Apples to Apples and 90's to 90's eye opener for us users

[fr8brkr]

I want to cut through the manufacturer's marketing hype and have us the users figure out what the real price for kits on a level playing field are. If you have something to add please feel free to chime in and add to it.

1) Aurora (http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=800001) $985.00 ( don't know if any upgrades will be needed yet)


2) Raptor 90 SE (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=RAPTOR90SE) $900.00 (does anyone know if it has available upgrades)


3) Synergy (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=SYNERGY-N9&Category_Code=0SYKIT) $980.00 +Metal hub (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=HYP1010) (a must) $68.00 + Metal Bladegrips (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=HYP1090) (plastic ones break) $135.00 = $1,183.00
If you add Carbon Frames (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=QUKN9-SET&Category_Code=SYZUP) (to make it the comparable to the Aurora, Raptor 90SE and T700 )$195 then total = 1,378.00


4) T-Rex700 $800.00 + Carbon Tail boom (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=H60083&Category_Code=600U) $40 (estimated 90 size since looks like the release one will be aluminum) = $840.00
That's assuming it doesn't come with G10 frames or you would have to add $200 and if the release version comes with plastic bladegrips then the Metal Bladegrips (http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=H60081-00&Category_Code=600U) $75.00 (estimated 90 sized) it would put it at $1,115.00

So far the real apples to apples is Aurora $985, Raptor SE $900.00, Synergy $1,378.00 and Trex700 $ 840.00
Not much of a difference. Looks like the Aurora, Raptor 90SE and T-Rex700 are pretty much the same price range.

[CatchmyCorsair]

Now compare crash costs.

[Mr-C]

Yeah, but who honestly cares about price when they're flying a 90? OK, if someone wants to fly one on a wing and a prayer, then the crash costs should be at least as important as the kit price. Do any of these kit builders NAIL you on parts?

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Bottom line.... you get what you pay for.

[fr8brkr]

As far as parts go-- Its a little difficult to talk with regards to the 700N as the parts prices are not available. The comparison I posted simply provides a basis for value of components if all were things equal.

[IS Pilot]

I thought I read somewhere the $985 for the Aurora is an introductory price and will increase after the preorders are fulfilled.

Either way it is a nice machine and everyone fly's what they can afford pretty much. Now where did I put my Airhogs...

[fiveoboy01]

Good effort at a comparison but the 700 is going to come with carbon frames, carbon boom(ok, aluminum wrapped in carbon) and metal blade grips.

I've also heard(and I don't know if it's a fact) that the 700N will MSRP for $699 instead of $799. That doesn't sound right but it's what I heard from someone who I wouldn't consider one to spew BS.

Either way, I don't think you HAVE to add carbon frames to the N9 to make it "equal" to the other birds.

If past history is any indication then Align will have the lowest prices in the replacements parts category.

I agree with Mr-C's sentiment anyhow. If you can afford to fly/crash/fix a /90, it doesn't really matter which one... They're ALL expensive.

[fr8brkr]

Five,
I stand corrected about the CF frames on the 700N - I think you are correct about that being standard issue. Confirmed by the demo model being flown in Huntsville. The aluminum boom wrapped with CF however is questionable, I recall Jason Krause saying that Align had yet to decide what the production model would offer. As far as the MSRP goes I have heard and seen the $799.00 price tag only and am not aware of a different price being offered. And as far as the N9 "needing" carbon frames, I didn't say that -- I simply indicated that the replacement would be required to match the standard on the Aurora. I agree with you on this point -- They are all a significant investment , which plays into the decision process even more substantially to invest wisely into the best overall value for the performance and longevity.

[fiveoboy01]

Yah I haven't actually seen an official price other than 799. Maybe the person I spoke with just made a mistake or read something wrong. 699 would be TOO cheap.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

You get what you pay for.

[john m]

You definitely get what you pay for as a quality heli, i don’t believe all the items mentioned above are required to make an affordable heli. This is key when looking at crash costs which is invariably related to 3D.

