, etc...guess I'll need to get a 2in1 and other electrical components?

[bullaculla]

Dont know much about .90 helis, but that is a huge RX pack you are running! :shock:

[R1R 7humbs]

Dont know much about .90 helis, but that is a huge RX pack you are running! :shock:
lol yeah, we wanted to reduce the risk of not enough amps and the fewer lipos I have around the better.

[Rodney]

Soon there will be some vids of the Aeolus 90. That will be cool to see how it works out and how soon it will hit the market./

[invertmast]

$4,000? What did you do?

Our Trex has run us around $2,700, including the radio.

The kit was around $900 and it included:
- The OS 50 Hyper
- Align D Carbon Blades
- Frame, Boom, and all other core components

We added:
- Radix flybar paddles ($20?)
- Metal grips ($50)
- Metal tail grips ($60)
- Carbon boom ($30)
- VBlade tail baldes ($40 - 50?)
- ATG and GView ($150 and the Gview isn't needed)
- Flight Power Evo 4340 2s2p ($100)
- 2 gallons of gas so far ($40-50)
- JR X9303 (around $700)
- Fuel tubing and misc stuff ($30)
- 7703D gyro ($160)
- 3 Futaba 9452s and 1 9351 ($400)

Total: $2,690

If I added the cost of a .90 engine and blades (minus the price of the os 50 and align D's) it could be as high as: $2,820



If I got a Stratus kit @ $1,000 + engine + rotors = 1,500

Add a gov($95), rx($170), JR servos ($440)+ battery($100)+Futaba GY611 with tail servo ($300)
= $2,605 * 6% PA sales tax = around $2,750 (If I bought it through my LHS I could save some money).

I can't think of anything else, unless the 90 kits don't come with things like the clutch, head assembly, etc...guess I'll need to get a 2in1 and other electrical components?


you must not be aware of what an avant FX is.. it a hirobo Freya X-spec CONVERTED by avant rc.

hirobo Freya Evo kit $700
Avant EFX Conversoin $600
Avant Prog. head- $450
YS91SR - $300
Hator Pipe- $150
690 V TST's -$130
95mm V tail blades- $30
GY601/611 combo - $380
CanopyFX Cano- $170
9252 thr. servo- $65
CSM RL-10 - $100
Ko-propo PDS2123FET's- $130 x 3
AR7000 rx - $100
duralite regulator, TP 2s lipo, misc parts- $200

price- $3775 and i'm probly missing some stuff i left out, and the prices above are estimates, some things could be more, some could be less.. thos are just the last prices i saw on those items

[DavidH]

Duncan Osbourn is a Synergy pilot. Prior to that he was with MA.


Yeah but the sun comes up and it is a new day. Need a score card to keep up with the affilations today. LOL Follow the money.

David

[R1R 7humbs]

you must not be aware of what an avant FX is.. it a hirobo Freya X-spec CONVERTED by avant rc.

hirobo Freya Evo kit $700
Avant EFX Conversoin $600
Avant Prog. head- $450
YS91SR - $300
Hator Pipe- $150
690 V TST's -$130
95mm V tail blades- $30
GY601/611 combo - $380
CanopyFX Cano- $170
9252 thr. servo- $65
CSM RL-10 - $100
Ko-propo PDS2123FET's- $130 x 3
AR7000 rx - $100
duralite regulator, TP 2s lipo, misc parts- $200

price- $3775 and i'm probly missing some stuff i left out, and the prices above are estimates, some things could be more, some could be less.. thos are just the last prices i saw on those items
I knew that you had to start with some components from antoher kit (didn't know it was the hirobo Freya Evo kit) but I didn't realize that Avant EFX conversion kit was so much money.

That's some serious money for their kit...

[Caleb Phillips]

Yeah but the sun comes up and it is a new day. Need a score card to keep up with the affilations today. LOL Follow the money.

David

That's exactly what I don't buy what the pilots are trying to make look good. I know from personal experience how a sweet helicopter can turn horrible just because the pilot switched companies.

