Just did some current draw testing with a power meter and the Swordfish AtomRC F405 NAVI board seems to be under reporting the current by about 15%. Factory current scaling is 370 but should be about 320. This means my 2 to 3A cruise current was really 2.3 to 3.5A. Still very efficient.
She seems like a real little beauty; flight line is smooth as a baby's bum. Very impressed, looks the business to, my nano talon is jealous. Hey Santa, could I have quick word.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how stable that was, I was expecting it to be more tail waggy than an excited dog. Seemed to fly quite slowly without stalling too. The battery space is a bit limiting, although part of why it flies so well was probably due to being very lightweight with the small battery packs.
I finally flew this plane and when dialed in after a couple crashes due to nose heaviness and not enough elevator, it flies like a dream with inav and altitude hold. I do enjoy assisted flight more than manual flight. It flies beautifully, rock steady in the air. Great image with a 800mw vtx and rhcp antenna.
Nice flight demonstration Andrew. I love the look of the plane but I've been apprehensive about V-Tails. It doesn't seem to be a problem with this one. See you in the Air!
I'd put the tail wing fence pieces on as they are. With those big flat wings, the long grass just stops the plane nearly dead. So I don't think you'll have a problem with them being pulled off or broken. My old Mini Talon wooden tail skid lasted about 3 flights on grass coming in at 50kph. Landing in long grass/heath land, my V2 MT it lasted a lot longer till it bust again on short grass.
Apart from the lack of a setup manual, as painless360 points out. Wauw. The props are possibly the most efficient and therefore quite to come standard with a fixed wing. Looking forward to your slope session with it. 😊
Gday Andrew, I bought the kit version to fly los, assembling now, I'm gonna power mine up a bit with 2826 motors 2450kv with 6x5 props and 40amp esc's, 1 esc will power Rx + servo's the other esc will power the lights, I might add a few extra lights. great vid as usual :-]
Guy at my club bought one and really rips up the field with it but another guy bought one and flying it like a sailplane managed to launch after a high dollar pattern plane pilot and manged to cut across and collide with him. Looks like a capable plane. I've just never been a v tail lover, only thing worse is a canard lol
I hope you post a sloping video soon, it was the first thing I wondered about when I saw it. I was looking at a Phoenix or a Ranger for my next plane, but this changes all the math on that if it slopes well.
Just getting to watch now, looks great! I'm still wondering if the amp draw is correctly calibrated, but that said, it doesn't seem to pull the voltage down like 18650s love to do, so it could be correct! lol It sure seems at home in the air though, carves around nicely. Still no word from Daniel, guess I'll have to wait for them to be for sale somewhere stateside... lol Thanks for the video!
I don't think that the current draw is acurate, it would be amazing if it is. But I just can't belevie that 2 2000kv motors spinning 7" props can be that efficient.
Great maiden. Had some of same concerns on seeing too. Glad to see flies so well, nice and smooth. :) It might be worth double-checking the low current draw with what is require to recharge battery (mAh), or with a current gauge on the bench. Sounds very efficient in flybys, but would be safe to know if current is not under reading on a long flight, particular if venturing away from the immediate field. The downward fillets do worry me. Wonder if adding an upwards conventual fin would be better option. Don't really think it needs it, but could be a DYI option.
I have a bit of doubt about the current draw. Twin motors with 7" props. 2306 2000 kv motors. I'd calibrate the inav current sensor comparing mah drawn as reported by inav with the actual amount required to charge.
Looks more stable than I expected with the flat V-tail. The low current draw is a little suspicious I must say. Overall I'd love to have it but it's just too expensive for what it is :(
incredibly low amp draw, holy crap less than 3 amps at 31% throttle holy crap, cant wait till this gets in stock within the usa, i FLATOUT REFUSE TO PAY $50 FOR SHIPPING
Well I just unticked the Dolphin in my cart and checked out with a Swordfish after watching this... Thanks Andrew.. BTW, have you tried the baby brother, the Flying Fish yet? It looks interesting. Man that spot brings back some great memories for me too, Cheers, and thanks again.
@@AndrewNewton I did live there, born in Adelaide and most holidays were spent at Victa and Yorke Peninsula, we moved here in 2007. A friend had a holiday house on Franklin Parade and another had a shack at Middleton which were common destinations, and in my 20's I surfed at Boomer and Middleton. Victa was also the destination to take serious girlfriends.. great beaches etc. Three of us got stuck on the far side of the bluff one evening, venturing on hands and knees along an ever steepening track we reached a precarious spot when a squall of rain suddenly hit and made the return, or movement in any direction virtually impossible as it became too slippery to move... clutching a fist full of grass I can still recall watching the rocks right below us with waves booming up.. I was sure that was the end for all of us. We self rescued by digging little foot holds with our feet.. lol. Teenage luck... and there it is, right in the background 40 years later. Happy days.
