Vintage Hirobo Nitro Helicopter Restored and Flown by NightFlyyer.

[@dieselrotor]

In 92 I bought My first two helicopters from Hub Hobby. Two Kyosho Concepts 30's. The sales person was happy. Two copters,a radio(futaba gold label 72mghz ch 12 still have),one receiver (radio came with one) and one ch12 crystal,Two mechanical gyro's (that You could hear winding up"Cool"),two OS 32's, 8 servos,2 battery packs,two power switches, two sets of training gear,4 gallons fuel,and two sets of "Good blades You had to weight, cover and shrink" cause they came with cheap blades as the sales person told Me. I was back two days later for a tail booms,more blades, tail rotors,and main shafts LOL. Loved every minute of it. I still have the manuals and some parts.Then later bought the Hirobo Lama I still have. Good times.

[@MrApache64AH]

The Shuttle was my first Heli and it was a pain to start, but a delight just to hover it..Thanks for the memory..!

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. Glad to hear that. I have newer videos on this, as this one was destroyed in the fire in 2016 that destroyed all my models and home. You might like some of them. Just search my channel for Shuttle and you'll find more. Thanks so kindly.

[@truckerray7533]

Thankya Marine for sharing this video! Semper Fi. . . .Always faithful!

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks so kindly. Semper Fi!

[@truckerray7533]

Your welcome!

[@mikmerl1]

Hoping that I am not overstaying my welcome, I would like to add a little story that led to the demise of this my first Hirobo Shuttle. After much effort I learnt to fly it without a gyro. Finally I was able to purchase a mech Futaba rate gyro and spent some time setting it up at the field with hover flights. At some point I filled the tank (OS Max .28) walked back away from the model to proceed with the flight. Without warning the engine revved up to about 1/2 throttle without any Tx input from me. The throttle stick was all the way down, I moved the other controls but there was no response. To my utter horror the Shuttle gently rose up into a stable hover for about 30 seconds in the completely still morning air then it started moving sideways gathering momentum. When the speed was adequate the tail feathers pointed the nose in the direction of flight and translational lift started giving altitude. Now I mean altitude, the little bird with a full belly settled into a huge left hand circle. It was now gaining altitude at an alarming rate until we could not hear it anymore and only the smoke trail allowed us to keep track of it very high in the clear blue sky. Eventually the juice was exhausted and gravity took over. As it came hurtling down free fall nose first it did something amazing that I saw for the first time ..... an autorotation. It had enough altitude to repeat this two more times. The little chopper was trying to save itself but it was not to be, inevitably terra firma rushed up to meet it with a deathly thud. The long lonely walk to the debris zone only verified the complete destruction of the Shuttle, I don't think that even a ball link survived. The only explanation for this uncontrolled flight was that I had not realized how much power from the 500mah battery (that what we had then) the new addition mech gyro was using and the battery pack was simply exhausted. This was about 35 years ago and of course I was and still am completely hooked. I have included a link of me flying my Vario Bell 47G. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqm6dmqrrJmMmJo Once again thank you for your great posts and sorry for taking up so much space but I wanted to share the unique experience I had with the Shuttle. Mike Athens Greece

[@gazzale]

i had the exact same heli, all those years ago. watching this video brings back all those memories.👍👍 thankyou.

[@NightFlyyer]

Great to hear. Thanks kindly, Gary.

[@MichaelAChang]

This was my first RC helicopter and I still have it - I also have the Jet Ranger body but never dared to fly with it.

[@NightFlyyer]

That is great to hear. This one was destroyed in the fire in 2016, but a subscriber sent me another a this year and here is one of the videos of it's first flight you might like. I really enjoy flying it. Now go Fly and thanks for commenting. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKmnaGOmq75nns0

[@lansaguy]

I had that same shuttle (but with .40 engine) back in '87. Brings back memories!

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on! Thanks.

[@keithwhisman]

Helis are what got me in the Hobby back in the mid 1980s. I couldn’t afford helis back then as they were extravagantly expensive back then. They still are expensive now a days but a lot more affordable and far easier to fly. I really miss those days and wish we could go back. I miss the days when I could visit a hobby shop and pick out a balsa kit and and start building it cheaply and as the middle comes together I can piece together the hardware over time and after a few months I’d have a very nice model that though was expensive I didn’t spend a lot all at once and the end results were 100 percent my building skills. Kids these days just don’t have that option to experience and that’s sad because it really teaches you to be a perfectionist.

