This thread is to introduce the Ritewing Zephyr - my new favorite FPV plane. It's perfect for FPV from beginner to advanced. It has a wide speed range, is pretty simple to build (DVD with instructions included!) and will survive any crash. If built without the glass weave (just pure foam, similar to Maxi Swift) it flies very slowly and handles great. When you add the glass (called "Riteweave" - very light but strong material) and cover it with Monokote it turns into a high-speed beast. Some may think a Funjet is fast ... but the Ritewing will outpace it while being more stable and safe to fly.

Using the supplied building instructions, it's very simple to install your FPV gear properly and achieve maximum range without any of the equipment interfering with each other. It's a pusher plane, so there is no prop visible.

Here's the build-thread from Chris Klick (designer of the plane):
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1087976

Here's the FPV build thread of webdr:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1098938

Here's my build thread:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1100046

And here are a 2 movies I made ... as you can see, I built mine for speed

First 4 flights:
http://www.vimeo.com/6917628

5th flight .. a little more daring:
http://www.vimeo.com/6998976

The wing is available via RCGroups member "klique". You can buy it directly off him and he will help you order any additional components you may need (Riteweave, for example).

Great videos Trappy. I will eventually be getting one of those once I have great video equipment tested with lots of flights on my Stryker.. a great test platform. The size is a little intimidating, id much prefer something a little smaller.

logicwins: There are smaller Ritewings available but if you want to get something reliable, stable and strong the size is perfect. Bigger size also gives you better options to space out your equipment properly. I needed only 5 test flights to get all issues sorted out, now I'm expecting crystal-clear reception. It weighs 1.6kg exactly with the glass covering, you can build it to about 1kg if you go light. You could even start out light, then once you're comfortable glass it and add a bigger motor.

nice vids, very entertaining.

one thing tho, i noticed that it flew 4km away in a hilly environment. my city is hilly too. what's your setup? I mean Tx Rx VTx VRx. got any booster or antenna modding?

kason: I'm on stock 500mW 2.4ghz gear from lawmate. R/C is a 35mhz setup using a 404cm antenna on the receiver. 4km is far from the range limit

Here's another video to show off the high wind flying and slow flight capabilities of the aircraft. The first part of the movie was shot at high altitude with winds of more than 50kmh
http://www.vimeo.com/7011889

trappy- I'm impressed with how many trees you hit, and it kept flying! That was awesome. 5 and 4 .

The only reason you didn't get 5 green dudes, is I can't post that many.

lol. thanks Yeah the Zephyr really tracks nicely, it's very hard to knock it out of the sky

Trappy- are you in Somalia? Your GPS # at the end come up with Somalia. Beautiful place where you were!

There is bad GPS at the bottom of the valley I flew (too steep), but more importantly, I think you mixed up long and lat:
http://maps.google.at/maps?q=47.1007,+10.2175

Originally Posted by trappy

There is bad GPS at the bottom of the valley I flew (too steep), but more importantly, I think you mixed up long and lat:
http://maps.google.at/maps?q=47.1007,+10.2175

doh, I just tried to google 10.2 and 47.1, it was backwards.

Lol, that explains the snow.

Nice Vid Trappy,you can defintely see the wind up on the ridge,but the Zeph took it with no prob.An easy star or maxi would have ben all over the place.

ck

Originally Posted by klique

An easy star or maxi would have ben all over the place.
ck

... and I've got video to prove it

Here I tried to make a climb in similar conditions with the Maxi Swift ... it didn't make any headway at all at full throttle so I had to turn around:
http://www.vimeo.com/5542577

If you have a plane that can fly against strong winds (I reached up to 80km/h into the wind, and almost 180km/h with the wind) you can fly on top of the mountain where there are nice waves/upwinds that carry you forever ... the wind is strongest just as you reach that sweet spot, though ... so you need a plane with little drag and good maneuverability to reach it

On another note ... that maxi swift tree action looks like wobbly slow-motion now that I've got the Zephyr the KX-131 is better than the CX161 though

Originally Posted by trappy

...R/C is a 35mhz setup using a 404cm antenna on the receiver. ...

How are the 4 meters spread on the wing ?

It is directed to the opposite side of the VTX and left hanging out the side. About 3m hang out the back.

No issues with wire coming in prop, or wing leaning on that side ?