Looking for an FPV plane

[Darker4308]

I am looking to get a new plane to shove all my expensive electronics into after the skysurfer/bixler/easystar. I have a budget of about 150$ USD for just foam component willing to spend more if it comes with quality servos, esc, receiver, etc.

My main requirements are the following :
1) Large safe bay area to hold electronics and batteries, such that I can fabricate a removable, but stable electronics shelf that can be very easily accessed.
2) Stable proven FPV platform.
3) Roughly the same speed level characteristics as a skysurfer.
4) Good areas to mount CP antennas, GPS, and receiver.
5) Durable. (I'm not the worlds best pilot)
6) Hand launch-able

Here are some models that I looked at

VAMP (Bormatec) 119 Euros ---> 160-200$ USD
http://fpv-community.de/forum/showthread.php?tid=2140
+ Custom made for FPV
+ Electronics EZ to access
+ Easy to transport
- The Germans on the forums seem to dislike them.
- Price doesn't include anything but foam

MAJA (Bormatec) 199 Euros ---> 260-300$ USD
+ Custom made for drone work
+ Electronics bay best in class
+ Easy to transport
- Does not glide
- Pretty Much outside price range
- Price doesn't include anything but foam

ABEQUAR 250$ - 350$
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1321849
+Custom made for drone work
+Internal area looks good
+ Easy to transport
-Very little information about this plane exist
-Made in Brazil (Customs & Shipping)
-Expensive

Skywalker +150$
+ Well established platform
+ Good Price
+ Supposedly the "natural upgrade" from a skysurfer
+ Comes with servos and other parts
- internal payload bay looks very small
- wings held on with questionable rubber bands (my friend lost one to this)

Radian +250$ BNF +150 PNP
+Tractor Prop more efficient
+ Well established platform
+ Spektrum Receiver comes with along with servos and other parts
- internal payload bay looks very small
- tractor prop needs to be looked over

SkySurfer 75$ USD
+ I know it cold.
- it still has a small payload bay and it's going to be wire-fu in there like it is now.

Have I missed anything that I should not have missed for FPV planes?
I am not currently entertaining the idea of the flying wings at this time, but if one sounds amazing by all means bring it up.

[Greedz]

The skywalkers internal bay is huge. I get 2 x 5000mah 3s batteries + a 2200mah 3s for video. I think I could fit another 2 5000's in there again along with a small baby. It balances out beautifully with 10000mah of battery power...they are cheap as chips too.

[Darker4308]

I've seen the bay in a skywalker, and it's very likely to be next plane. It's more a long line along the planes fuselage that I desire as opposed the vertical space available where I would have to build shelves. I just really want a nice place to organize electronics. What I'm looking for really is flying boxcar with wings just so i can put all my stuff on a nice flat bit of thin plexiglass. I really want to slide an electronics tray in and out of the plane, but I may have to settle.

[SENTRY]

Look at the Multiplex Mentor hard. It can carry 2x5000 if needed - has better foam than the SW as well - and none of the wing issues.

[Darker4308]

I like this fat creature. Thank you. Ideally I'd probably like something with more of a glider aspect, but this is defiantly going to be become a contender.

[Vitamin J]

Take a look at the new X8
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?2777-X8-Black-beast!

[Darker4308]

This whale may actually end up turning me on to flying wings. As soon as I see a price maybe i'll make a decision. Are they out yet ? As in for public consumption.

[SquireM]

As it stands right now. I'd choose the Skywalker given your specified needs. If the X8 turns out to be all that I hope it to be than I'd go with (and probably will go with) the X8.

[Darker4308]

Yes, the skywalker is looking very likely. I'm currently doing all the electronics that need to be done. Everything works. I'm just cleaning up the servo connections and such unless I get a 300$ xmas present. Things just keep adding up.

Servo wire crimping stuff .... heat shrink tape .... servo wire .... antenna trackers... I really just need to sit down and decide exactly how much flying i'm going to be able to do before the end of the year.