[@NightFlyyer]

This machine was burned up in the fire, but I have acquired another one and have several videos of it. Your story is so very true. Thanks.

[@Turk10mm]

man, i don't miss my nitro helis until I see the exhaust and wish I could get a whiff again. Good luck on rebuilding, there's a lot of people that have learned from you.

[@mustang65az]

This is great. My first heli was a hirobo shuttle like the one you flew in this video. It was 1987 and I was 14. I spent a year getting the darn thing to run and setting up the tail so that i could get it off the ground. It was great seeing the old shuttle and how far helicopters have come. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane

[@Wings_of_foam]

I'm an 81 guy so you would have been one of the cool big kids I looked up to lol.

[@Wings_of_foam]

I just realized your comment is 12 years old haha.

[@desidudes78]

At first I was confused when I saw a very strange object on your forehead, I kept watching and realized it was a camera! You are a genius Mr. Herbert!

[@MrBobWareham]

Thanks again I never had the shuttle, but a few of the other flyers did, cheers

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. Thank you.

[@smaze1782]

My first heli was a Shuttle circa 1989. Was hard as hell to fly but I sure learned a lot.

[@Aluminata]

Ferocious enthusiasm. What a blast! Beautiful restoration.

[@InTheDogHouse3DPrinting]

Nice video NightFlyyer. Glad to see someone still working on and restoring these old gals. I don't know a lot about them, but I'm an old school guy who likes working on and rebuilding older non computerized things. Good job.

[@MartijnvanGene]

My respect for you has grown since I've just seen you fly a gasser heli WITHOUT a gyro!!!

[@sabooo57]

Dave - enjoying your videos! I started on a TSK mystar 30 about a million years ago, and this shuttle and the fight of getting it running brings back lots of memories. You've got a great voice for this, too!

[@t.rexxer5007]

Wow! That brings back memories. I had a friend back in the mid 90's that adopted me to teach me rc heli's. I had bought and built.... wait for it... a Schluter Heliboy! Never got it to fly reliably. My friend was a miniature aircraft supply pilot, but he honed his switchless inverted skills (what they called it before 3d) with his shuttle. I skipped the shuttle for the the reasons you gave and got a .60 size xcell. You have the patience of a saint Marine! Can't believe you got her to fly!

[@yamahar15club]

I have the same heli since 1989 and this was my first Heli I could never forget.

[@NightFlyyer]

Glad to hear that. Happy flying!

[@MabrysDad]

I learned on a shuttle back in 86!

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on! Thanks.

[@johno9507]

Be careful of the plastic balls on the swashplate as they wear very fast and can pop of in flight. I destroyed my Shuttle ZXX from that. You can either buy a metal swashplate or do what I did and cut the plastic balls off (only on the rotating part) and put metal balls on with a small screw. Worked perfectly for years after that! 😀

[@NightFlyyer]

Ill keep that in mind, but in flying helis for over 50 years, never had a ball link pop off or wear down. The only thing that seems to wear out is the Swash plate bearings, in my case, as there is hardly any centrifugal force at the shaft on the ball links and they hardly weigh anything. But I always polish them during assembly and keep them lubed with silicone spray, so figure that has contributed to my luck. Thanks kindly for your comments.

[@johno9507]

@@NightFlyyer In my 32 years flying choppers the only ball link failure I've had was with the plastic balls. My Shuttle ZXX got a LOT of use! I was just hovering in the backyard testing a new engine when it suddenly drove itself into the ground. I was 13 at the time and it was my first crash. 😀

[@spacetownman]

Outstanding! It's always interesting to see any restoration project in action. You did a very good job making this bird flight-worthy. Kudos!

[@nishbrown]

Persistence pays. Nice work, on the box and the chopper! And great song!

[@halleffect1]

I love these old Hirobos. Thx for posting this!

[@phishertube]

Great story and the video was well thought out and interesting. You are a Gentleman, i wish more videos were as clean as yours. Keep posting.

[@grahambambeck7452]

Great video and flight! Gorgeous old heli there.

[@beverke7]

efforts paid off, another succes ! Nice to see her up and running Dave.

[@MikeNJ1964]

I bought a Shuttle in 1991, didn't know anything about AMA or flying clubs so never learned to fly it. I met a friend in 2006 who taught me how to fly helicopters. After 15 years of sitting, the shuttle stil flew. I joined the AMA and a copule RC clubs. Now, the shuttle still flies but is retired (proudly on display hanging from the cieling in my store) and I fly a Sceadu. I also have a spare original starting belt!

