"Old School" Nitro, Hirobo Shuttle Z, restored with a SURPRISE ending!

[@nocturnalmayhem0]

my dad had a couple nitro rc helis back in the 80s i cant remember what they were but i know theyre still out in the shed i think ill get um out repair um and give um a run through i love seein these vintage helis flying.

[@NightFlyyer]

That sounds like a good idea. Have fun and happy flying.

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks to Dan Lewis for sending me this Vintage Hirobo Shuttle Z that gave me therapy while rebuilding it this winter. It is not your typical 3D machine of today, but is a blast to fly. I got a surprise at the end of the video, and it just shows you need to be prepared for anything when flying Nitro, but it is still my favorite way to fly! Thanks kindly for watching and subscribing.

[@justinleicht8944]

I have one of these that hasn’t flown in years and a schluter magic 60 that also hasn’t been flown in years that I would like too get a quote on how much for you too take a look at and fix. I don’t have remotes for either but all the rest of the parts are there. You can email me at [e-mail]

[@NightFlyyer]

@@justinleicht8944 Sorry. I do not do that anymore, especially with old units. I got burned 2 times before, when I completely restored helicopters for folks, test flew them, sent it to them, and they crashed immediately and blamed me. Hope you understand. Go to the local flying club and you will find someone that can give you first hand help. If no club, find a hobby shop. Good luck.

[@Mike-01234]

I still have mine from 1992 used to drive by guys flying them at a school yard. I stopped in and guy was showing me his shuttle and another guy flying a concept 30. The next week I was down at the hobby shop buying a kit which I built in a week then I needed a motor, and everything else. That took me about another month save up the money I was flying with some sticks. I actually never crashed it during all the training off the training sticks and was able to do minor aerobatics. I had used the cheap servos that came with the radio could not hold high G loops. I never got the hang of auto rotations I could do them. I bought a Jet ranger body for it looked great other then the white smoke. I finely crashed it when I had taken it out fly it for someone with low receiver battery. I rebuilt it never flew the same since .

[@NightFlyyer]

Quite a story. It always takes a lot of time to set them up again to get them right after a crash. Thanks for sharing.

[@chuckb.5076]

Love your old school stuff, Sir. Semper Fi.

[@NightFlyyer]

Semper Fi to you as well Chuck! Thanks very much!

[@budparriott8054]

WOW! That 'Old School' Shuttle dead-stick landing was cool and the shake rattle and roll flight outstanding. I'll bet there's a lot of post flight vibration inspection as all other choppers can take a lot of punishment, seems they`re a delicate piece of machinery with very precise mechanics SemperFi, Bud

[@nicmost3044]

Dave herbert was my mentor. I used vhs video clips he made in the US to teach me how to fly my very first Hirobo shuttle Z. I now live in the UK. I've got extreme trouble here in the UK because of jealousy, and as a kid in SA had some jealousy causing me problems. I've now sent a few model 700 size helis back to claim a refund but, I luckily still fly the remainder of my helis in a field behind my church. RE. HeliMechaNick

[@daniellewis5302]

Great flying as always Dave! I'm glad you were able to get the 'ol girl back in the air. You handled the autorotation very well and with a bit of luck maybe. I've always liked your videos and I look forward to many more.

[@truckerray7533]

Awesome video of this classic helo. Love to the sounds of these O.S. engines again. Everyone else is either running electric powerplant or the several thousand dollar gas turbine jet engines in their helos. i need ya to help me set up mine, lol lol lol. Ive got the classic Hirobo Shuttle then i have the Hirobo Shittle ZX. Awesome flying. Take care.

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly. Good luck and hope you can find parts, as they are getting hard to find.

[@truckerray7533]

@@NightFlyyer yeah. . . .i know

[@justlovingthisrcstff3082]

enjoyed the video I like your bluntness about models just honest about different types

[@NightFlyyer]

Haha. Yep I can be blunt sometimes....maybe too blunt! Thanks kindly.

[@BOKI797]

Nighflyer Dave you sure know how to Build & Fly them also ! Thanks for the Great Video !

[@tbonesixtynine]

Nice, I had one of these, flew it for like 10 years and after sitting in my garage collecting dust for 15 years I gave it away. I hope somebody will manage to restore it and make it fly again!

[@NightFlyyer]

I'm sure they did. That's how I got this one. Thanks a lot Jean.

[@DonDegidio]

Dave, Great flying that old workhorse. Still have my ZX that is 85% finished converting to electric. It came with an OS .32 pull start. Also have a Schluter Champion and Scout that will eventually be converted to electric. I have a Kalt Whisper that I never completed due to an auto accident that ended my heli days in '91. Located all the parts and will finish it with a brushless motor and modern electronics. Been a long time since I flew my helis. Using sims to get back my flight reflexes.

