25 Flights: 3DHS Velox VR1

We've been busy with a lot of projects lately, so the new Velox VR1 had to be back burnered for a bit. It's nice to stay busy with so many nice planes, but it takes more than a handful of flights to get the most out of one, and that was all I was able to do with the new VR1 until just recently.

I knew right away we have a good plane in the VR1, but I needed a bit more time to get the CG and mixes dialed in, plus learn just how far out there in extreme land I could go with this plane. It didn't take long to learn that this was far out there.

I think I probably did the VR1 a huge disservice with my earlier comments about the original Velox Revolution. I had always said that was a hair-on-fire airplane, so it wouldn't be a stretch for people to assume the VR1 would be much the same kind of airplane. It's not.

Certainly you can push the VR1 with complete confidence, but it is much more stable, much smoother and more precise. It is in a completely different world when it comes to being easy to fly. There is really nothing wild about the VR1 except for it's new level of smoothness and ease of flying.

I am sure it is difficult to balance performance and stability when designing an airframe, but Scott Stoops hit it perfect with the VR1. Compared to the Revolution, you do give up a bit of pitch authority, and insane tumbling ability, but that was a level of violence and stress on the airframe that simply wasn't necessary. You can get nearly the same tumbling and nearly as abrupt of a wall maneuver with the VR1, but it takes a bit more technique instead of slamming the sticks. Since working on technique won't hurt any of us, this was not a big sacrifice, especially considering what you get in return.

In exchange, the VR1 is a much, much more enjoyable plane to fly. It is much easier. Now the VR1 is the logical step for a pilot to progress to from the Extra SHP.

Previously, the Extra SR was the best performance balanced airframe in the 3DHS stable, but the VR1 covers it in performance, and gives up nothing to it in terms of ease of flight. As much as I love the SR, and as much as that plane was my favorite for so long, the VR1 is a better plane. As much as I regretted the SR going out of production, the VR1 has me no longer caring. The VR1 is the plane the plane the SR should have been.

Considering how far airframe development has come since the SR's introduction, it's not surprising Stoops has come up with a better plane. The surprise is that this plane is a development of the Velox and not the Extra SR. In fact, Stoops could have labelled the plane "Extra SR2" and that designation wouldn't have been that far off.

The VR1 is so much better of an airframe than the Velox Revolution that is is not even the same thing, Not at all. While is shares much of the original Velox moments and measurements, by flying you would never know the VR1 had it's origins in that plane.

The VR1 is also more sleekly styled and it is an extremely attractive airplane. It's always more enjoyable to fly something that looks good.

While this may seem a bit strange, I think the VR1 is closer in flight characteristics to the SR than it is to the Revolution. The Velox revolution definitely had it's place, but airframe development has surpassed it, and I'de like to thing my flying ability has too. 3D flying is slowly developing in a more precise art, and the VR1 reflects this.

So, the VR1 is definitely a favorite. It's a close call between the VR1 and my beloved Vypers, but they are so different from each other that I have to have both. Now that we have a bit more time to fly instead of being distracted by projects and report to write, expect to see more from us on the VR1.

In fact, expect to see much more because my new orange VR1 is nearly ready. From what we learned on the first VR1, the new build went smother, and we've come out a little lighter as well. Should be an awesome plane.

Oh, and here some older VR1 videos that I am just now getting around to putting on the blog.