[@iflyhelis]

Nightflyer, I had that exact same flight box but didn't have the starter/glowplug issue. I installed two 4 Amp. batteries in paralell, so it had plenty of juice to run it all. Also a friend of mine had one of those shuttles it flew well for the day. Thanks for the video!

[@robsrchelispares]

Great video mate, smashing to see the old Hirobo flying so well.

[@RyderRipps]

IN THE AIR TONIGHT MIDI!!!! WOW

[@NightFlyyer]

You got it! Thanks.

[@grahamlwilson]

You are a legend Dave! Great video, thank you for showing us the shuttle.

[@mikmerl1]

I started with the same helicopter in the early 80s ......... hellishly expensive compared to todays China invasion. There were no heli radios no gyros, learning took a lot of perseverance BUT when it all came together the satisfaction was awesome. Nice trip down memory lane Thanks Mike Athens Greece

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks Kindly Mike!

[@rodcollman959]

Lots of Patience Nightflyer but worth the work you put into it

[@arosnett]

I actually had a very small fan belt for starting!

[@NightFlyyer]

Wow, that had to be a small belt to run a fan. What was it from? I might have to look into that.

[@arosnett]

Sorry no idea it came out of my fathers workshop. He hoarded parts from broken stuff. My guess is some lawnmover😂

[@JeremyAverett]

My God... What is becoming of me? I am so geeked out with these videos. First the Nexus 30, now this? Bravo sir!

[@stealhty1]

Hell it copters are the funniest and most rewarded heaches still available

[@Delticola]

I started cracking up when I heard the Phil Collins instrumental and then some other music, ah, now I recognize it by name, David Bowie. And then I realized you have made a good video of how you've spent your time over the last few years. I always loved seeing those helicopters growing up.........and am so thankful they have cheap electric ones now so I can finally have my RC helicopters as a 40 year old.

[@guyanderson1798]

I will never forget ,,,Every flight is a test and every crash a lesson,,Wise words

[@Ghostflyer63]

Dave Wow that is a blast from the past..... I bought one of those In 86or87 along with an old FM futaba radio and gyro was out of the question as I was out of money LOLOL never did actually fly it but it was alot of fun to tinker with.... If I remember right I had an OS30 on it...... and trying to hover without a gyro wow.... Thanks again for a blast from the past..... I picked up helicopters again a couple of years ago and the technology difference is night and day....

[@fourbyfourer]

@ NightFlyyer WOW great video sir. You said you are a Marine, Thank you very much for your service.

[@magicmike1122]

You are very patient Dave, hopefully i soon, will learn to be as patient as you

[@FASTPISTOLDRAW]

damn . one hell of a job. from a vet of the french foreign legion.

[@AdventuresofanoldSeadog]

Always love your vids. Keep up the good work.

[@jldanforth2k]

Hey Dave, that belt you broke should be available at your local sewing machine repair shop. I have sold them for years. Good video, Thanks.

[@slootzky]

you're clearly putting your soul to this hobby. right on!

[@312T3Tamiya]

Cool this is the helikopter I learnt myselves flying with . Good to see one flying again !

[@NS-zg5kh]

Great job Dave...i have 2 Kalt Baron 60s,one with Os60 & other with Enya 90...great helis

[@dylangarner1495]

Thanks for the tip

[@Nitrohog2006]

I taught myself to fly on an old Shuttle Z with a rate gyro. Brings back some good (and not so good) memories LOL.

[@davidrockey7190]

Very cool I had one of them now that was a machine if you could fly that you could fly anything

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks and so true. I fly anything I can! LOL.

[@brian-yd2cg]

Have been into anything RC since the early ‘80s. This was very cool to see and great work on this project! Thank you for sharing. Love it! (kinda wish I could hear the engine and the wind in the microphone in lieu of the music tho).

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks much. Sometimes the wind noise is so bad, I have to cover it up with a music score. This was burned up in the fire that destroyed all my models, but I have a new one now, so maybe you might want to watch it and you can hear the engine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXupiWeFnrKqiJI

[@PeterK6502]

I have also a Hirobo shuttle (ZXX version), it has not flown for over 10 years. I have even a box full of never used spare parts. Seeing this video, I think I will also restore this heli.

[@slinkytreekreeper]

Good effort NF, I wish I had half your heli mod/build/fix skills.

[@warmfreeze]

I love your videos..nice soft well spoken voice and very informative.!