[@Raptor50aus]

really enjoyed this video Dave Seeing an old rc heli back in air makes me miss my Kalt Baron 30 and JR Ergo 30 thanks

[@NightFlyyer]

Those are also great Helicopters. Thanks kindly!

[@tombombadil2793]

Thanks for the glow plug at idle battery solution. Your videos are great, keep up the good work. ☺👍

[@railer666]

Just about every autorotation I have seen ended in damage. You landed like it was nothing, The word (awesome) comes to mind..!

[@4thGloryMonday]

as always great job mr. herbert

[@NightFlyyer]

I appreciate that a lot. Thank you!

[@kaikart123]

I got this one and it's still perching on top of my cupboard for... 25 years... And just now I am thinking about restoring it, as well as finally assembling and flying the also 25 years brand new in the box Thunder Tiger Piper Cub.

[@NightFlyyer]

There's not time like the present, so go for it.

[@kaikart123]

@@NightFlyyer yeah but I am still torn between keep using the old Futaba 72MHz AM tx rx or buy new FrSky system

[@NightFlyyer]

@@kaikart123 You could use the servos, but I would not use an AM system as the old ones were banned by FCC. Some of the newer FM band Radios can still be used, but 2.4 ghz Spektrum, Orange, or FR Sky would be more safer for sure.

[@kaikart123]

@@NightFlyyer I am not worried about FCC as I don't live in the USA and the law is lax around here, but you are right, the old Futaba is PCM and there is no single port to connect to Ardupilot which I am planning to be added later.

[@Didi-dd7xt]

Hello, may I ask you what it the recommended main propeller blade size for the shuttle Z series. Thanks

[@NightFlyyer]

Not sure what is recommended, but my blades are 22" long, 2" wide and symmetrical. I had to shorten the blades that I found to make them work, because they were too long and any radical maneuver, would cause them to hit the tail rotor, so beware of that. Good luck.

[@scottfirman]

Handled that like a pro! I always enjoy watching you fly. Seems like its always way too windy here. I havent flown my heli once yet this year.

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much Scott. I have to fly when it is windy, as it is always windy here too. If I don't I wont get to fly either. Going to take the Aeromaster out tonight, and yep, its windy. LOL. Appreciate your comments!

[@WORRO]

That was a success I'd say. Great seeing you Sir!~John

[@NightFlyyer]

Thank you John. I appreciate that.

[@keithwhisman]

Nice save

[@locouk]

A close call Dave, great job buddy!

[@NightFlyyer]

Yep, it caught me by surprise! Thanks kindly.

[@jimcarroll9733]

great video

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks Jim!

[@jimcarroll9733]

i to live in sibley

[@xwingfan]

Great Video Mr. Herbert ! Please more Heli vids. Best regards :-)

[@derpreue3947]

Nice restoration. Which way shuttle rotor spins clockwise or counterclockwise? And same to tail rotor up stream or down stream. Can you help ...

[@danwallace5023]

I just inherited one of these and have no idea if it is in working order. Where would I go to talk to a professional to get it working?

[@NightFlyyer]

I would look for an AMA flying club in your area and see if there are any old time Heli pilots. A person has to look closely at it to see what might be wrong and they could help sort things out.

[@Fredhobby]

nice video... I have a question please, I've got Kyosho caliber 5 nitro, what will be better GYRO setup: Futaba GY401 or K-BAR? thank you

[@NightFlyyer]

NightFlyyer I prefer simple rate gyros, as I learned before there were gyros and don't like to fight what they do. Futaba is a good choice. Thanks and happy flying.

[@Fredhobby]

NightFlyyer hi, ok I’ll do so... thank you for your time

[@angelreading5098]

I loved the Shuttle it was my second helicopter after the Kyosho Concept and taught me a lot,they should have made an electric version it would have sold well.

[@NightFlyyer]

Yes it is a pretty good old bird. Maybe electric would work, but it is heavy. LiPos are available now, so it could be done, but alas there are tons of very good electrics out there now. Thanks again and happy flying!

[@angelreading5098]

At the time I was working for a model shop that sold lots of these Dave,I got to know how to pull them apart pretty quickly to change clutches and set up the swash plates,the thing was it came apart very well in modules to change things,it taught me to hover in as well and gave me confidence,I liked its stability and we fitted all kinds of scale fuselages from Hughes 269 ,Bell 47 to even designing a shell for a Robinson R.22 that Morley did the vac formed fuselages for,I had three Shuttles at one time but broke them down for spares eventually selling them on EBay it was sheer delight to see you flying yours after all of these years,thank you for your video's Dave.

