RC Sport Flyer June 2015 (Vol 20-02)

RC Airplanes | Gliders | Helicopters

Build and Fly the 30cc Valiant

JUNE 2015

We Put You In The F4U Corsair Cockpit

In-Depth

Cessna 195 Report

PLUS

• PowerBox Expanders Explained • Decathlon BuilD Part III

2015 Jet Jam Event USA & CANADA $6.49

RC-SF.COM

Epic MadE Easy

capturE spEctacular aErial vidEo in brilliant Hd nEW 3-Axis Stabilized Camera nEW Programming Interface nEW Simplified Controls nEW GPS Features

control camera and stream live video with the cGo2 app

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Š2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. Blade, SAFE, the SAFE 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. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks and logos are property of their respective owners. Actual product may vary slightly from photos shown. 46755

EvErytHinG you nEEd coMEs in onE boX see Everything the new blade camera drone can do:

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Ready-To-Fly 350 QX3 Quadcopter

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CGO2 GB 3-Axis Stabilized Camera

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Spektrum™ DX4 Transmitter

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Long Lasting Flight Battery and Charger

bladEHElis.coM/350QX3 GoPro-Ready RTF and BNF Versions Also Available!

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SERIOUS FUN ®

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

10 LEADING EDGE 12 HOT PRODUCTS 80 AD INDEX 81 MYSTERY PLANE

WE TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE REMOVABLE FIREWALLS.

PG 42

EVENT

HOW TO

24

42

MONSTER JET JAM ‘15 IT IS ALL ABOUT THE NEED FOR SPEED WITH THESE PILOTS.

By Murray Ross

FIREWALS MADE EASY LEARN HOW TO MAKE REMOVABLE FIREWALLS FOR YOUR MODELS.

By Rob Caso

46

SYSTEMS EXPANDER SEE HOW YOU CAN ADD CHANNELS TO ANY RECEIVER.

By Dr Karl Keufner

MONSTER JET JAM 2015 BUZZING THE TOWER

PG 24 3-VIEW

PG 38

195 BUSINESSLINER 38 CESSNA AN AIRPLANE FROM A CLASSIC ERA

By Hans-Jürgen Fischer 6

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

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JUNE 2015

BUILD THE NEW HANGAR 9 30CC VALIANT MONOPLANE DELIVERS FLIGHT PERFORMANCE YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE.

PG 50

32

DECATHLON FUSELAGE DISCOVER WHY THE WOODWORK IS REALLY ABOUT BEING A CRAFTSMAN AND BUILDING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

By Jeff Troy

REVIEWS 9 50 HANGAR VALIANT

60

ITS A MODERN MONOPLANE WITH SUPERB PERFORMANCE AND CLASSIC LINES

By Wil Byers

66

HOBBYZONE F4U CORSAIR

BLADE 180 CFX BNF BASIC THIS 360-SIZE 3D MACHINE FLIES LIKE ITS BIG BROTHER BUT IS MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE.

By James VanWinkle

72

WE SHOW YOU HOW THIS LITTLE FIGHTER/BOMBER WILL TURN YOU INTO A VICTOR.

By Max Keppler

BECOME A BLACKSHEEP PILOT AT THIS FIGHTER’S CONTROLS.

AEROWORKS CESSNA 195 FIND OUT HOW THIS AIRPLANE CAN GET YOU INTO FLYING SCALE AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

By Wil Byers

PG 66

PG 72 AEROWORKS CESSNA 195 IS A CLASSIC SCALE BUSINESSLINER AIRPLANE THAT MAKES YOU THE CEO’S CHIEF PILOT.

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

RC-SF.COM

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Wil Byers wil@rc-sf.com ASSISTANT EDITORS James T Baker Doris Chen Louie Scribner Asa Clinton PRODUCTION Zhe Meng mengzhe@kionapublishing.com PHOTOGRAPHY Wil Byers Bess Byers GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Zhe Meng Shi Yuang WEBMASTER CONTACT Chang Liang OFFICE MANAGER Sue Wharton support@kionapublishing.com OFFICE ASSISTANT Terra Woodford CIRCULATION Christian Wells MARKETING Wil Byers ads@rc-sf.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rob Caso, Gene Cope, Andrew Gibbs, Daniel Holman, Mike Hoffmeister, Richard Kuns, David Phelps, Steve Rojecki, Mike Shellim, Patrick Sherman, Jerry Smith, Jeff Troy, Robert Vest, James VanWinkle, Tom Wolfe, David Wigley

Point Your browser at the new

SPORTFLYER.CO STORE to get other great RC-SF products.

