RC Sport Flyer Oct 2014 (Vol 19-10)

RC Airplanes | Gliders | Helicopters

Test Report Allusive LMR Glider

OCTOBER 2014

EXCLUSIVE

HUGE WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014 SPREAD

• Birds in Paradise • How to Cover Wing Tips • Building Decathlon Wings • Blade® 350 QX Quad • Hitec - Charger Stack • E-flite Pitts UMX

USA & CANADA $6.49

RC-SF.COM

DX5e DSMX 5-Channel Transmitter

DX6i DSMX 6-Channel Transmitter

DX6 DSMX 6-Channel Transmitter

Great FliGhts

START HERE

DX9 DSMX 9-Channel Transmitter

The seamless sense of connection you feel at the sticks of a Spektrum system makes every flight one to remember.

PRO HELI PILOT :: Alan Szabo Jr.

“spektrum technology’s extremely reliable radio link and incredibly fast response lets me confidently fly hard 3D.“ PRO SAILPLANE PILOT :: Mike Smith

“spektrum‘s programming makes it possible for me to set up and, just as importantly, use all 10 flight modes for my multi-task sailplanes“ PRO AIRPLANE PILOT :: Dustin Buescher

“at high speed, confidence in your equipment is a must. i trust spektrum in all of my jets!”

VISIT

Your Local Retailer

CLICK

horizonhobby.com

CALL

1.800.338.4639

SERIOUS FUN®

© 2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. DSMX, the DSMX logo, AirWare, Serious Fun and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, LLC. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. The SD Logo is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC. 42904.1

DX7s DSMX 7-Channel Transmitter

DX8 DSMX 8-Channel Transmitter

DX18 DSMX 18-Channel Transmitter

Want to learn more? Go to spektrumrc.com for complete details and to find the Spektrum retailer near you.

QuadPack 25:

• 490 Hz refresh rate • 6S LiPo • 25 amps • 8 amp peak BEC* *This package contains one MultiRotor 25 with a BEC and three with no BEC. The single BEC supplies power for all 4 controllers

QuadPack 35:

• 490 Hz refresh rate • 6S LiPo • 35 amps • 7 amp peak BEC* *This package contains one MultiRotor 35 with a BEC and three with no BEC. The single BEC supplies power for all 4 controllers

®

When Graupner’s engineers were tasked to design the next generation radio they knew telemetry must be an integral part of the system. They named it HoTT, which stands for Hoping Telemetry Transmission.

Graupner HoTT radios and products have been providing users with a streamlined experience where ease of use is guaranteed due to tight integration specifications for the radio’s protocol, as is the case in all of Graupner products. For example, Graupner receivers provide standard telemetry functions such as temperature, voltage and signal strength — all without the need to add expensive components to the system.

With over HoTT’s 50 enabled products — airplane, helicopter, car and boat ESCs, motor and engine modules, variometers, and GPS sensors — we provide users with almost unlimited possibilities to connect with their models. Then too, HoTT receivers now provide three-axes flight stabilization and flybarless control, and they do it in one and smart HoTT package.

THE FUTURE IS NOW, THE FUTURE IS !

GRAUPNER MZ 9 OR 12 CHANNEL MZ-18 $389 MZ-24 $400

visit us online at: Visit us at facebook.com/openhobby

©2013 Graupner/SJUSA-OPENHOBBYLLC. The HoTT trademark is used with permission of Graupner Co, Ltd4386066

TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS

GET SOME SIMPLE TIPS & TRICKS FOR BALANCING YOUR MODELS.

10 LEADING EDGE 12 HOT PRODUCTS 96 AD INDEX 97 MYSTERY PLANE EVENT

HOW TO

22

42

WENATCHEE HUCKFEST ‘14 WE GIVE YOU A 14PAGE SPREAD OF PHOTOS ON THIS ANNUAL EVENT.

By Wil Byers

MAKE QUICK MOLDS YOU CAN ADAPT THIS TECHNIQUE FOR MANY APPLICATIONS.

By Robert Caso

46

BALANCE LARGE AIRPLANES

PG 46

50 COVERING WING TIPS

LEARN MULTIPLE METHODS TO PROPERLY BLANCE YOUR MODELS.

By Wil Byers

SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO DO A PROFESSIONAL LOOKING JOB .

By Jerry Smith

SEE LOTS OF EXCITING 3D ACTION THROWN DOWN AT HUCKFEST 2014.

PG 22

D-EAZY

PG 54

3-VIEW

54 6

DALLACH DIABOLO CHECK OUT A 260-HORSEPOWER AEROBAT.

By Hans-Jürgen Fischer RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

OCTOBER 2014

BUILD

COLUMN

36

58

DECATHLON WINGS, PART #3 OUR PRO BUILDER SHOWS YOU HOW TO CARVE WING TIPS THAT WILL BE LIGHTWEIGHT BUT VERY STRONG.

By Jeff Troy

68

BIRDS IN PARADISE LUCIDITY FLIES A FIRST-PERSON QUAD WHILE ON VACATION IN HAWAII.

By Patrick Sherman

E-POWER IS FLAPPING TAKE A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT HOW AN ELECTRICPOWERED BIRD WORKS.

By Andrew Gibbs

REVIEWS

74

84

PG 84 TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MICRO BIPLANE FOR YOUR INDOOR SEASON.

ALLUSIVE 2.2M LMR GLIDER DISCOVER WHY THIS LMR GLIDER MAKES A FUN SOARER & AEROBAT.

By Gene Cope

SEE WHY THIS NEW CHARGER & POWER SUPPLY LEAVES A SMALL FOOTPRINT ON YOUR BENCH.

By Wil Byers

E-FLITE UMX PITTS S-1S

350 QX2 90 BLADE COMBO RTF

IT’S A MICRO THAT IS THE SPITTING IMAGE OF A PITTS S-1S, BUT HAS BIG AIRPLANE FEEL.

By James VanWinkle

PG 90

IT’S A STACKABLE COMBO THAT MAKES CHARGING FUN & EASY. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

RCD X1 80 HITEC PRO COMBO

THIS QUAD IS A SAFE WAY TO GET AERIAL VIDEO AND PHOTOS. SEE WHY AND HOW.

By Staff

IT’S A QUAD PURPOSE BUILT FOR TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS.

PG 80 RC-SF.COM

7

SUBSCRIBE@RC-SF.COM for

ONLY 29.95 $

Digital & Hardcopy Combo

GET IT ON iTUNES NOW!

EDITOR IN CHIEF Wil Byers wil@rc-sf.com ASSISTANT EDITORS James T Baker Bethany Davis Louie Scribner Asa Clinton PRODUCTION Zhe Meng mengzhe@kionapublishing.com PHOTOGRAPHY Wil Byers Bess Byers GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Zhe Meng Bess Byers Shi Yuang graphics@rc-sf.com WEBMASTER CONTACT Chang Liang web@kionapublishing.com OFFICE MANAGER/ Haley Knutson CIRCULATION support@kionapublishing.com OFFICE ASSISTANT Bethany Davis CIRCULATION Christian Wells MARKETING Wil Byers ads@rc-sf.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rob Caso, Gene Cope, Andrew Gibbs, Daniel Holman, Mike Hoffmeister, Richard Kuns, Joe Nave, David Phelps, Steve Rojecki, Gary Ritchie, Mike Shellim, Patrick Sherman, Jerry Smith, Jeff Troy, James VanWinkle, Tom Wolfe RC Sport Flyer (ISSN: 1941-3467) is published monthly for $29.95 per year by Kiona Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004. Periodicals postage paid at Richland, WA and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to RC Sport Flyer, P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004.

OFFICE (509) 967-0831 HOURS Tu–Fr 8-4 Closed Sat, Sun & Mon

SUBSCRIPTIONS kionasubscribe.com TOLL FREE (ORDERS ONLY) (866) 967-0831 E-MAIL subscriptions@kionapublishing.com FAX NUMBER (509) 967-2400 EDITOR/ADS/DESIGN (509) 967-0832

Ask for RC Sport Flyer at your local hobby shop!

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Hobby Shop Orders (800) 558-1544 ext. 818 www.retailers.kalmbach.com

HOBBY SHOP DISTRIBUTION BY

Kalmbach Publishing Co. (800) 558-1544 ext. 818 Subscriptions: USA and possessions and Canada: $29.95 per year, $49.95 overseas.

Washington residents add 8.3% sales tax. Single copies $6.49 plus $4.00 S&H U.S. All payments must be in U.S. funds. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover accepted.

Send to: RC Sport Flyer – Circulation, P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004.

Please allow eight weeks for change of address.

MEDIA USE:

FOR PRESENTATION PROJECTIONS, FLAT SCREEN MONITORS, CRT MONITORS USE

a. HEXACHROME #09195B or b. R = 9 G = 25 B = 91

FOR PRINT (Lithography, Screen printing), USE

a. PMS 294 Uncoated b. C = 95 M = 65 Y = 17 K=5

or

CONTRIBUTIONS: Articles and photographs are welcome, but cannot be considered unless guaranteed exclusive. When requested we will endeavor to return all materials in good condition if accompanied by return postage. RC Sport Flyer assumes no responsibility for loss of or damage to editorial contributions received. Any material accepted is subject to possible revision at the discretion of the publisher. Publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy of content. Opinions of contributing authors do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

RC Sport Flyer will retain author’s rights, title to and interest in the editorial contributions as described above in both print and electronic media unless prior arrangement has been made in writing. Payment for editorial materials will be made at our current rate. Submission of editorial material to RC Sport Flyer expresses a warranty by the author that such material is in no way an infringement upon the rights of others. The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted traditionally or electronically without permission of the publisher.

Copyright ©2014 All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Used by industry, but available from your local hobby shop.

“Your Adhesive Company for Over 30 Years.”

To find a dealer or ask a question of The Glue Pros, go to: www.bsi-inc.com • info@bsi-inc.com • (805) 466-1717 8060 Morro Road • Atascadero, CA 93422 • USA

Manufacturers, like most modelers, demand the best performance from their adhesives. That is why Boeing, Cessna, Beechcraft, Tesla, SpaceX and many other high tech firms choose BSI. With a larger selection of CA and epoxy adhesives than any other hobby manufacturer, BSI provides modelers with consistent high performance, all available from your local hobby shop.

Find us on Facebook at Bob Smith Industries

LEADING EDGE

WIL BYERS

2

014 was a very good year! As I sit here typing this month’s Leading Edge column and watching the leaves drop off the trees, I can’t help but reflect on all the wonderful people I had the opportunity to interact with by way of this hobby during the 2014 flying season. It was just a good year all around!

The season started with my annual attendance at the Toledo Weak Signals Expo — it’s always such a joy to meet our readers and welcome new ones.

Toledo was quickly followed by the Southeast Electric Festival, which is probably the best group of RC electric-powered aircraft pilots anywhere! That trip was followed by immersing myself in the completely overwhelming Joe Nall event; how do you put 1,484 registered pilots and 10,000-plus spectators into perspective? Then, even though it was rained out, I attended the Alpine Soaring Festival in Joseph, Oregon.

The mountainside resort area where this event is held makes the Alpine trip worthwhile no matter the weather. Next, I attended the Wenatchee Huckfest, which you can read all about it in this issue. Following the Wenatchee event, I participated in the Cubs n’ Cousins Fly-In — what a superb group of pilots and spectators they are! Finally, the season pretty much ended for me at the Washington Warbirds event, an RC gathering of warbird fans that definitely promises to grow exponentially in 2015 and beyond.

Now it’s time to look toward the 2015 building season. Actually, building is really a year-round event for me, but it does amp up during the winter. Soon, I’ll be sharing some of my upcoming build/assembly projects with you. I also plan to do a number of how-to articles on programming various transmitter systems because I find doing so both challenging and fun, which is what I want to make it for you.

Our contributing editors also have some superb

content developing for the 2015 issues. We’ll continue as we have, but we’ll also be adding new information, like an upcoming article dealing with a composite repair project. There are some large-scale setup articles in the works as well, in addition to our ongoing build articles.

And, of course, we’ll be bringing you lots of content and photos from events around the country, and maybe even a few from international gatherings.

I’d like to add that we are always in search of content that will advantage our readers. So, if you are an RC enthusiast who is looking for an outlet for your content with respect to airplanes, gliders/sailplanes, helicopters, and/or multirotors, we’re interested in hearing from you, both for this magazine and for our website. You can find our writers guideline on our site at rc-sf.com/ docs/sf_writers_guideline_2015.pdf. It explains pretty much everything you need to know about submitting content to our pages. I must underscore that you are not going to get rich writing for model aviation magazines, no matter how accomplished you are in RC. What you are going to get is enriched by helping others learn from your knowledge of the hobby. I can assure you there is nothing more rewarding than having fellow modelers tell you how much they enjoyed what you were able to share by way of your writings, photos and resource links. At least for me, it tops anything else we can do in this wonderful sport.

I’d have to say at this point, it looks like 2015 could be an outstanding year!

Lastly, I highly recommend you try to attend a few events in your area as a way of immersing yourself in RC, and as a way to make some new friends that share your interest in model aviation. Doing so has been one of the joys in my life. It can be yours as well. If you can find the money to attend one of the events I mentioned above, I can guarantee you will discover why I’ve grown to love participating in organized model aviation gatherings — they are just a ton of fun.

One last thought, remember the 2014 spring flying season is just beginning in Australia. Does that make you feel any better, as the snow starts to fly in North Dakota?

APC Competition propellers for the intermediate and

advanced sport flyer as well as the competition community.

Over 400 pitch/diameters available ranging from slow-flyer electric to High performance Giant Scale Racers.

Visit the APC Prop Website for product selection and detailed information on product design and features.

LANDING PRODUCTS All propellers are in stock and overnight delivery is available.

Proudly made in the USA

10

RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

1222 Harter Ave., Woodland, CA 95776 (530) 661-0399 est. 1989 by Mr. Fred Burgdorf

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

TAKE THE RUNWAY • 3-in-1 Radio w/ACRO/GLID/HELI Programming • 4096 Resolution

• Low 7ms Latency

• Telemetry Capable

• SLT Compatible*

Our Flash 7 transmitter delivers outstanding performance and star-quality features at an unbeatable price. With extensive programming, comprehensive telemetry capabilities, 20-model memory, 3 programmable mixes and 4 flight conditions, this 7-channel radio expands with you and your growing fleet. Its compatibility with all Hitec AFHSS receivers as well as SLT Compatible* Tx-Ready models demonstrate the versatility and power of this popular aircraft computer system. BE FLASHY! *For more information about SLT compatible products visit Tx-Ready.com.

Secure Link is a registered trademark of Hobbico Inc.

Hitec RCD USA, Inc. | 12115 Paine Street | Poway, CA 92064 | (858) 748-6948 | www.hitecrcd.com

HOT PRODUCTS ARES ETHOS PQ READY-TO-FLY

A

res’ Ethos PQ is small in size, but has many features and capabilites. The 6-axis control system offers pilots a choice of either agile flight or maximum stability, and the Automatic Flip Mode allows almost anyone to perform 360 degree flips with just a push of the transmitter’s button. Its unique canopy design combines with different colored LED lights on the front and back to help maintain orientation during flight and to improve visibility in the dark. Also, its pico-micro size allows for comfortable flying in Specifications even the smallest indoor spaces!

Length 63.48 mm The Ethos PQ is a Ready-ToHeight 1 in. (26.5 mm) Fly quad, so it comes factory Main rotor 9 mm assembled, with everything diameter including AA batteries for the Weight with 12 g 2.4-GHz 4-channel transmitter, a battery 100-mAh 1S 3.7-volt LiPo battery, Motors Coreless and a USB cord for charging from any electronic device with a USB Battery 1s 3.7-V 100-mAh LiPo outlet. Available in both blue and Charger 5v DC 120-mA USB red color options.

Transmitter 4 Channel 2.4-GHz Price

$49.99 (AZSH1500)

On-board 3-in-1 control board electronics

Distributor HOBBYTOWN USA 1233 Libra Drive Lincoln, NE 68512 Phone: 402-434-5050 Hobbytown.com

FUTABA 14SG 14-CHANNEL 2.4-GHZ TRANSMITTER

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he 14SG now delivers 14-channel control with revolutionary and reliable 2.4-GHz FASSTest™ technology, 30-model memory, and a list of other features. It’s compatible with Futaba FASST and S-FHSS™ protocols, so you can use any Futaba air receiver on the market and fly with complete confidence. Even better, the 14SG is telemetry enabled.

The Futaba telemetry sensors, sold separately, allow you to monitor flight data, receive alerts, and more, straight from your radio. It even includes flybarless gyro support for flawless flybarless flights.

Features • 14-channel system with 2.4-GHz FASSTest technology • Compatible with all 2.4-GHz Futaba air receivers • Transmits and receives telemetry data using Futaba telemetry sensors (sold separately) to monitor flight information, receive in-flight alerts, and more • Comfortable rubber grips minimize flyer fatigue • Supports 3-axis gyros, making it ideal for flybarless flight • 12 proportional channels, 2 switched channels • Comes with a high-voltage R7008SB receiver • User-updateable software • Large 1.75 x 3 in. backlit LCD screen • SensorTouch™ programming Distributor • 30-model memory HOBBICO • 10-character user and model naming 2904 Research Rd. • SD card compatibility Price

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$599.97 (LXCVPZ) RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 Hobbico.com twitter.com/rcsportflyer

FUTABA S.BUS2 SERVOS

W

ith exceptional performance in a compact size, S.Bus2 servos are just what today’s pilot is looking for.

SV servos are designed to work well with 2S LiPo packs, while a removable connector makes SVi servos extremely versatile. And don’t forget the added power that BLS brushless servos deliver!

Features • New S.Bus2 servo options for a wide range of applications • BLS servos with brushless motors offer 5x longer life over standard servos, along with incredible holding power • SVi servos feature a removable connector that allows modelers to use whatever length lead best fits their model • All SV (high voltage) servos can handle up to 2S LiPo power, without the need for a regulator FUTM0126 S3174SV Glider Wing HV Servo $64.99

he Glider Repair Lab 2 is a new advanced training video program that shows you how to complete a variety of repairs on severely crashdamaged composite RC aircraft airframes constructed with fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Kevlar®. The focus of this program is to make strong and flight-safe composite repairs without adding unnecessary

HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217 398-0007 Hobbico.com

FUTM0146 BLS273SV Heli FBL S.Bus2 HV Servo $249.99 FUTM0147 BLS274SV S.Bus2 HV Programmable Tail Servo $154.99 FUTM0148 BLS276SV S.Bus2 HV Programmable HS Servo $94.99 FUTM0160 BLS671SV Mini 1/12 SBus HV Servo $159.99 FUTM0180 S3173SVi Glider S.Bus2 HV Servo $64.99 FUTM0182 S3270SVi Micro S.Bus2 Servo $59.99

FUTM0137 BLS173SV Mini Airplane S.Bus2 HV Servo $137.99

FUTM0184 BLS173SVi Mini Airplane S.Bus2 HV Servo $139.99

FUTM0143 BLS251SB Heli Rudder S.Bus2 Servo $169.99

FUTM0186 BLS671SVi Mini 1/12 S.Bus2 HV Servo $169.99

RADIO CARBON ART GLIDER REPAIR 2 LAB TRAINING VIDEO

T

Distributor

weight, along with restoring factory rigging angles and airfoil integrity to the airframe.