Thank you for you content Andrew! I’m having a devil of a time getting my swordfish to fly. Cg seems right (slightly nose heavy to be safe, inav settings are identical to yours. Problem is every time I hand launch ,the plane goes straight up as if it’s tail heavy then it’s game over. Am I using too much throttle and not throwing it hard enough? Pretty bummed right now as I’m facing my second fuselage repair of the the day and no flying…
I use about half throttle and normal throw. Sounds like your elevator or pitch stabilisation is reversed. The board is upside down, did you set that in INAV? Does the animation move the same as the plane in the configurator?
@@AndrewNewton Thank you so much for responding Andrew!- I am fiddling with calibrating the accelerometer again. I understood that the board was upside down in your videos. and the animation did moves as it should. Right and left rolls good and pitch. But I recalibrated it just now and its upside down . UGH. Have to do that again. So given that the calibration was originally ok that leaves me to assume I wasn't throwing it hard enough and it had too much throttle. does that sound right?
@@AndrewNewton I just noticed I had ticked permanently enabled launch mode for fixed wing" and did not know it. If I had hit the throttle with that one could that have caused the issue?
Might need to calibrate that FC's amp meter. 2 amps seems innacurate to me for a twin that size. But if its accurate then whoa!!!. Can you confirm the draw on a watt meter Mr Newton ?. I wouldn't usually ask but seems well worth getting, flies very nice!.
Hello, interesting video! I also would like to get started in FPV planes. I read your blog about fpv gear and watched your videos. Unfortunately, most of the stuff is discontinued or doesn't ship to my country. Maybe you have an updated list of components that are needed for budget fpv setup? Sincerely, Martins
Hey Andrew is this in the bluff in South Australia? I could be so wrong but dang it looks like it is.. Anyway love this! I think if it's not too expensive I will get this plane when it's available
You need to make video step by steps so I can see it like how to connect wires to flight controller for your swordfish rc plane and how to connect the led lights red and green to esc controllers in twin motors please
@@AndrewNewton make another video step by steps but don’t use skipping video and don’t use speed up video when you record video cause I didn’t see the swordfish rc plane the wires are connected to esc twin motors to swordfish qrc quick release board inside the both wings but show all wires inside the wings make sure video is high quality 1080p please and make sure is focus camera all wings wires are connected to flight controller and receiver where is connected to flight controller please cause I didn’t see the receiver for transmitter is connected to flight controller to able control twin motors and servos please
Hello Andrew. Great Demo as Always. I have a few questions... what was the receiver that you were using and what value have you set for the rssi low alarm. Thanks Fellow. Love the video. Always inspiring :D
Hi Bruno. FrSKY RX6R, I didn't have the RSSI on screen set up so ignore those readings. RSSI alarm in the radio were just the defaults, antennas were just sticking out of the bottom hatch horizontally.
I’m deciding on a radio receiver set up to begin with for use with iNAv. Would you recommend radiomaster zorro or Mk 12 ELRS begin with and what receiver on this setup?
Andrew, You don't need the extra vertical tails, in fact the stock ones are way too big! The rudders are almost useless at even high gains! check out: th-cam.com/video/zy9mD_FX-og/w-d-xo.html I don't use any stability at all. you can even see the yaw waggle in your vids! BTW, the decal on your left wing is coming off inbd!
Mate thanks for this. Been looking for a plug and play for Long Range and this is perfect in every way long range RC and away. Can you still flash the old R9 2020 with the long range free stuff? If you know. Any chance you could email me the setup? O ordered...🙂
Just did some current draw testing with a power meter and the Swordfish AtomRC F405 NAVI board seems to be under reporting the current by about 15%. Factory current scaling is 370 but should be about 320. This means my 2 to 3A cruise current was really 2.3 to 3.5A. Still very efficient.
That is very efficient. Thankyou for checking it for us all.
She seems like a real little beauty; flight line is smooth as a baby's bum. Very impressed, looks the business to, my nano talon is jealous. Hey Santa, could I have quick word.
My bad ( but I don't understand , what are you talking about current draw limits ? over sucking on the FC boards cap limit?
