Introducing the New SAB iLGoblin Piuma
The latest SAB iLGoblin Piuma is SAB’s take on a modern, lightweight yet capable 700‑class RC helicopter. It’s engineered to balance high‑end performance with lighter weight and structural simplicity, bringing many of the desirable handling traits of larger competition machines into a version that enthusiasts can fly with a range of setups. Built around a stiff, lightweight airframe and smart modular design, this new Piuma model emphasises both reliability and adaptability — yet doesn’t feel overly complex to assemble and operate once you’re familiar with board‑level helicopters.
Central to the Piuma’s design is its combination of structural rigidity and weight reduction. SAB uses a 12 mm main shaft, a 10 mm spindle, and a main gear shared with higher‑end “Pro” models, which gives the helicopter the strength typical of SAB’s premium 700 class machines while still keeping overall mass lower than many older raw 700 kits. This gives a flying experience that feels smooth and precise across a range of head speeds and power systems. The design also supports electric‑to‑nitro conversion with only a few extra components, giving pilots flexibility in choosing their power system without changing the core airframe.
The Piuma’s rear‑battery insertion canopy and optional aluminium tail boom both increase practical usability and allow pilots to experiment with different configurations without major disassembly. This combination of thoughtful design details means the new Piuma isn’t just a “lighter version” of an existing kit — it’s intended as a versatile, ready‑for‑3D heli that delivers dependable performance in sport and aggressive flying environments alike.
How the New Piuma Compares to the Old One
To understand what the new Piuma brings to the table, it helps to look at what its predecessors were like. Earlier “Piuma” concepts from SAB were always about combining light weight with a true 700 class footprint, and enthusiasts discussed how these older versions felt more like lightweight versions of larger machines — workable but sometimes limited when it came to setup options and tuning flexibility.
The new iLGoblin Piuma keeps that core philosophy — light, agile, and capable — but brings significant advances in engineering and modular design. Many of the improvements are subtle but impactful:
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Structural simplicity with strength – By adopting a chassis and drive components closely aligned with SAB’s higher‑end models, the new Piuma feels more rigid and responsive than older lightweight mixes of parts.
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Modularity for power options – Unlike earlier Piuma builds that were strictly electric or had more limited swap‑out options, the current design was built from the ground up to accept either electric or nitro power with minimal fuss, giving pilots freedom to explore both without collecting separate kits.
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Ease of maintenance – Features such as the canopy’s rear battery access have been refined to save time on setups and field adjustments compared with older layouts where frequent disassembly was often needed to check or change internal components.
In simple terms, the new Piuma builds on the success of older lightweight 700‑class designs but approaches them with a clear focus on usability, modularity, and up‑to‑date engineering practices that help it fly better and be easier to customise and maintain for advanced pilots.
Who the New Piuma Is For
This helicopter is aimed at experienced RC heli enthusiasts who want a light, precise, and configurable 700‑class machine without sacrificing the performance and reliability of more conventional heavier 700 kits. Its adaptability and performance capabilities make it suitable for aggressive 3D flying, exploration of different power systems, and high‑speed sport flights, while still offering enough refinement that it doesn’t feel outdated the moment it reaches the field.
