Updates on the Pantera 50?

[Espeefan]

I can't believe it's been so quiet in here, especially with the release of the Pantera 50 soon to be upon us. Last I talked to John, early June was the eta. and he flying prototypes. I'm just curious to see how things are going and if the release has changed. I'm pretty excited, as this will be my first heli and I can't wait to get my hands on it, but luckily I have good patience too! Anyone else waiting like me for these to ship?

Bet John is busy putting manuals together or something!

[Hotwings]

i saw John Beech and John Benario working on the pantera at Jax, never saw it fly other than straight up and auto down, seemed to be a 14Z programing session that lasted all day. It looked as if it has some neat features, The snorkel didn't turn me on though. I think i would pass on that upgrade as no heli i have had needed it. c-ya Ron

[Espeefan]

Snorkel?

[Hotwings]

It's an option that attaches to the carburetor to put clean air in the carb. also, you can fly under h2o HAH!. Has a K&S filter on the top under the canopy. Different for sure. i don't fly anywhere that is that dirty. Ron

[BarracudaHockey]

That snorkel looked like it would cause more tuning problems than it would solve.

[DavidH]

Back several years ago,Len Sabato ran a tube thru the fan shroud with a filter on the end. Very similar to what the car guys use that are running in dirt. He tried it for a couple of events and then abandoned the idea. The power loss he was having when using the intake tube was not worth what he gained in lower engine noise. The idea is nothing new and it has been tried before on helis. I guess some will consider it unique thou and try to make it work.
They will be glad OS has that 2 year engine warranty for those that use OS engines.
If someone is flying there heli where they encounter enough dirt that requires a filter. Then they will have other problems than the engine from the dirt.

David

[Espeefan]

Interesting! I am firmilar with snorkels, but I was puzzled to think a heli would have one. Just never thought it would apply. I take it you've seen the actual set-up Hotwings? Guess you could take the action off road now. Land in that stream, no problem! :mrgreen:

[Foxden]

Nathan,

Hotwings and I were both at the Jax FF, John Beech came over and setup next to my table and we got a chance to look it over, the "snorkel" is an option and john will have the Pantera frames marked where you would need to trim away part of the fan shroud to install it. John Banario spent most of the day playing around with his 14mz radio trying to "fine tune" the Pantera so basically all we got to see it do was go up and do auto's, seemed like he spent alot of time trying to get the carb setup correctly to run with the "snorkel"

The areas I fly here in Florida are grass covered so I am not sucking alot of sand or dirt and I probably would not use it myself, however the Pantera had some very positive features that I did like, the servo supports, the extra servo openings, tripple main shaft bearings that are removable.

[Espeefan]

That's cool. I don't intend to run in dusty conditions either. My parents have a monster sized lawn that will be my air field, plus 30 or so acres of hay fields surrounding it. Unless it gets really dry this summer, I'm not worried about a fliter.

The features you like, are the main reasons I decided to pick up a Pantera. I looked at a lot more expensive machines and decided I probably couldn't go wrong with one for my beginner self. Also John is a great guy and I enjoyed reading his 'white pages' about the design and work that went into the Tiger 50. I know the Pantara will every bit as good, if not better.

[Foxden]

Yes sir, I have 3 Tiger 50's, one I picked up for a scale project. They fly great

[Espeefan]

Wohooo! It's June. Still no offical word in this thread about shipping dates and the Pantera 50. Anyone hear anything?

[Foxden]

Nope not yet!

[Espeefan]

Argh! The suspense is killing me! :mrgreen:

[Laurens]

Robbe Taurus is being shipped though.

[Foxden]

To the USA?

[WillJames]

What happened to John Beech? Is he MIA or something?

[Foxden]

Hey Will,

I haven't spoken to John since we were all up at the Jacksonville FF, I'll send him an email and see if everything is ok, I know he hasn't been feeling very well for quite a while.

[Laurens]

No, but its the same as the pantera.

[Espeefan]

The same?

Clyde, did you email John by chance? Hope he's alright. He usually watches this forum pretty well.

[DavidH]

John has not been logged onto Helifreak since May 28th, 2006. I have not seen any posts by him on any of the other forums either. So maybe he is visiting family or just got away for a while.

David