XK A800 RTF Glider flight

[@Pluzzie]

as always thank you Andrew for the review! and you said "great for begginers if you're not sure with the hobby" and that phrase resonate with me 'cause that's me right now

[@markduckworth5579]

Another great video, sir! After watching you fly your A800, now I want to repair one of my A800s and get it in the air again! Made me realize how much I miss having it in my active fleet! Can't wait to see you slope soar it!

[@wesorama]

Yes I did have to trim the prop pivot area a bit so they would fold back easy, and I also increased the control surface movement a bit so it would be a bit more aerobatic. Nice size for my local park down the street from me.

[@paulhope3401]

Mine required the exact same..

[@GroundControlRC]

Nice review Andrew! Yep, it does look very stable and well behaved. Nice Powered Glider ;-) See you in the Air!

[@KenKneknaneek]

Very nice glider I have had mine for a little over a year now. Have been trying to mate it with my new Jumper T18 pro but am having trouble assigning the 3 position switches. Yes the jumper has a nice feel to it and am anxious to fly a few models I have managed to mate to it. Am hoping it will save me using so many transmitters. Looking forward to your flight down at the sea shore, it should be amazing there. Happy Flying

[@julianhumphrey4843]

excellent little calm day flyer nice

[@paulhope3401]

It looks far, far better and more serious without the silly snowflake decals. Put some sticky tape over them and yank hard.. does the trick.. Its great for learning but also a very good little glider in its own right.. Performs better with more weight when sloping, If you do crash nose in, the wings will tend to break near the root, inline with the Aileron slot in the wing. Some scotch tape round the wing to strengthen that area removes that weakness entirely..

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Some good points there. All points of view are valid but I always get a giggle when I see folks in their second childhood playing with the grandkids' toys complaining about how their toys look. Personally I'd be very envious of anyone who could see those "silly snowflake decals" when it's in the air flying. :D Of course if you're really into serious quality model building (like say those German boys that Dom at Essential RC shows at the Leipzig Fair at times) the final finish and looks could be seen to have some genuine import. :)

[@paulhope3401]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 Yep, guilty as charged.. :D

[@stratshadow]

Just got this one after watching your video, looking forward to some soaring off the hills here in Saarland, Germany!..... Great review, really enjoying your channel....take care...

[@AndrewNewton]

Oh lovely, good luck with it

[@loonypics6938]

Andrew : That little plane looks a lot like the LIDL chuck glider from a year or two ago. Next stop the slope !.

[@MasboyRC]

Nicely done, those plane looks so light and stable to fly.

[@nickhayley]

Don't take the gyro off. It becomes a wild hog!!!

[@AndrewNewton]

Mmm wild hog, sounds tempting

[@elliotwilliams2376]

Ordered one three months ago as my "learner" plane. It was backordered, and being impatient, I built a Newton/Ex Air -style Axon and learned on that until it perched in a high tree for a month. :) Then the A800 came. It is a lot more refined, agile, glidey, and controlled. It's easy and fun to fly. I like to get altitude, cut the motor, and play with gliding it. It recovers from stalls just fine, and 6G mode is helpful. I can land it from height with no motor most of the time now. A great learner plane, IME. I'm still being gentle with it. A few weeks ago, I bought a 4-in-1 multimodule transmitter for the A800, and use it with a Taranis QX7 TX, and that makes a big difference in the fun factor somehow. If you're going to keep on with planes, pick up something that runs OpenTX and multiprotocol, so you can keep flying the A800 along with whatever else you make/buy. A good upgrade path. The Axon wing came down when the rubber bands rotted, then a week later the fuselage. Miraculously, all the electronics work. It's being rebuilt ATM and will fly again.

[@AndrewNewton]

Ah the Axon, first plane I actually flew without crashing. I must make another one now I know what I'm doing.

[@elliotwilliams2376]

@@AndrewNewton Absolutely! I built mine on your recommendation, but I polyhedralled the wings b/c I'm a noob flyer and wanted to run it rudder/elevator anyway. This next one, I might go flat wings and ailerons, with the bouncy foam nose like you do, but might also close up the open slanting tube sections and/or otherwise try to smooth out the aerodynamics. It's a chunky plane, but it flies slowly and controllably enough. My goal is just something rugged and mellow to carry FPV and nav gear around, b/c I want to experiment with the autonomous side of things. I only have blue under-floor foam here (Munich) and so I have to improvise a little bit to make it stiff enough. But since it weighs so much less than dollar-tree, I can afford to double up here or toss in some reinforcement there.

