Pilot-Rc 103” Laser V3 maiden flights!

I got a chance to do a quick maiden on my new 103" Pilot-RC Laser V3. This plane is sooo much fun!
It obviously looks stunning, but the main takeaway was that the Laser feels like a clear improvement from any other 3D/XA plane I've flown to date. I felt totally comfortable with it from the first moment. It feels, at least, as precise as my previous Slick for pattern aerobatics, but even more agile and aggressive. Roll rate is definitely faster, snap rolls feel snappier (and easier to stop on the spot), and tail authority is ridiculous, but without inertia on pitch that I've encountered in other planes. Rifle rolls feel very axial and locked in. You can clearly tell that Ryu Sintuphrom has been involved in the design and testing process of this plane.
Still, low and slow is super easy. For those getting started with 3D, this plane will feel amazing and they'll never be limited by the plane.
Programming with my FrSky X20S was pretty easy, and the TD R18 + TDMX seem like a great combo for a 120cc 3D plane. That’s 6 different antennas and 2 different bands! Powerful, reliable and affordable.
By far, my new favorite airframe. Can't wait to put more flight time on it 🙂
Here are a few clips from the first 2 flights.
Make sure to check it out in Tailslide Aviation to get more details about it! tailslideaviat...
Equipment:
103" Pilot-RC Laser V3
Frsky X20S
FrSky TD R18 + TDMX
Futaba HPS-AA701
DA-120

[@formation-aeromodelisme3725]

Très beau vol félicitations ✈️✈️✈️

[@thehallfamilylightshow]

That is the best maiden flight I’ve ever seen

[@skyboundrc]

Haha, thanks! It’s a great plane. I also omitted a minute or two of trimming and checking the center of gravity. But yeah, this plane makes things look easy.

[@mustafaalawadh7818]

I agree

[@wolfywolf420]

Did anyone else thought d This was a simulator game? Lol

[@rodrigoramosts]

Firstly, congratulations on the aero and flight, Secondly, I saw that you are using FRsky like me, I was curious to know in which way you mixed the knife and the ailerons balance.

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks! I have not done any rudder->aileron or rudder->elevator mixes yet, but I will be looking into that in future flights and might make a video about that. For aileron servos matching, I took a pretty simple approach. I simply setup 4 channels as the outputs of the Ailerons mixer. I tried to match things mechanically as much as possible before touching anything in the radio, then, I tweaked the center and endpoints in the outer servo so that it would match the inner. If mechanically, they're setup very similar, you don't really need to do much more to get the in-between points to match. But if that was needed, you could add a curve with a few adjustment points in the Outputs screen.

[@yodecaf]

That color scheme is quit possibly the best!

[@wareagleA5]

Great flying and great camera work

[@JuanSanchez-jn9wg]

Thanks!

[@hydrojet7x70]

Can this be bought in the USA?

[@skyboundrc]

Of course! tailslideaviation.com/pilot-rc-laser-103-v3.html

[@Edgecrusher28]

How are you checking and adjusting CG before flight?

[@skyboundrc]

For these type of planes (3D/XA propeller planes) I usually just check that the CG is near the wingtube. In these models, the CG can be a bit forward or aft from the ideal position and still fly fine. I prefer to fine tune CG during flight. I usually do a n inverted 45 degree upline and want the plane to track almost straight, but slowly lower the nose when neutralizing the elevator.

[@Edgecrusher28]

@@skyboundrc I guess more of what I am wondering is how the initial CG is checked on the bench with such a large model. I am a heli guy but am building my first EF Laser 91" and not sure if the old finger tip method works anymore. I know some of the JET guys at the field have a fancy machine, but was curious to see how you did it,

[@skyboundrc]

@@Edgecrusher28 oh, I simply use a finger on each wing. If the plane's too big/heavy like this one, I ask for somebody's help so I use a finger in one wing, the other person on the other wing. Nothing fancy :-)

[@4playpowerful]

Great job you can really throw that around imagine if you could do that with a real plane.

