ZOHD Altus Review - Inc FPV Flight

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Thanks for watching! You can buy a ZOHD Altus here: tiny.cc/ZOHD-Altus If there's anything you want to know that I didn't cover just drop a comment below and I'll get back to you. Cheers

[@cococadidi]

I have no inav experience. Plus also when I wired it up and I used a y connector off the v-tail, there's no way to get both servos to come up at the same time. They act as a rudder

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

@@cococadidi go to the mixer tab and set one of the pitch servos to a negative weight.

[@jotham123]

Awesome to see EPP being used! EPP is magic, imo is the ultimate foam for RC models. You can stomp on the stuff and it just returns to 99% of it's original shape.

[@tenns]

is it what hee wing uses ?

[@jotham123]

@@tenns hee wing T1? Yes. An old school building method was to cover models with kevlar, bonding it down with thinned adhesive shoe-goo. Unless you broke a spar that shit aint breaking. Adds a fair bit of weight though wouldn't do it for anything smaller than 1m wingspan.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Yeah really good to see they’re not using the BEPP anymore 👌🏻

[@Salomon1502]

Love your videos-straight to the point. This plane might be my style of flying. Thanks for the honest and professional opinion Adam. Honestly, Adam, I've watched many similar videos about this model, but others complained that you have to put in a large battery to balance the CG (center of gravity) or that they almost crashed the twin-engine plane during a failed hand launch. Consequently, their reviews of the product miss the point, considering that all it takes is adding a few grams of weight to the tail. This was trivial and obvious to you, but for some reason, it didn't occur to other 'professional' FPV pilots, which immediately reflected negatively on their reviews of this plane.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Hey buddy, thanks for watching and for the great feedback :) I try not to watch other reviews so that it doesn't influence mine, so I didn't realise this was the case with the other reviewers, very interesting! I actually expected the launch to be a bit sketchy but as you saw it went out with no issues at all... even on a day with zero wind! Odd that the other reviewers wouldn't think to add a little weight. I really try to avoid it when possible and it's very rare that I need to. 10g isn't the end of the world though :) Thanks again 🙌

[@mhk1058]

You do have to put in a large battery or weight up front if you aren't using that longer nose. I still had to add weight to the front using a 320gm 3500mah 4s lipo. Maybe different using a big Li-ion and that long nose adds quite a bit of leverage to the 40-50gms of VTX and camera.

[@FlyingGhost-k3h]

I installed a small 5v fan on my avatar nano/ zohd drift setup. Runs on a tiny bec, keeps everything cool and inside the fusalage. Can recommend.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

If it works then go with it 😃 I just try to avoid adding extras when you can use the wind to cool parts in 99% of builds. Cheers

[@mattyltd]

Thank you for making this video. I flew planes los for over 10 years and quads for almost 2 years now. Really want an fpv plane, and I thought I'd go with an easy platform Unfortunately, even though I don't value acro in a cruiser, I value reliability and wind resistance, here it regularly blows 30km/h and sometimes over 60. I'll probably stick the o3 and an fc into a sailplane

[@Rocketman0407]

The swordfish can be made vtol easily as well?

[@hoagietime1]

I've been flying mine a few months and it's my mountain surfer. It's got a caddex gimbal and a 4s2p. I don't love the way it fly's, lands like a brick and will stall hard so you need to always have power on when landing.

[@deanedeane4318]

Very nice and fair ! Great video and loved the flight ! ♥️😉🙃😎 NZ

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Thank you! 😃

[@Crunklefloop]

GPS bay looks a bit of an afterthought. Right next to the magnets and with the cover sitting proud of the main body in the sleepstream.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I think it’s just the default ZOHD design as most of their models have it. The magnets don’t seemed to have caused any issues so far. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@serang]

FWs doesn't need magnetometer.

[@Crunklefloop]

@serang in general use, you're correct, they don't. However if setup as a VTOL (which ZOHD have said is planned for the Altus) or using dead reckoning, a mag is handy.

[@serang]

​@@Crunklefloop agree, that's bad place for magnetometer, especially if you're using li-ion. The magnetic interference is very strong during high current pull.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Great overview. Amazing how much effort they give to those digital camera options. Then nothing for the main digital FPV camera and VRX. It all seems a bit backwards to me...🤔😳😳🇬🇧

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Yeah I agree it’s strange they didn’t prioritise digital vtx mounting. Biggest negative point on this model but as per usual with a bit of work you can overcome this. Seems like they’re still thinking of analogue setup with 2 x wing bays

[@EnglishTurbines]

@@AdamGdoesFPV Yes, trying to cover all the angles I guess...If you're using an 03 setup or even a Pro Walksnail camera, the obligatory GoPro arrangement seems superfluous to me...That said, delete the GoPro and add more battery instead...Maybe it's not so bad after all...🤔🤔😏

[@mhk1058]

@@AdamGdoesFPV Pretty new to this.... is there a reason you can't put a digital VTX in a wing bay?