@@BrainDeadEngineering Limits? Was it the 10A limit for 18650 Li-ion batteries
@@AndrewNewton I,m sorry Newt! I didnt know yuall was talking about the batts amp draw ..I thought the FC power output was capping out. my bad 😔
I'm pleasantly surprised by how stable that was, I was expecting it to be more tail waggy than an excited dog. Seemed to fly quite slowly without stalling too.
The battery space is a bit limiting, although part of why it flies so well was probably due to being very lightweight with the small battery packs.
Brilliant, silent, efficient, great handling ... looks like AtomRC created their very best design
As always Andrew, a good review. Love the forward and backward camera views.
Amazing looking little plane! Thanks for this!
Another beautiful location to fly! The AtomRC is just an awesome flying model very smooth just like you mentioned for FPV. Great video thanks!
I finally flew this plane and when dialed in after a couple crashes due to nose heaviness and not enough elevator, it flies like a dream with inav and altitude hold. I do enjoy assisted flight more than manual flight. It flies beautifully, rock steady in the air. Great image with a 800mw vtx and rhcp antenna.
Yes it's a great INAV platform, so efficient
Really nice, it's look stable and fun to fly with
Nice flight demonstration Andrew. I love the look of the plane but I've been apprehensive about V-Tails. It doesn't seem to be a problem with this one. See you in the Air!
Lots of area in the tails, and swept forward, so it seems to work well.
I'd put the tail wing fence pieces on as they are. With those big flat wings, the long grass just stops the plane nearly dead. So I don't think you'll have a problem with them being pulled off or broken.
My old Mini Talon wooden tail skid lasted about 3 flights on grass coming in at 50kph. Landing in long grass/heath land, my V2 MT it lasted a lot longer till it bust again on short grass.
I can’t wait til mine arrives 🎉
Apart from the lack of a setup manual, as painless360 points out. Wauw. The props are possibly the most efficient and therefore quite to come standard with a fixed wing.
Looking forward to your slope session with it. 😊
PS. The more views I get from/of your playground, the more brilliant it seems.
Great coast for sure
She's a beauty!
I think we are all wondering if that amp draw was correct 😂. But wow it flys 👍 love it.
ME TOO, THATS CRAZY LOW RIGHT
Nice plane! Looks like there may be release agent residue on the foam, judging by the fluttering decals...
man i felt in love with this plane 😩😩
Yes it's uniquely good
I hope the come out with one with a conventional tail , but still looks like an awesome flying plane with the v-tail
Haven't heard you be this excited about an airplane in a long time. Cool!
True, it's my kind of model
Awesome looking plane. I like the wing style.
Rear view looked fantastic.
Where's our summer mate, UK must still have it??
Coldest spring for decades they say
Sure do like how it looks
Me too, low drag and light weight.
Nice review Andrew 👍
Thanks 👍
Nice on Andrew, really a nice plane, especially with a pnp inav setup. Want one!
Must have
Great news ! I was afraid of the tip stalling but seems like it's good ! The price tag isn't though :( hopefully will get cheaper
Gday Andrew, I bought the kit version to fly los, assembling now, I'm gonna power mine up a bit with 2826 motors 2450kv with 6x5 props and 40amp esc's, 1 esc will power Rx + servo's the other esc will power the lights, I might add a few extra lights. great vid as usual :-]
Nice one Chris. Mad power, it should be a rocket but still fly slow well.
Fair to say I think you like it :)
Guy at my club bought one and really rips up the field with it but another guy bought one and flying it like a sailplane managed to launch after a high dollar pattern plane pilot and manged to cut across and collide with him. Looks like a capable plane. I've just never been a v tail lover, only thing worse is a canard lol
Wow!
So quiet
I hope you post a sloping video soon, it was the first thing I wondered about when I saw it. I was looking at a Phoenix or a Ranger for my next plane, but this changes all the math on that if it slopes well.
I wouldn't buy it solely for sloping, more an FPV model that can slope
Just getting to watch now, looks great! I'm still wondering if the amp draw is correctly calibrated, but that said, it doesn't seem to pull the voltage down like 18650s love to do, so it could be correct! lol It sure seems at home in the air though, carves around nicely. Still no word from Daniel, guess I'll have to wait for them to be for sale somewhere stateside... lol Thanks for the video!
Current was only 15% under reported. I checked with a power meter today.
@@AndrewNewton Nice! Well within reason, easily fine tuned, and most importantly still impressive numbers for this little plane! lol
spectacular, thx.
I don't think that the current draw is acurate, it would be amazing if it is. But I just can't belevie that 2 2000kv motors spinning 7" props can be that efficient.
