FlyWing X-Wing Fighter

[xviper]

Now that is bad news! I wonder if it would have been better off just to glue the wings in the lock position and leave them that way permanently

Certainly gluing them permanently in place would prevent them from folding but you must ensure you're using some very strong glue like Epoxy. There is tremendous mechanical advantage working on those 3 little hooks to pry them apart. If you notice in your videos, that start up shutter for a couple of seconds until the props spin up and throw the blades straight out. That can cause wear and tear in those locking hooks. Also, you can see at certain times in the video, the wind buffeting is enough to shake the camera. That's causing the wings to flex, applying force to try and pry them apart. Given enough flights on some X-Wings, I believe those hooks and the latches they grab onto, will wear and weaken. When my wing folded, 2 of the 3 hooks sheared right off. There have been several reports of this happening and the cases are growing. I didn't believe it till it happened to me.
I have just finished modding latch area with a couple of long screws to prevent them from coming apart during flight. That means taking a few more minutes before and after flying to get the thing back in the box. It's ready to go again although the cosmetic damage will always be seen. I just hope the crash didn't damage any of the electronics. I've written to FlyWing with photos explaining what happened. I'd like them to send me enough parts to bring it all back to original condition. We will see if they respond.
For me, space is limited both in transport and storage at home, so leaving it fully assembled doesn't work for me.

[SgtRay]

Now that is bad news! I wonder if it would have been better off just to glue the wings in the lock position and leave them that way permanently

[xviper]

I have bad news to report. It finally happened to me ........................... ONE WING FOLDED IN FLIGHT! Several others have made the same report and so far, FlyWing has dismissed it saying that the wing locks CANNOT unlatch and that the end user did not securely snap the wings together. Even with my precautionary mods to hold the latch button immovable, the clasps did not hold. Right after transition to plane mode, 2 "pops" could be heard, seconds apart. This tells me that the latches were secure but the clasps gave way and came off the other side. It's a poor design or poor molding process or both. The clasps can warp or the hooks aren't "sharp" enough and under load, they slip over the fixed part that they grab onto. Upon hitting the ground, 2 hinges got torn, blades broken and plenty of blade strikes when the wing halves hit the foam body. I believe I can rig up something to hold the wings in the locked position so I can fly it but I want FlyWing to send me enough parts to repair all the damage. This thing flies so well and transitions extremely well. I don't want to abandon it.

[SgtRay]

Finally got the extension installed and was able to extract the 4K videos from the air unit. Videos are magnificent. My TV can't even show them in 4K but still very impressive.

Dam Nice!

[xviper]

Finally got the extension installed and was able to extract the 4K videos from the air unit. Videos are magnificent. My TV can't even show them in 4K but still very impressive.

[xviper]

Ain't that the truth. The next length up is almost a foot long, then next are the 10 foot ones.

[SgtRay]

Yup that one looks like mine. But mine isn't long enough to reach out side. But I have another that is too long lol

[xviper]

Nice I can't wait to see the pic. But that 90 bend looks too big...

I'm afraid you may be correct. As soon as I took it out of the bag, I thought the same. I have another one on order that's quite a bit smaller. We'll see.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GS86V5P8/?coliid=I28OL9PXXKEZ7E&colid=2C5SUNTVGHPXY&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_gv_ov_lig_pi_dp

[SgtRay]

This is the extension. Just got it. Will install soon and take a photo.

Nice I can't wait to see the pic. But that 90 bend looks too big...

[xviper]

This is the extension. Just got it. Will install soon and take a photo.

[SgtRay]

I have a small USB-C extension on the way. I plan to have an external connection point so I can download the video from the onboard camera directly without having to remove the cockpit every time. Your 4K video proved that the quality and resolution is superb.

Thanks I look forward to see the USB set up!