With some basic repair materials and the techniques taught in this two-hour program, you can repair just about any composite airplane or glider.

Expert Paul Naton repairs on camera a carbon fiber fuselage broken in three pieces. He restores to safe flying status a

composite hollow-moulded wing heavily damaged in a high-speed crash. You’ll learn every step in the process from damage evaluation, parts preparation, lamination schedules, wetting-out, and final finishing.

Tips on wet sanding, applying high-tech body fillers, surface preparations for paint, and getting good results from inexpensive spray can paints are also included.

Features • Making a carbon fuselage repair doubler • Carbon stitching crack repair • Using peel-ply release material • Fuselage repainting • Internal crack lamination technique • Joiner box repair • Drag spar repair • Filling surface holes • Fuselage straightening • Micro balloon fillers • Wet sanding & fairing • Proper painting techniques • Great finishes from rattle cans Price 2-hour Digital Download $19.95 2-hour DVD $21.95

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

RC-SF.COM

13

HOT PRODUCTS

SPEKTRUM AR7300BX 7-CH DSMX FLYBARLESS CONTROL SYSTEM

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he AR7300BX combines the security of a 7-channel DSMX® receiver with the precision of a BeastX® flybarless system in a single, compact unit. It’s simple to use

Specifications Application Heli (550- to 800-electric) & (.50 to .90-size nitro/gas) Channels 7 Receivers 1 Modulation DSM2/DSMX Band 2.4-GHz Data flight log Yes compatible Telemetry Yes compatible Dimensions 36 x 38 x 13 mm (LxWxH) (1.40 x 1.50 x 0.50 in.)

Weight 30.9 g (1.10 oz) Input voltage 3.5 - 9.6 volts Resolution 2048 Antenna length 100 mm (3.9 in.)

Range Full

Distributor HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 horizonhobby.com

too. No special programming interface is needed for setup and adjustment; all you need is the DSM2® or DSMX transmitter it’s bound to. Complementing this incredible technology is an integrated power bus that eliminates the need for BEC regulators. It can also handle the demanding current loads of today’s high-voltage servos. This makes the AR7300BX a great choice for high-powered 550- to 800-size electric helicopters, as well as .50- to .90-size gas/nitro machines. The included switch harness is designed so that, should the switch fail, it will fail in the ‘on’ position.

A USB programmer for making firmware updates (SPMA3030) is also available separately.

Features • Integrated BeastX 3-axis MEMS gyro • 11-millisecond frame rate • 2048 resolution • Flight log telemetry-compatible • DSMX safety and control • Perfect for 550- to 800-size electric & .50- to .90-size gas/nitro helis Price

$269.99 (SPMAR7300BX)

COMMON SENSE RC LECTRON PRO FOR THE BLADE 200 SR

G

et nearly 20% more runtime for your Blade 200 SRX! This 950-mAh LiPo is a huge upgrade over the 800-mAh battery that comes stock with the Blade 200 SRX. Includes a JST connector on the main leads

to make it plug-and-play compatible.

Specifications Length Width Height Weight

Price $21.95

Distributor

HITEC MAXIMA SL 9-CHANNEL MICRO RECEIVER

H

itec has announced the arrival of their Maxima SL 2.4-GHz singleline receiver. Engineered to provide unsurpassed reliability, this low latency receiver has 4096 resolution and an incredibly quick 7-ms frame rate. Designed to work with most S-Bus compatible flybarless systems and the Hitec Aurora 9X and Flash radios, the Maxima SL is one dynamo of a micro receiver.

Features • 7-millisecond frame rate • 4096 resolution • Full range operation • Utilizes S-Bus protocol for maximum compatibility w/ most flybarless systems

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

77 mm 30 mm 19 mm 71 g

COMMON SENSE RC PO Box 3546 Chatsworth, CA 91313 Phone: 866-405-8811 Commonsenserc.com

Specifications Distributor

Dimensions 1.46 x 0.96 x 0.58 in.

Weight 0.29 oz

HITEC RCD 12115 Paine St. Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-784-6948 Hitecrcd.com

• Low current consumption • 1 S-Bus & 5 PWM Outputs Price $69.99 twitter.com/rcsportflyer

T

he new generation of Tactic servos deliver the speed, torque, and precision needed for optimal results in a wide variety of applications. When size and weight must be kept to a minimum, there’s the compact TSX5 Micro, measuring only 0.90 x 0.48 x 1.1 in. (23 x 12 x 27 mm). At the opposite extreme, Tactic offers the TSX65 HighVoltage Ultra-Torque Digital Metal Gear, which puts out over 356 oz-in. (25.7 kg-cm) of torque at 7.4V. Nearly a dozen Tactic servo options allow you match your needs to the letter. Select from analog or digital

TACTIC TACTIC SERVOS

styles, plastic or metal gears, and options with ball bearings and coreless motors.

Gain total control and total confidence — with Tactic servos.

Features • All mounting hardware included • Servos feature a universal connector compatible with all major radio brands • One year limited warranty Price

$8.99 – $59.99

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 Hobbico.com

E-FLITE UMX SPACEWALKER RTF/BNF

Distributor HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 Horizonhobby.com

Specifications Wingspan Overall length Flying weight Motor size Rec. battery

16.5 in. (418 mm) 11.6 in. (295 mm) 0.78 oz (22.0 g) 6.0-mm brushed motor 70-mAh 1S 3.7-volt LiPo battery (included)

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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he E-flite® UMX™ Spacewalker airplane is all about making the pure joy of RC flight possible within the serenity of small spaces. Its scale appearance captures the charm and sense of adventure experienced by those who labored over the full-size homebuilt. That’s because it includes exquisite detailing such as molded wing ribs, exposed engine cylinders, and a pilot figure proudly poised in the open cockpit.

Add in the slow-flight capability and simple three-channel performance, and you’ll want to have a number of micro batteries charged and ready for your next flight.

Features • Available in RTF and BNF® completion levels • Spektrum™ DSMX® receiver/ESC/servo unit • Ultra-lightweight construction w/ a scale inspired paint scheme • Classic landing gear with scale tires and a steerable tail wheel • Graceful, slow-flight performance • 6.0-mm brushed motor • 70-mAh 1S 3.7-volt LiPo flight battery and DC charger • E-flite 4-channel 2.4-GHz DSMX transmitter (included w/ RTF only) • Includes 8 AA batteries to power the transmitter and charger (4 w/ BNF) Price

$99.99 / $79.99 (EFLU2700 / EFLU2780)

RC-SF.COM

15

HOT PRODUCTS

ESPRIT / JETI MAIN SWITCH 200

J

eti’s new Main Switch is an electronic switch designed primarily for switching the main power supply on and off in your RC model. It adds an element of safety when handling the model because you don’t have to physically disconnect the model’s batteries. Electronic switches, compared with mechanical switches, have higher reliability as far as vibration resistance is concerned too. The Main Switch prevents the connectors from sparking when connecting the batteries, so it can also replace Anti Spark connectors.

The Main Switch is shipped with a magnetic switch, but you can also use the optional RC Switch instead. The Main Switch is primarily designed for the main power supply of RC models, but can also be used wherever DC power supply is needed.

The Main Switch can measure voltage, current, consumed capacity of the battery connected in the model, and temperature via telemetry. Alarms can be set to monitor maximum current, minimum voltage, maximum consumed capacity, and maximum temperature.

Distributor HITEC RCD 12115 Paine St. Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858 748-6948 Hitecrcd.com

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Features • 7-millisecond frame rate • 4096 resolution

ESTES PROTO X SLT RTF NANO QUADCOPTER

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he Proto-X SLT improves on the world’s smallest quadcopter. Not only does it have a larger 2.4-GHz radio with dual rates, but pilots can also now execute flips and other mild-to-wild maneuvers with a single button push. An Auto-Upright system keeps the Proto-X SLT stable in any flight condition. Toss the quad in the air, and Auto-Correcting Technology keeps it level.

Also, since it comes with the SLT protocol built-in, pilots can fly this quadcopter with popular radio systems like the Tactic® TTX650. The Proto-X SLT comes with a USB

16

RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

ESPRIT MODEL 1240 Clearmont St. NE #12 Palm Bay, FL 32905 Phone: 321-729-4287 Espritmodel.com

Price TBD

HITEC RCD MAXIMA SL 9-CHANNEL MICRO RECEIVER itec RCD has announced the arrival of their Maxima SL 2.4-GHz singleline receiver. Engineered to provide unsurpassed reliability, this low-latency receiver has 4096 resolution and an incredibly quick 7-millisecond frame rate.

This receiver is designed to work with most S-Bus compatible flybarless systems and the Hitec Aurora 9X and Flash radios.

Distributor

Specifications • Full range operation • Utilizes S-Bus protocol for compatibility with most flybarless systems • Low voltage consumption • 1 S-Bus & 5 PWM outputs Price

Dimensions 1.46 x 0.96 x 0.58 in.

Weight 0.29 oz

$69.99 EST

charger and four spare rotor blades; all you need to add are four “AAA” batteries.

Features • 2.4-GHz SLT controller w/dual rates • 6 LEDs • 1S 100-mAh LiPo battery • USB charge cord • 4 spare rotor blades Price

$39.99 (ESTE49**)

Specifications Dimensions 1.8 in x 1.8 in. (45 mm x 45 mm) Weight 0.4 oz (11.5 g)

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-8970 Hobbico.com twitter.com/rcsportflyer

DLE ENGINES DLE-120 TWIN GAS ENGINE

A

t 12 horsepower, the DLE-120 delivers over 50 lb of static thrust. That’s enough power to propel even large-scale aircraft into intense 3D maneuvers. The twin opposed cylinder design of the DLE-120 reduces vibration, increasing performance and reducing engine and airframe wear. All that is packed into a magnesium alloy crankcase that makes this engine both strong and lightweight. Included extras are mufflers, standoffs, and electronic ignition that boost performance even further.

compression, and low vibration • CNC-machined parts for high performance and long life • Sealed crankshaft bearings • Improved piston and cylinder contact area for increased engine lifespan • Matched mufflers included for optimized power Price:

Specifications Displacement Bore Stroke Weight Engine Muffler 1 Muffler 2 Ignition module Output Includes

Features • Efficient, lightweight design for a high power-to-weight ratio • Lightweight pistons for fast acceleration, excellent

Distributor

E-FLITE HABU 32X ARF

S

ince 2008, when the ParkZone® Habu was first introduced, jet jocks and speed fans worldwide have flocked to the Habu line of EDF jets for its sporty looks and great performance.

The E-flite® Habu 32 DF is the largest in the series and delivers pro-grade performance to the club field environment.

The new Habu 32x DF builds on the success of the original with a new sweptback wing and stabilizer design for a 32-class sport jet experience that will raise your performance expectations.

Features • Trim scheme in high-gloss paint and

$749.99 (DLEG0120)

HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 Hobbico.com

genuine Hangar 9® UltraCote® covering • Molded fiberglass fuselage and vertical stabilizer • New swept wing and horizontal stabilizer design • Two-piece, plug-in wings and stabilizers with carbon blade spar support • Pre-hinged elevators, ailerons and functional flaps • Hyper-efficient inlet and exhaust duct design • Ready for the E-flite Delta-V® 32 EDF power system

120.0 cc (7.4 cu in.)

1.85 in. (47 mm) x 2 1.38 in. (35 mm) x 2 6.13 lb (2781 g) 5.08 lb (2306 g) 3.6 oz (103 g) 3.9 oz (111 g) 5.3 oz (149 g) 12 hp @ 7,500 rpm electronic ignition module, spark plugs, standoffs, spiral wire wrap, propeller bolts, connector safety clips

• E-flite 15- and 25-size electric retract ready • Optimized for use with modern Spektrum™ micro servo technology • Includes main wheel landing gear doors that improve streamlining • Quick-release cockpit hatch features a tinted canopy and cockpit detail • Complete precision hardware package includes machined aluminum wheels Price

$389.99 (EFL8085)

Specifications 2.0 in. (1070 mm) 49.5 in. (1250 mm) 412 in.2 (26.6 dm2) 7.05 – 7.50 lb (3.20 – 3.40 kg) Motor size 32-class brushless EDF motor Radio req. 8-channel+ Servos (8) metal-gear micro servos Wingspan Length Wing area Weight

Distributor HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Rd Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-403-3148 Horizonhobby.com rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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HOT PRODUCTS

DROMIDA OMINUS 238 MM PERFORMANCE QUADCOPTER

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he Ominus is the unstoppable robotic menace of other quad’s worst nightmares, but it will fly like a dream for you. Gyro stabilization, four flight modes, high-powered motors, intense LEDs — it’s all included to help you get the most out of every flight. This is the quad for beginners — it’s almost impossible to break and comes with a host of great flying features.

For intermediate flyers, it gives you just enough help to ensure flawless flights while delivering the power you need for sick stunts. For experts, it’s big, it’s bold, and you can switch off flight assistance. The Ominus comes in four colors.

Features • Fully assembled quadcopter

• 2.4-GHz radio system • Rechargeable LiPo battery and USB charger • AAA batteries • Extra set of blades Price

Specifications

Distributor

Length 9.4 in. (238 mm) Weight 3.6 oz (101 g)

HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-8970 Hobbico.com

$79.99 (DIDE01**)

GREAT PLANES EXTRA 300SP EP ARF

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favorite at air shows and competitions around the world, the Extra is a contemporary aerobatic airplane with graceful lines and the ability to execute a wide envelope of thrilling maneuvers. Great Planes has replicated the 300SP in both looks and performance, and final assembly is easy and straightforward. The model’s colorful appearance is truly eye-catching, and its aerobatic potential is impressive — including 3D action when equipped with a 4S LiPo battery!

Specifications

Features • Strong, lightweight design • Painted fiberglass parts • Large battery hatch • Removable wing panels Price

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 Hobbico.com

$179.99 (GPMA1188)

JETI / ESPRIT DC & DS-16 CARBON COMPUTER TRANSMITTERS

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he new DC-16 and DS-16 Carbon represent Jeti’s new flagship, state-ofthe-art transmitters. Jeti’s final touches and finishes are outstanding. The front panel of the system is made of genuine carbon fiber with UV stabilized acrylic clear coating. The radio sports a high quality aluminum frame, which is finished in multi-layer automotive paint. It is a super radio system that is easy

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

50 in. (1270 mm) 478 in.2 (30.8 dm2) 3.5 – 4.0 lb (1590-1810 g) 16 – 19 oz/ft.

(46 – 49 g/dm) Length 47.75 in (1215 mm)

Wingspan Wing area Weight Wing loading

Distributor ESPRIT MODEL 1240 Clearmont St. NE #12 Palm Bay, FL 32905 Phone: 321-729-4287 Espritmodel.com

to program and offers lots of versatility in control configurations.

Price $1495.00/$1795.00 twitter.com/rcsportflyer

TOWER HOBBIES PHOENIX MODEL GENESIS 1/8-SCALE GP/EP ARF

F Specifications Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-8970 Hobbico.com

Wingspan Length Weight Requires

60.4 in. (1533 mm) 51.6 in. (1310 mm) 6.2 — 7.1 lb (2.8 — 3.2 kg) Nitro or electric power system, 6-channel radio, 5 standard hi-torque servos, propeller, and building and field equipment

ast assembly, fast in the air, and packed with performance, the Genesis is ready for either nitro or electric power systems. Constructed of lightweight laser-cut wood, Genesis features a factory painted fiberglass cowl as well as a painted and installed pilot figure!

Features • Compatible with GP and EP setups • Retractable mechanical

landing gear • Plug-in two-piece wing • Removable canopy for easy battery changes • Covered in Oracover • Lightweight laser-cut allwood construction • Factory-painted fiberglass cowl • Painted and installed pilot figure • All hardware included Price

Distributor

HOBBYZONE FAZE QUADCOPTER

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obbyZone has just announced their new Faze ultra-small quadcopter.

Pilots, you will have no trouble flying this tiny aircraft around your houses. Visibility is no problem thanks to the six LEDs, and the Easy Flip feature adds a whole new dimension of fun.

Features • Full 4-channel control • Easy Flip Mode • USB Charger • 3 Flight rates • LiPo battery (permanently installed) • 6 LED’s • Includes USB charger • Suitable for indoor flight or outdoor flight in zero wind • 2.4-GHz transmitter with 2 AAA batteries included

$239.97 (PMMA0315)

HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Rd Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-403-3148 Horizonhobby.com

Specifications Wingspan Overall length Flying weight Battery

47.8 mm 47 mm 12.2 g 1S 100-mAh 3.7-volt LiPo

• Includes a set of replacement propellers and replacement body Price

$39.99 (HBZ8300)

GREAT PLANES CURTISS P-6E HAWK ELECTRIC ARF (GPMA1164)

A

s the last biplane fighter built for the Army Air Corps, the Curtiss P-6E was also one of the most beautiful bipes of the 1930s. Today, only one original P-6E Hawk still exists, but Great Planes is offering a scale replica that flies as well as it looks. History buffs and RC pilots alike will enjoy the graceful lines, vibrant colors, and sterling performance of this Hawk — the only Almost-Ready-toFly P-6E model there is.

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 Hobbico.com

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Specifications Wingspan Wing area Weight Wing loading Length

43.5 in (1105 mm) 352 in.2 (22.7 dm2) 3.75 – 4.5 lb (1700 – 2040 g) 25 – 29 oz/ft. (76 – 88 g/dm) 34 in. (865 mm)

Features • Factory-built from lightweight, strong, interlocking wood parts • Sized for easy transport without disassembly • A complete hardware package is included Price

$249.99 (GPMA1164)

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HOT PRODUCTS

SEAGULL MODELS TAYLORCRAFT 25E ARF

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he Taylorcraft is a conventional layout, high wing, fabric-covered, two-seat aircraft known for its speed and efficiency on limited horsepower engines. The BC-12D model was designed to compete directly with the well-known Piper J-3 Cub and other small civilian aircraft. The Taylorcraft never gained the popularity of the J-3 Cub, although it was 20 mph faster.

The Seagull version of the Taylorcraft is a beautiful replica of the high-wing classic. Its lightweight construction and high wing placement make this almost-ready-to-fly Taylorcraft a docile and easy-to-fly. The true-to-scale outline is accentuated by a cream and Corsair blue scale UltraCote® trim scheme that classically replicates the civilian airplane’s golden days.

Features • All wood construction with laser cut parts • Accurate scale outline of the Taylorcraft BC-12D • Painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants • Two-piece, plug-in wings with bolt-on struts

• Large magnetic belly hatch for easy access to electrics • Dual aileron servos for a more solid feel and control • Scale cockpit detail with included seat and pilot • Steerable tail wheel for ground control • Scale color scheme in genuine UltraCote covering • Pre-hinged control surfaces • Pre-cut decal sheets • All necessary hardware included • Designed around the popular E-flite Power 25 BL motor Price

$169.99 (SEA193)

Specifications 62.0 in. (157.5 cm) 42.0 in. (107 cm) 625.0 in.2 (40.3 dm2) 3.3 — 3.9 lb (1.5 — 1.8 kg) Motor 25-size brushless outrunner Radio 4-channel+ with 4 servos

Wingspan Length Wing area Weight

Distributor

HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Rd Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-403-3148 Horizonhobby.com

E-FLITE VIKING MODEL 12 280 BNF BASIC

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ver since the release of the Hangar 9® Beast, the RC community has been clamoring for a park-sized version of the Pitts Model 12. The E-flite® Viking Model 12® 280 is a licensed recreation of the Model 12 as flown by Scandinavian Airshow pilot Jacob Hollander. Up front is a brushless 280-size outrunner motor that’s incredibly powerful when on a 3S LiPo battery.

