Raptor 30 anyone??

[Tim Procter]

Nick Maxwell proving the old Raptor 30 can still 3D

These were one of the helis that started the 3D revolution over 10 years ago, My first heli too.

Video from yesterday.

[Mike W]

It's actually nice watching something other than super fast super jerky flying lol ...At the end of the day this proves you dont need the latest and greatest ... But awesome vid none the less

[trillian]

Yeah my first heli was a Raptor 30 as well. I got it 2nd hand and it was 100% reliable for the entire time I was flying it.

[Steve]

It's all in the thumbs.

When the Raptor 30 first came out, the competition was the Hirobo Shuttle which only had a 15 degree maximum total pitch range and was already an old design even then. It certainly wasn't 3D capable. The Raptor was the model that reset the benchmark for model helicopters with it's full inverted capability and robust build. Hirobo responded to Thunder Tigre by bringing out the Sceadu, but the damage was already done and the heli buying public were buying Raptors in their droves.

Raptor 30 is still the best learning heli in my opinion to this day. It will take you through very first hops, to hovering to circuits, nose in, inverted, backwards, inverted backwards and beyond, all in a package that doesn't need to break the bank, is simple and robust. If you get bored and decide RC helis is not for you, then it will just resell with ease.

Couldn't ask for more really as a beginner.

[helimadness]

Nice vid. Maybe a stupid question from a newbee by why are the old ones so much slower flipping and rolling. I actually like the look of the slow mo moves more. Is it just a power and head speed thing? general design? If I slow the roll rates down on my trex 500 3gx can get get the same results?
Looks like you need to add some lights to it, getting a bit dark.

[spillage]

My Mates all Have blingy 550e's and 700 nitros etc... I have a lowly titan 50.... blingy of course... that has now inspired me to push this one I own... thanks Nick for the inspiration - agree that the 3d moves look better and more skillfull in slow mo.....less stick banging at comps anyone???

John

[trillian]

Nice vid. Maybe a stupid question from a newbee by why are the old ones so much slower flipping and rolling. I actually like the look of the slow mo moves more. Is it just a power and head speed thing? general design? If I slow the roll rates down on my trex 500 3gx can get get the same results?
Looks like you need to add some lights to it, getting a bit dark.

With the Raptor 30 the limitation is power / headspeed. You can get a lot more cyclic travel by fitting the GeForce mixer arms but a .30 size engine can only do so much (of course the upshot is long flight times and very low fuel consumption). You could convert a Raptor 30 to electric and make it into a rocket (or convert it to a .50 nitro).

[moyesboy]

smmooooooothhhh
...and its got to be. Loadsof head speed and powrr gives you a bit more margin for escaping disaster. Witha .30 its so easily bogged that you have to have a gentle touch.
countless timesI've almost stalled the motor in my 600n with a 50 hyper and 30%, lost the tail hold, but still missed the ground just and its struggled back into the air. A raptor 30 would have gone in.
Power and head speed will mask a whole load of bad pilot habits.

Now go and practice on an MCPX.

[nobbycopter]

I got given my Raptor 30 airframe by a clubmate (cheers TinTin ) and I've fitted it out with stuff from my box and second hand bits from Fleabay...just getting the tail sorted then it's going to be my heli for learning new moves on (binned my 500 last weekend trying new stuff and to repair it's almost as much as a new heli ) to save my wallet a bit from the bill if I stuffed my 700 in. If you're not worried about bling and buying second hand bits then they're so cheap to repair!

It's also going to be my 11 year old's first nitro after he's got the hang of hovering his mCPX...

[BIGUS NIKUS]

Just goes to show that you can do almost anything, even with an 11 year old rappy 30 if you know what your doing!