[@bwxmoto]

@ 4:01 ---> He said 2 YEARS!?!?? Wow. I've been flying since July 8th 2011.. I got a BLADE MCX2 RTR with 7 extra 150 mAh batts. I always wanted to fly a heli, and for my 39th B-Day, on a whim, I got myself a good starter one. Glad I did! It is tons of fun.

[@BrokeDad1]

I picked up a nice old Shuttle Plus just recently. It was in near mint condition and came with a newer Spektrum DX6i radio. Also added was a AR610 receiver and a G210 gyro. The heli guy at the hobby shop set it up and flew it before putting it out for sale at $250. It flies very well. The added glow plug extender on the side makes it easy to hook up for starting. While not a 3D marvel I still like it for a relaxing flight. While I do have several newer Blade helis I just couldn't let this old girl stay in retirement.

[@kktpp]

thumbs up man.. glad you got it up and running after ALL that Cheers,

[@Zippo765]

That looks like so much fun! I bet it's a toughie to learn on though! Thanks for the great videos Dave!

[@MontyMotoBoy]

I learnt to fly with the very same model, JR 4 channel am radio & a gyro with the larger tank....& I still have the old girl stored in the garage, complete with a scale shell. She's too precious to fly now as I fear I cannot obtain many spares.

[@audalinab08]

Very impersive enginuity sir! I love your persistence!

[@railer666]

I still have my Concept 30 and My Shuttle ZX. The Concept 30 was Stable and not very nimble with stock head.The ZX was light and agile.I had OS 32 engines in both and the ZX I had a pull start in the back of the engine.I have a lot of unopened Shuttle zx parts I got in a trade a while back.I saw an article in a magazine of a guy converting the Shuttle ZX to electric. Kyosho made a nice Bell 222 Body with retracts for the Concept 30. Keep up the great work. I love watching your Videos.

[@jpfo1776]

Kudos for perseverance! Nice result. Gotta say - tho I fly gas fixed wing I am glad for electric for heli's!!

[@caryelliot1594]

great video that was my first heli , lots of fun and definitely a handful

[@NightFlyyer]

This one was destroyed in the fire, but I was sent a newer one, that I switched out engines and put in a pull starter. You may like to see this. Thanks much. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH_ckqWwhbuhmcU

[@Escapaque]

Awesome Dave!!!!!!What memories man!!!! I have not been flying for 6 years.I still have my shuttle ready to fly!!!The only thing that i need is a new motor cause the os32 is quite dead! lol after 12 years of loyal service!

[@rays.2480]

hi there.. just a few comments.. i used to have a shuttle just like that..had fun with it , til i lost interest and sold it.. when i had my starter belt break. i found a sewing machine shop had the exact belt that was needed and it did not stretch either. also i bought a remote mount glow plug attachment, so i was able to put my glo-started on with ease. nice to see one still flying..

[@RCHELISPOT]

Great video!I had many Shuttles and have still have two converted E-Shuttles.

[@0035ACE]

I have a ZXX bought it in 90's,it still work and very good condition.

[@mathewwhittle10]

It's like ridge soaring... beautiful!

[@jeremysargent5037]

I remember thinking that this flew very much like a 60 size Hirobo since I had already learned to fly on my Hirobo 707. I bought a second-hand 6 week old one in 1985 shortly after they first came out and kept it flying until 1994 when I moved abroad and left it at my parents. I changed the engine when the ASP 32H came out from the old OS 28H that it had originally. It was the best buy I ever made. The only two problems I had was not enough throw for the pitch and the head dampers were too soft.

[@russelgoose4285]

Wow thats a lot of hard work..

[@NightFlyyer]

But it paid off. Thanks.

[@russelgoose4285]

Sure it did and it is flying well..

[@pjhobby]

Helicopter show, Congratulations friend

[@alvinrc7634]

Love it! I’m rebuilding one myself for the nostalgia! Where did you get that cool 80’s style 8 bit music?

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks much. Search for Royalty free Midis to find many. Happy flying.

[@GeorgeBonez]

Wow! I was amazed at how well you flew it.. You're a rock star man :) Great job !

[@ChefCrash1]

Very nice video. I have two of the shuttle's predecessors bought in 83 or 84, GMP Cobras:) I've been flying a tricopter for the past few years. This show makes me want to tinker with my Cobras:)

[@8UP1977]

Great vid. Brings back memories, forgot how hard it must have been.

[@antoineblanchard]

nice restore.. heli.. tricks and coment.. bowie too, well done

[@pookiejink]

Thanks Dave for the insight and can do spirit.