Lightweight molded foam construction helps deliver the best power-to-weight ratio and stunning finish of the Viking trim scheme.

Features • Spektrum™ AR6335 DSMX® 6-channel nanolite receiver (installed) • AS3X® technology delivers rock-solid handling • Licensed replica of the Scandinavian Airshow Model 12 • Easy to complete final assembly • Powerful 280-size brushless motor (installed) • 10-amp, 11.1-volt brushless ESC (installed)

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

• (4) 3.5-gram digital super sub-micro servos (installed) • 3D-size, double-beveled control surfaces (installed) • Robust wire landing gear and steerable tail wheel Price

$179.99 (EFL6650)

Distributor HORIZON HOBBY 4105 Fieldstone Rd Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-403-3148 Horizonhobby.com

Specifications Type Construction Wingspan Length Wing area Weight Motor Transmitter Servos Propeller Spinner Speed control Recommended flight battery

Aerobatic/3D Molded foam 22.2 in. (565 mm) 24.4 in. (620 mm) 197 in.2 (12.7 dm.2) 8.80 oz (250 g) 280 brushless outrunner 4+ channel DSM2/DSMX (4) 3.5-g digital servos 6.8 x 3.5, 2-blade 1.37 in. (35 mm) 10-amp brushless 11.1-volt 3S 450-mAh LiPo

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

HELI-MAX HELI-MAX 200 FP V-CAM EP RTF 2.4GHz 4-channel SLT™ radio system with dual rates lets you start off slow and “step up” to your full flight potential. The included 7.4-volt 1000-mAh LiPo battery provides plenty of power. And because it’s an RTF, you just add AA cells, charge the included LiPo pack, and fly!

Specifications Length Width Blade length Requires

16.5 in. (420 mm) 3.5 in. (90 mm) 6.9 in. (174 mm) (4) AA batteries

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: (217) 398-0007 Hobbico.com

W

ith its stable, fixed-pitch design, you can pilot the 200 FP V-Cam successfully — indoors or out — even with no previous flying experience. Plus, the on-board 720p HD digital video/still camera lets you take in-flight videos and still photos. Images are saved to the included 2GB memory card and can be downloaded to your computer with the supplied USB reader. Colorful LEDs on the rotor blades allow you to fly in low-light conditions. A

Features • Assembled 200 fixed-pitch heli with a 45° offset flybar system • Ultra-stable rotor head design • 720p HD digital video/still camera • 2GB memory card • USB card reader • Rotor blades with bright LEDs • 4-channel 2.4-GHz SLT radio system with dual rates • 7.4V 1000-mAh LiPo battery and balancing charger Price

$199.99 (HMXE0857)

NICESKY BRUSHLESS TRANSMITTERREADY AIRCRAFT

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iceSky models are good looking and easy to fly. Two models — the Decathlon Scout and DHC-2 Beaver — offer a choice of landing gear options. Or, modelers can fly sorties at the local park or RC airfield with the warbird styling of the F-4U Corsair. And because they’re brushless, transmitter-ready aircraft, you’ll only have to supply the radio and LiPo battery.

Features • Quick and easy assembly • Predictable flying characteristics • Lots of scale detail • The Decathlon Scout and DHC-2 Beaver offer two landing gear options: conventional gear for using an airstrip and floats for water takeoffs and landings • The F-4U Corsair boasts a 4-blade prop, panel lines, machine guns, and air intakes • All come with brushless motor, ESC, servos and receiver already installed, have a 26.8-in. wingspan (680 mm) Price

$139.99 (NSYA1020) $139.99 (NSYA1040) $129.99 (NSYA1060)

Distributor HOBBICO 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-8970 Hobbico.com rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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EVENT

They look much closer than they really are, but even so, these pilots had to be on top of the control sticks to put their models this close together during their hovers.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014 IT’S A HUCK OF A 3D FEST IN WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON

BY WIL BYERS

For those RC pilots who don’t live in the Northwest, it’s likely you’ve never heard about the fantastic flying site used and managed by the Wenatchee Red Apple Flyers. Their airfield is located in upper eastern Washington state, very near the Columbia River in East Wenatchee. The Wenatchee valley area is known for its abundant and world renowned apple orchards and the crops they produce.

The Red Apple Flyers’ RC airfield is also now known for the rather large gathering of 3D flyers that it attracts to participate in their Wenatchee Huckfest event each year. The Huckfest is an event with a huge dose of fun as its focus, with a whole bunch of large-scale extreme 3D flying in its laid-back, relaxed format. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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Format

Like I said, Huckfest is a group of avid 3D pilots who come together to share their passion for flying large-scale airplanes — many of which adhere to the International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) guidelines.

In the case of the Wenatchee event, the airplanes flown were

mostly IMAC style aircraft. However, thrown into the mix were a few models purpose built for 3D flying.

The format at Wenatchee was fly what you brought and wring your machine out, but definitely be safe while doing so!

That’s exactly what happened this year. Some of the best 3D pilots

Tim Hanstine was flying this 3D Hobby Shop 92-in. wingspan Edge 540. The model is powered by a DLE 61 gas-powered engine with JTEC Pitts muffler, and is turning a 24 x 9 carbon propeller. We like the very nicely done Red Bull color scheme!

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

on the west coast were putting on one of the best 3D shows you’ll see anywhere. Pilot after pilot performed routine after routine to demonstrate their ability to control their airplane in any flight attitude you can imagine — many being hung on the propeller or flown on the fuselage. It was so cool to see!

The cap and T-shirt pretty much tell the story of the 2014 Wenatchee Red Apple Flyer’s Huckfest being a huge success, with pilots attending from all over the west coast of the USA.

Here you get a second look at Tim Hans­­tine’s Edge 540. Again, the color scheme is both striking and functional to keep the pilot oriented with the airplane at all times.

Harv Dhiman had his model set up for extreme 3D flying. It is an EG Aircraft/ Aztech Aeromodels 120 Slick 540. It gets power from a DA 120 engine fitted with stock mufflers that turns a Falcon 27 x 11 propeller.

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WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014

RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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Kody Knudtson’s airplane’s color scheme is done to replicate a bird. It looked outstanding in the air, and was easy to see no matter its attitude. Kody’s model is a EG Aircraft/Aztech Aeromodels 120 Raven.

It is powered by a Desert Aircraft DA-10 engine fitted with stock mufflers, and obviously a smoke pump.

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WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014

Here’s another shot of Tim Hanstine’s 3D Hobby Shop 92-in. Edge 540. It was one of the easiest airplanes at the event to see in the air, done in its red, white, and silver paint scheme with Red Bull logos on the top and bottom.

David Mahan is a pilot from Prosser, Washington who was flying a Pilot RC 40%-scale Extra 300. Dave is powering it with a DA-150 engine that turns a Xoar 32 x 10 carbon propeller.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

This EG Aircraft/Aztech Slick 540 sports a 109-in. wingspan and runs a DA-120, with stock pipes and Falcon 27 x 11 propeller for power. It was flown by Joe Villavicencio. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

A number of the Huckfest pilots were team pilots.

This is Tim Hanstine concentrating on delivering a stellar flight routine for the onlookers.

Here Tim Hanstine is hovering his 3D Hobby Shop 126-in. wingspan AJ Slick 540. It is powered by a DLE-222, which is turning a 32 x 12 carbon propeller.

Hucked

The 2014 Wenatchee Huckfest was held July 31st thru August 3rd.

The Wenatchee Red Apple Flyers’ airfield is about three hours from Seattle, Washington, by car. To get to the event, you can take either the Snoqualmie Pass route on I-90 from Seattle, following Highway 970 to Wenatchee. The alternate route is to drive from Seattle to Monroe and then on Highway 2 to Wenatchee.

The Red Apple Flyers’ airfield is just off Batterman Rd. This airfield is superb. It features a very nice paved runway, plus a grass apron. The site has a huge clubhouse and well-kept facilites.

The club president is Craig Bonar, with the vice president being Del Herring. These guys did an amazing

The PAU team pilot was flying this 105-in. wingspan Edge 540T. It is powered by a DA-120 engine that turns a 27 x 11 propeller. Its servos are Hitec, and power management is by Fromeco. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

job of keeping the event running smoothly and safely.

What was extremely evident to me was how much fun the pilots were having flying and entertaining the crowd. There was also much discussion about airplane airframes, their hardware, set ups, and programming. So, even if you were a beginner to 3D, there was someone there who was willing to help or teach you how to get your model flying properly. Also, I found that while these pilots were quite accomplished, to the pilot they had their egos in check. That meant the event was very inclusive for pilots, spectators, and even the photographers. It was just an allaround fun atmosphere.

Kody Knudtson’s Aeromodels 120 Raven was at home doing knifeedge passes as it was flying the length of the runway. Check out the deflection on the rudder during this pass!

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WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014

Just look at the rudder reflection on this 3D machine. The pilots were literally driving their models down the flightline, just inches off the pavement.

The Huckfest was also pretty much non-stop action from sun up till sun down. It seemed almost no matter where you looked, there was an airplane in the air demonstrating blenders, harriers, hovers, snap rolls, etc.

Also, I did not witness any bad crashes. I’m sure there must have been some, but luckily I didn’t see any the day I covered this event.

Each day there was a noontime demonstration too. The day I was there, the event had powered paragliders fly in to show what is possible above and beyond flying RC airplanes. I was impressed, but don’t think I’ll be changing hobbies any time soon.

Typically the airplanes flown were in the 100-in.-plus wingspan category, with most being powered

Eric McKnight flew this DLE-111 powered, 104-in. wingspan Slick.

His model is controlled by Savox 1231 servos, with his transmitter being a Futaba 8FG.

by two-cycle, two-cylinder engines.

Often, the engines were in the 80-cc to 120-cc size, but there were a few 150s and larger.

It’s hard for me to pick out a favorite airplane, but there were two that really stood out in my mind. One was Dave Mahan’s big 40%-scale Pilot RC Extra 300. It just had a large-scale prescence in the air. The other was Tim Hanstine’s 3D Hobby Shop 92-in. wingspan Edge 540. Tim’s Edge had one of the best color schemes I’ve seen on an IMAC airplane to date, blazoned with the Red Bull logo — don’t drink it, but the logo looks great on the airplane!

There were other models that you’ll want to see next year, if you attend. Joe Villavicencio’s Slick 540 is definitely one of them. Joe is a very good pilot and he was definitely

Here you see Harv Dhiman driving his Aztech Aeromodels DA-120powered Slick 540 down the flightline. Notice the mass balanced ailerons on this airplane!

putting his model through its paces.

Let me wrap this event report up with what Tim Hanstine communicated. Tim says that the event is a standout because of its draw and inclusiveness. This year’s event attracted pilots from as far away as Canada, California, and Indiana. Also, he told me the Wenatchee event is a 3D brotherhood of pilots — guys who attend because they can have a ton of fun. The event is not a contest, there is no real formal format, and the pilots are there to root each other on. So it is that airplanes get “Hucked” around the sky in every flight attitude imaginable.

You’ll see smoke on, lots of big power, and large-scale airplanes everywhere. As Tim says, it’s all about flying 3D.

One after the other, pilots put their models into knife-edge flight. Dave Mahan was doing it with his big 40%-scale Pilot RC Extra 300. I like that he has a pilot in the cockpit.

The Extreme Flight 104-in. Extra 300 is running Proflow cannisters on a DA100 engine that turns a 27 x 11 Falcon propeller. It was pumping copious amount of smoke too, which is a real crowd pleaser, especially when the music is cranked up.

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Your model will need lots of elevator deflection if you’re going to do harriers. This photos shows you just how much you’ll likely want to program into your high rates on the transmitter.

Synopsis

I don’t know if this article and photo spread has tempted you into participating in the 2015 Huckfest, but I know for certain I’m going back.

This is a superb group of 3D pilots who come to Wenatchee to relax and have a great time showing off both their airplanes and their piloting skills. Between the show they put on, the good food that is served up, and the long playlist of music that fills the air from sun up till sun down, this is one tremendous event that no real, dedicated 3D pilot should miss.

It’s the kind of fun fly/Huckfest that just keeps getting better and better.

This Pilot RC Edge 540 is just maneuvering into a harrier. The model is powered by a DA-100 and is running Hitec servos for surfaces’ control.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

Kody Knudtson was hanging Azar’s big Pilot RC 150-in. wingspan Decathlon on its prop. The model was getting power from a DA120 engine turning a 28 x 12 carbon propeller.

I’ll end by saying you definitely need to mark your calendar for the 2015 event, so point your browser at redappleflyers.org.

SPONSORS Aztech Models Desert Aircraft Dubro Fromeco Hitec Hobbico PAU Planebender Products Valley View R/C

The model is sponsored by Action Hobbies and was flown by Team Epley. Notice that extra long servo arms are used on the Hitecs to get 3D control throws.

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Notice that the tailwheel is riding the ground during this harrier/ hover that Kody was flying. This model was quite impressive in that it was a high-wing 3D machine as Azar had it set up.

A few of these custom-designed 3D machines were being flown at the Wenatchee Huckfest. They are the ideal way to jump into 3D without spending a ton of money.

As you can see, this Extra 260 is sponsored by Budget Blinds. It is powered by a DA-150, which is turning a carbon propeller. Power management is by Fromeco.

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WENATCHEE HUCKFEST 2014

This is the fun side of a huge Huckfest like Wenatchee. Here this DLE-111-po wered PAU Edge 540 is playing with an Aztech Aeromodels Slick 540. In this photo, the airplanes got quite close.

During the noontime demonstration flights, this Boomerang turbinepowered jet was flown. The model was very impressive to watch as it did a few high-speed passes down the length of the runway.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

Johan Cilley was flying this E-flite Eratix 25e. It was running an E-flite 32e motor that turns a 12 x 8 propeller. Power was coming from a Thunder Power pack married to a 60-amp ESC. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The Team Valley View guys were there showing their piloting skills as well as coaching their fellow pilots and acting as copilots, which is what is happening in this photo. The view at Wenatchee is outstanding everywhere you look.

SPONSORS

This beautiful brunette was showing off one of the Aztech Aeromodel 37%-scale Slick 540 machines. The model has a 109-in. wingspan and is powered by a DA-120 engine.

Desert Aircraft Futaba Hitec RCD Hobbico PAU Valley View RC

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BUILD

DECATHLON WINGS, PART 3 LEARN HOW TO CARVE YOUR MODEL INTO SHAPE

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

BY JEFF TROY

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

1

Wingtips will be installed in this installment, but first, the tip rib must be trimmed to length. Lay a metal straightedge against the trailing-edge, extending past the tip rib.

2

Mark the tip rib where it’s intersected by the straightedge, then cut it slightly oversize of the mark. Use the Easy-Touch sander to sand it flush with the mark.

3

Trace the outline of the tip ribs onto the wingtip blocks. Cut the blocks slightly outside of the outline. I use a scroll saw, but most handsaws work well enough for this job.

4

Use medium CA to tack-glue the tip blocks onto the tip ribs.

Position the blocks so that all edges extend beyond the outside of the ribs — no low spots allowed!

T

he wing panels for my Dynaflite Super Decathlon have been coming along nicely, and in this installment, I will add the finishing touches. These steps include carving and hollowing the wingtip blocks, constructing the ailerons, and matesanding the panels at the center section. If you are not building the Decathlon along with me, I hope you will take advantage of some of the methods I describe when constructing your own favorite models. The following steps apply to both wing panels.

TIP BLOCKS The tip rib must be trimmed to length before tack-gluing the tip block and carving it to shape. The easiest way to trim the rib correctly is to lay a metal straightedge along the trailingedge, positioning the straightedge rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

so it extends beyond the rib, then making a pencil mark on the cap strip over the tip rib where it’s crossed by the straightedge. I use a Zona® saw to cut off the cap strips slightly outside the mark, then sand them back to the mark with coarse sandpaper on the Easy-Touch bar sander.

It’s best to cut the tip block to shape before installing it to the wingtip. Place the block against the wingtip so the four sides of the block are all positioned beyond the perimeter of the tip; if any part of the block is inside the tip’s outline, it will require filler to repair the resulting low spot, so be careful. Use a pencil or a thin maker to trace the outline of the tip rib onto the wingtip blocks, then pull the block away and set the wing panel aside.

The tip block should be cut slightly outside of the outline by

approximately 1/16-in. of an inch. The blocks in the Dynaflite kit are made of relatively hard balsa, which makes them somewhat tedious to cut with hand tools. Cutting the blocks will be easier if you have access to a band saw or a scroll saw. If you don’t’ have a proper power tool, you can get the job done with a Zona saw and a screwdriver. Here’s one way to do it: position the saw blade at 45 degrees to the forward side of the block and cut off a section of the bottom of the block. The hand saw is not as deep as the block, and will only let the blade get about halfway through the thickness of the block, so stop sawing at the halfway point and use a thin-blade screwdriver to pry the cut area away from the block. It’s a bit sloppy, but it works, and will save you from having to buy a costly tool that you may not need too often. One RC-SF.COM

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5

A razor plane is my preferred tool for rough-shaping the wing tip blocks. I follow the razor plane with assorted Perma-Grit tools and coarse sandpaper on an Easy-Touch bar sander.

6

Break the blocks free and hollow them to a wall thickness of approximately 1/8-in. Use gouge blades from Excel and a round Robart carbide cutter in a rotary tool.

7

The ailerons are constructed over their bottom sheeting. Trim the sheets to fit the aileron bays in the wings and build the ailerons inside the bays for a perfect fit.

8

Trim the leading-edges and hinge doublers to match the triangular shape of the ribs. I do this effortlessly with a razor plane, followed by final shaping with the bar sander.

of the reasons this technique works is because the block will be sanded more thinly from where it attaches to the tip to its final shape at the end of the wing. This makes up for the majority of the gouge marks made by the screwdriver. Use the saw-and-pry technique to finish trimming the block outside the outline.

The block will need to be removed after it’s carved to shape, so the last thing you want is a too-solid glue joint. Four or five drops of medium cyanoacrylate (CA) are all you need to tack-glue the tip block onto the tip rib.

Place the drops approximately 1/8-in. inside the perimeter of the block so the edges of the block and tip rib do not crack or split when you break the block away from the tip. Place one drop near the nose of the block, another near the tail, and the others near the top and bottom.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

The block must now be sanded down to match the shape of the tip rib. Rough-shaping such as this is best done with a razor plane. Hold the plane at 45 degrees to the block and shave in thin strokes, working with the grain of the block wherever possible.

After the rough shaping is finished, use a flat Perma-Grit® tool and coarse sandpaper on the Easy-Touch to achieve the final shape. The angle at the trailing-edge of the block can be cut with the Zona saw. After cutting, it will give you excellent perspective for sanding the thickness of the block at the tail.

Now that the block is neatly shaped, you’ll appreciate that it was only tack-glued to the tip rib as you break it free. You already know that these blocks are hard balsa and on the heavy side. Hollowing them out has two advantages. The obvious

perk is the overall reduced weight of the airplane, while the not-soobvious benefit comes in the rollinertia department, which is reduced because of the reduced tip weight.

