Where have New FPV Fixed Wings gone ?

wgt40w · March 10, 2016, 04:54:35 PM

It may just be my imagination but, so far this year, there seems to be a major lack of any new FPV fixed wing designs appearing.
Last year saw new products from a number of Far Eastern manufacturers. This year the only possible new product I have heard about that might appear is a VTOL version of the MyTwinDream.

Anyone know of anything interesting on the way? Or is the popularity of multicopters bringing any fixed wing developments to an end - for now ??

FPVSteve · March 10, 2016, 05:08:28 PM

To be fair to HobbyKing I'm sure there'll be loads of new releases .. once the smaller retailers create great airframes again to inspire them :)

wgt40w · March 10, 2016, 05:16:05 PM

Quote from: Steve W on March 10, 2016, 05:08:28 PM
To be fair to HobbyKing I'm sure there'll be loads of new releases .. once the smaller retailers create great airframes again to inspire them :)

That's my point - the "smaller retailers" seem to have stopped creating "great airframes" to sell or to inspire Hobbyking.

FPVSteve · March 10, 2016, 05:25:52 PM

FPV flying seems to be becoming a very small niche again nowadays (or maybe it's just going more underground due to the rules...) it's all about the quad-racing and mini-quads now.

Not sure there's much scope for anyone to make a profit... and a Skywalker / Skyhunter / MTD is a pretty tough (costly!) challenge to beat

stevec · March 10, 2016, 05:45:36 PM

I think these companies only have small development arms even the big ones like Horizon etc don't have the bandwidth to develop multiple lines of models.

you think it is bad for FPV when was the last game changer for helicopters released....

I think they have all thrown their hats into the multicopter ring for now.

/Steve

rob.thomson · March 10, 2016, 06:48:14 PM

Well...

I have something in the pipeline.

New. And VERY GOOD.

But... you will have to wait at least six months :)

Rob

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

wgt40w · March 10, 2016, 08:57:47 PM

I hope it will be a 'real' fixed wing - not one of those things where the designer forgot about fitting a tail rudder and elevator.

;)

rob.thomson · March 10, 2016, 09:54:49 PM

Definitely a real plane.
Definitely breaks down small
Definitely flies well
Aerobatic. .. nope.
Stable... super efficient... Yes.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Billy_boy_2010 · March 10, 2016, 11:34:25 PM

Interesting point. It's several factors I suppose- but largely fixed wings is a slowly evolving niche area.

Mini quad racing and semi professional filming platforms are the main growth areas.

Shame really im still hoping to pick up a used TBS cap as my super compact go to wing. None on ebay atm :(

wgt40w · March 10, 2016, 11:39:12 PM

Quote from: rob.thomson on March 10, 2016, 09:54:49 PM
Definitely a real plane.
Definitely breaks down small
Definitely flies well
Aerobatic. .. nope.
Stable... super efficient... Yes.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

I'm interested already !!

foamster · March 17, 2016, 03:50:36 PM

Steve W, I think you have hit the nail on the head.

I have seen a massive drop in new designs in fixed and multicopter, there used to be loads on diydrones etc

The expression "I will wait till HK bring out theres" make anyone who would invest time and money into a new design, run for the hills.

If your lucky you will get back some of your investment into R&D back before your design appears on the chinese websites. No legal system, no rules.

Still, I am working on some wacky idea's including a hybrid Vtol, anyone know a crack programmer for naze boards ?

If theres any ideas that Flyingwings could work on, then let me know.

Cheers Rob

wgt40w · March 17, 2016, 04:26:15 PM

Quote from: foamster on March 17, 2016, 03:50:36 PM
Steve W, I think you have hit the nail on the head.

I have seen a massive drop in new designs in fixed and multicopter, there used to be loads on diydrones etc

The expression "I will wait till HK bring out theres" make anyone who would invest time and money into a new design, run for the hills.

If your lucky you will get back some of your investment into R&D back before your design appears on the chinese websites. No legal system, no rules.

Still, I am working on some wacky idea's including a hybrid Vtol, anyone know a crack programmer for naze boards ?

If theres any ideas that Flyingwings could work on, then let me know.

Cheers Rob

I'm not 100% sure - but isn't there a VTOL version of Ardupilot or some other Open Source FC ??

wgt40w · March 17, 2016, 04:29:27 PM

Quote from: foamster on March 17, 2016, 03:50:36 PM

I have seen a massive drop in new designs in fixed and multicopter

Cheers Rob

in multicopter ?????

Seems to me to be loads of new designs coming out - mostly small racing or cheap Chinese 'toy' versions admittedly.

FPVSteve · March 17, 2016, 04:31:11 PM

How many are different though :laugh:

foamster · March 17, 2016, 06:48:56 PM

There's a VTOL config on Pixhawk, but it looks like the Pixhawk is not being made anymore, at least genuine ones.

3DR is trying make itself the American DJI, not sure if thats going to work out, In the process they are not looking after the hackers/fiddlers anymore, which is a shame and thats where a lot of the novel designs come from.