Blade 550X Pro Series

[Mojappa]

In a class of 2 there isn't much competition though, just sayin'. The worst you could be is 2nd place. I didn't hate the way the 130 flew, but servo failures and crashless gear strippings (D hole rounding, not teeth stripping) were a bit of a turn off. I don't feel like Blade owes me anything, I learned how to fly on a few of them. At this point I have outgrown the need for one in my fleet but will look forward to seeing how this one progresses. Honestly if I was ever to be in the market for a big heli I'd go straight to a Logo but I don't see that day coming anytime soon. Good luck with the 550, to both Blade and the first batch buyers.

[dribbe]

Originally Posted by WBFAir

Well isn't all that surprising Dave as you are the guy looking to sell us this kind of stuff, an get us to buy it.

Perhaps if you were the one of the ones who had to suffer through all the things we have had to suffer through with all the stuff you have already sold us in the past....you would understand.

I am an engineer, developer, and business person... I don't think anyone would mistake me for a sales person.

I am there providing accurate information to potential customers. I have flown the 550X and been involved in it's development from the beginning. Thus far, it has been very reliable (development was smooth and steady) and flies extremely well. The numerous folks who have flown it have had overwhelmingly positive comments.
It benefits from having many existing and market proven components on board.

I hope you get a chance to try one.

Enjoy,
David

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by dribbe

I am an engineer, developer, and business person... I don't think anyone would mistake me for a sales person.

I am there providing accurate information to potential customers. I have flown the 550X and been involved in it's development from the beginning. Thus far, it has been very reliable (development was smooth and steady) and flies extremely well. The numerous folks who have flown it have had overwhelmingly positive comments.
It benefits from having many existing and market proven components on board.

I hope you get a chance to try one.

Enjoy,
David

Yup, same pre-release speech could be found for every helo everyone has been listing here with all their sufferings.

Why don't you explain why if that was the case for all those that all these people including myself are listing all they are talking about with those?

...or is the answer that am I just supposed to call support about that as thats not your department.

[dribbe]

Originally Posted by johnsma22

dribbe, you're wasting your time trying to convince the haters! Just keep improving the product line, as you guys have been doing, and the respect will come, or not! Who cares? Oh, and release a 130x v2 and I'll jump on that bandwagon in a second, lol!

I understand your comment... I just want to provide the best most honest information I can to all the great R/C guys out there. I have been in this hobby and industry for many years and have a ton of passion for it.
We always work to build better and better products.

Thanks for your support.

David

[dribbe]

Originally Posted by TomC

For starters, if you want to run gov mode a Kontronik Jive 80 hv will set you back ~$400.

Personally I would not run a 550mm bladed heli on less than 8-10s. So, another $2-300 for a good lower kv motor.

I would like to see the kit offered without the power system (motor, esc, and bec) for ~$400.

Overall, still looks very good imho.

Cheers,
TomC

I would say that is not needed to make it fly 'correctly' as the post I was replying to stated. That is my POV.

David

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by dribbe

I just want to provide the best most honest information I can to all the great R/C guys out there. I have been in this hobby and industry for many years and have a ton of passion for it.
We always work to build better and better products.

Thanks for your support.

David

Originally Posted by dribbe

I don't think anyone would mistake me for a sales person.

...actually really don't need to add anything to this one.

[GravityBlows]

I say, GOOD for BLADE and HORIZON! I have all blades CP heli's, I fly them a lot. They sit on my shelf right next to my Aligns. I think its a great thing for them guys, moving forward in business and in life is always a plus. Send me one, Ill fly that baby!

[SYMAWD]

I think the 550X looks great and will be great. If not, I'm sure that everyone at HH already realized that it would mean the end of the Blade Pro series. It has to be good or else it will be the last Blade Pro IMO.

[tyoung560]

Here's a tip for EVERYONE who is constantly negative about Blade products. Stop buying them, stop complaining, stop attacking. The negativity is incredibly irritating to filter through.

I'm excited about this heli and very intrigued to see how it performs.

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by SYMAWD

I think the 550X looks great and will be great. If not, I'm sure that everyone at HH already realized that it would mean the end of the Blade Pro series. It has to be good or else it will be the last Blade Pro IMO.

No disrespect SYMWAD as I know you're a good guy an not looking to start a beef with you, but that result has been the case for just about everything they have released but that hasn't stopped anything from them.

Bottom line is they don't need their stuff to fail or succeed in the literal sense on its own merits sake to make tons of money from it an thus continue on to the next thing as they have all the other underhanded behind the scenes guarantied to make us money no matter what stuff in place.

Basically all the stuff they have already made is the obvious proof of that what ever it is like, they will make lots of money from it and continue on very well.

[CVFD02]

Originally Posted by tyoung560

Here's a tip for EVERYONE who is constantly negative about Blade products. Stop buying them, stop complaining, stop attacking. The negativity is incredibly irritating to filter through.

I'm excited about this heli and very intrigued to see how it performs.

+1

[SYMAWD]

Originally Posted by WBFAir

No disrespect SYMWAD as I know you're a good guy an not looking to start a beef with you, but that result has been the case for just about everything they have released but that hasn't stopped anything from them.