Robart Manufacturing offers coarse and fine round carbide cutters in 1/4-in. and 3/8-in. diameters. Each of these cutters has a 1/8-in. shank, which fits the chucks of most rotary tools. I’ve found these cutters do a fine job of hollowing balsa blocks, and because the hollowed interiors will not be visible in the finished model, my first choice for the job is the coarse, 3/8-in. tool.

If you don’t have a rotary tool, you can hollow the block with one or more of the round gouge blades from Excel Hobby Blades. These blades fit into the No. 5 knife handle, the same one that holds the larger saw and cutting blades. Use the gouges to twitter.com/rcsportflyer

9

Measure and accurately mark a centerline on the leading edge of each aileron. These marks are to help guide your progress as you shape the V-bevel in the leading-edges.

10

This side view of the V-bevel shows that the leading edge above center has more wood removed than below, resulting in better mirroring of the upper and lower aileron surfaces.

11

Cut hinge slots in the ailerons and the wing bays, then trial-fit the ailerons to the wing panels. Adjust the slots as necessary to ensure centering and ample up/down travel.

12

The final step in wing construction is to slide the panels over the joiner tube and remove any high spots in the center area with coarse sandpaper on the Easy-Touch.

remove a small sliver of wood with each pass, working with the grain as best you can. Whether you do the job with the gouges or the round carbide cutters, the objective is to hollow each of the blocks to a wall thickness of approximately 1/8-in. After the block is sufficiently hollowed, you can glue it back onto the tip rib. This time, you’ll want a solid joint. Use medium or thick CA to draw a solid line around the perimeter of the tip block, keeping the line approximately 1/16- to 1/8-in. from the outer edges of the block.

Spray the tip rib with a couple of shots of accelerator and press the block against the tip rib. You may not have time to adjust the block’s position before the adhesive sets, so be sure you’ve placed the block correctly before you let it contact the rib. After the adhesive is set, use the Easy-Touch to even the joint around rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

its entire perimeter. If you’ve worked carefully, this shouldn’t require more than a light sanding all around.

Now repeat these steps for the opposite tip block.

AILERONS Constructing the ailerons is a quick-and-easy exercise, so begin by laying the 3/32-in. bottom sheet over the aileron drawing on the wing plan. Cut the aileron’s leading-edge to fit inside the aileron bay in the wing, then attach it to the bottom sheet with medium CA. The die-cut aileron ribs are next, and can also be installed with medium CA, but don’t install the tip and root ribs yet. Place the wing over the plans with the aileron bay atop the aileron sheeting and the aileron’s leading-edge centered in the bay. Now you can use the aileron bay to position the aileron’s tip and root

ribs approximately 1/8-in. inside the wing ribs if you intend to use fabric covering on your model, or 3/32-in. if your choice will be film covering. After the ribs are installed, you can remove the wing from the plans.

Use the Zona saw to cut the balsa doublers that fit against the back of the leading-edge between the ribs.

Their purpose is to provide additional strength and gluing area to the hinge bays. The next step is to shape the leading-edge and doublers to conform to the triangular shape of the ribs. Use the razor plane for the quickest results and finish the job with the Easy-Touch.

Sand the bevel into the trailingedge of the lower sheet — again matching the angle of the ribs — then use medium or thick CA to glue the top sheeting over the aileron structure. Trim away the excess wood RC-SF.COM

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DECATHLON WINGS, PART 3

13

on the upper and lower sheets with a hobby knife, then sand them flush with the Easy-Touch. Draw a center line on the face of the leadingedge and use the razor plane to cut the V-bevel above and below the centerline. Because of the aileron’s construction and resulting profile, you will plane away more wood above the line than below it. Draw an imaginary line on the end of the aileron from the centerline on the leading-edge to the center of the trailing-edge. When you plane the leading-edge, the goal is to mirror the aileron shape above and below that imaginary line. Finish with the Easy-Touch, then build the aileron for the opposite wing.

Hinge slotting was covered in one of my early installments, so get out that back issue and cut slots for four hinges in each of the ailerons and the aileron bays in the wing panels. I’m using the two-part Heavy Duty Nylon Hinges from Du-Bro Products for my Decathlon, which are sold in packages of 15 (#257). Do not permanently install the hinges until the model is covered and the final finish applied.

For now, trial fit the ailerons to the wing panels with the hinges installed, adjusting to ensure the ailerons’ proper centering in the wing bays and sufficient up-and-down movement.

Remove the ailerons and hinges and set them aside.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

FLUSH SANDING Clear the work area, because you will need some extra room for this step. Slide the left and right wing panels together over the aluminum joiner tube and press them together tightly. Hold the rear surface of the panels down over the work surface with one hand while you use the Easy-Touch Bar Sander in the other hand to sand the upper sheeting flush.

If you did a proper job with the upper and lower wing sheeting, very little sanding should be needed to blend the two panels into a uniform airfoil.

The object is to remove any high spots in the sheeting so that other than the parting line, the two finished panels will appear as one when they are installed over the fuselage.

NEXT MONTH My Dynaflite Super Decathlon’s tail surfaces, wing panels, and ailerons are now complete. In my next installments, I’ll begin construction of the Decathlon’s curvy fuselage.

Building this model has been a lot of fun so far, and I think you’ll enjoy the Dynaflite fuselage design for its timeless, tried-and-true aeromodeling construction.

Coverite 21st Century Fabric will be used to dress my Decathlon, and the Super Sportster 60 will be covered in Top Flite MonoKote.

Many of the techniques I describe

My Dynaflite Super Decathlon’s wing panels and ailerons are now complete. The fuselage and final construction details begin with the next article. I look forward to sharing my techniques.

in my series for RC Sport Flyer have been demonstrated in previous installments. Back issues can be ordered from the publisher, and subscriptions to the magazine are available at $29.95 for 12 issues.

SOURCES

BUILD

Bob Smith Industries 8060 Morro Rd. Atascadero, CA 93422 Phone: 805-466-1717 Bsi-inc.com Coverite Dynaflite Great Planes Model Mfg. Co. P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Bestrc.com Du-Bro Products, Inc. P.O. Box 815 Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: 800-848-9411 Dubro.com Perma-Grit Traplet Distribution USA 816 N. Country Fair Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 217-355-2970 Us.trapletshop.com Zona Tool Co. 16 Stony Hill Rd. Bethel, CT 06801 Phone: 203-796-7861 Zonatool.net twitter.com/rcsportflyer

1815 South Research Loop Tucson, Arizona 85710 Phone: (520) 722-0607 E-mail: info@desertaircraft.com Web Site: desertaircraft.com

DA-200

Price $2795

Displacement: 12.20 cin (200 cc) Output: 19 hp Weight: 10.95 lb (4.95 kilos) Length: 9.625 in. (244 mm) Warranty: Two Years

DA-150

Price $1395

Displacement: 9.15 ci (150 cc) Output: 16.5 hp Weight: 7.96 lb (3.61 kilos) Length: 7.67 in. (195 mm) Warranty: Three year

DA-100L

Price $999

Displacement: 6.10 ci (100 cc) Output: 9.8 hp Weight: 5.57 lb (2.53 kilos) Length: 6.5 in. (162.5 mm) Warranty: Three year

DA-50-R

Price $549

Displacement: 3.05 ci (50 cc) Output: 5.0 hp Weight: 2.94 lb (1.33 kilos) Length: 6.7 (170 mm) Warranty: Three year

DA-170

Price $1695

Displacement: 10.48 ci (171.8 cc) Output: 18 hp Weight: 8.05 lb (3.56 kilos) Length: 7.67 in. (195 mm) Warranty: Three year

DA-120

Price $1199

Displacement: 7.4 ci (121 cc) Output: 11 hp Weight: 4.95 lb (2.25 kilos) Length: 6.25 in. (159 mm) Warranty: Three year

DA-85

Price $795

Displacement: 5.24 ci (85.9 cc) Output: 8.5 hp Weight: 4.3 lb (1.95 kilos) Length: 5.9 in. (150 mm) Warranty: Three year

HOW TO

QUICK MOLDS PART DEAUX

BY ROBERT J. CASO

Y

These photos show the balsa channel box and the vinyl sheet I used to make the mold. This setup was made long enough to yield two parts.

The opposing balsa caps were first pinned to the box, after making sure they were equidistant. Then clamps were applied to squeeze the ends.

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es, I am at it again. This time, it’s for my 66-in. wingspan Tiger Moth, which is finally nearing completion. Its conclusion can’t come soon enough because I am looking forward to a couple other ambitious projects.

I built a mostly scale, functional landing gear for the model. It was complete with a pair of inexpensive, but eventually highly modified aluminum oleo struts, courtesy of Hobby King. At about four inches long, they were nicely made and were perfect for the Tiggie, but I had to beat them into a pulp to get them to fit and work properly. I could write a book on what I did, but briefly, they required a machined aluminum upper mount, a sprung, steel shaft to replace the nice aluminum job so it would

It is critical in this process is to make sure the ends of the vinyl sheet meet up perfectly, and that the run down the middle is straight.

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A TECHNIQUE THAT CAN BE ADAPTED FOR MANY APPLICATIONS accept the pivoting axle and a new set of springs. I also had a shop TIG weld on a couple of aluminum tabs to accept the drag link to the airplane’s nose. The rest of the landing gear I fabricated from music wire, brass tube, steel sheet and, of all things, a steel insert from a hanging type file folder. It required a lot of cutting and soldering. Amazingly, it all seems to work okay after I fiddled around with some alternate springs.

Through all this, in the back of my mind was, “What was I going to do for a pair of streamlined tubes?” The tubes cover the oleo struts on the full-scale airplane. My original plan of using K&S aluminum streamlined tube was thrown out the window because it would not go over the 0.6-in. diameter of the oleos — bummer!

Soldering together some brass sheet was certainly an option for the streamlined fairings. I’ve done so before, but I wanted to experiment, and besides you really need a jig to go the brass route. Aluminum sheet was out since it can’t be soldered, and steel was deemed to be too heavy and too hard to work into form.

Running out of options fast, I turned to fiberglass. However, I didn’t want to make a mold because it would require too much work. Then I remembered that epoxy does not really stick to vinyl.

After pulling out a piece of 0.010-

A stiff, strong streamlined tube was revealed after peeling away the vinyl sheet. Hot soap and water was used to eliminate the mold release agent.

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in. vinyl sheet, I maneuvered it into a streamlined shape by hand. I quickly realized I needed a way to keep the shape constant along its length, and in the correct width to fit over the oleos.

Consequently, I made a U-shaped channel from 1/4-in. balsa sheet. The channel forced the vinyl sheet into a “U” when the vinyl sheet was pressed down into the channel. To squeeze the ends together to complete the streamlined shape, I simply cut some more 1/4-in. balsa, beveled the edges and then pinned and clamped opposing sections to the top of the balsa channel box. These pieces

The thin balsa caps each have a beveled edge to prevent deformation of the vinyl tube upon clamping. The edges should just meet at the tip.

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The fairings on the Moth’s oleo struts look great. Since fiberglass accepts adhesives well, as opposed to aluminum, details are easy to add too.

squeezed the ends of the vinyl sheet together, thus forming a teardrop tube the length of the channel box. With the vinyl pushing out from the center, but the box preventing it from doing so, I was able to make a teardrop shape, of constant width, for the length I required.

So, I pulled out the vinyl sheet, brushed on PVA mold release, and then laid up four layers of two-ounce fiberglass cloth on the vinyl — using West Systems epoxy as the matrix.

Next I stuffed the mess down into the channel box, again set up the balsa

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

strips as discussed above and called it a night. The next morning, (actually, it was already the next morning) I pulled it all out of the box and peeled away the vinyl sheeting, which yielded a perfectly shaped streamline tube that had a mostly finished surface. The part had some de-lamination of the glass away from the molding surface towards the pointed tail of the tube and some pin holes, but these were easily remedied with dabs of filler.

Once primed and sanded, I spritzed on a coat of silver paint, and — after severing the tube into halves — I had

perfect streamlined tubes for the landing gear. Since the width of the box was made generous enough to provide for both the width of the oleos and the fiberglass/vinyl setup, the tubes fit perfectly.

The moral of the story is, you do not need elaborate molds to make fiberglass do what you want it to do, depending upon the application. I bet that functional wing struts can be made in the same fashion, with the possible addition of carbon fiber vail or some Kevlar®. The possibilities for this technique are endless.

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HOW TO

BALANCE LARGE-SCALE HANG ‘EM HIGH N THEY’LL FLY HIGH

BY WIL BYERS

I

t turns out that one of the most important things you can do when setting up your RC airplane is to get its center of gravity (CG) set properly.

Doing so will make all the difference in the world in how your aircraft will respond to control inputs. If it is not set properly, you may not even get one flight from it before disaster strikes. If you’ve been in this hobby for any length of time at all, you know what I’m talking about. A pilot who tries to fly their model without setting the CG properly will see that when the model takes flight, it either pitches nose down or nose up and immediately crashes. Alternately, as the model takes flight, a wing tip stalls and the model proceeds to snap roll into the ground.

AeroWorks’ CG Buddy system is one of the easiest balancing methods you’ll find anywhere.

It comes in some of the AeroWorks kits as an option.

You’ll find the CG Buddy is easy to use; it simply connects around the wing joiner rod, with the twine’s attach point being the CG position.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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The carbon fiber handle lets you easily pick the model up to determine its attitude. You want the model to balance very slightly nose down.

SET IT So, let me explain three ways that I’ve been using to balance my models.

All three methods work well! You can adapt them to pretty much any model you have in your hangar. Alternately, you can use one of the EZ Balancers (ezbalancer.com) units, which we reported on in an earlier issue.

However, the methods we’re showing here are inexpensive and pretty much foolproof ways to set CG. AeroWorks CB Buddy is one of the best balancing methods we’ve seen offered by any kit manufacturer.

It is absolutely dummy proof, so you know you’ll get your model’s CG set properly if you follow AeroWorks’ step-by-step procedure.

Quickly, the process is to fasten the plywood CG Buddy templates around the wing joiner of the model airplane and then hang the model from the Buddy’s attachment twine.

The CG Buddy comes with a carbon fiber handle that makes it easy to pick up your model. If the model’s CG is set properly, the model will take a nose down position at about a fivedegree angle. Obviously, if the model has a tail-down attitude, you must add weight to the nose of the model until it hangs at the slightly nose down attitude. Once you’ve flown the airplane, you can adjust its balance point until it flies the way you like it to feel. Remember, you must make the model’s first flight with a CG position that provides good handling and is safe. Then you can adjust it to your piloting preference.

Shop Hung is another way to get your model into balance, or to set its CG properly. This method requires a couple of hooks in the ceiling of your shop that will support the models’ weight and a length of twine long enough to wrap around the wing joiner tube, through the ceiling hangars, and then back around the wing joiner tube. This method

This is an inexpensive, homemade solution to setting a model’s CG. It uses twine you’ll attach to the ceiling and wrap around the wing rod.

This nose-down attitude tells you that the model is nose heavy. You’ll need to add enough weight to the tail to bring the model to a level position . rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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This is a much better attitude, but the model is still slightly nose heavy. You’ll add just a bit more weight to the tail to bring it into the proper CG.

assumes that the joiner tube is positioned at the model’s CG point, because the model must be balanced around the joiner’s center point.

To use this method, use the twine to hang your model from the ceiling then observe its hung position. If the model hangs nose down, you’ll need to add weight to the tail, and vice versa. You do not want to do this in an area where there are drafts or outside ,where the model may be affected by the wind. If you do use this method outside, you must make

Notice how it has a very slight nose down attitude, but is nearly level. This is the attitude that you’ll want for a proper CG.

The center point of the twine on the hardwood dowel must be centered exactly over the CG’s reference point to get the airplane/sailplane balanced properly!

Some 125-lb sein twine and a hardwood dowel make up this CG system for my 1/3-scale Fox. The blue painter’s tape on the fuselage is the CG’s reference point.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

sure there is no wind that will cause the model to pitch up or down. It’s extremely important to get the model hung such that it’s in a steady-state attitude. Then, you will add weight to the model accordingly. Also, you must have everthing installed in the model that could impact its CG position such as a pilot, battery packs, radio gear, etc. Adding weight after the model is balanced with change twitter.com/rcsportflyer

A plastic cup is taped to the nose of my model to hold lead shot that is added during the balancing.

It gets glued in the nose after the CG is set.

its position, unless of course the weight is positioned perfectly over the airplane’s CG position.

Rod and twine works well for balancing a large-scale glider. Again, this method is simple and easy to do; however, it’s really two-person job — at least the way I’ve done it.

This method requires some strong twine. In my cases, I’ve used 125-pound seine twine and a hardwood dowel. In the accompanying photos, the twine is wound around the Fox’s wing joiner, up over the dowel, and then back around the model’s opposite side wing joiner. Then, simply pick the model up off the floor high enough to determine the model’s hung position.

In the case of the Fox, the model was a bit tail heavy. To bring the model into balance I added lead shot to the nose. above the nose release mechanism. To get the right amount of lead shot measured, I taped a plastic cup to the nose of the model.

I then added lead shot to the cup until the model came into balance.

The cup was then removed from the model. You’ll then add expoxy to the lead shot, but not before removing enough to equal the amount of epoxy resin that you’ve added. Next, I recommend you build a plywood tray into the nose of the model above the release mechanism. You’ll want it glued into the model before you adjust the balance point. You will pour the lead shot into the pocket above the release mechanism that has been formed by the tray. Finally, you’ll stand the model on its nose until the epoxy cures.

Alternately, you can use stickon lead weights designed for tire balancing. These weights are appropriate for nearly every kind of model airplane, but they work super well when adhered to the inside surface of a composite airplane such as a glider or sailplane. What you’ll like about the stick-on weights is that they’re segmented, so you can apply small amounts of weight at a time.

In so doing, you can fine tune your model’s balance point, even at the airfield. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

SYNOPSIS Whether you’re flying powered or non-powered airplanes, getting the model’s center of gravity set perfectly is important to your piloting success.

Moreover, getting the CG set right will let you get the most out of your model in terms of performance and handling.

Over the years, I’ve found that taking the time to set my models’ CG both in the shop and at the airfield has meant they fly at optimum performance, and that I’m not being overworked as the pilot trying to stay

Stick-on lead weights that are used for tire balancing work very well for adjusting any model’s center of gravity position. They get stuck to ithe nside surface of the fuselage.

ahead of the model’s reactions to an improperly set CG position.

Truly, a whole book could be written on why CG is important to airplane performance. For this discussion, what you should take away is that it does not cost a lot of money or take a lot of time to get it set right. As a pilot, the benefits to you will be invaluable, and it will significantly up your fun factor!

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HOW TO

COVER WING TIPS IT’S AS EASY AS FOLLOWING THE PLANE

BY JERRY SMITH

C

overing a model’s wing with plastic film (Monokote®, UltraCote®, etc.) is quite easy until you come to the wing tips. You look at them and probably think to yourself, “I can do these in one piece.” Then, as you pull the covering around the back edge and work

toward the front of a tip, the covering material begins to gather because of the compound curve. The material ends in a bunch of wrinkles that are impossible to get out because the plastic film will only shrink so much, no matter how much heat you apply.

To solve this problem, I always

1

This is the type of wing tip that must be covered with a separate piece. Wrap the covering over the last rib to be sure it doesn’t pull off when shrinking. Note the tip support pieces are hollowed in, so the covering will not stick to them.