[helicam62265]

i think the price cost of repair in the 90 class is a significant consideration, also as important, in my opinion is the level of ease and time required to repair a ship. ive owned a fury extreme and a stratus, and currently 2 600Ns, i know i can put my 600n in at a funfly and there will be parts available at any vendor at the event and can easily be repaired on the spot in most cases especially if one spends a few extra $s for the frame saver products available. the trex 700 as it looks to be at this point will be similarly user friendly and much less frustrating to see it on the ground banged up and hardly a daunting task to fix and therefore lends itself to be a pucker factor reduction benefit and by defualt lends itself to progress as a pilot, i dont know if you guys out there share this experience but, it was when i got my first 600n that most of my routine on the sim became a reality on the field as a user friendly easliy repairable ship lends itself to more confident flying and motivation to try that new move youve mastered on the sim. from what i understand the replacement parts for the 700n will only be about 15% or so more than the 600n and we know the parts will soon be abundantly available everywhere and will encourage people to consider a 90 class ship who may have shyed away previously. dont get me wrong, i know i loved the way my fury and stratus flew, and thank god i never put either one in but as we know neither is a walk in the park to get back in the air after a hit and im sure the aurora will fly great but i would hate to see that ship laying lifeless and mangled or for that matter a stratus or any other of the great ships out there anticipating the work and cost to repair them. i think we are going to see alot of 90s painting the skies at the events this year (trex 700s) and may we all enjoy a great season no matter what we choose to bruise, i mean fly lol.

[nwolsink]

Most likely the 700N wil come with blades and paddles, does anyone know if the Avant does either? I guess not

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

I'd rather pic my own blades.... don't like Align blades anyways. I'm scared after seeing some of the 600's blow apart.

[fiveoboy01]

Yeah I wouldn't use the Align blades. Probably not the paddles either, I'd use Super Stubz.

[torkboy]

Most likely the 700N wil come with blades and paddles, does anyone know if the Avant does either? I guess not

No the kit does not come with paddles, tail blades, and main blades. All things that the buyer will buy what he wants, and it does not drive up kit prices either. We all know no one(hardly) uses stock tail blades or paddles anyway ;).

[RappyTapp]

The new avant is made in the USA. How can anyone compare any helicopter made in Asia to a helicopter made in the USA by the comparison of parts costs? I am putting my money into US made products and I am not worried about supporting countries who don't have an equal import to export ratio with the USA. New Avant in the cards for me, where can I place an order? I personally feel the kits and parts pricing for made in the USA is outstanding.

[rotorhead58d]

The new avant is made in the USA. How can anyone compare any helicopter made in Asia to a helicopter made in the USA by the comparison of parts costs? I am putting my money into US made products and I am not worried about supporting countries who don't have an equal import to export ratio with the USA. New Avant in the cards for me, where can I place an order? I personally feel the kits and parts pricing for made in the USA is outstanding.

is this heli 100% american made? if it is, i'm in.:thumbup:

[invertmast]

is this heli 100% american made? if it is, i'm in.:thumbup:

even if its 50% american made its more american than those "other" products. lol

[nelson j]

So if the prices of the kits for the Aurora, Raptor 90 SE, Synergy and T-Rex 700N are more or less the same, and if the spare parts are made by the same companies, the prices for the parts should also be more or less the same. Are some of these companies losing money on the kits? Or maybe some gauging later on when you need those spares.:thinking

Nelson

[fiveoboy01]

I think it's safe to say that the sum of all parts purchased seperately will cost more than a whole kit, no matter what heli you're talking about.

[nelson j]

We all know that spare parts are more expensive later on when you buy them. The question is why do companies charge very different prices for these when they more or less charge the same for the kits.

Even if the kit prices were different, let's say one kit cost $800 and the other $1100 (with 100 parts per kit), then a certain spare part would be $8 (for the $800 kit), $11 (for the $1100). But the price differences on the spares are usually much more discrepant than that. Maybe I'm :thinking too much, It's getting late:fly
Nelson

[invertmast]

Those who want a Top of the Line ,all metal and carbon, up to date current, great flying heli w/ alot of adjustability will buy an Avant Aurora. Those who want a cheap flying, old school looking 90 will get the Trex 700.

The Avant head by itself is 10x better than the entire trex700 design IMO. Your talking about a head that has over 100 different combinations of swash to flybar, flybar to main grip, delta ratio's etc. you will NEVER get bored fine tuning an aurora to be the perfect heli for how you want it to feel. Want the feel of a flybarless heli w/ a flybar? Get an aurora and setup the head for super-active. I gaurantee you've never seen or flown a heli that responsive and "pop-n-locked" in your life.

The cost of spare parts is worth the feel the heli has. I can't wait to get back from Australia in august and get mine going. yeap. those who know me said i'd never have another 90 after selling my avant FX w/ the programmable head. Well, i've decided i'm getting an aurora.

[H to the C]

well put invert! the Aurora looks like a porsche, the 700 looks like a M1 Abrams Tank.

[invertmast]

well put invert! the Aurora looks like a porsche, the 700 looks like a M1 Abrams Tank.

Hell i know whats i'm talkin bout... :D



Well.. atleast on sundays i do. haha