Bottom line is they don't need their stuff to fail or succeed in the literal sense on its own merits sake to make tons of money from it an thus continue on to the next thing as they have all the other underhanded behind the scenes guarantied to make us money no matter what stuff in place.

Basically all the stuff they have already made is the obvious proof of that what ever it is like, they will make lots of money from it and continue on very well.

I agree the micros have their fair share of problems, but I feel people know that going into them. I agree with you there. Heck, my mCP X only has stock servos, 3 in 1, and links. The rest is all aftermarket.

However, they went with a new name "Pro Series" for differentiation. I feel that they did that to get away from the typical Blade perception. I believe this "new era" is meant to attract all pilots. Even those who have never touched a Blade product. I almost feel it is a Toyota, Lexus thing. A Lexus is a Toyota, but have 2 different brand images. The Pro Series is still a Blade, but I feel it will have a different brand image just like Lexus.

I truly believe that HH and Blade will not screw this up and it will be perfect. This is the start of a new brand and if it goes wrong, "Pro Series" will die.

[Gogupgo]

WBFAir - are you flying a 450, 500 or 550 helicopter right now? And are you flying it Hardcore 3D?

[David Eichstedt]

Some info on the governor: it's not programmable, but it does have a flat curve you can use to adjust rpm up or down, like a Kontronic according to James Haley.

(Currently exchanging fat-fingered text messages while he's at OHB)

[jakozzz]

From the looks of it... looks like the predeccesor to a new 600.. This thing is big and heavy... Tray is big enough for a 12s set-up and the 130 amp ESC is a dead give-away........

[Gogupgo]

Thanks David - I know some were asking on here. Another note thanks for make the 550X Pro Series a kit opens up the door a lot for everyone.

[David Eichstedt]

Originally Posted by jakozzz

This thing is big and heavy...

Keep in mind our weight is published with battery, not without. As we've said elsewhere, it is bigger than a T-Rex 550. The extra rotor diameter helps to keep the disc loading manageable.

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by SYMAWD

I agree the micros have their fair share of problems, but I feel people know that going into them. I agree with you there. Heck, my mCP X only has stock servos, 3 in 1, and links. The rest is all aftermarket.

However, they went with a new name "Pro Series" for differentiation. I feel that they did that to get away from the typical Blade perception. I believe this "new era" is meant to attract all pilots. Even those who have never touched a Blade product. I almost feel it is a Toyota, Lexus thing. A Lexus is a Toyota, but have 2 different brand images. The Pro Series is still a Blade, but I feel it will have a different brand image just like Lexus.

I truly believe that HH and Blade will not screw this up and it will be perfect. This is the start of a new brand and if it goes wrong, "Pro Series" will die.

Oh I agree with you that this is attempt to try the distance ourselves from our previous bad track record to try to make the higher profits margins the higher priced stuff can get us.

But have been looking at this a bit today and for sure is not even close to the same class of actual product the stuff it is has been made to compete with is.

But just like the smaller stuff has always been the same, that won't stop them from making the money on it in how that would normally be the case for anyone else as all those others as those don't use all the underhanded behind the scenes stuff Horizon always uses.

I mean to give a example on the other side of it, look how they have keep the mini market from being a what ever is the best turns out what is the most sold thing.

And thus what has that done to what it is that people are able to get?

I mean I'm not saying that they will do that at least right off to the high end market, but their track record of break into a market and then do all kinds of messed up stuff to it but still ding well money wise in it all because of their other tactics is pretty self evident.

I mean just recently look at what effect they have had on the Phoenix simulator.

That thing was great and for a long time we were getting great and useful things in the updates and lots of new and in such a great variety in models released all the time.

Then Horizon got involved with them and look what it is now, I mean its not shoot at least not yet, but that last update was nothing to scream about and seems Horizon by how ever they have done it has turned that thing into a total selling tool for their products as virtually now all they ever release it blades.

Then also look what they did to Jr, used them to get 2.4 going and now that they have gotten such control of it, blew them off.

Also could talk about the Beast as I never saw almost any bad things happening when that was just the straight product, but now that the AR7200 came out, that section is full of issues and with the Brain and others are starting to really come into their own, how do you think what their effect is going to have on the Beast in the future?

All in all have never seen much good for anyone other then Horizon for any market or thing they have ever gotten into.

[jakozzz]

Originally Posted by David Eichstedt

Keep in mind our weight is published with battery, not without. As we've said elsewhere, it is bigger than a T-Rex 550. The extra rotor diameter helps to keep the disc loading manageable.

My Gaui is 6.1 lbs fly weight with battery... Looks like you could throw a bigger motor in that thing and a tail extension and some 600 blades pretty easy... C'mon.. you were thinking that too..............

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by Gogupgo

WBFAir - are you flying a 450, 500 or 550 helicopter right now? And are you flying it Hardcore 3D?

My helos are in my profile, as well also have the displeasure of having a $400.00 Cx2 shelf dust collector, and a 130X thats sure to be the same.