[FPV FLYER]

The skywalker has to be the most boring plane I own, seems just what you need, but I'd take Sentry's advice. :D

[Darker4308]

Boring is what I want. I want to haul around a lot of electronics and be able quick swap on cameras and such.

[SquireM]

The X8 just came out pre-order for $179, including a brushless motor. They are supposedly going to ship next month.
http://www.bevrc.com/the-king-of-flyingwing-x8-for-preorder-p-287.html

[Darker4308]

So the X8 very close to what I would like given that it has a massive bay. I may have to do this, but it is designed to run on 4s - 6s, so i'd have to either series two 3s batteries or upgrade everything to 4s. I'll probably get one in Jan after a few reviews come out.

[Darker4308]

Also, is anyone interested in doing an X8 group buy. The shipping from that company seems a little too high to be believed. I think if we could get about 5 of them into the states in one box we could get pretty good discount on the shipping.

[Rehost]

Hi guys,

I feel like a bit of a stalker on this forum so it's time for me to ask a question :)

I currently fly FPV with my dJI F550 and would like to get into planes for longer distances and smoother videos. I have been looking into all kinds of models from Wings to Planes. I even invested in a RVOSD with intentions of getting into fixed wing.

So, what can you suggest a new guy that wants a future proof, gopro carrying, easy to assemble, stable but capable of loops and rolls hehehe, FPV plane!

Thank you!
Dan

[paintz2007]

Penguin.
:)

it rolls like a Piper Cub though...

I started out with an easy glider in 09

last spring I built a ZII

and last fall I sold the ZII to fund the Penguin...

the EasyG was to cramped, before I killed it (overweight) I had it looking like the Penguin, chopped off the nose and built a wood box for the gear...

The ZII just wasn't "my" thing. Im alot happier gawking at 700'agl doing 30 than zooming around only looking straight ahead. although the Z was an excellently designed plane.


https://vimeo.com/52009016

6:55 for aerobatics...

this was the second flight. my avatar is the 4th or 5th..

[paintz2007]

last month


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sLVzV8XOok

[Rehost]

Hi Paintz!

Thanks so much for the help! I really like the penguins look and it seems easy to fly and has tons of support on the forums. I watched RCReviews video review and he mentioned bad glare from the glass cockpit. I don't see any such glare on your video. What's the deal? That review turned me away from the penguin.

Thanks again!
Dan

[paintz2007]

Haha the maiden had the canopy the second video doesnt and im experiment with a open windshield.. with a cut out for the gp on the nose

[Joesa3rd]

SkySurfer or Penguin are my picks. The SkySurfer (aka Bixler 1) is a great smaller easy to travel with plane and flies great. Not the best for use with GoPro's. I've done 5 Mile LOS with it but yet you can have fun with it as well (Nothing like the ZII). The Penguin is a great stable plane with tons of room.A little on the bigger size but breaks down for travel. If you go the Pengin route get the larger power pack and use 3300mah or 5000mah 3S.

[Rehost]

Hmmmm

I wonder if the canopy off causes drag. If there is a way to fly with gopro looking straight out instead of through the glass, I'm all in. Otherwise I don't think these canopy planes are ideal for FpV/Gopro recording

Seems the ZII has it all but for a first time, very intimidating to assemble

[SENTRY]

merged with pre-existing thread (there are many threads on the same subject).

[paintz2007]

It was my first wing and with the manual in hand it was very straight forward... as for penguin drag.. ot really is a fat plane to start with, about the girth of a football... I have a pic on here with a normal size box of golden grahams in the cockpit..

Also thatbi s what I am looking to help by using the canopy with half the top hacked off.. looking straight out I dont look through it... only panning down to the sides.

[Rehost]

Sorry Sentry!! On my iPhone this forums looks a lot different hahaha thank you

I'm sure lots of people have some kind of mod to these penguins. Not many videos see the glare of the cockpit

[blueprint]

Here is my penguin from today.


http://youtu.be/jdpnP_oS6XU