ZOHD Altus: First look!!

[@Painless360]

WARNING: The throws on the ailerons as supplied from the factory are very high, around 19mm travel. I would STRONGLY suggest only using between 12-15mm travel for flying unless you want very high roll rates and increased sensitivity. Rudder and Elevator throws are 10mm and better suit this style of model. I've reported this back to ZOHD and asked them to include this detail in the manual, as at the moment it doesn't include this basic detail.

[@AerialWaviator]

Awesome!! A great early first look. Thanks Lee. It's great to see ZOHD Team is back designing new RC models. Size is a nice balance with wingspan at ~1m. Seems a bit like a cross between the Razor and Swordfish with the best elements of each along with many improvements. This looks like a design that can be customized in a number of ways. Can see 3d-printed accessories, and event the possibility of a custom conventional tail-boom. Love designs like this ... solid basics, with multiple options to customize and personalize.

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome looking airplane, Lee! 😃 I hope it flies well! Looking forward to the build and flight video! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@alexislechevalier1022]

Thanks for this first look. A quite gorgeous and interesting piece. It seems to have a lot of room inside to pack lots of gadgets inside. 😄 I agree that ZOHD was quite silent for a while. I hope they are back in business. They are worth it. 😁

[@danjensen9425]

I’m convinced I’ll get the kit version.looks like I could put the HDzero vtx up front for cooling. Looking forward to see how you did the HD part.

[@Painless360]

Link in description... Happy flying

[@johncarold]

I like it, I have been looking at this V-tail since the first time it was released.

[@sashgorokhov]

Congrats! Mine is stuck in some sorting center. I ordered it the minute it became available. Zohd dart 250 was my first model which introduced me to fixed wings

[@mpsaeris1855]

Hi Lee, spot on video review as always.👍

[@dronepilot260rc]

Yes! Looks like a beauty

[@tubamanandy2]

That looks like its all ready for a VTOL conversion at a later date alla the Heewing T1 I just need to work out how to fit a digital FPV system in with good airflow - great unboxing as ever

[@Painless360]

See my video from Xmas on my thoughts on 'hobby grade' VTOL. I'll settle for a fab conventional flyer over a VTOL conversion that turns it into the master of neither flight mode... Happy flying!

[@MessingWithCode]

Pretty nice video as always.

[@StevePotter]

Great informative unboxing review! Looks like a bit more room for battery than the Swordfish? Thanks for answering my Q about packability and the shout-out. The laser cut lite-ply (birch, not balsa) nose options look really useful.

[@mysticguido1]

Nice show as always Sir..

[@Salomon1502]

Can't wait for fly test. Good Łuck!

[@rwdturbo]

Looking forward to your flight review, will you being doing a review of the atomrc(skyzone) theer?

[@Painless360]

I sure will! Stay tuned!

[@rwdturbo]

@@Painless360 received my theer today and altus yesterday, now i need to find time to build them 😁. Again I look forward to see your build and flights they will be helpful as always.

[@Painless360]

Maiden flight and full review on the channel tomorrow. Stay tuned!

[@rwdturbo]

@@Painless360 look forward to it. I've finished my build with a vista, just waiting for batteries to arrive. Also Atomrc sent me the 3d files for the nose.

[@swissfreek]

Funny that the tail boom is not carbon fiber, but the little stubby bit in the fuselage that the tail plugs into is... I suspect you're right, carbon fiber upgrade guaranteed to appear.

[@KK-ol5ov]

Awesome video, thank you for the this. I’m looking forward to building mine. I have no idea what I’m doing and I ordered a Matek H743 but will get a smaller one 🙏

[@spartan3299]

can it fit in the box it came in? Looks to be a great return for ZOHD! I'll pre-order one...but I'd love to have a retro return of the 635mm original ZOHD Dart. Mine still flies great, but I could use a refresh.....a 3d printed copy just wont due until it is possible to print EPP. Great review and can't wait to see her cruise or maybe fly inverted down our runway like my dart which skims the deck and it it kisses the deck well the stabilizers pop off. so far I haven't lost one.

[@Painless360]

Yes it can, but you have to remove the tail feathers to get it in easily.

[@AdrianoCasemiro]

It's very easy to put together, as long as you go Gopro without FPV or vice versa. If you want both, it's going to be a hassle. Please show us if this twin setup helps yaw under differential thrust. Beautiful model, btw.

[@Painless360]

I'm designing and printing a custom nose that will allow for both if you want to. With the relatively simple 'plate' design of the nose elements, I'm sure that there will be lots of 3D printable solutions. I agree though - this out of the box would have been good.

[@davidepetretich4118]

Hi, it looks very nice. I just have one doubt, can the triangles that move the moving parts of the v-tail be adjusted in position respectively to the servos? because if you act on the trims the flighcontroller would not allow you to arm the plane

[@Painless360]

They came well aligned from the factory on this one... Best of luck

[@dronepilot260rc]

Looks like the Nano Talon Evo motors. I wonder if they’re coming out with a new Nano Talon Evo since they availability has almost dried up 😢

[@Painless360]

I am aware that there are more models on the way, so stay tuned!

[@MiNameIsJake]

I realise this is a little smaller, but I would love a direct comparison to the HeeWing T2

[@Painless360]

I'd choose this over the T2 - see my review of that one.. It is only great if you have a 'job' for it..

[@sharpnesstherapy502]

Hey! What is the maximum size gps to fit in the gps slot?

[@Painless360]

Any but the bigger ones (GoPro 9 etc)

[@sean2240]

What size GoPro will it fit? A GoPro 9 or only a gopro 8?