Great maiden. Had some of same concerns on seeing too. Glad to see flies so well, nice and smooth. :)
It might be worth double-checking the low current draw with what is require to recharge battery (mAh), or with a current gauge on the bench. Sounds very efficient in flybys, but would be safe to know if current is not under reading on a long flight, particular if venturing away from the immediate field.
The downward fillets do worry me. Wonder if adding an upwards conventual fin would be better option. Don't really think it needs it, but could be a DYI option.
Yes I will try an external current sendsor
I have a bit of doubt about the current draw. Twin motors with 7" props. 2306 2000 kv motors. I'd calibrate the inav current sensor comparing mah drawn as reported by inav with the actual amount required to charge.
Yep, needed scaling of 320 instead of 370. Only 15% out
I like this plan though ! Tail is strange but I,m sure their is reason they did it.
Bravo.Thenks
Looks more stable than I expected with the flat V-tail. The low current draw is a little suspicious I must say. Overall I'd love to have it but it's just too expensive for what it is :(
It's quite a big V-Tail. Current is under reported by about 15% so still very efficient
Looks like a mini Albabird!
Skinny child maybe
Atomrc is still holding my Swordfish hostage since Nov 11th 😢
Curses!
Hi there I want to know how do you connect LEDs I didn’t see the led light wire so where did you connect it to please
Numero Uno..
So are you flying near the Bluff at Victor Harbour in SA? I havent flown there yet but looks like a great spot to do some gliding and slope soaring.
Sloping mecca
Cause I have that swordfish rc plane to but you need to show on camera like record video the wires you connect it please
I’m thinking about using 2306 1400kv and running 6s for spirited and 4s for cruising 😎
@6:08 AMPS jump to just under 8amps at 45% throttle but at cruse at 32% throttle it says its at 2.4/2.6 it cant be right... is that the included fc?
Actual measured current is about 3A at 30% and over 25A full throttle.
incredibly low amp draw, holy crap less than 3 amps at 31% throttle holy crap, cant wait till this gets in stock within the usa, i FLATOUT REFUSE TO PAY $50 FOR SHIPPING
Looks like a great plane for FPV and line of sight - do you fly it LOS much?
Mostly FPV but it does slope soar well
Just seen your sloping video. Very versatile plane! Thanks Andrew
Can you get it with T tail ? Otherwise looks like fine twin airframe. Still in love with my Dolphin. All the best !!!
Well I just unticked the Dolphin in my cart and checked out with a Swordfish after watching this... Thanks Andrew..
BTW, have you tried the baby brother, the Flying Fish yet? It looks interesting.
Man that spot brings back some great memories for me too,
Cheers, and thanks again.
Not as much internal space as the Dolphin but it has enough, and flies so well. I have had the FF, nice little twin. Did you live over here?
@@AndrewNewton I did live there, born in Adelaide and most holidays were spent at Victa and Yorke Peninsula, we moved here in 2007.
A friend had a holiday house on Franklin Parade and another had a shack at Middleton which were common destinations, and in my 20's I surfed at Boomer and Middleton.
Victa was also the destination to take serious girlfriends.. great beaches etc.
Three of us got stuck on the far side of the bluff one evening, venturing on hands and knees along an ever steepening track we reached a precarious spot when a squall of rain suddenly hit and made the return, or movement in any direction virtually impossible as it became too slippery to move... clutching a fist full of grass I can still recall watching the rocks right below us with waves booming up.. I was sure that was the end for all of us. We self rescued by digging little foot holds with our feet.. lol. Teenage luck... and there it is, right in the background 40 years later. Happy days.
Excellent. I can imagine a few spots on the bluff that would become scary easily
Nice plane! Twins rule for us Old Farts but you can buy a lot of Kmart glider frames for the cost of this. ;-)
Thank you for you content Andrew! I’m having a devil of a time getting my swordfish to fly. Cg seems right (slightly nose heavy to be safe, inav settings are identical to yours. Problem is every time I hand launch ,the plane goes straight up as if it’s tail heavy then it’s game over. Am I using too much throttle and not throwing it hard enough? Pretty bummed right now as I’m facing my second fuselage repair of the the day and no flying…
I use about half throttle and normal throw. Sounds like your elevator or pitch stabilisation is reversed. The board is upside down, did you set that in INAV? Does the animation move the same as the plane in the configurator?
@@AndrewNewton Thank you so much for responding Andrew!- I am fiddling with calibrating the accelerometer again. I understood that the board was upside down in your videos. and the animation did moves as it should. Right and left rolls good and pitch. But I recalibrated it just now and its upside down . UGH. Have to do that again. So given that the calibration was originally ok that leaves me to assume I wasn't throwing it hard enough and it had too much throttle. does that sound right?
