Great! Thank you. I’ve got funds reserved for a deposit/order based on the specs you provided. Ready when you are 
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I searched and searched and can’t seem to find the price of the SP140?
-What is the price of the batteries and charger?
-Price of just the 30 min battery option?
-Shipping costs?
-I understand May is the expected release date but has the coronavirus delayed this?
Thanks for yalls time.
-COUGAR
Also, has there been an actual official release video?
It has been said that ready to fly it will cost $6900.
Can I ask what battery cells you are using? To achieve the capacity you are getting it would take around 40lb just in Samsung 40t cells or over 36lb in just Samsung Q30 cells. Even high gravimetric energy batteries such as the Sanyo NRC18650GA it would take over 33lb in just cells. The Sanyo cells could theoretically handle about 12kw constant power if you could keep it cool with that 33lb battery pack, But I think it would explode if you tried to run a paramotor with those cells in a 15lb pack.
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The SP 140 will be $6,900? That’s over $2,500 more than the original 4 motor design. That takes it out of the affordable price range for many people. Hopefully the price will be more like the original design when it comes out.
Comparable units with ~1hr flight time are 12k USD+. It’s still (relatively) affordable, but nothing in this sport is cheap.
EDIT 6.9k also includes batts + chargers, ready to fly (I believe)
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Agreed, nothing is cheap in this sport, but almost no one is buying the $12,000 electric motors for a reason…they are way above most people’s price point. At $4,500, the original 4 motor open source design was an affordable price for an Openppg kit unit that is self-built. $6,900 sounds crazy expensive. I’m curious as to what is making the cost go up at such a steep rate?
there are many who can afford a ppg with gasoline around 5000. then why should 6900.- be expensive? you have to consider that you have to pay the operating costs in advance. that means for a little electricity it is little dollars over 5 years. 5 years of gasoline is several thousand dollars. in addition, the cost of new pistons, cylinders, etc. I did calculation examples years ago, comparing gasoline and electric. in 10 years is a high end - $ 10,000 electric is much cheaper than the cheapest petrol engine. with the same flight hours. Since I have been building and flying both for many years, it is a reality and not a theory.
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I would like to ask. How long do your battery packs last before they get old and need replaced? I would imagine that it would bring the long term cost closer to gasoline and possibly exceed gasoline if you only fly a few times a year. Granted If you fly a lot electric would be a ton cheaper.
I hope this isn’t asking too much, I know things are crazy right now, and you’re trying to release a new product. with the nicer weather coming on, is there a chance we could get some new footage of it all? I know this also takes time, I was thinking some raw shots even, something that might not take too much time or editing.
Cheers
As E-Pusher said once upon a time in this community…“some Tech Porn.” It might be just what some of us need in these difficult times. I plan on ordering an SP140 and would love some close-up photos and videos. Thanks, Paul and Zach!
Agreed, we would love to see more on the sp140
yeah not a bad idea especially with us all hanging out inside and online.
We have held off diving in too much because there are still a few minor things that might be changed. There are still some things we can show off tho so I’ll get with Paul and see what he thinks.
Also working on some exciting updates to the throttle system for later this year
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Thanks, Zach! Pictures and/or videos…of just about anything that you have done on the SP140 project would be Great! They don’t need to be “polished” for us.
Also, I want to make one thing clear. For me, the SP140 will not be a replacement for my X4… I love flying my X4 and plan on continuing to upgrade and fly it. Battery energy density will improve over time, and I look forward to the longer flight times. The X4 is a terrific design and has some very desirable qualities that single props don’t. One of my favorites is that it folds up and usually lives on the back seat of my car.
You really should make a video with Josh Bixler after we get this crisis behind us. The X4 and SP140 technology fits right in with their RC tech… plus, he and several of his employees are PPG pilots.
Stay safe!
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Last I heard it was to begin shipping in May, with all the recent events I could understand a delay…but just wanted to be sure as with the down time I am working on a system to transport it with my van.
Any insight would be much appreciated!
No big updates but Paul and I got some decent enough weather to go fly this evening.
If you squint you’ll notice he’s cruising on the SP140.
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Can we get an official release video?
I thought that was going to come out 6 months ago…
I too, as a potential buyer, would appreciate any and all updates/photos/progress you are able to share.
The X4 prices for the kit does not include the harness, battery, charger, the unit already built. That alone is around the $2k difference. And individual part cost is higher for the SP140, motor is over $1k where the X4 motors together are about $600, The SP140 ESC is around $1k as the X4 four esc together are less the $400. If there is money to be made the X4 is more profitable for me, the Sp140 is not a very smart financial decision in most business minded people. I really pride myself on being frugal and striving to make an affordable unit - thats mainly why it takes more time to do. The goal isn’t to make a few dozen units, its designed to be able to make many time more than that.
Thanks for understanding.
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Cool, can we see a closer up photo of the latest/current SP140 unit please?
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