[@Painless360]

Let me find out..

[@mpsaeris1855]

Hey Sean, I got mine and GP9 is too big.

[@razeaz10]

Vejde se letadlo s vrtulemi namontovanými na křídlech do původní krabice? Jaký je rozdíl ve velikosti prostoru pro baterie Altus vs Swordfisch? Swordfisch by se mi líbil víc, ale asi se do něj nevejde 4s2p LiIon baterie.

[@Painless360]

I don't have the box to try.. See my video on the Swordfish for battery compartment sizes and battery weights... Best of luck

[@mlentsch]

Hopefully there's a kit so I can put decent electronics and power system into it - 120kph? That's way too slow.

[@Painless360]

See some of the comment. More speed is available if you use a Lipo battery. Almost 70mph is about as good as it gets stock... Happy flying

[@DanielZerem]

It seems to me that they could have done better with the airflow for the HD VTXs in the front. TBH I find it hard to understand that all the new planes that were designed in the HD era now still do not have good mounting solution for VTXs that has amazing airflow to cool them. Sure plane like Sworfish can place VTX on a top a hatch externally but I would be scared to fly like that as it really exposed in case of a crash or something.

[@Painless360]

The nose design is actually quite clever. Stay tuned for the one I've designed for the Walksnail system...

[@ericeves6452]

Hello Lee, I've got the kit version on the way. What do you recommend for motor and prop combo?

[@Painless360]

Until I fly it, I can't comment. ZOHD assure me that the setup is well balanced with a slew on efficiency but a maiden will show that..

[@G4mecomander]

Can you link me a receiver and a good battery w charger for this beast?

[@Painless360]

Check out the build video linked in the description for the pieces I have used.... Happy flying

[@bruno_souza_FPV]

Hi Your video is very good, I have this same model, I would like some help, I can't mix my radio master 16s with express elrs as vtail, for the zohd altus, can you help me with this

[@Painless360]

See my EdgeTX and Opentx mix school for how to... best of luck

[@andrearock75]

Hi, thanks for the unboxing! I would like to transform this model into VTOL, do you think it will be possible to do so?

[@Painless360]

Maybe. See my thoughts on hobby grade VTOL from my video on it at Xmas.. Happy flying

[@shamandgg]

Any battery recommendations for this one? I have just got my battery order cancelled due to no stock from the store where I preordered this kit.

[@Painless360]

You need a decent weight battery. Ideally, 350-415g if you're not adding an action camera. Video on my build out next weekend.. stay tuned!

[@domgoff999]

I've been waiting for this many thanks. Got my preorder from Bangood last week but I'm away on hol so won't have it in my hands until next week. I want to put a Gopro 8 in it, you think it will be possible to hit CG?

[@Painless360]

I'll see when I build mine out. With the huge room for battery placement, I'm guessing they have thought of that...

[@domgoff999]

@@Painless360 It won't fit a GoPro8 the cut out isn't the right size and the GoPro won't fit inside the nose. Very disappointing as its the main reason I bought it. It must be for much older smaller GoPro's. When they said it was compatible with action cams such as GoPro's they should have specified which ones it was designed for.

[@Painless360]

I have a question out to them on which ones they refer to. Stay tuned.

[@domgoff999]

@@Painless360 thanks, it looks like 5/6/7. Although I’ve now decided to get a Caddx Walnut. I watched your review of course :) and seen some good results with gyroflow.

[@Painless360]

The Walnut is a nice camera. For me it is that or the RunCam Thumb Pro 4k. Shame they stopped making the Caddx Peanut - I bloody love that thing!

[@irvine40]

4 wires for the Auxiliary in the wing would of been nice

[@scyonyc]

i love your tshirt 👌🍻

[@travelrideandfly8355]

Hi ! Do you know if the ESCs handle 6s packs with throttle limit to protect the motors? I just migrated to 6s my whole battery stock due to the T2 and i would hate to buy more batteries.

[@Painless360]

I'll check. I'd expect that they are not 6S units...

[@burntnougat5341]

Another v tail twin? Guess this is zohd's response to the atomrc swordfish. Personally not a fan of v tails

[@jwc4520]

May have to buy one for my kid ....6foot 2 inch pride and joy, serious at work, big kid after work, yep that and a tx16s radio, and ears, matek controller, he can get his own battery...lol . Might give him the piper back the motor fell off on maiden ...oops locktite fixed . Yep then I'll only have 6 radios to give the grand kids and enough foamy to cover half of them . Eyes and hands make this a good thought . Take care, keep teaching .

[@Raketemensch42]

If 45cmm is the longest bit, then this is the only plane other than the T1 Ranger that I’ve seen that can fit in a standard airline carry-on bag. Even the Nano Goblin is too big. They would do well to take a page from AtomRC’s book and ship a model with iNav built-in. As a pilot who has added iNav and FCs to lots of planes, I can’t express how nice it was to have that whole chunk of work done already right out of the box. If my choice is between this plane or a Swordfish that’s already got iNav installed…

[@TheHillsHaveFPV]

feels like a magnet-mounted nose is going to fly off in the wind... i guess it doesn't, but damn...

[@Painless360]

Tabs are part of the attachmemt too. Feels solid but could seperate in a nasty crash... Happy flying

[@wastedworldexploration2842]

Great info as normal sir🫡,I love zohd stuff,I have a ko pilot in most of my planes as it’s a great “oh dear” protection failsafe,only they are very hard to get hold of now and I wish they would start making them again or come out with a updated version