[@russcole5685]

What's the Rx you're using, any stabilisation at all. How do you like the ethos operating system. I'm currently using OpenTx X12S Horus, thinking of updating it to ACCeSS for more Rx options. Not sure if I'm willing to fund oit for a complete radio, that id have to relearn

[@skyboundrc]

hi! I'm using a TD R18 and a TDMX. This is a really nice setup because it takes full advantage of the Tandem (2.4Ghz + 900MHz) dual band system. Not using any stabilization, but if you wanted to do that, you could use a TD SR18 (same as mine, but with the stabilization functionality). I've been really liking ETHOS. Super powerful/flexible, but still easy to use.

[@russcole5685]

@@skyboundrc thanks for the reply, and Happy New year from New Zealand. Fair call. I'm just really attached to my X12S. Lay out and slider, switch placements ect. If I was to change the board to update to ACCeSS protocol I'd get the full 24 channel count over the 16ch I have now, and with the L9R protocol though the XJT module for redundancy. I only fly LOS so not sure if I really need the range. One trouble I'm having is with sensor modules. For some reason I can only receive one. I have three Daisy chained as correct set up, all bound and working independently, but I can only read the first in the chain if they're all connected. Air speed pitot, battery monitor, and verio for height warnings, sink rate. Any suggestions or ideas why this is. FrSky give me no help, they just say I needed to spend money with them and change to X20S, meaning changing everything I have already

[@skyboundrc]

@@russcole5685 Unfortunately I don't have any experience with OpenTX, or how it handels sensors, so I don't think I can be of help there

[@gregohare2406]

Great unboxing, build and maiden videos. Enjoyed each one. And I am very impressed with the V3 innovations, including the side vents on the cowl. Cheers!

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed this series!

Really nice, Juan! congratulations! looking forward to a video explaining your radio setup Happy New Year !🎉

[@skyboundrc]

Happy new year!

[@dfrost42371]

Great flight! Was your camera person using a tripod?

[@JuanSanchez-jn9wg]

No tripod. Using a Sony A6700 with the built in stabilization and that helps

[@antonyarnanova]

Love pilot aircraft and there servos, great product from a great company!

[@skyboundrc]

They're a great company with good products, but the best thing is that they're getting better and better over time :-)

[@upwardrc]

Amazing flying! You have a lot of talent! Also the image quality of your flight videos is really good 👍🏼

[@skyboundrc]

Thank you!

[@mustafaalawadh7818]

I love airplane ❤

[@2.4g-rc]

She's a beauty, nice flying as always.

[@skyboundrc]

thanks!

[@ronaldonogueira74]

Great flying! Smooth and precise, you seem very in tune with the plane even after a few flights only, congrats! I have this same kit still on the box (orange scheme), mine is a V3 too but curiously, the aileron servo slots are of traditional construction. I've had many Pilot RC kits and you're right, they keep making improvements on every batch.

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks! Yeah, the plane makes things look easy, even without having put much time on it yet. I believe that the servo position is a change they did in the latest batch of the V3 Laser. I guess I got one of the newer ones.

[@ronaldonogueira74]

@@skyboundrc Hello Juan, I'm about to finish my build (electric powered) and would like to know if you did a CG check before maiden. If you did, do you remember where it was and how the plane felt in flight? This will help me getting closer to the perfect spot to position the battery tray.

[@skyboundrc]

@ronaldonogueira74 hi! I did check it. The CG was pretty much on the wing tube. That’s how I still have it and I like it for my XA/freestyle type of flying. On an inverted 45 degree climbing line, I need to apply a little bit of down elevator.

[@ronaldonogueira74]

@@skyboundrc ​ thanks Juan, helped a lot. Got the plane leveled at the wing tube with flight packs against the firewall, which is very convenient for me. Hope I can finish it today so I can have the maiden flight tomorrow.

[@skyboundrc]

@@ronaldonogueira74 great! Let us know how it goes! good luck :-)

[@vincentgattorno9751]

Fantastic flying!

[@JuanSanchez-jn9wg]

Thank you!