I went flying at my favorite LZ and encountered the most military traffic I’ve seen yet. 
It was very windy; although, fairly laminar…and my X4 flew like a champ! Now I just need to improve my piloting skills! 
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The new throttle cable cable that I built in October for my batch 3 failed again a few weeks ago. 
The #24 silicone wire was separating inside the silicone insulation. For the new cable I used #18 silicone wire which has about 150 strands instead of 40 in the #24. Also, I ran the wire through the inside of some 1/4" I.D. vinyl tubing that doesn’t tend to kink. Metal shielding fabric tape went around the tubing and wire loom over that. Since the assembly is much stiffer than the previous one (it is similar to the one on my Tornado 280 now), I had to re-route it and move my pre-charge switch over a bit. It all tested fine, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that the wire will last longer than the previous batch. It is not cool when all/some or none of your motors work when it is armed or when it disarms on its own!! 
Here are a few pictures of the new assemble:
I will let you know how this new arrangement holds up.
Bill
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Nice work! I’ve done several flights with my replaced cable using the aircraft grade shielded wire without it failing yet. But I don’t let go of throttle in flight as I’m worried it will go into disable mode. It has done so a couple times on the ground with my new cable. I have the upgraded avionics on order.
Also during my last flight the voltage on the remote was jumping all over. It would read 52v then drop instantly a couple Volts without changing throttle setting. Anyone else ever see this on original avionics?
That’s cool. Always loved that term.
Never noticed voltage reading fluctuation but I typically watched the clock and amps when I wasn’t looking out the windows. I assume the power/rpms didn’t waver?
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Thanks. I have my fingers crossed!
My X4 is Batch 3, so, the flight controller is very basic, batteries are 6S and the unit doesn’t have a BEC. My voltage is not stable either, but it only changes with throttle changes.
I hope your new flight controller does the trick!
Bill
One would expect the voltage to be lower under full power and higher at cruise or “idle”.
It is my understanding that it is " more stable" on later batches.
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I have the same different readings when under load or not… and it is the latest hub+controler… I think it is normal, and I had discussions about what numbers to read and when to stop flying…
Thanks! Mine is more stable when I am in level flight with no throttle changes… that is the voltage that I generally pay attention to. Bill
I checked out my new throttle cable on a flight at home in the Delta, and it worked great! Hopefully, the 18 gauge silicone wire with 150 strands will not fail…it gets exciting when conductors short out or break. It was really fun flying my X4 again! If I had a lightweight battery that would give me an hour of flight on the X4, I wouldn’t ever fly anything else!
Can’t wait for the SP140!! Paul, please post a short video (ppg porn…is that an E-Pusher term??? 
) on one of the first builds…it will help calm us ppg’ers!
Bill
My X4 Memorial Day weekend flight at the beach. Rock’n Roll flight…but fun!
Bill
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Sweet. how do you mark where you car is down that line? Easier to pick out in person than via a GoPro I guess. Have you even had someone with a similar white vehicle park like 100 meters away and get it mixed up?
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It is actually not a problem…just looked bad that day! I went this morning, and it was almost back to the normal “deserted” state.
I’ll put that video up in a day or two. The Blue Angels we’re practicing in the distance, saw several sharks in close to the beach, saw my first sea 
, and the 10mph breeze was coming in from the Gulf…fun takeoff and landing.
This PPG disease only gets worse with time!!! Bill
I went back to my favorite LZ after Memorial Day, and the beach was almost back to normal! Lots of sharks, one turtle (just a dot on the GoPro) and the Blue Angels practicing off in the distance (too far away to pick up on the video)…but still cool.
Can’t wait to be all electric…my 'ice" unit is still down.
Bill
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For the last month I have been flying my X4 at my favorite LZ. Today, my new Independence Grasshopper 26 “single skin” wing arrived. 
Also, today was a very good day to test it in very low wind. It would have been almost impossible for me to do a reverse with my Spyder 26 today, but the Grasshopper handled it like a champ! I think I’m really going to like this wing for those low/nil wind days!
Bill
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This is my very first flight on a “single surface” wing. I borrowed an Independence Grasshopper 28 “A” wing from Jack Burton…he said that I would like it for low/nil wind days…he was right! This day I had a light breeze…it was SO easy to launch. Brake “feel” and landings are a little different, but the wing was fun to fly and felt good.
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First flight in 2 months! We returned to my favorite LZ after leaving the ice and snow, and after waiting another week and a half for the wind and rain to stop, I got to fly my “Angry Bees with my Grasshopper”! 
It was so good to get back into the air on one of my “electrics”! Paul and Zach have helped to change my life! I can’t wait to get my SP140 back and start flying it on a regular basis too. With my X4 and my SP140 with a 60 minute battery and a 30 minute battery, I should have a pretty full afternoon flying at the beach going forward. Happy flying! Bill
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Such a cool LZ!
Makes me want to get out my X4 and fly it
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Awesome Bill! Send some fair weather to NY. we need it😁
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Phil,
Headed back to my favorite LZ this weekend…got my fingers crossed for some good weather. 
…but that’s not guaranteed!
I can’t send you good weather, but you can come down to stay with us when you see a good forecast and we can fly as long as the weather lasts. I’ll introduce you to all of the guys down here…they are great people and all want to fly my SP140! Stay warm!
Bill
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