New Blade 700X

[tomatwalden]

Straight after the announcement of the 600X, Blade have leaked a photo of the new 700X. Different airframe to the 550/600x, appears to have a quick release battery tray judging by the pack on the table...

[milly0812]

New Blade 700X

Is that 4 x 3 cell !!!!!!

[Liam B.]

Is that 4 x 3 cell !!!!!!

Blades budget is going very far!

Liam

[tomatwalden]

Certainly looks it doesn't it? I'm guessing that's not its actual config however, and that they've just jerry-rigged four 3S packs into a 2x6S config.

[tomatwalden]

I think this heli is that James Haley will be flying in the XFC comp (Futaba® XFC - Participating Heli Pilots). Up against the likes of the Bossion bros. and Jamie Robertson he'll have a job - but he is a good pilot, no doubt.

Horizon had been hinting strongly on HF about another announcement. I expect all the official info on the 700X will follow in quick succession.

I like the look of it. The canopy is more mainstream than the 550/600x without the scoops at the back....

[heathy]

New Blade 700X

Still got silly one piece toy skids.

[tomatwalden]

Still got silly one piece toy skids.

I'm in two minds about the skids. On the one hand, one of the criticisms levelled against the 550X was expensive parts. The skids *always* go in a crash, and for the 550X, those one-peice jobs are incredibly sturdy, and come in an inexpensive pack of two. They're also wide, making them ideal for throttle hold landings and autos. But, I grant you, they could be more attractive. Although the black options look better IMHO.

If I'm really honest however, I suspect there's a bit of business strategy going on here. HH will have had a business plan before they embarked on the "Pro Series". I would imagine that part of that business plan is building up a market of 3rd party products (just like the Lynx, RKH and Xtreme parts for the 130X). Lynx have already in fact produced some parts for the 550X (Fast Lad Performance).

Lynx have also hinted quite strongly that they've got "hop up" skids in the pipeline for the 550X. I would imagine they'd fit the 700X too.

[heathy]

New Blade 700X

Lynx and the other so called upgrade parts are nothing to do with HH.

[tomatwalden]

Yes - sorry, I meant to say "3rd Party" products, not "Partner" products. Edited post accordingly. Lynx indeed have no direction relationship to HH.