Some things just remind you of why the Pantera is awesum!!

[Jermo]

I'm having struggles with my 180 CFX. Just getting it repaired and flying has gone from bad to worse. If it were not for the desire to have a small model to fly around the yard I'd have dumped it in the trash. It was a pre-Christmas gift; I'm over $50 in "upgrades" required to fly the darn thing (metal gears for cyclics, torque tube update..etc). Had and issue after a firmware update with the tail servo and somehow fried the ESC and maybe damaged the receiver..

Pretty bad considering those total end up close to $100.

so $150 all in over the span of 3 months compared to 2 Pantera models with less than $100 over a few years (I've purchased upgrades or preferred items but not required to fly type items). By biggest expense so far has been blades. Not from breaking them but finding after several years of use they developed linear cracks along the leading edges. I presume the cracks are from hitting things at odd times..LOL..
Jer

[z_man_95]

I refuse to buy a 180x. My 130x is just fine. I've heard from multiple sources that the servos suck.

[Jermo]

Originally Posted by z_man_95

I refuse to buy a 180x. My 130x is just fine. I've heard from multiple sources that the servos suck.

Edit: I have the MCPXV2 with a BL upgrade.. it lacks the power to really practice inverted.

I've put $50 worth of upgrades only to have the ESC (and possibly the receiver) fry when I applied power to the receiver independent of the ESC to get the tail servo working.

My complaints on the 180:
1. Lack of helicopter support from Horizon: All programming software is for fixed wing. The ONLY thing you can do is upgrade firmware. You don't know that until you order the cables (one for PC and one for phone) and try to use them.
2. Lack of parts so the cost is high. Check out repair parts costs if/when you can find them in stock.
3. Iffy warranty support from Horizon. I called their tech support. The tech was dismissive saying "it won't do that" after I fried the ESC by applying power to the receiver. As a result I expect them to charge me for the parts.
4. UPGrades are required BEFORE you fly to prevent huge repair costs. I've installed the metal gear upgrades and torque tube with metal tips (so I can break the more expensive umbrella gears... )
5. A huge complex process is required to configure/adjust the model before flight.

Reasons I purchased the 180:
1. Temporary insanity.
2. I wanted a micro class I could fly around the yard that has the power to do whatever I want easily (inverted practice mostly).
3. A fool and his money are soon parted (or were lucky to find each other to start with).

Next Steps:
I'm really not sure what I'm going to do after getting it fully operational. If Horizon doesn't cover the ESC/Receiver under warranty (I don't expect them to) then I'll probably sell if off at a huge loss. Current market used is around $200 in good condition. I will have spent over half of that with the upgrades + ESC/Receiver.

[tealc]

Sorry to hear about the 180. I have not been a fan of Blade products, even when I sold them. Sold too many of the Blade 130x that needed the tail case upgrade to even get them to fly out of the box, which turned me off to getting one. But the Nano Cpx seemed to be a good heli for learning things on. I bought one used from a guy who bought it from the hobbies shop I worked in. It was only in the air a couple of times before he decided helis were to much for him. It has been a good CP heli for my daughter to learn on. It is not as responsive as my Pantera, feels like a slug when going inverted, but has helped my inverted flying. There are a lot of things I don't like about this heli, but for $50 with NIP Microheli parts that I have not put on, it was a good deal.
I was hopeful the 180 would make up for the 130, but it sounds like it is not any better.

[jiminator]

Different experience for me with my 180. Didn't do any "upgrades" to it. Bound it to my radio and flew and flew and flew..... Probably around the 100 flight area put it in hard practicing backwards flight. I mean I really put it in hard! Big bounce with a little chicken dance. Broke one main blade and stripped all 3 cyclic servo gears. Took this as my opportunity to replace the servo gears with the Lynx metal ones and install the servo saver arms. And try out the new Zeal blades. Also did the firmware update.

None of the "upgrades" were necessary. could very well have just have put stock parts back on and flew some more. This little bird has been the best "sim" ever and way cheaper than my 130's ever were. Don't know why you've had such a bad experience with yours Jerry. Mine has been an absolute joy.

On the other hand I have a MinAir Fury 55 that has seen the dirt 3 times before it was properly broken in. But that's a whole 'nuther story...

[Jermo]

Originally Posted by jiminator

Different experience for me with my 180. Didn't do any "upgrades" to it. Bound it to my radio and flew and flew and flew..... Probably around the 100 flight area put it in hard practicing backwards flight. I mean I really put it in hard! Big bounce with a little chicken dance. Broke one main blade and stripped all 3 cyclic servo gears. Took this as my opportunity to replace the servo gears with the Lynx metal ones and install the servo saver arms. And try out the new Zeal blades. Also did the firmware update.

None of the "upgrades" were necessary. could very well have just have put stock parts back on and flew some more. This little bird has been the best "sim" ever and way cheaper than my 130's ever were. Don't know why you've had such a bad experience with yours Jerry. Mine has been an absolute joy.

On the other hand I have a MinAir Fury 55 that has seen the dirt 3 times before it was properly broken in. But that's a whole 'nuther story...

probably because I purchased used and had vibration issues day one which started this trek.. ended up being most likely the torque tube ends being damaged/cracked.
jer

[jiminator]

Here's hoping HH takes care of you and sends you another 180.

[alistair watt]

I was at my club today with my Pantera 50 of six years old or more if I remember... Now I am not that young and have to admit that I have not pushed my flying as fast as others.. Bit of a heli coward really....However today the 50 was flying eights and circles which I really enjoyed.. It's been a great machine for me to learn on and I am so grateful to its forgiving nature... I bought loads of parts as it's impossible to get any in the UK.. I have also an Algn 500 and two 600 s but it's the Pantera that I have grown to enjoy taking to the field..well done Mr Beech great machine.
Al

[flyingquisinart]

I swore off micros last year. Unfortunately I do less total flying, but I am flying my Pantera and X5 a little more than last year AND have a little extra money weekly. I go to my local hobby shop maybe once a month now which is for nitro and rockets for my son. It was a weekly trip for MCPX and 130X parts at $5 - $20 per trip.

Granted I did have an expensive Spring due to a failed (non Audacity) tail servo, but now I'm back into enjoying it every time I take the out. I'm no 3D smack flier but the airplane guys love to watch me auto it down and slide to a stop.