My experience with my Phoenix was from a hand toss to check the CG which ended with the bottom of the rudder being ripped off because it lower than the bottom of the fuz. Once fixed was okay though but waiting now like everyone else for opportunity to fly. Good review. Thanks.
Hi Andrew, I've been researching gliders for quite a while, I'd have to say your presentation was the clearest and informative I've watched. I look forward to the maiden.
@@AndrewNewton based on your videos of this and other Volantex I ordered one via your link. I was going to order a Radian for the span, if you could post links for the parts needed to be ordered for the 2mtr conversion sometime it would be appreciated, best of both worlds then.
I love the Phoenix gliders. I have already the Phoenix 2000 V2 and the Phoenix 2400. Great planes! I am using the latest Spektrum receiver AR637T and so happy with this combination.
Hi Andrew. Not all li-ions are the same. A decent rule of thumb is the lower the storage capacity the greater continuous discharge current it can take. I'm not familiar with a 1500mah in a 18650 size but the sony ctc3 is rated at 1600mah and 30a continuous discharge. But there are new li-ions in that size that can do 40a continuous with 3200mah capacity for about 3 times the cost of the usual samsung 18650 25r.
I bought this, RTF, based on your previous video about the PNP version. I LOVE it! Only problem I've had: the Gyro Stabilization went out on me, rudder was sticking full-rudder on, after releasing the stick. However, it still flies GREAT with the Gyro shut off! I was only using the stabilizer when I had the plane off balance, due to video camera install positions.
Looking forward to your first flight. They still have the park closed where our AMA field is located. Heard they will open sometime in May. It’s going to be like starting over again. Cheers
I have the plug-in play version of this plane going to put a matek f411in it. Thanks for the 2s heads up. Looking forward to see how the lithium ion pack works on this plane.
As you may remember i got my one on pre order in kit form, i so wanted this to be the perfect motor glider so i put a 1000kv motor to use the 10x6 on 3s but sadly the glider never lived up to my expectations and now have a deposit on it and it will be going to a new owner once we can travel a bit more freely. Hopefully the radio in the RTF will prove to be decent
@@AndrewNewton I just found it did not do anything the ranger 1600 cant do, i guess it would float a bit more as lighter but i rarely have situtions in the weather for this, but the big one for me was how thin the plastic is on the fuselage, so thin and easy to damage
Ok you already helped me with one thing…you also know what I can do when the Assist moves elevator in the wrong direction? Until the plane would be upside down, and the in works to keep it in upside down position
@@joe666b Ok that makes sense. Try removing the elevator servo arm and reinstalling 180º rotated. Then reverse the elevator channel in the transmitter, like I did for the ailerons in the video.
@@AndrewNewton before taking things apart…is there a way to „reset“ the gyro or something? Funny thing is… I already tried the reverse thing… and then I reverse the channel in the transmitter, the stabilisation works as it should just the direct input is reverse.. So I guess turning a servo around (which should be same like turning just the servo arm 180°) will not help I guess… I mean I am a Aircraft Tech in real life but this knocks me out…thats so embarrassing XD
Hi, great video. I just got this plane but It's s so tail heavy? I'm using a 2s 1500mah lipo placed as far forward as it will go. Using the planes COG marks under the wing. Any ideas why it's so tail heavy? Thanks
I have this same plane and its a great plane... sound quality for the price. I would avoid the "S" model that comes with motor ( I've read several reviews where the motor tends to burn out real quick).
Interesting that the servo reverse function works with radio only on (it is a radio only function) since the manuals for at least some of the little Volantex V761 series state to do it after binding but before arming throttle. Just checked with the 400mm P51D Mini Mustang and of course it works with just the radio on and retains the setting through power cycles. Another example of garbled info between engineers and translators no doubt. Also could you explain to us untutored old farts how you get A,E,T,R,AUX1 plus switching for the receiver/stabilizer modes on a 5 channel radio/receiver combo? :-)
hi Andrew, i have the 1600 and 2400, I havent flown the 1600 yet as i am waiting on the new motor and esc 50amps. But i am thinking of buying the 2000 pnp as well... Due to governmental rules in Holland we are going to pay more taxes on Chinese products.. if you have the 1600 is the 2000 model is on overkill? As you have them all: is there a big difference between 1600-2000? Which one do you prefer to fly among the three?
2000 is the best for me. Best at thermalling, best for sloping. The 1600 is more agile but only for 2S. The 2400 is big and draggy. I thought it had a slight tip stall tendency as well.
