Dusted off the old 500..........

[MolokaiBoy]

Well its been a long time since I have been able to fly so its ben just sitting there. I finally got some better batteries and decide to take the heli out for several flights. Still flies really well, one of my favorite helis considering its size. I have the plastic version which I converted to FBL with beast x.

I have not been on the forums much neither so I am trying to catch up to what's ben going on. Looks like not much in this section. What are decent blades for doing sport to mild 3d stuff these days?

Mahalo,

Les

[Mikej]

I've been flying mine a bit more recently as well - love it!!! I'm also a sports flyer and I use the Blue CF align 425s

[Thoemse]

Originally Posted by MolokaiBoy

Well its been a long time since I have been able to fly so its ben just sitting there. I finally got some better batteries and decide to take the heli out for several flights. Still flies really well, one of my favorite helis considering its size. I have the plastic version which I converted to FBL with beast x.

I have not been on the forums much neither so I am trying to catch up to what's ben going on. Looks like not much in this section. What are decent blades for doing sport to mild 3d stuff these days?

Mahalo,

Les

Im you got the stretch boom:
Zeal 480's together with KBDD tails and the 18t pulley work really well for me. It's a lot more floaty with those.

[babyuh1]

Originally Posted by Mikej

I've been flying mine a bit more recently as well - love it!!! I'm also a sports flyer and I use the Blue CF align 425s

Those are my favorite blades as well.

[Hobee]

Just finished building my Protos and had the first spool up and hover yesterday. I am running the 480 mm RotorTech Blades. It was amazing, the blades hardly seemed to spin and the heli already lifted off the ground!

[KC8CYF]

I can select low head speed using a throttle hold without throttle cut mix on my Jive 60 to get around 1150-1200 rpm head speed. Circuits and sport flight is not a problem. Very quiet as well.

This was my sissy training wheels mode for autorotation training. Throttle is set around 27% output in hold. The Jive doesn't complain. Although once I got the hang of autorotation timing, I should disable this function and man up... i.e. NO Bail-Out. 100% committal.

If you're not already familiar with the older Jive 60's... they do not have a bail-out function... so when the throttle drops below 15% the ESC shuts down completely and has a slow spool-up when the throttle percentage exceeds 25%. Throttle cut is set for 0% and mixed to a separate switch that requires two separate switches to be in a "run" or start-up position that will start the ESC.

So the Low Head Speed mode was an accidental discovery on my part. But now is an enjoyable flying experience. Haven't tried to fly it longer than a couple minutes, so I don't know what the benefits might be in terms of extended flight times yet.

[MolokaiBoy]

So what is the longest main blades that can be used on a stock non stretch 500?

Les

[babyuh1]

Originally Posted by MolokaiBoy

So what is the longest main blades that can be used on a stock non stretch 500?

Les

430's.

[MolokaiBoy]

Thanks babyuh1.

I guess since I've got a stock and a stretch I will see which I like better and stick with that one and get rid of the other.

Mahalo,

Les

[TitaniumFreak]

hmm. i pulled mine off the shelf after sitting for almost 2 years it seems . i grabbed some batts and up it went as if it was yesterday. i forgot how quiet it was.

[HarryR]

Originally Posted by MolokaiBoy

Well its been a long time since I have been able to fly so its ben just sitting there. I finally got some better batteries and decide to take the heli out for several flights. Still flies really well, one of my favorite helis considering its size. I have the plastic version which I converted to FBL with beast x.

I have not been on the forums much neither so I am trying to catch up to what's ben going on. Looks like not much in this section. What are decent blades for doing sport to mild 3d stuff these days?

Mahalo,

Les

Check out the new IKON/Brain V2 FBL unit. That makes your Protos NEW.

[MolokaiBoy]

Check out the new IKON/Brain V2 FBL unit. That makes your Protos NEW.

hahaha that is so true!!

[learnedthehardway]

I had a plastic and a stretch P500. Preferred the stretch with 465mm SAB mains, more float and collective punch than 430's but just as agile.

430 Zeals flew well but made the main bearings chirp despite weight and cog matching perfectly

Also tried some Switch 423mm which were extremely stable and smooth perfect for sport flying but were horrible for 3d. Slowed the flip/roll rates down so much that they were still excruciatingly slow with the control rates cranked up ridiculously high in the fbl controller.

[Thoemse]

Originally Posted by TitaniumFreak

hmm. i pulled mine off the shelf after sitting for almost 2 years it seems . i grabbed some batts and up it went as if it was yesterday. i forgot how quiet it was.

I thought it is quiet too. I maidened my T-Rex 700X two weeks ago. It is fully mechanical with torque tube. The Protos 500 with 480'S Zeals is loud compared to it. That puts quite some things into perspective.

That being said the 500 is a lot quieter than my 450's and definatly not loud.

[big lou]

Man I miss my 500 and that heavy duty main shaft. I should have never sold it that was the only heli I ever had that I never check just flew the hell out of it. I hope my new 380 gets to that point only 25 flights on her .

[Thoemse]

Hehe yeah that mainshaft is great. That thing wont bend easily. Funny that one of the lightest helis of its class ahs such a fat shaft.
I fly mine a lot and don't plann on giving it away untill I crashed it beyond repair. Eventhough it is an ancient design by comparison it does fly surprisingly well.