@@skupper672 I doubt it is the launch, this is one of the easiest and straightest launching planes ever. What mode were you launching in?
@@AndrewNewton Acro sir
@@AndrewNewton I just noticed I had ticked permanently enabled launch mode for fixed wing" and did not know it. If I had hit the throttle with that one could that have caused the issue?
Might need to calibrate that FC's amp meter. 2 amps seems innacurate to me for a twin that size. But if its accurate then whoa!!!.
Can you confirm the draw on a watt meter Mr Newton ?. I wouldn't usually ask but seems well worth getting, flies very nice!.
Yes, external current sensor next flight
Put the fins on top of the rud/ele
Can flysky receiver and flysky transmitter work with swordfish rc plane
very noice.
What size and KV are the motors?
2306 2000kv
Hello, interesting video!
I also would like to get started in FPV planes. I read your blog about fpv gear and watched your videos. Unfortunately, most of the stuff is discontinued or doesn't ship to my country. Maybe you have an updated list of components that are needed for budget fpv setup?
Sincerely,
Martins
Where would you buy from Martins? Banggood? HobbyKing EU?
Hey Andrew is this in the bluff in South Australia? I could be so wrong but dang it looks like it is.. Anyway love this! I think if it's not too expensive I will get this plane when it's available
Yep the mighty Bluff
What is recommended CG for this plane?
Hey Stephen, thanks for the donation. CG is on the CG bumps which are 50mm to 56mm
You need to make video step by steps so I can see it like how to connect wires to flight controller for your swordfish rc plane and how to connect the led lights red and green to esc controllers in twin motors please
Yes I'll do a video on the FC connections. LEDs are powered from the ESC 5V pad. See here www.youtube.com/@AndrewNewton/community
@@AndrewNewton make another video step by steps but don’t use skipping video and don’t use speed up video when you record video cause I didn’t see the swordfish rc plane the wires are connected to esc twin motors to swordfish qrc quick release board inside the both wings but show all wires inside the wings make sure video is high quality 1080p please and make sure is focus camera all wings wires are connected to flight controller and receiver where is connected to flight controller please cause I didn’t see the receiver for transmitter is connected to flight controller to able control twin motors and servos please
Just go read the manual
Sticker left wing over the "c" wants to escape?
I have set it free
greta video , whats your current meter scale and offset steps ?
Scale 342 no offset
@@AndrewNewton thank you
💕👌👍
Hello Andrew. Great Demo as Always. I have a few questions... what was the receiver that you were using and what value have you set for the rssi low alarm. Thanks Fellow. Love the video. Always inspiring :D
Hi Bruno. FrSKY RX6R, I didn't have the RSSI on screen set up so ignore those readings. RSSI alarm in the radio were just the defaults, antennas were just sticking out of the bottom hatch horizontally.
I’m deciding on a radio receiver set up to begin with for use with iNAv. Would you recommend radiomaster zorro or Mk 12 ELRS begin with and what receiver on this setup?
@@Coronet47 I like the Zorro ELRS with RP1 or RP3 receiver.
Ever get around to trying auto launch?
Not on the Swordfish. Unnecessary complication IMO
If it had a regular tail or a T-tail it would be much more appealing
True but V's probably sell more at the moment
where could I buy such an airplane??
Where should you look for such information?
Will the Swordfish work with a ZOHD KoPilot?
Yes as long as the Kopilot was mounted right way up
Thanks so much - and for the video
looks a nice plane but not for me, still love my old Reptile dragon 1200 v1
Andrew, You don't need the extra vertical tails, in fact the stock ones are way too big! The rudders are almost useless at even high gains! check out: th-cam.com/video/zy9mD_FX-og/w-d-xo.html I don't use any stability at all. you can even see the yaw waggle in your vids! BTW, the decal on your left wing is coming off inbd!
My gut feeling is they could be smaller and with steeper V angle. I'll be interested in what your experiments come up with.
How I see you : th-cam.com/video/bmz9lMP6aQU/w-d-xo.html
Ha, nice
hello dear friend and colleague! How does pitch work on takeoff? write if it's not difficult what values do you have in the mix pitch and roll???
www.youtube.com/@AndrewNewton/search?query=swordfish
Mate thanks for this. Been looking for a plug and play for Long Range and this is perfect in every way long range RC and away. Can you still flash the old R9 2020 with the long range free stuff? If you know. Any chance you could email me the setup?
O ordered...🙂
I haven't tried flashing ELRS to the R9 but should be still available