[@johnmullen2017]

I've had mine for about a year now,lovely glider,if yr looking for more acrobatics, try the xk a600 Canadian bush plane,much more fun,and it uses the same battery aswell😉

[@leemaples1806]

my advice to buyers of this plane is to buy a few extra motors because its so easy to not bring it down level and you sorta lawn-dart it, your motor will be toast. also once replacing the motor, leave the connection part in and only splice the new wires in with the existing motor wires. reason is sometimes if you try to pull the connector from thr fliteboard the whole part ripped from the board and your screwed. trying to solder to two tiny pins sticking out of the board is a bugger.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Sounds like good advice to me!

[@BikingVikingHH]

The stock battery is certainly adequate but I got a couple of larger two cells in there, no problem with nose weight

[@Stichlyla]

Hi, what size did you end up getting? I've had one of these for about 3 weeks now, and I find the battery I got with it is loosing power faster now so I go another batter and its much better.

[@radiocontroljourney1650]

Dear Andrew, Wonderful video and flight, thank you for sharing. Ordered the XK A800 based on your video. Cheers.

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent, the best of the little RTF planes

[@roadstar499]

I guess with all that wing dehedrel rolls are impossible..thanks for great demo.

[@AndrewNewton]

Not impossible but it is unstable when inverted

[@lucasbartels9385]

Now I want to have one!

[@gliderrider]

Wonderful review and beautiful flying. Very convincing for sure.

[@AndrewNewton]

It really is!

[@EndiHamid]

Can’t wait for the slope soaring vid 😅

[@rc-fannl7364]

Be careful catching it by the wing. There is a stress point in the corner inner side of the ailerons. Quite a few people noticed tears in the foam in those corners, or even a wing getting fully ripped off. It flies great, but not the most durable RTF glider perhaps.

[@adamsmith5913]

Mine got a small tear there

[@seewind]

Love this video....self stabilization in RC gliders... wow...I am not up to speed on these features. Agree - looks like a wonderful beginner plane..... may have to look into this....glider or Mavic Mini 2.....

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Jim. Different ball parks totally. The glider is a toy, but a good one, the Mavic Mini is a seriously good sky camera, just doesn't like the wind

[@jonoedwards4195]

Unreal review! Wish They had a Pilot Dude an Dash inside that awesome shaped nose. Never noticed this model before, beauty Mate.

[@AndrewNewton]

Glad you liked it!

[@GrotrianSeiler]

I didn’t see your advice in time and my brand new UMX Radian is gone, taken by the wind to never be seen again. Typical novice mistake. So maybe I’ll try this one next and wait for no wind. The few times it hit the ground it did take the impact very well. Never a problem with the motor.

[@AndrewNewton]

Oh no! They are so light and small any wind will take them away

[@l8ur1e]

I have had one of these for years, and I agree it's a beautiful flyer, but I wish it had a mode with NO stabilisation. It's also been a bitter sweet experience for me because of trouble with motors - they seem to die after a short time. Yet it seems to be exactly the same N60 brushed motor that's in my WLToys F959, another beautiful flyer, and its motor has lasted forever. How come? Well, I investigated and found that the motors in the two planes rotate in DIFFERENT directions. I pulled one of the dead ones from the A800 apart, and it's clear from looking at the brushes that it rotates in the WRONG direction in the A800. However, I hear that the A800s currently being delivered have a different motor in them. The old motor (in mine) has a round section, but the new motor is larger and has flattened areas on each side. Presumably these new motors are in because of the troubles with the old. This also probably explains why my old A800, with battery, weighs only 124g, 9g less than Andrew's. I am currently doing experiments with a LH prop in the A800 so that I can run the motor in the correct direction. What I really need though is new blades, perfect mirror images of the stock ones, to fit in the existing folding prop assembly. It would take someone with a 3D printer to make those though. Would take seconds to knock out the pins and replace old blades with new.

[@crashrr2993]

This is interesting, I have one of these and found it slightly underpowered, so a bit frustrating. I have the round motor, so that probably explains it. I’ve stripped it out to put the electrics - less motor - into something lighter. I should add that it was good fun sloping it, where the lack of power wasn’t an issue.

[@wordreet]

It's nice, but I wonder that it even needs the upswept wing tips, as it has good dihedral. Maybe you could flatten the tips and improve its glide performance.

[@BikingVikingHH]

wordreet , The upturned wingtips are not really in Lou of dihedral or for stability, but more in efficiency thing with wingtip vortices.