[@ashleym2878]

They do now have an electric version one thing I love about the shuttle is they just keep building them which means theres no problems finding parts even if you have one from 20 years ago

[@NightFlyyer]

@@angelreading5098 Great story. Very kind of you to comment Angel. Thanks much.

[@NightFlyyer]

@@ashleym2878 Good Points. Thanks.

[@VeeDubJohn]

I still have my Fox Hawk. It was my first engine and I picked it because it looked cool to my 12 year old eyes. I don't remember how many hears ago it was, but I called Fox Mfg. to ask if they still had one of those new fangled MKX carbs. Of course they were already old when I called. Anyway, the person on the phone called out to someone else who said, "I think there may be one around here somewhere." I get transferred to some guy and it sounds like that sound you hear when going through a tin of nuts and bolts. "Oh, I got one he says." Drops it in the mail to me. I have't run that engine in 35 years, but I'm gonna slap that carb on and hopefully I'll have better luck than you did with yours. I remember the Enya's ran so much better and people would make fun of my Fox Hawk. I didn't care, it looked cool:-)

[@NightFlyyer]

Haha. Yep. Well I flew it with both engines, (video is uploading). Spent 1 1/2 hours trying to get the old Fox to stay running, but after engine swapped to Enya, Bingo, a good flight finally, even rich and with 24 MPH winds! The fox Red Head looked great, for sure, but this one was really tired. Thanks and happy flying!

[@keithwhisman]

So much happened through out the 1980s that led to the technologies we now enjoy though out our everyday lives. Are you still flying this bird?

[@NightFlyyer]

So true. Yes I still have it and will fly it again when the snow and cold goes away. I also have a newer video of it flying after changing the engine to a more reliable OS.

[@ooozair150]

What fuel does this use? Any help. Thanks

[@NightFlyyer]

I use 15% Nitro Glow Fuel.

[@markhondaturbo]

Wow, I never saw a heli do a deadstick landing! just in time.

[@Omhra]

did your tail rotor stop?

[@NightFlyyer]

They don't spin during autorotations or when the engine is not running. No need, as there is no torque being generated on the main frame. Thanks.

[@wouteranthierens]

Hirobo has a slip ring for the tail rotor to be driven by the main rotor for controlled auto rotations

[@brendanshield]

This kit is still available from Hirobo. Only very minor changes.

[@seakingtube]

assembling the heli from a kit is half the fun in this hobby especially when the instructions are written in a foreign language that you don't understand 😂😂😂

[@NightFlyyer]

Arigato Dozo!

[@jason80590]

Hi dave / everyone. I'm a beginner. I was gifted a hirobo shuttle plus with a 36 Ervine engine (I think that's what it's called. I've been building it for what seem like forever. I've finally finished and I've realised I don't know how to fly it I've never started it. As I've broke a few bits moving it around the shed and had to replace parts over time. I like the video and I would like to see if anyone has any tips for me that could help me on my way or been air born. Thanks in advance

[@paullowe3395]

I've been offered 1 of these for £30 is it worth it don't no anything about them

[@NightFlyyer]

Well if you know nothing about this, then pass. If you know helicopters and can search for parts, it is fun to fly. I switched the engine for an OS 32 in a later video which made a big difference from the Enya. Thanks.

[@TOPGUN73538]

Whats wrong with old school I flu Heli boys and mini boy back in the 80's then picked up an Xcel Pro 60 in the 90"s still have it but fly my Align Trex 600 efl, 600 nitro pro and my 700 nitro pro they great, but it nice seeing the old stuff.

[@fpvstomper7020]

Thanks Dave for all these videos, they are very inspiring. Nice to see some interest in vintage helicopter stuff, I wish more people would get into it. Im working on fixing up an old Eagle sst, its all there, just need to go over it thoroughly. I know old parts can be hard to find, and Ive made a few things on my 3d printer. I wouldnt trust the material to be strong enough for a mixing arm or levers, but things like tail pushrod guides, canopy mounts, fuel shut off clips ect are just fine. If you need anything made up Dave, Im glad to help. Email me to discuss more at fahq.it (at) gmail.com Cheers!!

[@NightFlyyer]

Glad you like it. Many people have helped me recover my loss of models after the fire, so I really appreciate your offer. I will definitely keep you in mind if I need anything. Thanks kindly.

[@ghosttjr2]

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