2

Tack the covering to the rib and tip, pulling and arranging it in the plane I detail in the text. Start from the trailing-edge and work forward. Put a mark at the trailing-edge so you can place it in the same location. Place small dots along the rib 1/2-in. apart.

3

Remove the covering from the tip. Note that the dots you put on the covering material are not in a straight line.

4

Lay the material on a flat surface and cut from dot to dot. Use a curve and razor, or do it with scissors. Just connect the dots.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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cover my models’ wing tips separately.

By doing so, there is a seam on the end rib, of course, but that to me is better than a tip that has wrinkled material! Most film coverings seam quite well — hidden from all but the closest inspections. It’s also likely you’ll want to make the wing tip a different color, so a seam is a nonissue.

When covering a wing, I almost always treat the wing tip as a separate entity. Some wings’ tips lend themselves to being covered with one sheet of material for the entire wing and tip. You can quickly determine if this is the case by looking for severe

compound curves along the front of the tip. If there is one, it will spell trouble if you try to cover the wing and tip in one piece. I have covered many airplanes through the years and have developed a procedure that lets me successfully cover the type of wing tip shown here.

Looking at the tip closely, you’ll see there is a flat plane from the end rib to the edge of the tip. You can lay a straight edge across these points and follow it around the tip and see what happens. As the plane moves around the tip, it changes angle but remains a flat plane. Knowing this will help you place the covering on the tip and pull

5

Lay the covering back on the tip, aligning it with the mark you made at the trailing edge. Overlap the seam 1/4-in. Pull, arrange, and iron on the material permanently. Work from the trailing edge forward, pulling out as many wrinkles as possible.

7

Remove the Sharpie dots with alcohol, trim the excess covering from the tip, and iron down all seams before shrinking the covering. Use an iron set at the right temperature — not a heat gun — for shrinking.

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6

it in the right direction.

Start by cutting a square piece of covering that is over-size, which gives you enough extra material to pull on. Starting at the trailing-edge, tack an edge to the rib and tip. Move forward, tacking every inch or two — keeping in mind the flat plane — from the rib to the tip. Pull the covering in the direction of the plane. As you near the front, you will notice an excess of covering over the rib. With the covering tacked in place, use a Sharpie marker to place series of dots inline, 1/2-in. spacing, along the top of the rib. Now, remove the covering. I use a curved ruler to join the dots, but

When properly covered, but before the material has been shrunk, the tip should look like this.

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HOW TO

8

10

12

COVER WING TIPS

The finished tip will look like a professional applied the covering.

All the wrinkles will be removed, and the covering will be tight and even across the length of the tip.

You’ll find the tape very manageable, and the wax paper will come off easily. Align it over the seam and pull with one hand while removing the tape with the other.

To ensure the seams don’t come apart or lift, I use transparent packing tape over them. You’ll lay down wax paper and apply the tape to it, sticky side down. Using a straight edge and a razor, cut 3/8-in. wide strips. They’ll be applied to the seam’s center.

11

When the tape is applied, it’s hard to see. In fact, from five feet away you won’t even know it’s there. It makes for a nice finished wing tip that has a professionally applied look.

Think of this surface as a flat plane, with ever-changing angles but no compound curves. Pull the covering in the direction of the angles, not from the rib out to the tip.

if you don’t have such a ruler you can do this step by cutting from dot to dot with scissors. This curve will ensure a straight seam over the rib. When applying the covering, overlap it 1/4in. over the rib.

Note that seams in covering have a tendency to come loose over time. This may be because you

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didn’t iron them down well, or you’ve rubbed over them while cleaning the covering. Whatever the case, it’s not uncommon for them to come loose.

To ensure they remain tightly bonded, I cover them with transparent packing tape.

To do this, I tape down some wax paper on a flat surface. Pull off

a length of tape and lay it sticky side down on the wax paper. Keep it straight. Using a long straight edge and single-edge razor, I cut 3/8-in. strips. They then get centered over the seam to reinforce it. When applying the tape, pull off a short length of wax paper, line up the tape with your left hand, and pull off the wax paper with your right hand as you stretch it over the seam. Keep it straight and wrinklefree. You won’t even be able to see the tape from five feet away.

Hopefully, my covering procedure for this style of wing tip will be helpful to you, providing you with a method for making beautiful wing tips. I have been using it for years, and it works for me; now it can work for you too!

Follow along with the pictures, and try it out the next time you encounter this problem.

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3-VIEW

DALLACH DIABOLO DRAWINGS BY HANS-JĂœRGEN FISCHER

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olfgang Dallach began his aircraft design career with an aerobatic airplane, the Diabolo. Dallach wanted to create an aircraft that would be lighter and less sluggish than the then prevailing Pitts and Zlin.

His new Diabolo was therefore fitted with a 260-horsepower Lycoming AEIO 540 D4B5 six-cylinder boxer type engine. What made his new design revolutionary was its hollow-molded wing construction, which made for an airplane that weighed only 1540 pounds (700 kg).

Twice, Dallach was the German viceaerobatic champion, and once he also became the overall European vicechampion.

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SPECIFICATIONS

After Wolfgang finished his aerobatics career in 1982, he started designing ultra-light aircraft and formed the WD Company. His airplanes employed the construction techniques he had learned designing and building the Diabolo. His designs included the Sunrise, Sunwheel, Fascination, and Evolution.

In April 2005, the WD Light Flugzeugbau GmbH was declared insolvent. In 2006, the Swiss company Swiss Light Aircraft acquired all rights.

Today, Wolfgang Dallach is still admired for his aerobatic skills with his Diabolo.

Engine : Lycoming AEIO-540--D4-B5 Type : 6-cylinder boxer max. : 260 Ps bei 2.700 U/min performance Propeller : Hoffmann HO-V123KV/200AH variable pitch Prop Diameter : 2.00 meter Mass : 700 Kg Airspeed : 228 mph max Min airspeed : 65 mph Takeoff : Asphalt — 130 m Takeoff : Grass — 150 m Landing : Asphalt 230 m Rate of climb : 2.500 ft/min Service ceiling : 20,000 ft

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D-EAZY

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BIRDS IN PARADISE FIRST-PERSON VIEW HOBBY FLYING ON VACATION

BY LUCIDITY, ROSWELL FLIGHT TEST CREW

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acation is fun. Flying FPV is fun. So what could possibly be more fun than doing both at the same time? Maybe nothing, but only if you’re well-prepared before you leave home. Here at the Roswell Flight Test Crew, we learned some lessons during a recent trip to the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii that might help you enjoy your next FPVacation (TM) just a little bit more.

GETTING THERE IS (NOT) HALF THE FUN Although the notion invokes an

ancient philosophical conundrum like the sound of one hand clapping, your FPV vacation starts at home. The very first thing that you must do is determine how you are going to get your aircraft and all of your support equipment safely to your destination.

There isn’t one single reader of RC Sport Flyer magazine to whom I need to explain the fact that model aircraft are fragile, awkward creations that can be put out of service by a single errant bump — so careful packaging is absolutely essential. The best possible solution is a hard case

with a foam insert custom cut to the dimensions of your aircraft. We’re big fans of GoProfessional cases, the leading producer of travel cases for multirotors. See the sidebar for more details.

Unfortunately, we started traveling with our birds before GoProfessional had made a big splash in the multirotor sector. After an exhaustive online search, we decided the best we could do was a bicycle case; it’s (relatively) lightweight and (relatively) cheap and, with a few modifications, was capable of safely transporting a

RQCX-3 “Raven,” the Roswell Flight Test Crew’s flagship hexacopter, sits earthbound among several of the six-meter radio telescopes that make up the Submillimeter Array. Raven’s control transmissions and FPV video signals could have interfered with the work of the array, which studies molecular clouds responsible for the formation of new stars in deep space, as well as distant galaxies. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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Remember that in addition to your aircraft, radio, and FPV gear, you’ll also need equipment to support your flight operations, such as battery chargers and a power supply. Here, the Roswell Flight Test Crew have set up their charging station on lanai.

This sign, posted at the 13,000 foot level on Mauna Kea, prompted the Roswell Flight Test Crew to abandon their plans to fly among the world-famous telescopes at its peak to avoid potentially interfering with ongoing scientific research.

whole flock of our electric birds.

Of course, FPV models don’t fly without a substantial amount of additional equipment: a radio, a video receiver and antenna, video goggles or a field monitor, cabling, batteries, battery chargers and, to be prudent, a stockpile of tools and spare parts.

If you are staying in a location where hobby gear will not be readily available, consider doubling up on mission-critical items, like your radio, video receiver, and display system. In our case, we take all that plus a spare aircraft — just in case something goes horribly, horribly wrong.

Typically, we mix our support

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You won’t be doing any flying if your aircraft doesn’t arrive at your destination intact. Although hard plastic cases with custom-cut foam inserts are now available from manufacturers like GoProfessional, the Roswell Flight Test Crew pressed a bicycle case into service when they first started traveling with their birds — before purpose-built options were available.

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without attending a luau, and no luau would be complete without the blazing spectacle of a fire dance. Originating on the island of Samoa — where it is know as the Siva Afi, or the “fire knife” — the dance was initiated by warriors to demonstrate their prowess and courage.

equipment in with our clothing and other personal items. Clothes make effective padding for your gear, and distributing it among several pieces of checked luggage can help you avoid an extra charge for a single bag weighing more than 50 pounds.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), one thing you cannot put in your checked baggage is your Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries. Owing to their potential to catch fire and burn uncontrollably, you must transport them in one of your carry-on bags so you and the flight crew can deal with any problem immediately, rather than waiting for it

to burn a hole through the fuselage in the cargo bay.

Now that you’re packed up, it’s time to head out to the airport.

Traveling by air is probably the worst part of flying FPV while on vacation.

We didn’t swim to Hawaii, so our trip brought us in contact with two distinct and equally potent sources of misery: our air carrier, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

SIR, MAY I LOOK INSIDE YOUR BAG? Congratulations! You made it to your airline’s customer service desk — now the real fun begins. If you’ve twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Portable, lightweight equipment makes it easier to travel with an FPV system. Here, the Roswell Flight Test Crew’s ground station is rigged up inside a gear bag. It consists of a pocket-sized 5.8-GHz video receiver with a circular polarized antenna and a pair of Fat Shark video goggles.

gone the oversized route like we did with our bicycle case, make sure you’ve got your credit card handy.

These days, airlines charge a lot for oversized bags. On several of our recent trips, we’ve paid between $70 (Southwest Airlines) and $200 (Delta and United) to bring our bicycle case along as checked baggage — and bear in mind that’s the one-way price, so budget double that if you want to bring your aircraft home with you.

Also, when the agent asks you what’s inside that absurdly large case plastered with AMA membership stickers, do not say “a drone” or “an FPV multirotor.” All they will do is stare at you like a fish stranded on dry land while trying to decide whether or not the moment has finally arrived to press the panic button that was installed under the counter after 9/11.

Instead, just say, “a toy helicopter” or, if you fly a planker, “a model airplane.” Trust me — I’ve tried it both ways and the “toy helicopter/model airplane” answer is going to get you the outcome you want much, much sooner.

With the bulk of your gear now riding a conveyor belt towards its rendezvous with your plane’s cargo hold, it’s time for you and your LiPo batteries to pass through the TSA checkpoint.

You might want to mention that you bag contains “model airplane” batteries before you send it through the X-ray machine, but that will not alter the outcome of this encounter: your bag will be held, you will be taken aside, and a TSA agent is going to go over your batteries with a gimlet eye — wiping everything down with one of those bomb-detection swabs.

Near as we can figure, LiPo batteries must look like plastic explosives or something equally sinister to the X-ray operator, because this happens every single time we fly, without fail. In fact, we take turns carrying our batteries through security, just so the same guy doesn’t always get stuck quite literally rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

“holding the bag.”

Be patient, polite, and answer any questions that you are asked honestly.

This is another crucial point in your journey where “toy helicopter” is probably a better word choice than “drone.”

WE’RE ON TOP OF THE WORLD! Of course, the whole reason to put yourself through the ordeal of dragging your FPV gear halfway around the planet is to fly over something you can’t fly over at home – and to come back with some righteous video to share with your friends.

That was our plan when we set out early one morning for Mauna Kea, the highest point in the entire Pacific Basin at 13,796 feet, and home to some of the most powerful telescopes on Earth. The air is so thin — exerting 40 percent less pressure than at sea level — and clear that these behemoths are actually capable of out-performing their orbital cousins.

We were excited to see whether or not our aircraft would even be able to fly at that altitude. If they could, we figured we’d be able to capture some amazing footage of a unique location known all around the world.

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RQCX-3 “Raven” captured this still image of famous Alii Drive on the Kona coast of Hawaii with a GoPro Hero 3+ mounted on a two-axis gimbal using an AlexMos controller. The structure surrounded by palm trees near the center of the frame is the Hulihe’e Palace. Built in 1838, it served as a retreat for Hawaiian royalty. The steeple visible immediately behind the palace belongs to Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest Christian church in Hawaii, founded in 1820.

Looking north along the Kona coast, this aerial image captured by RQCX-3 “Raven” reveals a pier sheltering Kamakahonu Beach, a name that translates to “The Eye of the Turtle.” Sandy beaches are uncommon in Kona, where the shoreline is predominantly covered with black volcanic rock. The wooded area just beyond the beach conceals a palatial compound owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Portland Trailblazers basketball team.

Traveling with an FPV system allows you to capture unique perspectives of the places you visit. Here, RQCX-3 “Raven” looks down on the famous black sand beach of Punalu’u, on the southeastern shore of the big island of Hawaii.

Following some advice from the website, we stopped off at the visitor’s center, perched at about the 9,000-foot level, to let our bodies acclimatize to the rarefied atmosphere. I should have known we were in trouble after we sat down a watched a short video that introduced me to a new piece of information: the summit of Mauna Kea is home to radio telescopes as well as optical telescopes.

I’ll blame the fact that I did not immediately comprehend the potential conflict between radio telescopes and radio-controlled aircraft on hypoxia; the lack of oxygen was simultaneously diminishing my mental capacity and causing me to giggle like a Japanese school girl watching a Zettai Kareshi marathon.

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Continuing up the unpaved, winding mountain road, we saw a sign at about the 13,000 foot level that made our hearts sink. It read: “Cell Phones Disrupt Telescopes — Emergency Use Only.”

Crestfallen, especially after the long drive from the Kona Coast and all of the extra effort we’d put into renting a vehicle capable of reaching the summit, we sought a way to justify going ahead with our planned flights. Here are a few samples of the sort of rigorous, well-founded, logical arguments that we were able to articulate more than two and a half miles above sea level: “Wait a minute! Our radio is on 2.4-GHz and our FPV system is on 5.8-GHz. Cell phones don’t use those frequencies — right? Right!?”

“The sign said you’re not supposed to use cell phones, but obviously you can use them in an emergency, so that means there are cell phone towers nearby — and cell phone towers are way more powerful than anything we’re using, so we should be okay.”

“Maybe no one will notice.”

“My lips are tingling.”

Believe it or not, in spite of being at an elevation where the FAA requires air crews to use supplemental oxygen, we finally managed to make the right decision: the bird stayed in the car.

We could have gotten some amazing footage on top of Mauna Kea, but recording images of the universe in the first few moments after the Big Bang or finding alien planets orbiting distant suns is infinitely more amazing, and we weren’t going to stand in the way of that.

The moral of our story: picking up the telephone is a quick and easy way to figure out whether or not you are permitted to fly in a particular location, especially when compared with spending three hours in a car to get the exact same information from a road sign half a mile from your destination.

BE SAFE, BE LEGAL, BE RESPECTFUL Whether you’re in a local park across the street from your house or in Timbuktu, safety always needs to be your top priority. All of the same rules apply, such as having a qualified spotter at your side and maintaining twitter.com/rcsportflyer

your aircraft within a visual line of sight. Also, be sure to avoid putting your bird over crowds of people or property that could be hurt or damaged if your flight ends in an abrupt, unexpected, and uncontrolled manner.

You may have heard that what happens in Kathmandu stays in Kathmandu — well, don’t believe it. If you drop a multirotor on a Sherpa’s head, it’s going to make news internationally, I guarantee it, so fly safe.

An additional consideration if you’re traveling internationally is how the country you’re visiting allocates its radio spectrum — a frequency and output wattage that may be completely legal here in the United States could get you in trouble with the local equivalent of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in another part of the world.

Likewise, find out in advance rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

whether or not the country that you are visiting has any rules that apply to FPV flying. Although the FAA’s intransigence has transformed the phrase “small unmanned aircraft system regulations” into a punchline here at home, many other countries are way ahead of us on this issue. For example, following a series of highprofile incidents in Australia — which included a multirotor slamming into a landmark bridge in Sydney, and a woman suffering a head injury after a multirotor fell on her at a public event — that nation’s FAA-equivalent started handing out a code of conduct to hobbyists. You don’t want the person who informs you about rules and regulations of the country you are visiting to be a member of the local constabulary.

Finally, just because it’s legal and safe doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Be respectful of the people and places that you are visiting. I’m sure

After a flight out over the rugged Kona coastline, which is dominated by black lava rock, RQCX-3 “Raven” prepares to land — her gimbal-mounted GoPro Hero 3+ carrying dramatic high-definition video footage that will appear on the Roswell Flight Test Crew’s YouTube channel.

you could get some compelling video flying over Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, D.C., but our honored dead have not been laid to rest in that hallowed ground so that their grieving families can be annoyed by the hive-like buzz of your multirotor.

THE NATIVES ARE GETTING RESTLESS After our debacle on the summit of Mauna Kea, we decided to lower our sights — both figuratively and literally — so we set out for the famous black sand beach of Punalu’u on the island’s southeastern shoreline. Speaking with some locals, we were happy to learn RC-SF.COM

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that in Hawaii, like our home state of Oregon, all beaches are public property.

We’ve flown over Oregon’s beaches on several occasions and, apart from having to take extraordinary care not to become tangled in kite strings, we’ve never had a problem. Arriving at Punalu’u, we scouted out the location on the ground, just as we would before flying a new location back at home. The sand was indeed black, and slightly coarser than the sand I’ve seen on other beaches. Techinstein inspected a handful of it and pronounced that it had a texture very much like sandblasting sand. I took his word for it.

The beach itself was not crowded,

but we always prefer to launch and recover our aircraft well away from other people to minimize the risk as much as possible. On the other side of the cove, we spotted a secluded boat ramp and decided that it would be an ideal place to set up our ground station.

Thus prepared, we sent RQCX-3 “Raven” skyward and flew out over the water, taking in scenic views of the charcoal-colored beach. I was flying, blind to the outside world as I piloted our aircraft through a pair of Fat Shark goggles, with Techinstein serving as my spotter.

At that moment, I heard a sound that I have never heard before in nearly four years of public FPV flying:

JUST IN CASE: KEEP YOUR MULTIROTOR SAFE WHILE TRAVELING

A successful FPVacationTM requires that every piece of equipment arrives safely at the destination. GoProfessional Cases (Goprocases. com) has established itself as the premier supplier of purpose-built cases for FPV multirotor and professional RC aerial photography rigs, as well as their support equipment.