[@paulhope3401]

With it having electronic stabalization.. I'd be more inclined to try removing the dihedral.

[@wordreet]

@@BikingVikingHH Indeed, and not really necessary on a foam glider this small. The upturned tips on full size airliners are all about saving fuel over thousands of miles after all.

[@cante199]

Such a big difference with a different tx.. I have the same aircraft. I have seen the Spectrum nx8 as a PRO tx.. it can be binded with the original xk a800 receiver? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@AndrewNewton]

The NX8 is only for Spektrum receivers. You would need a Radiomaster 4in1 to fly the XK800

[@cante199]

@@AndrewNewton ok thank you Andrew

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

The XK A800 was sold with 2 different version receiver boards. The old 1 (as here) can only use a Multi Radio or the stock radio. The new 1 has DSM (for Spektrum satellites) and S-bus receiver sockets on the flight board. Many of the XK planes are now sold with the DSM and S-bus sockets.

[@cante199]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 thanks.. I think I have the old one

[@BrianRamseysg01]

Hi Andy thanks for the vid I have rebound my XK A800 with TX16S and set up chnl 5 to switch SB and Chnl 8 to switch SC seems to work for me ok on the bench. I am so happy as stock tx didnt seem to bind so thanks. Should maiden tomorrow. (watched the vario vid on the RX8 I fancy one in Radian Pro lateron)

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent Brian. Do you mean the G-RX8? Vario feedback is so cool.

[@BrianRamseysg01]

@@AndrewNewton yes I do but its gonna take a while to get one G-RX8 an investment when I do ;)

[@FrankPerkins]

I have been putting together a fpv wing build but started to have 2nd thoughts as my build list was going over $1k and I have no experience. You convinced me to buy this and use it to get some learnings before venturing deeper into the hobby. Ordered it and some extra batteries. Would love to see a follow up video on ways to improve. Some great comments by subscribers in this video to strengthen weak points. Happy flying.

[@FrankPerkins]

Phil M I didn’t even know what CG stood for until last week. All great points!

[@eesar4032]

1k, I built my first plane for 150

[@FrankPerkins]

Eesa rafiq I’m building mine for half the price of yours! 😛

[@eesar4032]

Frank Perkins aaaay nice, half of the price is the transmitter I think ;)

[@prophoto1675]

great plane! and an absolute bargain on banggood at the moment

[@mastmalang70hk]

how you setup the RM with the plane do you have any video I have RM pocket 4 in1 like to setup too

[@AndrewNewton]

Don't remember the required protocol. Look on GroundControlRC, I'm sure he did a video.

[@katyare]

Great video Andrew, bought one after this video and and almost broke it in 1 day. I want to know where you get your motors and supplies for the stick flyers? I want to build one.

[@AndrewNewton]

Bangood or Hobbyking or old planes

[@lasersbee]

I'm thinking FPV with separate 1S or 2S bat. I found that the Mini Mustang flies a just bit better and smother with its supplied radio than the XK A800 with its supplied radio. Nice stable fliers just the same.

[@RCsbyRich]

Been following your videos on this very nice flying especially the video with the kite when you slope soar 👌. Is there any way of removing the decal from the a800. I started to sand it but want to get it to a more scale look. Do you think a layer or 2 to cover decal with white spray would make it to heavy ?? Thanks 👍

[@AndrewNewton]

Sticky tape works. Apply tape over stickers then lift off.

[@RCsbyRich]

@AndrewNewton I did try that with masking tape but they seem well attached more than a standard decal

[@RCsbyRich]

@AndrewNewton Hi Again. I managed to get the stickers off by dragging the tape across them. They were stubborn 🤣. Anyway I will put a video up soon once I've completed it, one other thing, do you know of any tiny rc gliders similar to the eflite umx ask-21 , it's discontinued now but I have a fascination in small scale stuff. Thanks Rich

[@aamoir536]

I want one

[@thetwogardens6048]

I dont recommend .

[@computerillustration]

Great Video, thanks Andrew! Does the prop fold for landing i.e with motor shut off? Can the controls be changed to as you wish or are they set? Would it bind with a Spektrum DX8E?

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes the prop folds. Controls cant be changed, and the reciever is not compatible with Spectrum

[@computerillustration]

Ok thanks Andrew, are the controls right side aileron right and left and elevator forward and back and left side motor forward and back and rudder right and left?