RC Sport Flyer (ISSN: 1941-3467) is published monthly for $29.95 per year in the USA 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.

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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 ©2015 All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

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LEADING EDGE

WIL BYERS

T

his issue is late, very late! I apologize from the bottom of my heart for the rather lengthy delay in getting this magazine complete, printed, and mailed. I can only hope you’ll understand and remain a loyal subscriber.

Details Let me explain what has happened over the last few months in terms of creating magazines, work around the office, and the usual day-to-day tasks.

It all began when I made a trip to China in December as a way to visit some model aircraft manufacturing facilities — you know the ones that are building nearly all the almost-ready-to-fly and readyto-fly airplanes we now buy from hobby distributors and shops. It was a very productive trip, until…

Unfortunately, I’ve become a bit too familiar with China over the years and sometimes feel there is no need for caution when it comes to health issues. Most would term my lack of caution as stupid — I do now!

The result of my stupidity was a bacterial infection.

It became a significant bacterial infection over the next couple of weeks, mostly likely from the water or food. It is worth noting that I felt quite well while I was in country. However, on the second to the last day of the trip, while I was riding the train from Guangzhou to Shenzhen, I started to feel somewhat ill. I’m a tough guy, right? So I figured it was not anything my body would not overcome. Wrong!

I’m quite certain that the passenger sitting to the left of me on the Boeing 767 that I rode from Hong Kong to Seattle was not too happy being my cabin mate! I felt rotten for the 10.5-hour flight, and he got the brunt of it. Things kind of went downhill from there.

Once I was home I fought through the jet lag and got back to work on the December/January 2015 issue of the magazine, which as you probably already know was somewhat late. Even so, the infection kept trying to do its thing — kill me! As I’m certain many of you have done, I kept trying to fight it without visiting a doctor. After all, I need to pay for the doctor visits and drugs out of my pocket until I get to my $4,000 a year health insurance deductible. Anyway, after a couple of weeks I finally relented and submitted to a course of antibiotics for about 21 days. Modern antibiotics are truly wonderful when it comes to most bacterial infections. They did their thing to the bacteria — you know, stopped it from replicating. Then I was on the road to recovery.

Why did I not tell you sooner, was a question a good friend of mine asked? He said, “Why didn’t send out an e-mail blast or something to let the readers know what was going on?” To tell you the truth, I kept thinking that I would recover from this bloody — literally — infection. As I said, I thought I was strong 10

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

enough to overcome. I kept counting the days and saying to myself, tomorrow I can crank out a couple of articles, edit photos, layout magazine, etc. It just wasn’t the case! Rather, I just felt rotten for about a month and a half after taking the antibiotics, even though I was eating yogurt with live culture till it was coming out my ears — and I’m not a big yogurt fan! I was doing everything I could to just feel better, but it just took time to recover from the infection.

So, here we are and I’m sitting in my office today finishing this June 2015 issue. You’re most likely asking what happened to the February, March, April, and May issues? They’re parked somewhere on the road to hell! Truly, I had every intention of getting them out the door, but it just would not happen. Please understand that Kiona Publishing, Inc., the publisher of RC Sport Flyer, is a small company located in Richland, Washington. We are only a four-person company: data entry, bookkeeping, art director, and me, your editorin-chief. I don’t know if any of you are familiar with a project management timeline, but it underscores what happens to a project when you lose a resource — in this case the editor. The timeline goes pretty much like this: if you lose one day of productivity on a project because a worker is missing, you basically need to have four people thrown at the project task to get the project back on schedule. Apply that timeline to the project deadlines of RC Sport Flyer and you will understand how missing about two months of productive work on the magazine does impact its schedule and delivery significantly.

Again, I apologize profusely. The only other thing I can say in my defense is that I’ve not had an honest to goodness vacation in 16 years plus! Just maybe my doctor and body were telling me that if I didn’t take a break I’d be pushing up daisies from six feet under at my favorite slope soaring site. However, I’m hopeful that one of these days I’ll be able to take a vacation to South Point on the big island of Hawaii. Even then I’ll write an article about flying gliders with the locals.

Does anyone have a house in Hawaii they’ll rent cheap? If so, call the office tomorrow please!

Issues Added I want to communicate to all our readers just how wonderful the people have been that contacted us during this mess. To a person you’ve been very understanding, gracious, and encouraging. It truly underscores what good people are involved in the model aviation hobby.