Company founder Rick Bohlman got his start making customcut foam inserts for Pelican and other rugged-use containers for the defense industry. With the explosive growth of GoPro, he recognized that professional users, in particular, would benefit from a safe way to transport groups of Hero cameras along with

GoProfessional Cases not only help to ensure your aircraft gets safely to the flying site — whether it’s across town or across the Pacific Ocean — but also include space for common accessories. This DJI Phantom case has spaces for the stock DJI controller, battery charger, and cables, but also a GoPro Hero camera, extra batteries, and spare propellers.

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a man’s voice, disapproving, asking “What the @&$# are you doing?”

I can truthfully say that, up until that moment, we have never met anyone who has not been positive, even enthusiastic, after seeing this technology in action, so at first I thought he was joking. I re-doubled my focus on my piloting, leaving Techinstein to deal with our visitor.

After bringing Raven back for a safe landing, I removed my goggles and turned towards him, finally beginning to absorb the fact that he was not happy to see us.

He was wearing a ripped t-shirt and dirty shorts. I don’t remember seeing any shoes, but I distinctly recall noticing that one of his front teeth

their requisite accessories.

This new venture brought him into contact with the FPV multirotor community. He saw they need for a secure way to transport the spindly and awkwardly-shaped aircraft. Bohlman has since released travel cases for a range of popular multirotors, including the DJI Phantom series, the DJI S800 Evo and S1000, the Blade 350-QX, the 3D Robotics Iris, the QAV 500, the Xpro XP2, the TBS Discovery, the CineStar 8, the DroidWorx SkyJib 8, and the SteadiDrone QU4D. GoProfessional cases are available from the company’s website as well as hobby retailers such as Atlanta Hobby, Drone Fly, Empire Hobby, and Red Rocket Hobby Shop.

Built to safely store and transport the Isis quadcopter from 3D Robotics, this GoProfessional case also includes space for a hobby radio, a GoPro Hero 3+ with SD card, extra batteries, and a charger, as well as a tablet for use as a ground station.

Responding to customer demand, GoProfessional Cases developed a backpack to transport the DJI Phantom. It carries all of the components necessary for flying, including three 5,200-mAH batteries. It also boasts space for a small field monitor or a set of video goggles for conventional FPV flying.

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was chipped.

“This is that NSA $#@&,” he slurred.

“You can’t be getting in people’s business like this! What the %&#@ are you doing!?”

Patiently, I tried to explain that the camera on board our aircraft has a very wide angle lens, making it pretty much impossible to identify individual people, much less see what they are doing — but his profanitylaced stream of questions continued unabated. My wife, who was with us that day, later told me she was certain he was about to throw a punch.

On the far side of our rental car,

MAUNA KEA: A WINDOW ON THE UNIVERSE

The name Mauna Kea is translated from the native Hawaiian language as “white mountain,” owing to the snow that covers its peak during the winter months. The mix of ice and volcanic fire on the summit led to the formation of obsidian — a naturally occurring form of black glass with edges that rival modern surgical scalpels.

The ancient Hawaiians climbed to the peak of Mauna Kea in order to quarry obsidian and manufacture adze — stone hand axes. Such was the quality of the obsidian found atop Mauna Kea and the skill of the craftsmen who worked it that these tools were prized throughout the Hawaiian islands.

The summit was established as location for an astronomical observatory in 1964 with the encouragement of

Techinstein had intercepted his better half and, demonstrating considerably more presence of mind than I had been able to muster, he was regaling her with all of the positive uses of small unmanned aircraft systems — like search and rescue. She was delighted and eventually managed to steer her man back towards their campsite.

The lesson we took from this encounter is, no matter how many positive people we’ve met while we’re out flying FPV — and I’m sure its a couple of thousand at this point — there are still folks who are going

to be angry or frightened by it. If you add in other factors with the potential to inflame the situation, like drugs or alcohol, a language barrier, or cultural differences, you could end up with a bloody nose or a black eye.

YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY One of the perils inherent in writing about this topic is that there are a lot of things that could go wrong, and I feel that it’s my responsibility to make sure that you are aware of, and prepared for, all of them. However, my fear is that by creating a catalog of potential

American scientist Gerard Kuiper. In 1970, a 2.2-meter reflecting telescope was built at the site for planetary studies.

Although it has been eclipsed by larger and more technologically advanced telescopes in the decades since, it is still used regularly by astronomy students from the University of Hawaii.

Now home to 13 of the most powerful telescopes on Earth, Mauna Kea offers an unparalleled combination of environmental factors that make it well-suited for ground-based astronomy. It boasts a one of the highest proportions of clear nights on the planet; extremely dry air, which facilitates infrared and submillimeter observations; and dark skies made possible by both its remote location and local laws put in place to limit excessive nighttime lighting.

The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory is among the radio telescopes located on the summit of Mauna Kea. Its distinctive dome, which was constructed on the Caltech football field in Pasadena, California and then dismantled and shipped to Hawaii, contains a 10.4-meter parabolic dish used to study the formation of stars.

With the sun setting, the United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope opens its shutters to equalize its internal air temperature with the outside environment ahead of a night of stargazing. The telescope entered service in 1978 with a 3.8-meter main reflector weighing 6.5 tons. In 2011, it identified the most distant quasar ever observed.

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disasters, I may have left you with the impression that you’d be crazy to take an FPVacationTM — and that would indeed be an unfortunate result.

Sure, I’ve described how you could be charged hundreds of dollars in oversized baggage fees, be taken aside by the TSA at a security check point; be fined by a foreign government for unlawful use of their radio spectrum, be held for questioning by the local civil aviation authorities, or be punched in the mouth by a half-lit beachcomber who is convinced that you work for the NSA, among other woes.

However, you need to balance all of that against the pure joy of flying, of sharing the amazing capabilities of this technology with new friends all over the world, and capturing unique videos and still photographs that will provide an entirely new perspective on the places you visit.

Also, you can make choices that

PUNALU’U: THE BIG ISLAND’S FAMOUS BLACK SAND BEACH

The black sand beach of Punalu’u formed as a direct result of the island’s recent (geologically speaking) history of volcanic activity. The sand itself is comprised of basalt, the same mineral that makes up much of the big island’s rocky shoreline.

However, rather than slowly cooling into the jagged boulders and rugged outcroppings seen elsewhere, the hot lava that arrived at Punalu’u literally exploded when it came into contact with the cold ocean water. The pulverized rock that resulted from that cataclysmic encounter graces the shoreline today as black sand.

Although perfectly comfortable to walk across with bare feet or lay down on while sunbathing, the sand at Punalu’u is noticeably more

will mitigate, or even eliminate, all of these potential problems. For example, we’ve got a lot of old-school gear that we insist on dragging around with us. If you just got yourself a DJI Phantom with a simple FPV video transmitter setup and a set of goggles with an integrated receiver, you could pack your entire kit into one of those slick GoProfessional backpacks and carry it on to the plane with you and — SHAZAM! — no baggage fees.

Likewise, if you fly safely, responsibly, and respectfully, and do your homework before you arrive at your destination, you’re not going to have any problems with the local authorities. In fact, they’ll probably crowd around for a closer look, just like everyone else.

There is a whole world to be explored, and you’ve got the tools and the skills to do it the right way — so get out there and have fun!

Even drones need a vacation! Festooned with a colorful lei, RQCX-3 “Raven” lounges poolside after a hard day capturing aerial video and stills with the Roswell Flight Test Crew on the big island of Hawaii.

coarse than a typical white sand beach.

In addition to its black sand, Punalu’u is also distinguished by the large amounts of fresh water which flow out into the sea from underground springs in the area. In fact, the phrase “puna lu’u,” in the Hawaiian language literally means “diver for spring water.” In times of drought, the native Hawaiians would dive down to the bottom of the cove and collect fresh water in jugs.

A number of endangered species make their homes at Punalu’u, including the Hawksbill Turtle, the Green Turtle, and the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Considered a sacred space in the traditional Hawaiian religion, Punalu’u boasts the ruins of several “heaiu,” or temples.

Tourists on the big island of Hawaii often stop at the black sand beach of Punalu’u on their way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 30 miles away — and home to Kilauea, a volcano that has been actively erupting since 1983.

The intrusion of large quantities of fresh water into the salty sea water at Punalu’u creates a noticeable visual distortion observed by visitors swimming or snorkeling in the cove. At the surface, this effect can resemble a sheen of oil floating on the surface, although it is actually a result of the different densities of water mixing together.

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E-POWER 11 FLAPPING ITS WAY TO EFFICIENCY

BY ANDREW GIBBS

These images give you an idea of the model’s appearance as it flaps its way through the air.

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Patrick is seen here about to launch his fascinating Kestrel ornithopter for a bird-like flight.

W

e start this column by featuring an unorthodox model in the shape of an ornithopter. The electric power systems discussion in this column deals with the performance of electric motors.

KESTREL ORNITHOPTER FROM PATRICK ARNOLD This fascinating model comes from Patrick Arnold. The design originated in the U.S. Unfortunately, it’s no longer in production, although plans are available from R & R Model Aircraft: Randrmodelaircraft.com.

Patrick has owned his Kestrel since 2002, and in that time he has flown it for several hundred hours. The model has been incredibly reliable — Patrick says the only repairs that have been necessary were to replace the original set of 3/16-in. carbon wing spars, which delaminated under the stresses of the flapping. The new spars are slightly larger, and these have remained intact.

The 40-in. wingspan of the Kestrel is extremely critical for its center of gravity (CG), or balance point. Patrick reports it must be within 3/32 inch (2 mm) of the optimum position or the model simply will not fly.

POWER SYSTEM Perhaps surprisingly, the model is powered by a Speed 300 6-volt brushed motor. Not only is this modest power plant quite sufficient, but remarkably, the model is still using its original motor! Patrick has tried a couple of brushless motors, but found the model performed better with the original, so it was reinstalled.

However, he and I are confident the right brushless motor would represent an improvement over the original.

The Speed 300 motor is geared 6:1. and was originally powered by a 7-cell 600-mAh NiMH battery.

Thus equipped, the ornithopter delivered about five-minute flights.

The NiMH battery has been replaced with a 1000-mAh 2S LiPo, with flight durations now up to a maximum of

The tail rotates left and right for steering. The tail surface is attached directly to the servo — simple and effective. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

around 30 minutes. The increase in duration (around six-fold) seems out of proportion to the increase in battery capacity, which has risen by a factor of less than two. The discrepancy may be explained by a couple of factors: the LiPo battery has a higher load voltage and weighs less than the NiMH pack. The LiPo battery also has a considerably lower internal resistance, meaning that far less energy is wasted producing battery heat. It could also be that the NiMH battery was not actually delivering its rated capacity.

The flight duration of a model tells us about the average current drawn by the motor. For example, if this model could fly for one hour with its 1000-mAh battery, then the average current would be one amp. This is because the very definition of a 1000-

The mechanism for flapping the wings is surprisingly simple — a rotatory drive system.

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mAh (1 amp hour) battery is that it can supply one amp for one hour.

Because the model’s flight duration is typically 30 minutes, the discharge current therefore higher than one amp. A few moments with

a calculator tells us it’s around 60 ÷ 30 × 1,000 = 02 amps. If we assume the battery’s load voltage is around 7.4 volts, the average power comes out to around 7.4 × 02 watts, or nearly 15 watts. This is incredibly

low for a model of this size, and tells us just how efficient the propulsion method of flapping wings must be.

Note that the full-throttle current is around six amps, so maximum power is around 44 watts (6 × 7.4 = 44.4).

Pitch control is achieved by altering the angle of incidence of the entire tail surface.

The fabric tail surface is supported using an elegant mix of thin and thick carbon rods.

A general view of the model’s fuselage, or should it be called the body?

The design is simple and effective.

The high revving Speed-300 motor needs to be geared down to move the wings at ≈100 flaps per minute.

The tail surface is maintained at a significantly different angle compared to the wings of the ornithopter.

The model requires surprisingly little power to maintain flight. Mother nature knows about the efficiency of flap propulsion!

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The model weighs 13 ounces plus the flight battery for a total of around 16 ounces, or one pound. This means a power loading of 44 watts per pound.

PERFORMANCE The model flies well, and Patrick explained that it’s more or less

neutrally stable. It is easy to fly once its performance characteristics are known and the pilot can adjust accordingly. The model is very sensitive in pitch; if it’s made to pitch up or down too steeply, it will suddenly ‘flip’ to inverted. Patrick thinks this could be a result of the

wing’s tip stalling.

For its RC system, Patrick uses Futaba, plus the addition of an FR Sky 2.4-GHz module. The servos are Hitec HS-82MG units, and the airborne RC system is supplied voltage by an eight-amp electronic speed controller with battery eliminator circuit (BEC).

POWER SYSTEMS

Performance The efficiency of an electric motor is not a fixed value.

For any given battery voltage, the efficiency depends on the current the motor draws.

The table below shows how a typical 600-size brushed motor performs under a variety of different loads. The motor has a Kv of 2600. The load is the propeller — a large, steeply Efficiency pitched propeller provides a heavy load, and vice versa. Note No mechanical device is 100% efficient, which means there that it is not necessary to specify the exact propeller size used, will always be some energy lost. Put simply, we cannot get since for the moment we are only interested in the performance as much energy out of an electric motor as we put in — some of the motor. The propeller is fitted to the motor in order to of the input energy is wasted. In an electric motor, this waste load it. energy comes in the form of heat.

The first row of the table shows the motor performance Motor efficiency is defined as the ratio of power out to with no propeller attached to the motor. With no load, the power in. For example, if a motor consumes 100 watts of motor requires very little current — in this case just 12 watts — electrical power from the battery, but only delivers 75 watts and the rpm is high. The motor is doing no useful work. Notice of mechanical power to the shaft, it is operating at 75 percent the heat generated by the motor is the same as the input power efficiency. The remaining 25 watts of energy is wasted as heat.

— all of the input power is converted to heat in the motor’s windings, so the efficiency is zero.

Motor Efficiency = Power Out ÷ Power In The remaining rows of the table show how the motor performs with various loads.

The characteristics of this motor are typical LOAD TABLE of brushed ferrite ‘can’ type motors, so they CONDITION Current Input power RPM Efficiency % Heat may be considered applicable in principle to LOAD (NO PROP) 2A (Io)* 02 x 06 = 12W 15,600 00 12 W other brushed motors such as 280, 380, 400, LOAD (SMALL PROP) 5A 05 x 06 = 30W 14,900 53 14 W 500, 700, and other sizes. The characteristics MAX. LOAD 12A 12 x 06 = 72W 13,000 68 23 W of this motor type are also broadly similar SAFE LOAD 18A 18 x 06 = 108W 12,000 63 40 W to those of brushless motors. This same OVERLOAD 23A 22 x 06 = 132 W 10,900 61 52 W information can be presented graphically, as *Io defines the current a motor consumes while running freely; i.e., with no load. (I = current, o = no load, thus shown below.

In Part 10 of this column, I detailed motor Kv (rpm per volt). Here I’ll explain the efficiency and performance of electric motors. We’ll be looking at brushed motors in particular on this occasion, which serve very well to illustrate the principles that apply to both brushed and brushless motors.

Io = no load current)

This small ornithopter uses a slightly different method of propulsion. The model has two wings that move together and then apart. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

The flapping mechanism causes the upper and lower wings on each side to continuously meet and separate, providing propulsion.

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SPECIFICATIONS Wingspan 40 in> Weight 16 oz Battery 2S 1000-mAh LiPo ESC 8 Amp Motor Speed 300 6-volt Transmitter Futaba w/ FR Sky

2.4-GHz module Receiver Futaba Servos Hitec HS-82MG

as always, I’m interested to hear about your models, so please send photos and details.

I’ll also discuss the operational characteristics of the example motor in more detail, using the graph

that accompanies this article as a reference.

You can reach me at: andrew@ gibbsguides.com

Thank you for sharing your model with us, Patrick. I’ve always found ornithopters appealing, so I was unable to resist the small ready-to-fly example shown in the accompanying photos. The model is incredibly lightweight, probably weighing about the same as a similarly-sized bird.

NEXT MONTH Next time, I’ll present another inspirational model. In the meantime,

GRAPH This graph represents how four of the most important aspects of motor operation are interrelated.

• Current is presented along the bottom axis (0 – 40 amps) • Efficiency is at the right axis (0 – 100%), and depicted as a green line.

• Input power is on the right axis (0 – 250 watts), and depicted as a red line.

• Rpm along the left hand vertical axis (0 - 25,000 rpm) and depicted as a blue line.

The principles illustrated by the graph apply equally to electric motors — 280-, 400-, and 600-sizes, etc..

Efficiency of typical ‘600‘ brushed motor on 6 Volts 25,000 rpm

250W

100%

20,000 rpm

200W

80%

15,000 rpm

150W

60%

10,000 rpm

100W

40%

50W

20%

0W

0%

0 rpm

Just like its larger cousin, the tail surfaces are positioned at a significantly different angle compared to the wings.

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Input Power Efficiency RPM

5,000 rpm

0A 2A 5A

10 A

15 A

20 A

25 A

30 A

35 A

40 A

Motor current in Amperes

Directional control of this small ornithopter is achieved with a small rudder that is attached to a vertical fin. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

REVIEW

ALLUSIVE™ 2.2M IT’S A THERMAL SOARER AND A FUN AEROBATIC MACHINE ALL IN ONE!

BY GENE COPE

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E

-flite® just introduced their new 2.2-meter wingspan electric-powered sailplane, the Allusive™. It is built with the same well-known quality of construction as their Mystique 2.9-meter ARF. This smaller limited-motor-run glider is an ideal model for pilots who want get their glider to altitude quickly for super soaring as well as doing aerobatics. It’s also the perfect size for traveling because it can be broken down into three parts — five if you remove the V-tails. Using an E-flite 40-amp electronic speed controller (ESC), a Power 15-size outrunner with a 12 x 8 propeller, and Spektrum™ servos, it takes little time at all to assemble and to be in flying in thermal heaven.

The sailplane is solidly built with foam core sheeted wings and sheeted stabilizers (V-tails) that are strong, expertly finished, and superbly covered. The lower surfaces of the wings are covered in a metallic charcoal plastic film with orange colored wingtips, while the tops are white with orange tips. Both color schemes let the glider be seen well, even at extreme distances. The Allusive’s white molded fiberglass composite fuselage with fitted canopy is nicely engineered and built, too.

When I got the model out of the kit box, I found that there were some wrinkles in the covering material — which are not unexpected in a model that goes from factory to distributor to customer — but they were easily twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The Allusive comes as a very complete almost-ready-to-fly kit. You’ll need to buy the motor, ESC, battery, servos, and Rx, but everything integrates well.

Here are the parts you’ll need to power up your Allusive.

E-flite lists everything on their website, so you can have the model and its parts arrive together.

Push the throttle up and the Allusive will blast off, headed for soaring altitude in a hurry. Cut the power, and you’ll have a soaring machine that is spritely.

The Allusive is not just a good thermal soarer — it’s also a fun glider for flying aerobatics because it will fly fast. It also delivers excellent roll and pitch control. It’s just fun to fly! rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Notice how the model has contrasting colors from top to bottom, plus the bright yellow wingtips. This is an immense help in staying oriented with the glider no matter its flight attitude.

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Low-tack (blue) masking tape was used to hold the stabilizers tight to the fuselage while the epoxy was curing on the carbon rods that get glued into the stabilizer halves.

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The metal ruddder/elevators’ control linkages have a straight run to the control surfaces and are easy to adjust. I found they provide very positive in control response too.

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The rudder/elevators servos mount next to each other in the plywood tray. You must pay attention to the servos’ arm lengths so you get the proper amount of throw.