[@MonacoBlast]

Everyday I quit out of frustration and every morning my work is patiently waiting for me.

[@offthebeatentrail4476]

i learn something new everytime i watch one of your videos. thanks for the info!

[@Josh901109]

You are awesome man!!! Really great video. And that was good advice regarding Beetles and Porsches :)

[@gilgriffith]

1983 I had a Playboy. No gyro. Was very difficult learning to fly it.

[@diabolicaldarkness1]

NICE BIRD!! glad to see it hitting the skies again

[@johnharrington4757]

very nice still looks sporty today! would love to have one

[@raymondrynehart]

i had a shuttle x years ago. starting belt did break, ended up replacing it with a v-belt from a vacuum cleaner power head.

[@akipon181]

かなり古いシャトルですね。私もシャトルユーザーです。 世界のどこかでシャトルユーザーが居るというのは、なんだか嬉しいです。 sorry...I don't use English. I am glad. because there are shuttle user in the world.

[@1moredayinmo]

Nice video. I have one of those Shuttles sitting in my garage, complete with the Airtronics 6 channel heli radio and OS .28 heli engine. Flew it some back in the day, but has collected dust sense. Thanks for the memories (might have to clean it up and get her going again!).

[@neilspires7259]

Still have it?

[@1moredayinmo]

@@neilspires7259 Yes

[@herobo123456]

I had a Hirobo Shuttle from 1999, Good mechine

[@justinleicht8944]

Hey I have recently came into one of these that I would like too get flying again. I also have a Schluter magic 60 vintage that I would like too get running. I don’t have controllers at all just the helicopters and I don’t know what too do too get them running.

[@NightFlyyer]

Knowing how helis work is important to learning to fly. If you know how they work, you will be able to figure out to fly it. I would suggest downloading the manual to it, ordering a radio system, and then taking it to the local flying club and find someone that can help you. If your not a helicopter pilot right now, I think you will have trouble doing it all by yourself. Good luck.

[@mattrose6025]

I started out with the same heli and yes, without a gyro. Now a days people are spoiled with all the electronics!! Lol

[@rostravelventure]

My father have this model brand new still in the box!

[@DaveZotzman]

Yup... I learned on the original shuttle and eventually moved up to an X-Cell 60. Later on, I retired that shuttle and moved on to one of the newer models with the flybar mounted below the rotor and longer tail boom... it was a MUCH smoother and precise machine. My third shuttle was running a 0.40 with tuned exhaust and it was a rocket. I've been out of the hobby for a few years, but recently picked up a JR GSR260Z gasser. Just waiting for a few more peices before the first test flight.

[@JhonBuletreau]

What a nice job Dave!!! You are amasing men!!! Greeting from Chile!

[@bigbadbenable]

Great video! I am very surprised it took you so long to figure out why the engine wouldn't start, my power panel has a dial which indicates the current that is going to the plug so I can tell immediately if it's not glowing, anyways, nice work

[@FJB2024_]

Oh wow. thanks for that. exactly what I learned on and how we flew them! "vintage" huh.

[@mikeday62]

I once built a miniature nuclear reactor from old radio parts and a broken humidifier......but this heli is pretty cool too.

[@mazpr2025]

I sure did relax and enjoyed watching the Shuttle fly. Was laughing of how severely that tail was shaking, and you managed to fly it no problem. *ty - there is a site, need to look it up, that custom makes kevlar belts to order and does not cost much. I used to buy them for a discontinued 1/12 belt driven rc car, and 1/8th nitro on-road.

[@trippledigitss]

Very cool - thanks for sharing. I still have an old .30 Shuttle, my first heli ever, thats been sitting in the garage for over a decade. I've been thinking about restoring it back to flying condition, its complete but I dont know if its a realistic goal. Seeing this makes me think both ways, it can be done - but I cant do it! haha! Nice job and thanks again!

[@jeepman012]

Great Video once more, I have a Kalt Cylone sitting in my loft, I got it back in the eighties, I was using it to learn Heli's, Cos I got fed up of going to the Flying site each week and bringing home my planes in a bin liner,lol, The Cyclone is all complete with a OS 60 engine, I don't have any spare's though, I gave up l trying to fly the Cylone because I lost my flying site , I started Heli's again last year going the EFlight route, all rtf, I have nearly finished a HK450 build,

[@yamahonkawazuki]

agreed. ive never heard better myself. that line says it all