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

@@mhk1058 the cables that go from the digital vtx to the camera are not simple servo cables and they’re quite short. So if you put the digital vtx in the wing you also have to put the FPV camera in the wing

[@mpsaeris1855]

Nice flight. I am surprised the rolls and loops are not as lazy as i expected. It will make an interesting platform with the gimbal... Love the idea of the box and the plane being so compact. Nick Cage would be jealous of your #gonein40s

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I was surprised how easy it loops and rolls too, but definitely not what I’d be doing very often flying this one. The box it comes in is very small, like a large shoebox. I’ll rename it from Altus to Elenor 🤪

[@mpsaeris1855]

@@AdamGdoesFPV 🤣. I like Elenor. At least your nose looks decent. When I was sketching mind, I was thinking of deadly viperr or mamba. But it turned into something that resembles badly injured platypus...

[@smithe68]

Nice review and just general thoughts on this plane. RCGroups, and the member you mentioned, has been a treasure trove of info for me in my fixed wing journey. I’m really enjoying mine, I just put the AtomRC pan servo on mine in the GPS location and moved the GPS to the rear hatch. It’s working well and hasn’t seemed to affect launch or anything else. I wish I could find the 7000mah battery in stock somewhere but it seems to be unavailable everywhere.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Hey, thanks for watching and for the comment. Yes his design skills are obviously very good and he seems a knowledgeable guy, so I don't doubt what you say 😃 Interesting setup you've gone for, I do like a pan, and it's also fun when the plane is in shot (some people don't like that). I think ZOHD stopped making the Lionpack a long time ago, at least the 7000 anyway. Seems that 95% of people are flying with DIY packs. Cheers

[@PhilnotTony]

HobbyRC have them

[@mhk1058]

This is great, thanks very much, just setting mine up. Any recommendations where to get the nose printed - haven't yet convinced myself I need a 3D printer.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I've never used a printing service so cannot recommend sorry. I use a really cheap small printer that works very well, worth having if you're into FPV!

[@WilliamMartin-p7k]

Can you tell me which camera are you using

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Hey, I always put a full parts list with links in the video description. It's a Caddx Polar.

[@DJI_Silesia]

You run the Polar camera - change VTX to Vista, lighter and you don't need 1080p recording anyway as Polar gives 720p only.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I’d always go for a vista over AU as I don’t even record onboard. I just happened to have an unused AU laying around and the nose was designed by someone else for an AU so I just went with it. Would be able to save a few grams there though

[@DJI_Silesia]

@@AdamGdoesFPV Fair enough :) I used that design to create my nose for O3 version :) It's on Thingiverse too.

[@razeaz10]

Hello, please fit the battery ZOHD 4S2P 7Ah, to swords.Thanks

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I actually don’t have the SF anymore, sold off a lot of planes this spring, but the SF is one I do miss a bit actually. From memory there was no way I could get CG with that 4s2p. With just a 3,000mah 4S it was too nose heavy until adding the tail fins. That’s what I mean about the SF not being suitable to load up with a large battery like the Altus

[@razeaz10]

Thanks

[@jasonstation]

All those magnets next to the GPS cause any problems?

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

No issues so far👍🏻

[@sarcasticfpv]

I have this one ordered now im a bit sad... not with the speed part but when you said/showed it with slight amount of wind... Could you somewhere rank the models? Most importantly is stability, 20-25min flighttime, dji O3 compatibility without the model in view somewhat secured in the front and also no overheating, most importantly easy disassembly for transport/storing at home.

[@northernfpv9562]

I also have the AtomRC Penguin, Swordfish and Dolphin. Of the 4, I like flying the Penguin the most. It's not very fast but it is incredibly stable and the fpv component positioning is the most well thought out of all 4. Second would probably be the Dolphin, because you can make it go really fast and it just flies really well. Swordfish would be my #3 because I was disappointed with FPV gear location but it is quite nice to fly -- just less fun than the other 3. The RTH versions of these models are great, because the F405 Navi they've added work beautifully with DJI components. I've now flown my Altus a couple of times, and I haven't been very happy with stability and wing loading -- it feels like it can take a lot of battery, but it actually can't.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

By a very very long way the most stable plane is the Ritewing Drak (full sized). Another plane that might suit you that's very stable and easy to break down for transport is the Mini Crosswind. Very stable plane also

[@sarcasticfpv]

@@AdamGdoesFPV thank you very much!

[@tenns]

any other company uses foam as stiff as hee wing does? Is this similar ?

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

I’ve not had a Hee wing so can’t compare. But I’d say the Ritewing silver foam is the best stuff we’ve ever seen on an FPV wing

[@allysoncheynes1216]

Well done, thank you.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevietee10]

Great review as always, informed, honest and fair. Thank You (not for me though, I'll keep my Swordfish 😃)

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Good choice 👍🏻

[@cobra4829]

thank you, nice reviev

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Glad you liked it! Thanks 🤩

[@flat-earther]

how much did you pay for this plane?

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Depends where you are. For me from EU warehouse I can see PNP is €135ish delivered. tiny.cc/ZOHD-Altus

[@jojo-._.]

I dont care if it performs well, as long as it flys the looks make up for everything xD

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

😆

[@northernfpv9562]

I have all of the same complaints about this model. I have it and don't fly it. I'm surprised that Zohd put out such a poorly thought out FPV model in 2024.

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

It could have been made better for sure. Feels like it was rushed a little.

[@domgoff999]

I love my Altus been out to 15km so far - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2Gvn6aErMuZl9k

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Nice, doesn’t surprise me that these things could travel far 👌🏻