Xfly Models B1B Bomber 70mm

[Elbee]

Same here. I am fortunate that cost is no object, but space in my basement is. Right now the F-14 is more than enough complexity to deal with and I'm awaiting the new Eurofighter, so I'll wait for the time being. I do look forward to putting one of my Do-It-Yourself afterburner systems in a 4 tailpipe jet. It will handle 4 independently flickering tailpipes, unlike any of the commercial units. Up until now two tailpipes is the most I've used it with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvH...el=JohnKallend

Looking forward to your "EU Typhoon" build. Always liked the look of that fighter. Best, LB

[kallend]

xviper Aros I want the model, I certainly don't need it.

Same here. I am fortunate that cost is no object, but space in my basement is. Right now the F-14 is more than enough complexity to deal with and I'm awaiting the new Eurofighter, so I'll wait for the time being. I do look forward to putting one of my Do-It-Yourself afterburner systems in a 4 tailpipe jet. It will handle 4 independently flickering tailpipes, unlike any of the commercial units. Up until now two tailpipes is the most I've used it with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvH...el=JohnKallend

[Elbee]

xviper Aros I want the model, wish it were FreeWing, I certainly don't need it. Will wait until I get a full debrief from Aros Best, LB

[Aros]

If my new club didn't have a paved runway I wouldn't have been able to get this model. I am thrilled, but I suspect a lot of folks will have to do some kind of modification to the gear to make it grass-friendly, or grass-capable.

[xviper]

xviper, Time will tell us all. Until then we are only speculating as to the good, bad, and the ugly.

I will agree it is expensive in comparison to models of 'yore' and what we are used to paying.

Once we ultimately have 'hands-on' this beauty, we'll KNOW about its' build quality, performance and parts.

Patiently & Respectfully, LB

You getting one, too, LB? Mine will hopefully be an ARF+ if available and will come much later, so I can see how it is in the "real world".

"Time" often makes fools and liars of us all. (Can't recall what movie that came from.) It's a pretty good bet that this particular subject matter will do both.

[Elbee]

xviper, Time will tell us all. Until then we are only speculating as to the good, bad, and the ugly.

I will agree it is expensive in comparison to models of 'yore' and what we are used to paying.

Once we ultimately have 'hands-on' this beauty, we'll KNOW about its' build quality, performance and parts.

Patiently & Respectfully, LB

[xviper]

I really like the scale detail of the landing gear. I wonder how it'll handle the grass. I'm getting rid of a few of my old models to make room for the B1 and Eurofighter. 2 great early releases for 2023.

The front gear on this plane is the same as the one used on the Xfly Bizjet. A friend had one and when he drove from the runway onto the grass lip at the end after landing, the nose strut collapsed right back and required replacement. He never flew it off grass or landed on grass. It may be OK as it won't get that sudden jolt that occurs when hitting a grass lip. I've flown my Freewing Bizjet PJ50 off and onto grass and it has no problem with it but that's a different gear.
The main gear on this B1 is a 4-wheel "truck" on each side, similar to the Freewing B2. This kind of wheel assembly makes the B2 extremely difficult (if not impossible) to get up enough speed on grass to rotate. The B1 may or may not have the same issue. Like the B2, this B1 may require some wheel modification (like removing 2 of the wheels on each side) to work off grass. Until someone tries it, you won't know for sure. You might want to wait till someone tries it. It's a very expensive plane to NOT be able to take off from the surface you fly from.

[salali]

I really like the scale detail of the landing gear. I wonder how it'll handle the grass. I'm getting rid of a few of my old models to make room for the B1 and Eurofighter. 2 great early releases for 2023.

[xviper]

Apparently, Xfly's version of the "control box" on the B1 can prevent the flaps from being down when the wings sweep back. After the wings sweep forward again, the flaps come back down. Also, it seems that during the demo flights in Arizona, at least one of the prototypes was using a HobbyEagle A3 gyro. It also had one of the newest Lemon 7-ch stabilized RXs. Since you can't have 2 gyros in series, he was likely testing with them in alternating fashion to tweak gains, etc. You kinda gotta wonder why they weren't doing that with Xfly's own Pulsar gyro, which will come installed on the PNP models. Personnally, the one that came on my friend's Xfly Bizjet did not work and he gave it to me which I tossed in the garbage. Be very careful to do extensive testing if you intend to keep the Pulsar in any Xfly product.

[xviper]

And another from Solt:

[xviper]

Today from Ralph:

Some nice close up shots of a sort of unboxing.

[xviper]

If you can, take the reverse thrust "option". I'd still like to know what this means. Why is it an option? Does it mean that you can go and buy a reversing ESC? You can do that with any EDF now, so not much of an option. Or does it mean it comes with a reversing ESC and the end user just has to activate it like some of the current Eflite models (eg. Beech D18.)
If I end up with this and if it's available, I'd like to get the ARF+ version where I get my own fans, ESCs. There are way more powerful EDFs out there made by Freewing and even FMS. With a flying weight of 5 kg and at my elevation, I want it to have as much push as is reasonably affordable. Even though it's a closely guarded secret (and I don't know why), someone indicated that the battery compartment is smallish. More powerful EDFs may suck more juice, needing more amp/hrs.

[Aros]

That's a valid point. My club's paved runway is decent sized but not oversized so I can see how an extensive roll could create an issue as the dreaded longer grass with divets awaits any model at the end of the runway.

Guess I will have to learn to flare and touchdown at the very breach of the runway, lol.

[xviper]

I will say I think the model "should" be fairly easy to land with the wings out. Seems like she would have a penchant for slow, floaty landings especially with flaps. I don't see this jet being the case where you have to come in hot.

Maybe not a real good comparison, but my F-14 on full flaps comes in pretty slow. However, also at nearly 5 kg, it rolls forever. If you've got a short runway, look out! You'll shear off the nose gear on the lip at the end of the runway.

[Aros]

I will say I think the model "should" be fairly easy to land with the wings out. Seems like she would have a penchant for slow, floaty landings especially with flaps. I don't see this jet being the case where you have to come in hot.

[xviper]

Loaded today:

Aros beat me to it. It's a new one.

Notice how they make an effort to block the camera angle when the battery bay is open or putting on the cover ASAP. Must be really messy in there or there's some secret squirrel stuff going on.
Nice wings swept in rolling flight. To bad they don't show reverse. Perhaps that was the "option" that wasn't in these prototypes. He said he wanted to hear from people about what they think. Maybe he was just talking to the "live" audience but judging from what's been going on at the Guppy, they can't handle much of the stuff that people are "thinking". It's like some press conferences we see on the news. They'll answer any questions asked but only if we screen them first. Too much James Bond stuff.
"Justwingit" has done more to promote and advertise this plane so far than what BH has done. Good on him.

[Aros]

This could be the same video as posted yesterday but in case it's a different one...

[xviper]

Sorry, I don't do FB. I saw this YT vid over on the RCG thread.

Thanks anyway. I decided it's just as easy to subscribe to justwingit's channel.

[ridgerunner]

... Would you be able to put a link here to the Facebook page where these vids are loaded? Or is it a private page?

Sorry, I don't do FB. I saw this YT vid over on the RCG thread.

[xviper]

Here it is...

Thanks. Much appreciated. That was indeed a spectacular performance. As I said before, the guy knows how to fly.

Would you be able to put a link here to the Facebook page where these vids are loaded? Or is it a private page?