[@AndrewNewton]

@@computerillustration Correct. That is Mode 2

[@longjammeriii3323]

Hi Andrew thanks again for this great little plane demo, can you advise me on the channel assignment ie is it the same as the t8sg v2 which I think is channel 5 for the 3d6g and channel 8 for the high and low rates or have I got that the wrong way round, this information is for my radiomaster t16s when it arrives, thanks in advance please stay safe and healthy with my best regards from Alan in the UK 🤗🤗👍👍❤

[@AndrewNewton]

Ch 5 for rates, Ch 8 for Gyro github.com/pascallanger/DIY-Multiprotocol-TX-Module/blob/master/Protocols_Details.md#KN---9

[@longjammeriii3323]

@@AndrewNewton many thanks for the help sir Andrew it is very much appreciated by this old newbie. Best regards to you and your family and stay safe 😊😊👍👍

[@theorangebaron1595]

Andrew Newton, I know this is not the correct video but, is the micro skyhunter a good beginner plane.

[@bobboo1319]

No it's very twitchy , this one is a good one to learn on.

[@theorangebaron1595]

@@bobboo1319 What about a scratch build beginner plane that is small

[@bobboo1319]

@@theorangebaron1595 only it it is easy to make and not cost much. , The form way is easy to glue back together.

[@bobboo1319]

@@theorangebaron1595 Also use a simulator on the computer.

[@aliberkozderya3112]

You can take a look at mini scout design by flite test if you are willing to build yourself. It is small, simple to build and easy to fly

[@oddballmedia]

Great video. Thanx

[@AndrewNewton]

My pleasure!

[@macsair]

Do they only make RTF planes in Mode 2 ? I’m guessing you can’t bind it to your own Mode 1 transmitter or can I. Great little plane by the looks of things.

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes, can bind to a multi protocol module of any Mode

[@macsair]

@@AndrewNewton Thanks for the reply Andrew, it says Futaba compatible, will it work with my Spektrum protocol DX9?

[@pierstaylor7780]

@@macsair I think Andrew explains it here.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJjPqpulp6efbNU

[@willr5618]

Nice!

[@nevillemorley5926]

Excellent presentation, Andrew. I've ordered one. I am a complete notice so any suggestions would be appreciated. Neville UK.

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent. Stay away from windy days and trees, have fun. If in trouble let go of the sticks

[@icesalami]

Can you fpv this and do a range test?

[@AndrewNewton]

Sorry I dont have it anymore.

[@TheSheepDogPatriot1776]

just bought one for my son and I. $70 US dollars, for the full kit.

[@davidjacob2009]

Salut, j'ai le même modèle et j'ai une question sur les commandes de gaz. Sur le mien, quand je monte les gaz avec la manette gauche, la gouverne de profondeur se relève également ! Je pense que ça n'est déjà pas normal il me semble. Quand je le lance, je suis obligé de redresser quasi immédiatement car il pique du nez direct ! Pour info, tout a été fait et testé avec la stabilisation active. Merci d'avance pour toute information utile.😊

[@AndrewNewton]

Redo the level calibration maybe, or adjust the pushrod lengths?

[@micneil4566]

Andrew do you reckon you could bind the inbuilt receiver with a Flysky I6? Cheers MC

[@AndrewNewton]

No it's not compatible with Flysky

[@stephenpropnut7486]

Hi Andrew, I acquired one with a job lot of kits, but Sod’s law came into play and there was no transmitter, do t suppose it would bind with Spektrum? Be great to use the gear in a Tony Ray Minimoa.

[@AndrewNewton]

Not Spectrum unfortunately.

[@mukhlisinbagol1105]

Is this plane could catch thermal?

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes easily

[@mukhlisinbagol1105]

@@AndrewNewton ok thank you

[@ryanomoso7173]

What is the size of the propeller? Is it compatible with 5mm motor shaft?

[@AndrewNewton]

Not 5mm but I no longer have it. Search on RCGroups

[@RobisonRacing68]

Best "second" plane Andrew?

[@AndrewNewton]

Oh that is such a big topic. Ranger 1600, Phoenix 2000, Sonic AR900 wing

[@pnaty97]

Just got mine today after seeing this video. Andrew is there any way I can get a copy of the model file for my TX16s please?

[@AndrewNewton]

My TX16S is in deep storage sorry. Cant access it for weeks

[@beeVanDepok]

what protocol does this plane and TX use to talk to each other sir ?

