Nick Maxwell to Minicopter/Peak Aircraft

[ultrataco]

https://www.facebook.com/peakaircraf...e=3&permPage=1

"Minicopter and Peak Aircraft are proud to announce our new team pilot, Nick Maxwell. He will be flying the new Diabolo Black Edition at OHB, so make sure to come check it out and welcome him to the team!"

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet. If it is has, I'm surprised I missed it. I heard about it today on the rchn podcast. The Facebook post is from Thursday.

[GJacksonF3N]

Surprised there hasn't been much chatter.

[Uriah]

Kinda weird. Nick Maxwell and Dunkan Bossion are both going to brands that, at least from my perspective, seem a bit out of the mainstream in price and/or availability. Not a criticism, just an observation...

[MotorG525]

The 550 and up Heli market seems to be shifting to more expensive models and electronics

[MS60]

This is good stuff, looking forward to seeing some great flying.

[Atomic Skull]

Interesting that Nick Maxwell who was always a big proponent of cyclic bellcranks will be flying direct swash machines from now on.

[LegndarySaiyan]

The diabolo is a fantastic heli. Mine has over 200 flights on it now and hasn't needed a thing. I flattened the aluminum landing struts once and bent the boom from a very hard landing. New boom and bent the struts back and good as new. Everyone I see at events that checks out my diabolo all seem to think it's an expensive boutique heli but it really is a bargain for what you get. I believe the kits at peak aircraft are $1175 for the "regular" Diablo 700. The kits come with all the improvements made to date and the fit and finish is beyond anything else I've built. Compared to most "quality" 700 kits on the market which are $900 and up, I can't see anyone regretting the slightly higher kit price (which is still less than other popular models) after they build and fly one. I can't wait to see Nick put on a show with his.

[alexd1]

Nice!

[jxl857]

Remember, price isn't the only consideration, especially with large 700s.

There's a lot to be said for reliability, ease of maintenance, and parts machining quality. From what I've seen of the Diablo, it's expensive, but the drive train seems very solid and reliable, with minimal need for maintenance.

This is especially true when one advances to the point where dumb thumb crashes are rare and the majority of crashes are due to mechanical failures (which is more likely the harder you push the machine, and the more often you fly).

A quality kit can actually be cheaper to fly in this case, as all it takes is 1 crash to make up for the difference in cost.

I'm excited for Nick's decision to support Minicopter and look forward to seeing what he can do at OHB.

[Vinger]

Wonder what he will use for F3C? The TT was one of the best for that dicipline.

[Thestructured]

The diabolo is a sexy beast. Can't wait to see nick fly them.

[Flydynamics]

Originally Posted by Vinger

Wonder what he will use for F3C? The TT was one of the best for that dicipline.

I disagree, TT helicopter were not the best for that at all. They were used by Maxwell and Wayne Mann when he stopped using MA X-Cell mechanics and maybe other guys we never heard about but TT has never been known as a very good platform for F3C.
Early November, I have seen pic of Maxwell with Quest helicopters on his FB and his comment about them was very obvious of the future of his F3C machines; it will be very good for him and a big step ahead from TT mechanics.
Quest helicopters (new design based on the old Caliber serie from Kyosho if I recall) is one of the best with JR for the moment. With Hirobo dying, SAB seems to have taken many pilots from Hirobo (Grabber, Luchi etc ...) and at the last Worlds, I have seen a lot of SAB Urukay.
With the FBL systems being authorized in F3C, less work has to be done in the mechanic of the head, most of the work now will come from software and fine tuning the FBL system.

[Shogun71]

I hope he still makes his Helix blades!!!

I love the precision that Nick flies with. I was surprised that he stayed with Thunder Tiger as long as he did. Maybe loyal to a fault?

Anyway, as many of us have found, this hobby is always in flux and change.

I'm don't follow anyone other than some French guy named Marc....

[MotorG525]

Hopefully he sells the design to peak aircraft.. Hard to find those dam blades sometimes

[Raptorapture]

Congrats Nick, Peak and Minicopter!

[DeanR]

I'm ready to see a Diabolo on one of his long low inverted passes inches of the deck! Diabolo are sexy machines!

[TucsonFlyer]

Congrats to Nick! I'm loving my new Diabolo 550, the quality is fantastic and I can't wait to see what's next from minicopter

[bgymr]

hopefully nitro

[smsodhi]

Originally Posted by bgymr

hopefully nitro

Funny you should mention that...I have been thinking about a nitro Diabolo that for the past 2-3 weeks. Would be great. It would get me on the juice.

[Number]

Diabolo 50N?