Announcement

**bill34207** · Mar 6, 2018, 07:27 PM

That worked out well. Got an email notification from Motion that the new A-10 main struts were available so grabbed a pair of those. And added on a 8010T for the Flex Jet which got me over the free shipping threshold. Two birds with one stone. ;)

**xviper** · Mar 7, 2018, 12:40 PM

I pulled the trigger today and paid for one from Thunderbolt RC out of Windsor, ON, Canada. My inquire with Flex Innovations and my LHS (just to see what they'd say) resulted in absolutely NO responses. Thunderbolt replied so I bought from them. I'll give my money to whoever shows some kind of attention to customers. It's almost like these other guys simply do not want to sell anything. I'm not going to beg them to take my money. A big FAIL goes to both of them. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the terrific customer relations from MotionRC. Nobody else can even come close.
Oh, and I discovered that Flitetest has the FlexJet on their website. No doubt just a resell from Flex Innovations but I've had good dealings with Flitetest. However, on this one, I didn't make inquiries and there's no mention of any shipping deals for pre-order anyway.

**dkalwishky** · Mar 7, 2018, 12:48 PM

Originally posted by xviper View Post

My inquire with Flex Innovations and my LHS (just to see what they'd say) resulted in absolutely NO responses.

When they first introduced the 170 I bought it and had numerous questions as I put it together, I detailed everything in an e-mail with pictures and link to some video I took and never heard from them. I send the e-mail a second time, no response. I called them and had to send it a third time then they got it and responded.

I had the same thing happen a year ago when I had a followup question, no response to my e-mail. When I posted my issue on Facebook they got right back to me.

I'm not a fan of Flex (but I love my 170).

EDIT: I did make several phones call to them and left several messages, all went unanswered.

**Robert Belluomini** · Mar 7, 2018, 06:12 PM

David offered this including a toll free phone call I always find it best to call.

**xviper** · Mar 7, 2018, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by Robert Belluomini View Post

David offered this including a toll free phone call I always find it best to call.

Yes, that was his response to my question and I chose to email. That way, I have it all in print to jog my memory if I don't decide to do it immediately. People do business by email these days and I expect his company to be proficient with it. Like I said, I made the effort to contact. After that, I shouldn't have to go chasing a business down to beg them to take my money. As with any new product, especially in this hobby, these things will come and go. It it's handy and it suits me, I get it now. If I leave it alone long enough, there will be the next big thing.
By contrast, MotionRC has bent over backwards emailing me and phoning me for clarification on a question or a problem. I don't have to chase them for anything.

**dkalwishky** · Mar 7, 2018, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by xviper View Post

People do business by email these days and I expect his company to be proficient with it.

I agree with that especially when a company is selling a product at a premium price.

**crxmanpat** · Mar 27, 2018, 02:15 PM

Lots of people (me included) have gotten shipping notices within the past 90 minutes. I guess it's a good thing I got my Freewing F-4 done on Saturday! Now I just need to figure out where I'm going to store it (and my F-4 for that matter!).

**dkalwishky** · Mar 27, 2018, 02:17 PM

A friend in our club has one on the way, he's going to let me fly it once it shows up.

**bill34207** · Mar 27, 2018, 04:07 PM

I'm with you on that one Pat. Already got the F-4 stored on a shelf for now so I'll be ready to start on the Flex tomorrow if UPS is prompt with the delivery. (Venice is not that far away from Bradenton)

**scootergenie** · Mar 27, 2018, 04:58 PM

I saw this plane fly at Florida jets last weekend, and was quite impressed with the wide envelope !

**Bajora** · Mar 27, 2018, 09:24 PM

Got my shipping notice on this today ... :Cool:

**CZ Flyer** · Mar 28, 2018, 11:54 AM

I'm a Quique fan, but all Flex planes are over priced. I almost got a 170, but already have the CZ Cub,(Quique's design) and figured they'd be too similar. Does anybody have both the 170 & CZ cub? How do they compare? Thanks. (Sorry! drifted off the edf topic!) I'll post this question in prop planes.

**xviper** · Mar 28, 2018, 01:08 PM

On the surface, they do appear to be overpriced. However, this is my first Flex plane so I'll reserve judgement till after I've flown it and have a chance to do a fair evaluation. A flying buddy who has a couple of Flex planes indicates he likes them but has never actually stated whether or not he thinks they are good value for the money. In this day and age of RC planes, just because we really like something doesn't necessarily mean we are fine with paying through the nose for it.
Coming from a lot of FMS and Freewing and flightline products, I will have plenty to compare to this new plane. People who know me will also know that I am fair in my assessment of consumer goods. I won't give needless praise just to blow sunshine up someone's butt. However, I won't trash a product just because it might have a weakness or deficiency when compared to other similar products. I have already received an "important firmware update" for the flight controller. Although it doesn't really affect me because of the RX I will be using, I find it noteworthy that such a notification had to be issued even before the plane has been released.

**CZ Flyer** · Mar 28, 2018, 05:18 PM

Awesome Xviper! I look forward to your review.

**xviper** · Mar 28, 2018, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by CZ Flyer View Post

Awesome Xviper! I look forward to your review.

We Canucks who ordered from Thunderbolt (eastern Canada) will likely get ours long after you fellas get yours. Mine will probably be but one of many reviews by that time, but be assured I won't let other reviews influence what I have to say about the plane.
BTW, there will be two of these (one of each color) at my flying field, so I can also relay the other owner's impressions. He doesn't post here - yet.

**Alpha** · Mar 29, 2018, 04:01 AM

I look forward to your review, Xviper! I have high hopes for this bird and so far the videos don't disappoint.

**bill34207** · Mar 29, 2018, 04:44 AM

Mine showed up where I work yesterday and I got started on it yesterday when I got home.Worked on it far too late into the night and made only a little progress.
The shipping container is HUGE. 58" X 16" X 12". That had to cost a few dollars to ship.
Everything inside the box arrived undamaged and was well packaged. The ESC comes with an EC5 connector that most of us are accustomed to on Freewing jets
The white portions of the finish on this one is bare foam and not as smooth as the fully painted Freewing models most of us are accustomed to building.

**bill34207** · Mar 29, 2018, 04:57 AM

Building is a bit more involved than on a Freewing jet. The attached tail cone and thrust tube has to be removed to install the flying stabs. And I hope I was the only one that got one without the linkages pre installed. (According to David, the linkages should have been attached to the servo horns and elevator horns at the factory).Mine were in a zip lock baggy attached to nothing along with the elevator horns 2 mm hex wrench and some screws. A person with large hands like myself will find getting them installed in that tight space "challenging" to say the least. That's as far as I got yesterday.

**xviper** · Mar 29, 2018, 09:06 AM

Bill, is there any indication (labeling) on the box or parts on the plane that would give a hint about manufacturer affiliation? I see similarities with Eflite, Freewing, FMS and Taft but I suppose there will always be design features that must look the way they look. That bare foam is a bit "raw". I may seal it with something before use.