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The plywood servo mounts for the wings come with prelocated servo mount holes that you’ll want to drill, tap, and harden with CA glue before you epoxy them in place.

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The speed controller must be fitted below the servos’ tray before the motor is mounted becuase you’ll want to push it in the front and the slide it back.

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The ailerons’ control horns were securely attached to the aileron by using epoxy. The model had the slots in the control surfaces precut, so you know exactly where the horns fit.

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Ends of the stabilizers’ carbon joiner rods have received a small chamfer on their ends to aid in installing them on the model. They simply slide into the fuselage’s boom.

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The E-flite® Power 15-size outrunner motor gets secured to the motor mount with pan head machine screws, which you’ll want to use thread locker on.

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The model uses a 40-mm E-flite® spinner and 12x8 folding propeller, which makes for high-speed climbs when you hit the “gas” for the motor.

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An E-flite® 3S 11.1-volt 30C 2200-mAh LiPo battery provides the voltage and current to power the Allusive’s motor ­— you’ll get many climbs on a charge.

removed with a heat gun.

FEATURES • Fiberglass fuselage w/ a painted finish • Four-channel control w/ V-tail, ailerons, and throttle • Large canopy for easy access to installed plywood mounts • Two-piece, balsa sheeted, foamcore plug-in wings • Built-up, balsa plug-in V-tail stabilizers • Solid carbon fiber wing and stabilizer joiners • Factory built to accept an E-flite® Power 15 outrunner motor • Plywood motor mount that is predrilled.

• High-quality hardware package included in the kit • Fiberglass control horns and prebent steel pushrods • Factory finished, film hinges on the ailerons and ruddervators • High-contrast, Hangar 9® rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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You’ll find the Allusive is very responsive to aileron control and elevator response.

The motor/ESC/battery combo provides for many climbs to altitude.

UltraCote® covering NEEDED TO COMPLETE • Receiver Spektrum AR6260 • Servos Spektrum (2) A5030 digital mini, (2) A7020 digital thin-wing • Speed controller E-flite 40-amp Lite Pro BEC brushless ESC • Motor E-flite Power 15 brushless outrunner, 950Kv • Battery E-flite 3S 11.1-volt 2200-mAh 30C

LiPo • Propeller E-flite 12x8 Folding propeller w/ 40-mm aluminum wpinner • Servo extensions Spektrum (2) standard 6-in., (2) heavy duty 18-in.

• Marking tape Scotch® 35 White 1/2 in. x 20 ft x 007 in.

LMR SOARING For the maiden flight, and flight photos for this review, a trip was made to the top of Kiona Butte, just outside RC-SF.COM

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You’ll want to use a Spektrum DX6 or better transmitter for control of this Allusive. The transmitter must have V-tail type control programming built in.

of Benton City, WA. Even though the Allusive is an electric-powered glider, the Butte’s height provides for great photography, not to mention the thermals there are superb as they rise off the valley floor.

Using about half throttle, the sailplane was launched straight out from the slope into a five-mph northeast wind. With the model’s controls set at zero trim, the Allusive flew straight out from launch.

The glider’s control responses are excellent, with a nice roll rate and positive pitch control. We found that its stalls are mild and straight ahead.

Powered by the E-flite 15 outrunner motor that turns a 12x8 propeller, its climbs to altitude can be near vertical and of short durations. Most of the power-on climbs were about 10 seconds long and produced heights of around 600 feet. The Allusive™ is responsive to thermals too, but has a higher sink rate than the E-flite Mystique — it is designed to be more of a sport soarer that can also do aerobatics, which it does in style.

Even though it’s quite “slippery,” you’ll find that you can slow the sailplane down for a landing without it having a tendency to tip stall. While the wing is thin and clean, you can just pull back on the elevator to reduce airspeed — I’m not drooping the ailerons either.

Wil Byers performed the maiden flight of the Allusive at Kiona Butte, because there we could get lots of great photos from above and below the glider.

Hit the throttle for the Allusive and you’ll have it at soaring altitude in about 10 seconds. Moreover, you’ll be able to get multiple climbs with the E-flite power system that we used in this model.

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Here Wil is adding just a bit of power to get the model back to the landing zone after making a steep dive and running downwind. The model penetrates back into the wind well. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

ASSEMBLY

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

CONTROL THROWS AILERONS ELEVATORS RUDDERS

Up 11/16 in.

7/16 in.

7/16 in.

Down 11/16 in.

7/16 in.

7/16 in.

Differential 0 / 50 / 75% on 3-position switch

To install the motor, the shaft must first be reversed on the E-flite 15 so you can screw the motor to the mount.

Next, you’ll need to set the model’s center of gravity (CG). I found it to be a bit nose heavy, even with the battery pushed back as far as possible. To correct this, 3/4 oz of #9 lead shot was added to the tail through the lower rear stabilizer pin location. It was secured in place with epoxy. The stabilizer’s pin holes were then cleaned with denatured alcohol to remove any epoxy residue. The model’s CG was set at 2-1/2 in. back from the wing’s leading edge, as per the manual.

The CG position was marked on the battery tray for future reference, and the battery was secured to the tray with hook-and-loop tape and strap.

Once you have the G position set correctly, all that remains is to set the control travels. Travel gage templates are provided in the kit.

Pre-Flight The E-flite 40-amp ESC was programmed for a three-cell battery and for medium braking of the propeller.

The model weighed in at three pounds two ounces ready to fly, just two ounces over the manufacturers’s published weight.

The wings and stabilizers were secured to the fuselage with 1/2 in. white vinyl marking tape.

It was time fly when the LiPo pack was charged and the radio programmed.

SPECIFICATIONS

DEBRIEF The quality of the Allusive really is outstanding! The sheeted foamcore wings provide superb flight performance. I like that the model has a nice wide speed envelope, and that it’s quite responsive to control inputs. I also like that they motor provides plenty of power for steep, high-speed climbs to altitude, with multiple climbs possible per battery charge. Also, I like my modification for removable stabilizers, which makes for much easier transport.

If all the recommended power and control components are at arms length when you start the build, this model can easily be assembled in

Next, you want to drill and tap the plywood wings’ servos’ plates for the mounting screws. I found the mounting screws to be a bit long, so be sure to grind 1/16 inch off the ends of the screws so they do not protrude through the upper wings’ surfaces when you install the servos. If you don’t, you will find up to three sharp points protruding through the upper wings’ surfaces after installing the A7020 thin-wing servos.

As mentioned earlier, the stabilizer carbon rods were epoxied into the stabilizers only, but before I did this a slight chamfer was put on the rod ends that insert into the fuselage. This makes alignment between the holes in the fuselage and stabilizer rods much easier during field assembly.

My next step, while the epoxy was curing, was to bind the Spektrum AR6260 six-channel receiver to my Spektrum DX9 transmitter. You must do this to properly center all the servos prior to their installation in the aircraft, because all transmitter program settings are not equal, even within a brand.

When setting up the elevator servo arms, what is shown in the manual is not what is written in the manual. You must make the servo arms 13/32 of an inch, or use the second hole as is shown.

Note that the speed controller must be installed below the servo tray and before the motor is mounted — it must be slid in from the front and then pushed back into position. It does not fit through the openings in the tray.

Wingspan : 87.5 in. (2.20 m) Length : 43.0 in. (1.10 m) Wing area : 546 in.2 (35.2 dm2) Weight : 48 oz (1.40 kg) Motor : Power 15 Speed Control : 40-amp brushless

DISTRIBUTOR

The model was built as per the manual, which includes the easy-to-read and understand instructions, with step-by-step check-off boxes. The only exception to this was the securing of the the stabilizers. The manual detailed having the carbon rods epoxied into the stabilizers and the fuselage for a permeant attachment. However, for ease of transport, I opted to epoxy the rods in the stabilizers only, and then secure them to the fuselage with tape. The stabilizer rod bosses that are built into the fuselage provided ample strength for this, and this method became a blessing later in the build.

The wrinkles in the covering were removed using a covering iron, with sock temperature set to 250 degrees.

There was an issue with the control horns. The stabilizers’ control horns’ holes were too small in diameter for the clevises’ pin to fit properly. You’ll want to use a pin vise, fitted with a 1/16-in. diameter drill, to enlarge the holes just slightly. The ailerons’ control horns, on the other hand, had slightly to large clevis holes. This resulted in slop between the horn and control rod. A drop of CA glue was used in the aileron control horns‘ clevises’ holes, which were subsequently drilled with a 1/16-in. drill after the CA cured. That removed the slop completely. I recommend you check the clevises-to-horn fit before the horns are glued in the wings and elevators.

The rework will be much easier.

Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 Horizonhobby.com

the morning so you can catch the thermals in the afternoon. It’s that easy to assemble! Finally, the Allusive 2.2m is an excellent value, at just $329.99.

Battery : 3S 2200-mAh 30C LiPo Transmitter : 4-channel+ w/ V-tail mixing Servos : (2) wing servos (2) mini servos Propeller : 12 x 8 folding Spinner : 1.5 in. (40mm) Price : $329.99 (EFL4925)

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The X1 Pro docks with the ePowerBox. The unit uses a joystick interface.

The input, balance, temperature, and charge ports are on its side.

You’ll want to buy both the power supply (left) and the X1 Pro charger.

You can use them independently, but they mate to make a charging station.

RCD

X1 PRO DC/DC MULTICHARGER & ePOWERBOX 17A POWER SUPPLY

BY WIL BYERS

O

kay, so winter is just around the corner and airplanes are mostly starting be hangared.

However, that doesn’t mean that you should just put them up on the rack and forget about them — definitely not! You absolutely must provide care and feeding to the battery packs that power your models’ radio systems.

That means cycling the batteries, and in the case of LiPo packs, putting a storage charge on them. In so doing, when spring arrives, you will have packs that you can depend on to deliver the necessary voltage and the capacity of their rating. I also recommend you don’t let your models’ battery packs be stored where they will freeze, but that’s not the focus of this review.

Rather, this review is about Hitec RCD’s new X1 Pro DC/DC battery charger and their new powerful 230watt ePowerBox. This is a combo pack like you’ve never seen! The

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combination is a power supply that is compatible with 100 to 240 volts AC, and a battery charger that delivers 180 watts to any Lithium-based, NiCd, NiMH, and Lead-Acid battery pack.

The charger has an adjustable charge current rate of 0.1 – 16 amps. While it’s only a single-port charger, that port will deliver up to 16 amps. What makes the X1 Pro and ePowerBox special is the ability of the X1 Pro to dock with the ePowerBox power supply. So, the X1 Pro can now become your go-to charger for both the RC airfield and the workbench.

FEATURES The ePowerBox will deliver as much as 17 amps of continuous 13.8-volt DC power. Consequently, it is not only compatible with the X1 Pro, but also with a wide array of chargers, including most of Hitec’s other charger models. Note the ePowerBox is “stupid easy” to use as

well; you simply plug it into a 110- to 240-VAC socket and it is ready to start pumping electrons. It has two 13.8volt DC outputs: one for the docking and one on its right side. There is a 5-volt, 2.1-amp USB port on the side as well. You’ll like that the ePowerBox only has a 5.0 × 3.6 × 2.0-in. footprint, so it will fit almost anywhere on your workbench.

Alternately, the X1 Pro has a 4.4 × 3.6 × 2.0-in. footprint, which is why the power supply and charger dock so perfectly. The X1 has a its DC input on the bottom, so you dock the charger to the power supply by way to two banana plugs. However, you can supply the X1 Pro by way of an 11- to 18-volt DC input that is built into the side of the charger, which is made to accept a XT60 type connector. Also, on the X1’s right side is its 6S balancing port, a temperature sensor input, and the plus and minus output ports. The LCD display is well twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Here you see the ePowerBox and the X1 Pro as they are docked together. They make for a very small footprint on your workbench.

Banana plugs let the X1 Pro mate to the ePowerBox. It’s as easy as positioning the charger on top of the power supply, with the plugs making the connection.

done and easy to read, even in high light conditions. The user interface is simply a joystick (toggle button). The unit is designed to charge one- to six-cell LiPo, LiFe, or LiIon packs. It is also designed for charging NiCad and NiMH packs of from one to fifteen cells, or a lead acid pack of two to twenty cells. The X1 Pro can also store charging data for up to ten battery packs in its memory, which you can recall as required.

HOW TO The X1 Pro is super easy to use.

You must, however, understand the simple and easy toggle logic of its joystick.

Once the unit is powered, all you need to do to program the unit is toggle the joystick up, down, right or left. You can scroll through the unit’s programs and easily change its settings. Here is what you need to know: 1. Toggle the joystick up or down to scroll through the various programs/modes or to increase/

This is what you’ll get with the ePowerBox power supply. It’s everything you need to start pumping electrons immediately. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

decrease program settings.

2. Toggle the joystick to the right to select/set a parameter or to start the charging process.

3. Toggle the joystick to the left to return to the previous screen or to stop the charging process.

MODES The X1 Pro provides the following modes: Lithium Chemistries • Charge • Fast charge • Storage • Discharge

The X1 Pro comes with the balancing board, charge cable, temperature connectors, and banana plugs with leads.

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HITEC RCD

The ePowerBox can work as an independent power supply as is shown in this photo. You simply plug into the ports on its top.

The ePowerBox and X1 Pro charger dock very nicely, which makes for an excellent charging station with a small footprint.

NiCad/NiMH Chemistries Charge Auto charge Discharge Re-peak Cycle Pb (Lead Acid) Chemistries • Charge • Discharge • • • • •

In this photo, I’m charging a 2S Thunder Power LiPo pack.

The balance board makes connections a snap, and the charger works well.

You’ll use the joystick to toggle to the appropriate settings for the battery pack you want to charge, then start the charge.

COMPUTER INTERFACE The X1 Pro has the ability to interface with your computer too. By downloading and installing the Hitec Charge Master software, you can use your computer to operate the charger. Then, you can monitor pack voltages, cell voltages, discharge data, and more.

You’ll need to connect your computer to the X1 Pro by way of a USB-A to USB Mini-B cable. Once your computer is connected to the charger, you’ll get on-screen displays that will help you understand the condition of a pack’s charge, etc.

TOPPED OFF Hitec’s X1 Pro / ePowerBox combo is priced at just $179.99 from TowerHobbies.com. When you consider that you are getting both a very user-friendly charger plus a 100- to 240-VAC power supply, you’ll realize that this combo is value priced, no matter how you look at it.

I like that I can use it at the RC airfield with any 11- to 18-VDC supply, or on my workbench with the ePowerBox supply. I also like that

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The battery charger will show you the current, voltage, charge time, and the current consumed by the battery.

BATTERY BUZZER: LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY ALARM

DISTRIBUTOR

$179.99 (HRC61070) $99.99 (HRC44216) $84.99 (HRC44215) Hitec RCD 12115 Paine St. Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-784-6948 Hitecrcd.com

the X1 Pro will deliver 180 watts at 16 amps, if I should need it.

So, for nearly every pack that I’m typically charging, the X1 Pro in combo with the ePowerBox is the ideal charging station. It tops my list!

much advance warning you want in terms of battery voltage. The Battery Buzzer also protects your model’s battery against over-discharge, which can ruin a pack. Best of all, it’s inexpensive!

Features: High-pitched warning sound Input voltage: 7.4 – 16.8 volts Battery type: 2 – 4S LiPo LED status indicator Voltage select: 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 volts ±0.05V Weight: 11 g Dimension: 1.97 x 1.10 x .49 in.

Price

The Battery Buzzer is the perfect companion to your charging station and to your model airplane. You’ll program it to alarm at a battery voltage set point.

$9.99 (LXDXJL)

X1 Pro Input voltage range : 11 – 18 volts DC Charge circuit power : 180 watts Discharge circuit power : 30 watts Charge current range : 0.1~16.0 amps Discharge current range : 0.1~8.0 amps LiPo, LiFe & LiIon : 200 mA per cell balancing current drain LiPo, LiFe & LiIon cell : 1 – 6 cells count Maximum NiCd/NiMh : 1 – 15 cells cell count Lead acid (Pb) cells/ : 2 –20 volts voltage Dimensions : 3.6 x 4.4 x 2.0 in.

Weight : 14.3 oz.

SPECIFICATIONS

Price

SPECIFICATIONS

Hitec’s Battery Buzzer low battery voltage alarm can and will save your airplane. If you use it in conjunction with the X1 Pro charger, you’ll definitely have a winning combination when it comes to battery power and monitoring. You will no longer wonder about your models’ flight packs’ charge state.

The Battery Buzzer warns you when a LiPo pack is getting close to the end of its charge, so you can land your model before disaster sets in.

It has a programmable voltage threshold, so you can determine how

In this photo you see that the charger is delivering 3.3 amps at 7.8 volts.

The pack has charged for 1:35 minutes and consumed 59 milliamps.

ePowerBox 17A Input voltage : 100 – 240 volts AC AC input voltage : 50 – 60 Hz frequency Output voltage : 13.8 volts DC ± 0.2 V Current overload : 17.5 amps 500 ms protection Input current protection : 5-amp fuse Output voltage ripple : <150 mV USB output voltage/ : 5V / 2.1 amps current Power efficiency : 91% Power factor : >0.98 Temperature protection : 65o C cutoff Cooling method : Temperature controlled fan Dimensions : 5.0 x 3.6 x 2.0 in.

Net weight : 21 oz.

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REVIEW

Camera passes are always fun, and even more so when you know the airplane is going to remain exactly where it was placed thanks to the AS3X system housed in the Spektrum receiver.

UMX™ PITTS® S-1S IT’S THE MICRO SPITTING IMAGE OF A PITTS S-1S

BY JAMES VANWINKLE

S

ince its first flight in 1944, the Pitts Special has been an icon in the world of aerobatics.

Domination for more than two decades has placed the Pitts firmly in the vernacular of any serious aerobatic conversation. Although monoplanes own the competition today, the Pitts is still a venerable performer in the lower divisions of the sport and in nearly every air show around the world.

E-flite offers a great flying airplane in a very miniature version that uses

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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Horizon’s UMX protocol. Utilizing the awesome Spektrum™ AS3X® technology, this airplane is extremely stable, especially for such a tiny model.

IN THE AIR Plugging in the battery and waiting the few seconds for its AS3X initialize is all that’s required to get the Pitts ready for flight. The landing gear is tiny, but the tail wheel is completely steerable, allowing for great ground handling. Forget any notion of the airplane veering off to the left during the take-off roll thanks to the onboard AS3X stability system. It tracks straight as an arrow, while any other taildragger would require serious rudder control. I took my Pitts off from an asphalt surface and landed there too, though hand launches are super easy if there isn’t a great place for takeoffs.

Grass is a no go though, unless you own a golf course green. The wheels are pretty tiny, and there isn’t much room under the wheel pants on this scaled-down beauty.

I should add that you can hear the servos working to keep the model stable once the stability system is working — it corrects for any disturbances. Picking up the Pitts and rolling it side to side, you can see the AS3X performing its magic and countering with slightly opposite control throws in an attempt to hold the model’s position steady. In the air, this system works overtime to ensure

The Pitts comes fully assembled in the kit box, requiring a battery and a receiver bind to any DSM2 or DSMX transmitter.

Then it’s ready to take to the skies for a fun time of flying!