[Caleb Phillips]

If I got a Stratus kit @ $1,000 + engine + rotors = 1,500

Add a gov($95), rx($170), JR servos ($440)+ battery($100)+Futaba GY611 with tail servo ($300)
= $2,605 * 6% PA sales tax = around $2,750 (If I bought it through my LHS I could save some money).


Stratus kit- $1065
GV-1- $140 (I think)
Dx-7 with reviever- $300
Cyclic Servos- $315
throttle servo- $60
611- $320
Hatori Pipe- $190
O.S. 90 SZ with reg- $400
V mains, paddles and tails- $185
Battery and Regulator- $100

That's $3075 and doesn't include a painted canopy like most people run.

[invertmast]

I knew that you had to start with some components from antoher kit (didn't know it was the hirobo Freya Evo kit) but I didn't realize that Avant EFX conversion kit was so much money.

That's some serious money for their kit...

Its worth it... IMO

[ClayK]

Stratus kit- $1065
GV-1- $140 (I think)
Dx-7 with reviever- $300
Cyclic Servos- $315
throttle servo- $60
611- $320
Hatori Pipe- $190
O.S. 90 SZ with reg- $400
V mains, paddles and tails- $185
Battery and Regulator- $100

That's $3075 and doesn't include a painted canopy like most people run.

That's about what mine is....

Its worth it... IMO

That is what I heard as well. Can't say as I haven't flown one.

[darke]

so the blitz avro is reasonably priced then?after all it is a new design ,parts are going to be in line with other 90 size heli's and after all british engineering is quality

[R1R 7humbs]

so the blitz avro is reasonably priced then?after all it is a new design ,parts are going to be in line with other 90 size heli's and after all british engineering is quality
Looking at the kits, the Avro looks the best and has some very nice details incoportated into it. It is a 50% premium... and it costs as much as an Avant EFX.

Getting spare parts is a major concern of mine. I don't care about having them shipped over seas for an Avro, etc... I just worry about a company going out of business. Even though I don't know how Align is doing (even though their helis seem to be selling well), if they come out with a 700, I'd probably get it because I think tey'll be around for the next few years.

[darke]

according to blitz they are going to be around for a long time............

[ClayK]

so the blitz avro is reasonably priced then?after all it is a new design ,parts are going to be in line with other 90 size heli's and after all british engineering is quality
A quick workup on the Blitz (for someone here in the States) would put the model at about $4,000. That's a big price tag when compared to other models that can be purchased here for considerably less. I'm not going to get into a debate about British engineering being quality or not. Models purchased for roughly $1,000 less have just as much quality as a "quality British engineered" one.

The originator of the thread is in the US. They were inquiring about a 90 sized recommendation. I would no more recommend a Blitz Avro to a US pilot than I would a JR Sylphide. Does that mean it's not a good model? No. I think everyone knows that a Sylphide is an outstanding model, but it costs $2,000. How can I in good conscience recommend a model to someone when I know the kit is going to cost them an arm and a leg and parts availability and cost will not be on par with something a little more reasonable? I wouldn't suggest an Aurora either since it's not commercially available yet. Let's be real and honest here.....

Stratus - Synergy - Vibe - Raptor (four that are available now, in no particular order)

[darke]

i should have added a smiley face in my post to stop winding up my friends from across the pond.to be honest you sounded very british in your reply.anyways you have a whole load more experience than me with my trex 450 so i shall just crawl back under my tarpaulin.........

[Caleb Phillips]

...so i shall just crawl back under my tarpaulin.........

Sometimes I wonder if we really speak the same language... :YeaBaby:

Invertmast, will you be at Clint's this weekend?

[darke]

Sometimes I wonder if we really speak the same language... .........ok then my plastic sheet....hee hee hee hee

[ClayK]

I do think the Avro is a great looking helicopter, just too expensive, comparitively speaking....

Sorry if I sound snappy, not meant to be. Guess tone is hard to get across in typing ;)

[darke]

hey no hard feelings ,i'm having fun.keep up your good info as maybe in about four years time i might be ready for a 90 size heli...!