G'day Andrew, can I swap out the RX for another with the RTF model?, if so, is that all I will need to do if I want to use another TX, I don't intend to use the gyro.
Great review Andrew, think I've watched every volantex review you offer, keep them coming. Led me to get an Ranger Ex for long range. I've been gleaning banggood consistently for a Phoenix model and something caught my eye, a sailboat! I have all kinds of rc stuff crawlers, race cars, planes, nitro, electric, but no boats, and I live on an island in the Puget Sound. I know this is a channel about flight but I think I remember you saying you have background in sailing. I have no experience in either power or sail, have you ever thought about reviewing rc watercraft? Or have you already?
What might your thoughts be on running a Phoenix S 1600 on 2S 1700 20C LiFe batteries at 6.6V vs 7.4v LiPo’s? I am really not comfortable in keeping the LiPo batteries stored anywhere near my home. I can’t store them outdoors during the summer months in 105 degree temperatures near Phoenix, AZ
@@AndrewNewton, thank you! I don’t plan on burning up any sky under power Andrew. My intent is to only climb to a decent height and power down. Perhaps ten seconds or so at any given time.
hello I bought the PNP version not the RTF and despite my effort, the plane is very difficult to control, I crashed it twice... (I bought twice a new fuselage) . I would like to add a gyro, can you tell me which one should I add ? is the ZOHD copilot a good choice ? what do you think ? thanks !
The phoenix's wings look very similar to the Sky surfer X8's. This got me wondering, how do these two stack up in terms of glide ratio and general thermaling performance?
Is there a way to inactivate the gyro control. Whatever the position of the right switch, it works. When I shut down the tranmitter, the gyro control continues to work. Strange no ?
As to the toughness, the body becomes brittle in cold weather, a light rough landing broke out the motor and shattered the front. I kept the wings and built a DLG version with a balsa body. Great planes still, just not in freezing or below zero weather.
Luckily we don’t have to fly in sub-zero temperatures in Aus. I did have a nose first- crash with my Phoenix 2000 V2. The nose dented in but did not break. I removed the motor and pushed it back out, then added some fiberglass on the inside of the nose to strengthen it again.
"Not a fan of learning to fly with stabilizer" Well as a beginner who has yet to get my aircraft ( dart250g) airborn does that mean i should quit trying to work outthe kinks between my kopilot lite and the r9m slimplus and just plug in servos and throttle to a simpler reciever and learn to fly just manual? Because i was getting to that place in my head i geuss im looking for your permission lol.
Hi, recently i got this plane and i was wondering if you had problems with locking main wings too or it's just me. Single wing locks very easy, but then second wing is hard to lock, it requires strong effort and even then nothing happes, took me many attempts to get it finally locked. I afraid to remove wings because then it could take a while again to lock them, plus i don't want to damage wing and put some dents on it from fingers during applying effort.
Yes it is a problem on some wing clips. File down the sharp edge of the hook slightly, can also use something like a flat head screwdriver to poke in and flex the clip into position. It loosens up over time.
Hi from Ukraine. I bought a PNP version and used N2830 1000kv 10X6 prop and 3 s battery. Is this mixture ok? I have some experience of flying small gliders like Skyking (800 mm) which is 150 gr and my phoenics is 900 gr(much heavier) thats why I got a flight controler A2V3. I know you are not a fan of them. But I will switch it off as soon as I am high enough. Is it easier to handlaunch my glider with the controller off or on? I would be happy to hear the answer from you.
Yes 1000kV with the 10x6 prop on and 3S is perfect. Stabilisers are OK as long as you know how to configure correctly. Happy flying, it is a very nice glider.
every at least 4 channel transmitter can be connected to the plane, if you want to buy the plane, I recommend it at banggood, it's the whole set with the transmitter, if you have any further questions, ask me
Man...You make it sound nice physically and for flight... But jeez when a company messes up packaging (PTF) and description (3s?) that both only requires getting right once, then printed.... I will always question their quality control for production as that needs constant assurance compared to the previous mistakes
Try not to get too hot under the collar. In manufacture, you buy-in several services. Car manufacturers don't make their own wheels and tyres for example. Neither do they print their brochures, so there is room for a mismatch between what the product developers have decided, perhaps at a late stage, and the written documents. If your technical team are English speakers who can't proof-read Mandarin (or vice-versa) then the information slips through uncorrected. That's why, in this small hobby, the normal checks and balances aren't made by the network of highly-paid importers and distributors (because there aren't any) but by the army of reviewers sent free early-production models. Its the way we do it, and it works well enough. Like Andrew, I have great regard for the Phoenix models, and I have three in various sizes (which I paid full-price for!!) and they fly really well. I much prefer a few typos to a flawed flying experience, and with these you get some of the best planes I've experienced over the last 50 years. Don't hesitate to try one, ideally a Plug-and-Fly model since you will be sure that the servos and motor are installed, but you can use, as I do, a Multiplex or Graupner radio control to make it one of the best combinations around. The receivers might cost as much as the whole plane, but its worth it.