This tiny 2S 200-mAh battery powers the Pitts for about 5 minutes per flight. It may last longer, but I recommend you use a charger that can monitor the milliamps required for recharge.

the Pitts tracks smoothly and acts as stable as a much larger airplane.

I found the Pitts to be amazingly stable, even with the slightly gusty afternoon winds in my area. Stronger winds are actually no problem for its stability, though it is harder to get the Pitts to fly back home from downwind. Because it weighs just a bit over three ounces and has twowing drag, you’ll need some extra power to cut through more than a slight breeze.

The bright red color scheme It’s hard to explain just how incredibly tiny this airplane is — the transmitter is nearly as long as the Pitts itself! ! Even so, this model is a very nice little flyer. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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REVIEW

E-FLITE UMX™ PITTS® S-1S

1

2

1

The AS3X system lives just underneath the wing mount’s foam deck and behind the battery pack.

2

The landing gear uses spring steel wire, which I found will withstand a bumpy landing just fine.

3

The tail wheel is very effective because it has a direct connection to the rudder, so ground handling is easy.

4

The battery is inside this magnetically held hatch. The model’s balance was perfect, with the battery here.

5

The servos are long-throw linear actuators, driven by the tiny motor. They work extremely well.

6

A pilot sits in the cockpit with a serious look on his face. I am going to put this little fella through his paces.

3

4 5

with white stripes on the top wing is perfect for most sky conditions. Red and white are definitely the colors we all think of when we hear the name “Pitts Special.” Adding in a nice scale pilot makes for a great touch to an already miniature scale model.

Flying the Pitts is super simple thanks to the AS3X. Most airplanes this size would be a real handful in the air, but this one tracks beautifully

6

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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throughout the sky. Fast or slow, the handling is the same, unless it gets too slow to fly. Then it simply starts coming down in altitude, but there’s no nasty tip stall at any time. This is one great flying model, and I was thoroughly impressed, even though I have other airplanes using the AS3X technology. I just did not expect such a small aircraft to be so absolutely stable.

Loops and rolls are really easy to perform thanks to power from the brushless outrunner motor. The AS3X system keeps the airplane stable and won’t let it get too out of sorts during any maneuver. Knife-edge flight is possible at high speed, but the rudder deflection needs to be increased to keep it from losing altitude. Even on its side, however, the Pitts is nice and stable, without much tendency to

pull toward the side or roll out of the knife-edge.

The full-scale Pitts Special is known to thrill crowds with its amazing tumbles though the sky, and this model will thrill your club buddies in other ways since it’s just a bit too lightweight to generate any momentum. Also, the same system that keeps the airplane flying like it’s on rails will keep it from doing any sort of tumbling on its own. It’s a fair compromise for such a little model, where stability clearly trumps extreme aerobatics.

The balance of the model is superb, and inverted flight tracks very nicely, with just a touch of down elevator required to maintain altitude. Outside loops are fun, and as the airplane makes its way over the top, a nice little snap roll is easy

and looks great. Spins are not very easy to enter, and that is completely by design. Perhaps one day we can completely shut off the AS3X system with a flip of the switch and do some crazy tumbles, but for now we get an awesome stability mechanism that allows the pilot to fly an airplane that would have been literally uncontrollable just a few years ago.

It has been said that this airplane is best flown by at least intermediatelevel pilots, though the Pitts can be handled easily by anyone who knows the basics. Keeping the airplane in close enough to see is clearly a requirement, and that means more frequent turns than when flying with larger models. That said, I was flying a few hundred feet away and had absolutely no problem with orientation thanks to the bright color scheme and, of course, that great stability system that ensures the Pitts will stay where the pilot points it.

Landing the Pitts is pretty darn easy, and involves lowering the throttle to less than 25% and letting the model settle onto the runway.

Cutting the throttle will result in the Pitts losing too much airspeed and coming down pretty fast, which is typical for any airplane with this much frontal surface area (meaning all biplanes). Just keep a bit of throttle on, and it settles gently onto the runway.

Expect five minute flights, which is what the manual suggests as a starting point. The airplane still

Zipping in for another pass, the Pitts looks great and flies even better.

Small airplanes are not supposed to fly this easily, but this model is pretty amazing in the air!

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E-FLITE UMX™ PITTS® S-1S

CONCLUSION The Pitts is very easy to see in the air and just awesome to fly. It comes ready-to-fly in the box, and is a wonderful value for the performance you’ll get out of it. The model can be flown in very small areas like a

local park without any problem at all.

Obviously, avoid populated areas or parking lots, just as with any aircraft, but the options for places to fly this micro model are many times greater than we typically find with airplanes that need a larger area to operate.

The E-flite UMX Pitts S-1S is wonderful in every sense of the word. It is inexpensive, ready-tofly, extremely stable, and just a

Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 800-338-4639 Horizonhobby.com

load of fun. It is absolutely highly recommended.

SPECIFICATIONS

retained plenty of power and could likely have flown a few more minutes.

I was using a simple battery charger, so there’s no way to determine how many milliamps the battery required for recharge to give an idea of how much power was used during flight.

DISTRIBUTOR

REVIEW

Length : 15.5 in.

Wingspan : 17.1 in.

Weight : 3.2 oz Transmitter : Spektrum DX9 (DSM2 or DSMX) Receiver : Spektrum 6-channel AS3X Servos : Linear long throw micro, 2.3 grams Motor : 180BL 3000-Kv outrunner Battery : 2S 7.4-volt 200-mAh LiPo Price : $124.99

ASSEMBLY Assembly of the UMX Pitts is about as easy as it gets.

Simply add a battery, bind the model’s program to the normal transmitter settings — such as dual rates if wanted — and a model timer, then go fly. The manual mentions high and low throws, though I never bothered to set them once I made a test flight and felt the Pitts was so rock solid in every aspect.

Of course, make sure the control surface throws match at least what is recommended, and that each surface

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

moves the proper direction when the sticks are deflected. My model flies with control from a Spektrum DX9, and I didn’t have to do anything other than bind, set a timer for five minutes, and then go fly. Seriously, it is that simple.

Everything was already set perfectly in the radio.

The instruction manual is thorough, with plenty of the generic warnings for LiPo safety and some troubleshooting tips if there are any issues. My model performed perfectly right out of the

box. There are recommended deflections in the manual, as well as the all-critical balance point, which happens to be 32.5 mm back from the leading-edge of the top wing. Once the battery was added to the nose, the balance was automatically spot on. That’s all there is to it! Going from box to sky is pretty straightforward and extremely fast from start to finish.

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REVIEW

350 QX2 AP COMBO RTF IT’S A SAFE® WAY TO GET AERIAL PHOTOS & VIDEO

BY STAFF 90

RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

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It doesn’t have to be that way! If you pick the Blade 350 QX2 AP Combo RTF package from Horizon Hobby Distributors, you’ll get everything you need to start shooting high quality video and photos in their kit box. This high-quality machine is designed for those pilots who want to have fun flying a quad, but who don’t want to spend hours researching all the hardware and software options that are available to a quad pilot. Also, the Blade package eliminates the likelihood that you’ll buy something that doesn’t work with your transmitter, receiver, GPS, Rf unit, etc.

This package is built so you can start taking high-quality video and photos in about 30 minutes from the time you open the kit box. You’ll need only to charge the quad’s LiPo pack, install the AA batteries in the transmitter, and charge the camera’s battery. It’s that easy to get up and running!

Your 350 QX2 AP quad combo comes neatly packed in a foam carrying case.

The RTF package includes everything, including transmitter and charger.

The RTF package gives you everything you need to start shooting photos and video within about 30 minutes of opening the box.

INCLUDES • Airframe Blade 350 QX2 AP buadcopter • GB200 2-axis brushless gimbal • 3000-mAh 3S 11.1-volt 20C LiPo battery • 3S DC LiPo balancing charger with 5-amp AC power supply • Spektrum® DX4 DSMX 4-channel transmitter • 4 AA batteries • CGO 1 080p HD Camera • Tx cell phone mount

You get the quad plus a very well made and designed two-axis camera gimbal. The gimbal accepts the CGO 1080p HD camera.

P

icking the right quad for shooting photos and video can be a daunting task in today’s market! Every company seems to be boasting about what their quad can do, or what add-ons it’s capable of carrying. There are so many options to pick from, with each company providing different levels of communication and signal quality.

It’s enough to make you wonder whether you need to go get your Masters in electrical engineering, with an emphasis on WiFi and Rf networks!

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REVIEW

BLADE 350 QX2 AP COMBO RTF

Once the GPS locks onto its respective satellites, you’ll be ready to start flying the Blade 350 QX2. Here it has just lifted off.

The green light on the back of the quad will glow steady when the GPS is locked onto the satellites. It takes about two minutes for lock.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

IN FLIGHT Piloting the Blade 350 QX2 AP is about as easy as it gets, though the quad does offer you three flight modes: Smart, AP, and Stability.

You’ll want to turn on the transmitter and power up the quad.

To power the quad, you’ll plug in the battery and then turn on the switch located under the body’s back, just forward of the green LED indicator light. You must then wait for the GPS to lock before flying the 350.

However, you can also fly the quad without GPS lock. The procedure is explained in the 18-page instruction manual. I recommend you read this manual before you attempt to fly the aircraft, because there are a few setup options you must adhere to if you want to be successful. Getting GPS lock, we found, requires about two minutes in a clear sky condition.

Once you have GPS lock, and the

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The Spektrum DX4 controls the quad well, but does not provide pan and tilt, but you can adjust the camera angle during the startup process.

If you control the 350 QX2 AP with a Spektrum DX7 or better, you can control the pan and tilt of the camera’s gimbal.

The red blades of the quad make it very easy to stay oriented with the 350 QX, with red being the front of the quad.

The landing gear keeps the camera up and out of harm’s way during takeoffs and landings.

transmitter is set to Smart Mode, simply push the throttle up slowly and the 350 QX2 will start flying.

Smart Mode (0) makes it extremely easy to fly the quad. In Smart Mode, the unit will fly with what Blade terms Stick Relativity. That simply means the aircraft will always follow the control sticks input direction relative to the SAFE Circle (as is shown in the manual), regardless of the direction the quad is pointing. The aircraft will use Position Hold when the elevator and aileron inputs are neutral. Also, the unit has built-in Self-Leveling, which brings the 350 QX2 AP to a level attitude when the elevator and aileron inputs are at neutral. The quad’s Attitude Command is relative to the throttle’s stick position.

AP Mode (1) is designed to provide rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

a Position Hold. In this case, the aircraft will hold its position when the elevator and aileron inputs are set to their neutrals. This mode also provides Altitude Command, which is relative to the throttle sticks’ position. You’ll find this mode to be quite amazing if you’ve never used it before — very cool, and little or no pilot input is required.

Stability Mode (2) provides for Self-Leveling when the elevator and aileron inputs are at neutral. It also offers Position Hold. The 350 uses its built-in GPS to establish and hold a given location. If the GPS is locked solidly, the quad will hold its position in the air as long as the elevator and aileron inputs are at their neutrals.

This mode also provides proportional throttle control, so the pilot controls

the quad’s ascent and descent relative to the throttle’s position.

No matter what mode you fly the Blade 350 QX2 AP in, you’ll discover that it’s super easy to fly. It’s worth noting that this machine is not designed for doing flips and rolls.

Rather, it is designed for enthusiasts who want a machine they can take our of the kit box, start flying right away, and use to take photos and video without the requirement of figuring out all the parts and pieces, and then having to program it all to work together. We found this quad extremely easy to fly, as well as to capture photos and video. We like that it’s big enough to deliver very stable flight; our photos and video are good enough quality to use for printing and posting on sites like our website and RC-SF.COM

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REVIEW

BLADE 350 QX2 AP COMBO RTF

the YouTube channel. Also, our copilot found it super easy to snap photos by way of the iPad’s App controls.

SYNOPSIS In its price range, the Blade 350 QX2 AP is hard to beat. We found that it did as the manufacture claims, and all without requiring us to search out the parts and pieces. I think this is an important point to underscore, because so many quads are marketed as great video platforms. However, the reality is that you can often spend more on the transceiver, camera, GPS, and gimbal than you’ll spend on the quad. Those additional expenditures can literally kill a project before it ever takes flight. Additionally, some of the systems that compete with the Blade 350 do not deliver the stability and perfomance of this system.

So, if you have a desire to get into aerial photography and video, this system is likely a perfect starting point. It’s easy to set up and program and, most importantly, you’ll like the quality of the photos and video you can get with the CG01 camera. We’ll be keeping it around the office for quite some time, using it to capture photos and video of the projects that we review for each issue. It will likely be going with us to a few events as eyes from above too.

Finally, while Blade is not giving this machine away, it is priced very afforably, especially considering that you get quad, camera, gimbal, transceiver, GPS, battery, charger and transmitter in one package. Oh yeah, Blade even includes a cell phone holder for the transmitter — very cool!

This photo was taken just after liftoff. The camera’s signal communicates with our iPad by way of the WiFi system built into the Blade 350 QX2.

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RC SPORT FLYER . OCTOBER 2014

Get disoriented and all you’ll need to do is hit the Return Home Switch. The 350 QX2 AP will fly back to its HOME position and land.

Notice how well positioned the CGO 1080p HD camera is relative to the quad’s landing gear. Even with the 4-channel radio you can great photos.

You can switch between taking video and photos with the CGO’s iPad/ iPhone interface by tapping on the camera or video icon — EASY!

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SPECIFICATIONS

Length : 18.30 in. (465 mm) Height : 7.48 in. (190 mm) Main rotor : 22.80 in. (580 mm) diameter Flying weight : 35.5 oz (1006 g) Motors : 4 brushless 1100Kv outrunner ESC : 4 x 10-amp brushless

DISTRIBUTOR

Price : $899.99 (BLH7900)

SETUP

The most difficult part of setting up the Blade 350 QX2 AP system is making the WiFi connection between iPad/ iPhone — whoop, whoop.

Do this, and everything should work seamlessly. Install the WiFi antenna as per the manual. It simply plugs into the bottom of the camera, with a quarter turn to lock it in place.

Next, download the free CG01 App from the iTunes App store or Google Play.

Then you’ll want to power the CG01 camera. Next, open your device’s WiFi settings menu. There you will enter the CG01’s password to connect to its network. Here is the issue we discovered while trying to do this: do not have your WiFi enabled laptop sitting next to the the camera when you you’re trying to make the password connection between the camera and your device. It will interrupt your connection and you’ll think there is something wrong — there is not!

Once you’ve made the connection between your iPad/iPhone or tablet, the CG01 App does everything for you. It will

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

display the video from the camera and let you take a photo or video. Plus, you can control every function of the camera from your device. It will make your use of the CG01 simple and easy. Moreover, it will do so without an endless array of setting options. It’s quick and easy navigation from function to function.

Transferring files from the camera to your PC or Mac is just as easy. You’ll simply use a USB to micro-B USB cable to connect the camera’s output port to the USB input port on your computer.

You’ll then slide the power switch to its on position (towards the MODE button).

An icon will appear on your desktop if you’re using a Mac; if you’re using a PC you’ll need to navigate to My Computer and locate the DCIM folder icon. Once you have the right folder open, copy your files to the appropriate folder on your desktop.

If you’re using a cell phone to monitor the camera, Blade has included a phone mount that bolts to the neckstrap loop on the transmitter. You’ll then position the clamp to give you the best possible viewing of your phone’s

Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 Horizonhobby.com

LCD screen. It will take you five minutes or less to mount.

We prefer to have the copilot use an iPad to control the camera and monitor the video.

Lastly, we must emphasize that the video camera-to-device interface is extremely easy to set up. You should have no problems. If you do, give us a call. We’ll be glad to help!

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hangar 9

An Aerobatics Trail Blazer aErOBaTIC

The Inverza 62 ™

The Hangar 9 Inverza 62 ARF aerobatic aircraft is based on the full-scale Inverza project lead by Kevin Kimball who’s renowned for delivering a unique blend of performance and style. As a tribute, the Inverza 62 model has been engineered to offer an intrinsic blend of precision and hardcore agility. Thanks to lightweight high-quality balsa/plywood construction, you’ll enjoy incredible handling and outstanding power, especially when paired with the all-new Evolution 62GXi gas engine with SureFire electronic fuel injection. The result is a capability in the 50-60cc class aerobatic category that’s destined to make bold impression whether you’re a scale aerobatics fan or a hardcore 3D fanatic. ®

™

®

™

Key Features – Super-light wing loading provides outstanding 3D stability – Unique design with a high-level of precision and performance attention – Laser-cut, balsa/balsa-plywood construction delivers a rigid structure – Large control surfaces offer incredible response – Genuine UltraCote covering and factory applied graphics ®

– Painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants

SPECIFICATIONS | HAN5195

– Vibrant color scheme by Mirco Pecorari offers great visibility

Wingspan: 88.0 in (2.20 m)

– Optional electric motor conversion kit

Length: 85.0 in (2.15 m) Wing Area: 1600 sq in (103 dm ) 2

Flying Weight: 17.0 lb (7.70 kg)

To learn more about the Inverza 62 or to find a Hangar 9 dealer near you, visit Hangar-9.com

VISIT

Your Local Retailer

CLICK

horizonhobby.com

CALL

1.800.338.4639

SERIOUS FUN ®

© 2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. Hangar 9, UltraCote, Evolution, SureFire, Serious Fun and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, LLC. Inverza and its design are trademarks of Kevin Kimball, used under license to Horizon Hobby, LLC. The trim scheme of the Inverza was designed by Mirco Pecorari of Aircraft Studio Design. 43358

A NEw TwiST oN SoAring

KEY FEATURES

EFL6550 > Easy to complete final assembly > Carbon fiber reinforced, Z-Foam™ construction

E-flite Adagio 280 ®

™

> Two-piece, removable plug-in wing > AS3X system provides great handling with rock-solid stability > Potent BL280, 1260Kv direct-drive outrunner motor installed > E-flite 3.5 g high-speed digital servos installed

with AS3X® Technology

VISIT

56.0 in (1420mm)

242 sq in (15.6 sq dm)

See the Adagio 280 in action, get more details and find the retailer nearest you at E-fliteRC.com.

Your Local Retailer

> High-efficiency folding propeller > Spektrum™ AR6335 6-channel nanolite AS3X receiver installed > 5-Channel control with flaps for a high-level of maneuverability > Requires a full range 5+ channel DSM2®/DSMX aircraft transmitter, 3S 11.1V 430-450mAh Li-Po and a 3S Li-Po battery charger

29.9 in (760mm)

The E-flite Adagio 280 motor glider is the park-size solution for RC pilots who want a full-featured soaring experience and the fun of a sport airplane. Its sleek design offers the ability to slip cleanly through the air and connect with thermal activity while the operational flaps and hightorque outrunner motor provide maneuverability, plus pin-point landing capability. But what sets this motor-glider truly apart is the AS3X technology built in that delivers rock-solid stability and the control to make it feel like you’re at the command of a much larger airplane.

As a result, the Adagio 280 is a new twist on soaring that will help you enjoy flying when you want, not just when the weather permits.

12.5 oz (356 g)

CLICK

horizonhobby.com

CALL

1.800.338.4639

SERIOUS FUN.®

©2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. E-flite, AS3X, DSM2, DSMX, Bind-N-Fly, the BNF logo, Serious Fun and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, LLC. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. Actual product may vary slightly from photos shown. 45260

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(12 issues) for only $29.95

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(24 issues) for only $53.95 Payment Enclosed

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