Now please, know that we will add five issues to our subscribers’ end dates in our database to compensate you for the issues you’ve missed. The subscription end dates are shown on mailing label. You’ll find the label on the polybag. It reads the month and year that your subscription ends. Also, going forward, we will put a carrier sheet in the magazine’s polybag to notify you that your subscription expires so that you won’t be guessing or forced to call our office. The label will read: LAST ISSUE NOTICE! twitter.com/rcsportflyer

You’re Our Sales Team As you must know by now, the publishing industry has undergone significant, if not earth-shattering changes over the last decade. No longer can a publisher simply publish a hardcopy magazine and sell advertising space and subscriptions based on number of readers and content quality. That just isn’t so in this age of the internet-answers-all generation!

Honestly, I don’t think publishers and content providers of all kinds have determined how to make real returns on investment as yet. Even the notables such as the New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Surf, Snowboard, Skateboard, Rodder, Rifleman, etc. are facing content creation and publishing challenges not experienced since the introduction of the Gutenberg press.

Interestingly, readers are consuming content at an accelerating rate. It is like there is this huge appetite for information, and consumers are just swallowing it in enormus, knowledge bites — I mean ENORMUS! That said, there is much content for free. Free competes quite effectively with paid-for content.

Consequently, this magazine and many others are struggling to find answers to the FREE paradigm that is now pervasive in the industry.

As a result, we need our readers to be our sales team. We need your help for a number of reason: 1.

Many advertisers have turned away from hardcopy, preferring to do only online marketing for their products. 2. Advertisers often want hardcopy magazines — like this one — to publish their press releases and product reviews for FREE — not to mention edit them into usable form. 3. Readers are using search engines to find content online rather that turn the pages of a magazine. 4. Magazines, like this one, now offer hardcopy and digital editions.

5. Publishers typically have a website or blog that supports the hardcopy content. 6. Web content is often overflow content from the hardcopy magazine.

7. Publishers use social media to distribute content the world over. 8. As a result of loss of traditional revenue, publishers’ staffs are cut to the absolute bare minimum.

9. We default back to the project management time line, which underscores the dilemma facing publishers.

Therefore, we ask you to let hobby manufacturers and distributors know where you get your RC information. Simply, when you buy a product shown in our press releases or advertised in these pages tell the respective company that you read about it in RC Sport Flyer magazine. Further, we ask you to solicit your club members and friends to subscribe to this magazine.

Please tell them why you like what we are publishing, and let them know that they can get our magazine in hardcopy, PDF file format, on iPad, and soon on Android devices. Also, remind them that they can find us on Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, as well as on our website. You will make a significant difference in the page count of this magazine and in the content quality we want continue to deliver month on month.

Age Discrimination If your bodies lack of copper is changing your hair color to some shade of grey I think you know what I’m going to write about. Alternately, if the young “hotshot, punk” at the local airfield has asked you if you are “blowing red lights yet” you’ll understand where I’m coming from when I pose the question, “Is there age discrimination in the RC community?”

The answer is of course there is age discrimination.

Heck, I’m ready to organize a 10-man march on the airfield where I fly. I’m ready to do so because the hotshots don’t understand that they have the best RC gear and airplanes that has ever been, and it is getting better all the time. Moreover, many of these “super thumbs” have budgets to die for because their parents are picking up the tab for the hardware kept in their custom-made, 20-foot, dual-axle trailer. Us grey haired guys could have only dreamed of having such gear — not to mention their money, and the time they have to practice on their PC RC simulators.

So it is that the grey guys tend to get a little bugged when the hotshot “gets in our face” about our flying style, while he is texting his buddies about meeting them for pizza after he finishes burning a few gallons of gas in a 40%-scale, 200-powered, Extra 300 parked at his flying station.

Even so, I also see age discrimination going the other way! I see some of us greys not wanting to share the airfield’s airspace with the hotshot. Honestly, I’ve seen some of the greys be so rude to the young pilots that the younger man leaves the airfield in disgust — sometimes leaving the hobby entirely.

It’s worth point out that hotshot might be able to teach the greys how to do a snake or blender.

While I’m beyond envious of the hand-and-eye coordination of hotshots, they have much that I can learn. For example, the younger pilots often know their way around the programming logic of a computer radio like I know the way to my shop. Then too, they know how to set up a model such that it will fly right from the very first flight. They also know if the model is balanced properly. Additionally, they make for absolutely outstanding spotters because they have young eyes that can see models at distances where my older eyes start being challenged. Oh, and if you want to know about what is hot and what is not, just ask the hotshots. They will likely know what is state of the art in terms of engines, motors, batteries, servos, controllers, propellers, landing gear, transmitters, receivers, and on and on! If they don’t they’ll whip out their cell phone, go to Instagram, and find out the answer to your questions quick.

