Pantera

I managed to get my hands on one of the production prototypes of the new Audacity Pantera, one of only 5 in the country. Very sweet heli, removable bearing blocks, 4mm flybar, servo support bridges like on the Fury, easy to work on, just a very cool heli. This thing is awesome, I've now owned all of the 50s on the market with the exception of the Raven, and this is the best I've come across, IMHO.

Anyone out there planning on picking one up? I can get some pics and answer questions if anyone has any.


(edited flybar size for typo)

Here's some pics from the 4th flight with it. Very windy, but still a blast to fly.
Reminds me of a Fury in the flight characteristics, very fast rolls, agile and responsive, and still mellow in the hover.

Nice! When is John going to get his Arse in gear and build a 90?

Who knows, but judging by how nice this one is, it can't come soon enough.

Why did they go and make a 5mm flybar for it? Are the metals they are using that weak they need 5mm? It's only a 50.
Eric

I mistyped earlier, It's not 5mm, it's 4mm, the same size as a 60-90 size. It has nothing to do with metal strength. The reason for it is 3 fold, one is durability, anyone who's ever owned a 50 has accidentally bent the flybar in transport, that doesn't happen with a 4mm, second is the stiffer flybar (theoretically) makes the response more immediate and predictable, and 3rd is choice, there's a lot more 4mm flybars and paddles out there than 3mm, so you have more tuning options.

Keep in mind also, this is designed to be strong enough to accept a 61, in fact one of the prototypes has been flying with an OS 61WC. As such, this is a much stronger/stiffer airframe than the competing 50s. It has been designed right, it's strong without adding extra weight, it weighs the same as a Raptor and jsut a little lighter than an Evo.

Thats not too bad, but as far as the response being more immediate and predicatable, couldn't one aregue, that by the flybar being 4mm vs 3mm, it would be heavier, and slower do to gyroscopic forces. Basically it would be like adding flybar weights to it. Although with big enough or light enough paddles, it would probably work well. If the 61 fits, so does the 91, I wonder how that combo would work?

	Quote: Originally Posted by fly boy 01
	the flybar being 4mm vs 3mm, it would be heavier, and slower do to gyroscopic forces.

Great point! But I think it wouldn't be that great of a difference. A few grams spread over the length of the flybar won't hurt. If that weight was focused at the ends, then yes it would turd it up. I'm seeing a trend start towards thicker flybars. The synergy N9 has 5mm, Pantera with 4mm. Makes sense.

where can we buy one when thay come out and do you have any idea of the price?

	Quote:
	response being more immediate and predicatable, couldn't one aregue, that by the flybar being 4mm vs 3mm, it would be heavier, and slower do to gyroscopic forces.

The extra weight of the flybar is really small and spread out over the entire length of it, as opposed to weights or heavy paddles where it is out at the ends and creating a strong gyroscopic force, so the weight doesn't really have an effect on the flying characteristics. I feel (and so do a lot of others)that the stronger/stiffer nature of it is more than worth that nearly immeasurable weight gain. Like I said above the better response is really more theoretical, it's not something that a person would notice flying 2 different diameter flybars back to back, but it certainly makes sense, the larger flybar will have less tendency to bend and deform under load, so it should give slightly better response.

I'm sure a 91 would be killer, but at a certain point, you're just getting ridiculous and becoming a test pilot. My Hyper yanks it around with no trouble at all, and the 61 with a set of 620s is nearly unboggable. But hey, a 91 in there would certainly be impressive!

I don't believe they are on the Audacity website yet, as they haven't arrived yet, but the website is www.audacitymodels.com. IIRC, the price is going to be $369. Last I heard, the container of helis is supposed to clear customs on the 27th. I know that a large number of them are already sold, but if you give John Beech a call (He's the owner of Audacity, the number is on their website), he can get you one.