[xviper]

Another informative video. It answered a couple questions for me that was running through my head.
I have unlocked "beginner mode" so I can do rolls and loops and fly lower. Haven't flown it that way yet due to weather. I also took out the screws for the canopy so I can take it off when I fly. I put it on for carrying in the suit case to protect the stuff in the cockpit.
Out of precaution due to the reports of the battery falling out and the wings folding in flight, I devised some simple locking mechanisms for the battery (to prevent the lock from moving) and the wing locks (to prevent the release buttons from moving). I have a small USB-C extension on the way. I plan to have an external connection point so I can download the video from the onboard camera directly without having to remove the cockpit every time. Your 4K video proved that the quality and resolution is superb.

[SgtRay]

Hey LOOK Ma!! No canopy!!

[SgtRay]

I know the feeling!

[xviper]

Did the maiden this morning. A friend did a short video using his Iphone in the middle of the flight. And one of the video from the goggles. I'm glad I didn't push hard for a refund. This thing is everything I hoped it would be. It's really interesting to see fly and the friends who put on the goggles said it was an amazing experience. High clarity, resolution and big WOW factor. The transition is the best of any of the VTOLs I've ever flown. It is smooth, precise and extremely controlled. I'm still devising ways to make it more "bomb proof", like securing the battery so it doesn't fall out during flight and a locking mechanism so the wings don't fold, as reported by some owners. When I get familiar with the control responses, I'll start flying with the goggles and defeat the nannies (ie, beginner mode). Another few short flights ought to do it.

[SgtRay]

Just arrived. Total 44 days from purchase, 5 days from “Label Created”. Not bad at all. Didn’t need to be as pessimistic as I was.

Now I can't wait!

[Evan D]

Awesome!

[xviper]

Just arrived. Total 44 days from purchase, 5 days from “Label Created”. Not bad at all. Didn’t need to be as pessimistic as I was.

[Ara]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I can understand how frustrating this must be. I sent my first email asking for an immediate refund, to which they replied that they want more time to find a way to ship it to me. It took a total of 3 "tries" before they actually shipped it. I believe most of the returns by China Customs were from USA orders. For whatever reason, they stalled shipping for me in Canada. I think they likely had to most sales from the US and they tried to get those out first. Tried to ship out too many at once. China Customs in the mainland seemed to have more stringent interpretations of customs regulations of other countries. I posted on their VIP Facebook page that perhaps it would be a better idea to get these things to Hong Kong first before trying to push them through customs and maybe to NOT declare them as "drones". Don't know if they listened but I believe that's why mine had more success on the first attempt than previous ones that went thru customs in the mainland. Mine has now cleared China Customs and UPS has it and they are probably waiting for their next air freight flight to be scheduled before leaving Hong Kong airport. I've even paid the UPS brokerage fee.

My only suggestion to you is to send one last email to them asking for a FULL REFUND and if you don't hear within one week, you should file a dispute with PayPal (if that's how you paid) or go to your CC company and get the charge reversed due to inability to complete shipping. It's always taken them about a week to respond to any of my emails. Time difference and being busy, I suspect. My emails have always gone to "sales@flywingrc.com".

Thanks your thoughts and input!
Enjoy your Xwing… it’s practically knocking on your door :)
Hope things go well for my order as well !
Keeping my fingers crossed 🤞 🤞🤞

[xviper]

You know now that I think about it I pushed the right stick all the way to the left but I didn't do the yank. LOL I would imagine it would have worked but now that I think about it I didn't pull on the stick. I just put the right stick hard left and then I slowly increase the left stick to the left to turn it. But when it was in Acura I don't see why I couldn't have pushed the right stick to the left and then pull back on it. Next time I fly it I will definitely check that off my box. Along with being my second flight I think it was only maybe my fourth flight of anything this year

"Bank and yank" won't be as noticeable when the X is in the mode that coordinates the turns. It may already use a combination of yaw and pitch. If you "yank" too aggressively on a "plank", it can stall easily. On the X, the nanny might not allow that to happen. Worth a try but do it up high. When I had the old Blade QX3 quad. I'd be going fast forward, bank and pull the right stick down all the way suddenly and all it did was a backwards somersault while leaned over.