Main blade advice...

[Harrow]

Hi guys,

Given there is a range between 690 to 710mm, I'm wondering how I should make up my mind. Am I right in thinking that the larger blades will be more stable and fly "bigger"? Given my intermediate level (ff, flips, inverted ff, tic tocs), what would suit me best, and why? I think I'd like a big, floaty bird, but happy to be told I'd be better off otherwise (with accompanying explanation, I'm here to learn! ).

I'm using the stock 520mm on my X5 and am very happy with how that flies.

Thanks,
Harrow.

[Chris Sexton]

Blades are so subjective. Depends on what you like. I run rail 696 on all my big birds. They are crisp and responsive but don't fart as much.

Else 693s are good too. I have seen many running the new 693se blades, maybe Matt Nasca can tell us his thoughts on them.

No personal experience with the radix products but I have heard good things there too.


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[Harrow]

I guess I'm wondering that once I had chosen blades by a particular manufacturer, should I be heading closer to 690 or 710mm blade size? Why go one way over the other? Or is the X7 such a big step up from my X5 that it doesn't matter so much?

[_Dekker]

I use Radix Standard (not the V2) 710mm blades: take them if you love blade farts

[Harrow]

Originally Posted by _Dekker

I use Radix Standard (not the V2) 710mm blades: take them if you love blade farts

Wasn't really one of my original criteria, but maybe it should be!

[sresener]

When I asked my lhs about the difference with 525 and 550 blades for my 550e. He replied the 525 would be better for 3d and agressive manuvers. And the 550 would be better for scale flight.

[akamullen]

Scale flight? Its not that big of a difference. Your rates will be a little slower, but the heli will fly a little bigger as well. larger blades push more air and have less disc load, so the heli will feel a bit lighter as well. But not as nimble. You will also not need as much headspeed with larger blades due to less disc loading.

In the end, its very hard to explain the differances with out actually flying larger blades against shorter ones on the same bird yourself. If you are not into medium to hard 3D you may like the longer 710-713's.

[Harrow]

Originally Posted by akamullen

In the end, its very hard to explain the differances with out actually flying larger blades against shorter ones on the same bird yourself. If you are not into medium to hard 3D you may like the longer 710-713's.

Hmm, okay, so I'm gradually getting into medium 3D, I guess I don't want anything larger than 700mm.

[akamullen]

Remember, its not that the 700+ do not do 3D well, just different (almost more graceful if you will, better for big air stuff, etc..). Most 3D guys do prefer 690ish over 700+ though.

[Matt Nasca]

My opinion would be to go 693 size. I've been running the EDGE 693 SE baldes and they are real nice! They feel to me like a cross between the FBL and FB blades; smooth but crisp and stiff. Stops are sharp and predictable and the pop they give is nice and tight. You can still haul ass in forward flight with no pitchyness!

710s can be flown in 3D but you just don't get the quick rolls and flips like 693s give you. The longer blades are real good for sport flying or big fast flying. But they do take a toll on the packs and motor because there's more air resistance with the bigger disk. The 690 size is a good all around performer.

My .02

[Harrow]

Thanks Matt,

But I'm just wondering for learning piro flips (eventually), etc., would I better of with the more stability of a slightly larger blade?

[Matt Nasca]

Originally Posted by Harrow

Thanks Matt,

But I'm just wondering for learning piro flips (eventually), etc., would I better of with the more stability of a slightly larger blade?

It's hard to say which is best for a particular maneuver. I prefer the feel of the shorter blade but I like a precise crisp response and tight flip and roll rate.

Since blades are one of those things that's consumable, buy a set of both and try them out for yourself and see what feel you like best!

[akamullen]

Originally Posted by Matt Nasca

Since blades are one of those things that's consumable, buy a set of both and try them out for yourself and see what feel you like best!

Good advice Matt, its way to hard to explain the differences, much easier to just test and then you will know for sure.. Also as far as longer blades taxing lipos or the motor more, just drop a tooth on the pinion and run 100-200 less rpm, longer blades require less headspeed since the disc load is lower and there pushing more air, so flight time will be the same if you gear properly and dont just lower your TC %. Also in a lot of cases with large heli's you will not need a crazy amount of headroom for the gov to work well. so propor gearing for what ever HS you chose is very important to get the best efficiency and power out of your system.

That being said, I like 693's myself. Although the 800mm's I have on my 700E are a blast to do some HUGE air stuff as well as smooth consistent piroflips.

[Harrow]

Yeah, good point, I'm gonna crash eventually, so I might as well buy two pairs up front and test. And if I don't crash for a while, well the cost of the 2nd pair is a lot less than the crash I didn't have, so I'd have nothing to complain about.

[IndividualWon]

Heard nothing but good things about the Rail blades.

[Rob Cherry]

Originally Posted by IndividualWon

Heard nothing but good things about the Rail blades.

I'll be trying them out next, along with SAB 690x63, 690x64, and 700x63. SAB are just crazy fast blades, extremely lightweight and stiff.

[Chris Sexton]

I have the Rail 696 blades on mine, crisp, responsive. Very good feeling. I have tried Edge(not the SE) 693 on my Synergy when the rails weren't available, I ultimately liked the Rails better. But again, blades are kind of subjective. A good blade is a must on a bird this size, don't buy for price alone. But if your budget allows, try a couple different before you settle on one. Worse case you will have a crash set.

[frito169]

Has anyone tried the rotor tech 690 flybarless blades? I've, so far, loved all the rotor tech blades I've ever flown . I've only had a few blades to compare them to such as sab align and Curtis Youngblood. The rotortech blades have been more efficient and powerful allowing longer flight times with crisper response.

[Colonel Sanders]

Will Edge 713 FBL blades work with Edge 105 tails without hitting each other on the X7?

[Harrow]

Originally Posted by Colonel Sanders

Will Edge 713 FBL blades work with Edge 105 tails without hitting each other on the X7?

Yes, that is the combination that I ended up getting. There is a big enough gap to easily pass your finger between them.