[@AndrewNewton]

KN Protocol, WLToys version

[@beeVanDepok]

@@AndrewNewton thx for the info

[@vingasoline1]

wrecked the motor the first time i flew it into the ground. 😁 went back to pushers. 😊

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes, that's the problem with nose mounted motors.

[@brunotagliapietra6397]

Hi, got one, flew fine for a while, now for some reason the motor for the elevator doesn't move anymore when commanded to. It moves... "randomly".. or when helped. I opened it, all the gears seem fine. How would you go about troubleshooting that?

[@AndrewNewton]

Check servo connection first. Otherwise there's not much you can do with the all in one control board.

[@DrWenChannel]

Does it fly well under windy condition (>10~15 mph of wind)?

[@AndrewNewton]

Not designed for that

[@obeymelissa584]

Flight time depends n how you fly....1-power all time 8-10......2-standard glide and thermo 10-20ish.......3-SLOPE SOARING 15-??????......have to account fr wind in first 2

[@seba2038]

Do you know how to configure multiprotocol Jumper RC, to have the switch change 6g to 3g mode? On which channel is this beginner/intermediate mode?

[@AndrewNewton]

Try Ch5 and Ch6

[@WreckinStreetsDaily]

I need help I just bought mine and it doesn't connect? I tried turning on the trans first then plugged in battery also vice versa.

[@AndrewNewton]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foTYn4p_qLp7hbc

[@WreckinStreetsDaily]

@@AndrewNewton yeah bro I did that this is my second RTF I buy but for some reasons I'm having this issue! I will try again if not I'll see what I can do to get this flying .

[@BikingVikingHH]

What radio is that, and will it bind to literally anything like it did with that plane?

[@paulhope3401]

Its a Radiomaster Tx16s... and yes binds to most protocols out there. There are others made by Jumper that can do the same thing and there are also modules for the Taranis to achieve similar. The Tx16s is only £100 though... or £130 with hall effect gimbals. Best bang for buck. For the extensive list of protocols please see github.com/pascallanger/DIY-Multiprotocol-TX-Module/blob/master/Protocols_Details.md

[@semymaccaroni1992]

Nice Review... Wich camera you mount on top of the Plane?

[@AndrewNewton]

Mobius

[@davesunderland1]

Sir Newton take it to the slope already lol

[@AndrewNewton]

Packed and ready, just waiting for the right wind direction

[@davesunderland1]

Figured it wouldn’t be long 😀 love that you slope everything.

[@aliberkozderya3112]

Looks too smooth for something that weighs 130 grams. I wonder how much of it is thanks to the stabilizer

[@AndrewNewton]

Only one way to find out. I will pull the stabiliser out eventually

[@tonyaikenhead7181]

I have had two in the last 6 months. Both had failure of the elevator servo. Replacement receiver boards are out of stock. Don't buy!

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Running it with the full stabilization on works the servos much harder than normal. (Applies to all stabilizers and in particular to the self-levelling type.) Best to set your Multi Radio (if using) so that your Throttle Cut switch ALSO defaults the stabilization to "Manual" or at least the least active mode. That way you are not cranking the servos all over the place while waving it around before you pelt it. Your servos will love you - and last longer!😉😊

[@markeggert2163]

The controller STINKS. Would be much more fun with good transmitter.

[@AndrewNewton]

Definitely

[@Wings_of_foam]

How did you bind your tx16s if I may ask? I'm new in the RC world and I can't figure out if I have to buy a receiver or if it is just a few transmitters that fit with this plane. @@AndrewNewton

[@AndrewNewton]

@@Wings_of_foam TX16S binding is shown in the video, just have to select the correct RC protocol for the XK A800 (cant recall what it is) Multiprotocol radios with the 4in1 RF chip can bind to most different manufacturers receivers, but not all. I usually search in RCGroups for a particular model protocol to see if it is supported by the 4in1 RF chip

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@AndrewNewton Depends when you got your XK A800. Original ones ran on KN/WLTOYS and had no satellite sockets. The current ones run on V911S/E119 and also now have S-bus and DSM satellite sockets. 😉😊

[@terrytippett5507]

Hi Andrew. just ordered one, can I use your video on my website ... norcim-rc.club Great review young man.!

[@AndrewNewton]

Yes go right ahead. As long as I am credited.

[@terrytippett5507]

@@AndrewNewton No problem Andrew, It will be a while yet as the XK a800 has not arrived yet. Take care Terry

[@Atxal]

Really awful electronics, i have burnt electronic board twice

[@AndrewNewton]

!