hi I have seen many of your videos and I congratulate you I am a beginner, I bought rtf glide phoenix 1600 and everything is perfect, I made all the adjustments on the servos, and in manual mode everything is perfect, but in assisted mode, not it works correctly, and i can't find a solution could you help me please, regards alessandro from Italy
Best to ask on RCGroups www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3447211-Volantex-742-7-PhoenixS-1600mm-Wingspan-Sport-Sailplane&highlight=phoenix%20s%20rtf
I'm having trouble trying to get the motor to arm. It just makes some nice beeping sounds until I touch the throttle. Then it just goes quiet no matter what I do
Try calibrating the ESC. REMOVE THE PROP FIRST. Unplug the Phoenix battery, throttle up to full, plug in battery, throttle down to zero after the first beeps.
@@AndrewNewton Apologies! I agree with your sentiment in the video, as its probably a better option to just spend a little more and get a programmable flysky tx. If someone wants a really cheap flyer, XK have a three channel little rtf "jet" for $80. Also stabilised and can do loops. Rolls not so much. The RC saylors covered it in a recent video.
@@toolbaggers Both of you posters need to learn that your countries are not "The World!" Xk A100 to US from China. Not in stock. (17 days "processing.") Then USD41.92 + USD1.70 shipping. (= USD43.62) Same to Australia. NIS. Then AUD66.10 + 3.94 shipping + 10% tax (= AUD77.05) Not something most viewers of this channel would be interested in (but in these unusual times and for the larger-than-world-average Aussie backyard) my countrymen could try their tight space flying skills with the 3 channel QF008 787. You need to glue it together but after that RTF for AUD55.17 direct from the Australian Banggood warehouse. (10 units left.) You can fly either plane with your flash multi protocol radio on WLToys V911S protocol.
Mate, I hope that the first thing that you did was Drown the box in Glen20!!! The 2212/1400 do actually work well on 3S as long as you are not thrashing the guts out of it and definitely Not on anything bigger than 8x6..Again though depends on Brand.. Anything Volantex;;Phoenix;; will fly well but agree that put in your Own Gear and use a decent Transmitter/Receiver. The AU Warehouse is getting better but not stocking enough of the Quality gear... Walk to the park mate! You are allowed to exercise...
Hehe, PTF, is the European version, Pret To Flug, (French, English, German)! 😉 I have to admit that I haven't flown anything much in more than a year, even in the 12 months preceding lockdown. However, I did buy a cheap, (now modified), RC rock crawler last year, and 2 months ago a so-called monster truck "basher". But I'm already kind of fed up with every manufacturer selling cheapo TXes with every product. I DON'T WANT OR NEED ANY MORE TRANSMITTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johan. Perhaps this is a translation difficulty I will try to say in other words. We are talking about the fact that Andrew stopped releasing videos on the street and I believe that this is due to quarantine. my rhetorical proposal was to come to eastern Russia since we do not have such strict restrictions on movement.
@@ВасилийИванов-з2к3д OK, thank you for clarifying that. The Google translation did sound wrong with “terrible hardships that we had to endure” in Australia?! Don’t worry restrictions will be lifted soon. Australia has done very well (compared to other counties) with only 93 deaths so far and daily new covid19 cases heading to zero. :-)
I bought this plane from BG and its the worst quality I have ever seen on a model. Nothing was glued, screw were not secured (all loose), plane and wing distorted/warped and motor and esc where distroyed on the first flight (on 3 s). Avoid! After a few hours of work with all the issues and replacement of motor and esc it flew well. Still - would not buy again regardless of cost.
@@AndrewNewton I bought pnp. I have bought and buildt some 30 planes over the years. Some pnp and some from scratch. I like your channel and insight, but this plane has appalling build quality. Description from bg (follow your link): Recommended Battery 11.1V 1500mAh Li-po