Yep, age discrimination exists in this hobby. I think it is easy to overcome. To do so: We need cell phones for texting. We must like cheap pizza. We must share RC “war” stories. Greys and hotshots must listen not just lecture. Then the surprise is that mentoring across generations.

HOT PRODUCTS ALIGN T-REX 800E F3C COMBO

T

he T-REX 800E is an 800-class helicopter designed specifically for 3D flight. The CCPM direct connect servo design, coupled with DFC rotor head assembly, results in fast, precise, and more direct control reactions. The frame material integration technology is utilized on the landing gears and vertical tail fin, creating

Specifications Length Height Width Main blade length Main rotor diameter Tail rotor diameter Motor drive gear Main drive gear Autorotation tail drive gear Tail drive gear Drive gear ratio Weight w/ motor

1490 mm 402 mm 204 mm 780 mm 1740 mm 301 mm 12T 112T 104T 22T 1 : 9.33 : 4.37 4100 grams

a unique look for the T-REX 800E, but also resulting in an innovative design that encompasses structural rigidity along with beautiful aesthetics.

Nothing was spared in the electronics components of the kit: The mighty power of the 850MX (490Kv) motor paired with Castle Edge HV 160 speed controller for unparalleled power output. The new CNC machined aluminum cased BL800H brushless high-voltage cyclic servos paired with BL850H rudder servo not only exhibited top of the line servo aesthetics, but also combine heatsink function and best performance in the market segment.

The T-REX 800E can be described as the current flagship representing Align’s product line. Based on the pedigree of pure 3D flight, the newest design concept with absolute top quality equipment, along with superior aesthetics and attractive lines, the T-REX 800E will definitely get your attentions.

Price $1529.99

Distributor ALIGN RC Alignrcusa.com

ESPRIT EDF LAUNCHING SYSTEM

E

sprit Model company just introduced their new Power EDF retractable launching systems, which is designed for scale sailplane launching. The unit is built by the German MIG Flight company, with their target market being for scale or sport sailplanes. This new unit is a beautifully engineered product that will get your model into the air quickly and easily, where you can then soar it for hours on end. It is made for an easy installation, without the complexity of the typical up-andgo system.

The Jetec EDF comes in three sizes: E-90 $985.00 E-120 $1,595.00 E-130 $2,650.00

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

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

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PRECISION AERO GLUE CADDY

Distributor

P

recision Aero announces its newest product, the Glue Caddy. This new plywood caddy assembles in minutes and will help clean up that mess on your workbench.

The Caddy holds one-half, one, and two-ounce glue bottles. Its unique adapters can be used as required for the small half-ounce bottles. Epoxy bottles can also be placed upright or upside down in the Glue Caddy.

The Caddy is laser-cut from 1/8-inch plywood so it will last for many years of use. Note that the Glue Caddy is a quality product made in the USA!

PRECISION AERO 1561 River Highlands Dr Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-352-6670 Precision-aero.com

Price $12.95

ESPRIT JETI DS-14 BASIC

J

eti’s new DS-14 Basic transmitter is designed to let you create a system for your needs, yet give you the option of future expansion. The Jeti DS-14 lets you customize its software and features, so you only pay for features that your model needs.

This revolutionary, digital, 14+8 (22-channel — upgradable from 8), 2.4-GHz system is designed and manufactured by Jeti Model. The transmitter employees a CNC-machined aluminum case with integrated antennas, a mini USB port, built-in speaker, headset jack, plastic transmitter gimbals with Hall sensors for 4096 step resolution, and four ball bearings for precise resolution, a 320 x 240 backlight display, and more.

Price $795.00

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

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

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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

RC-SF.COM

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HOT PRODUCTS Specifications

GREAT PLANES TOPFLITE® P-47 RAZORBACK

T

he P-47 Razorback was an escort fighter, interceptor, fighter bomber, and ground attack aircraft. It was one of the most versatile aircraft of World War II. Although the bubble canopies of later models would become very popular with the USAAC, it was the razorback versions that did the heavy lifting in the war. Heavy armor, massive firepower, and the option to install rockets and bombs made the P-47 a lethal machine.

Yours P-47 Razorback is by TopFlite.

The model has many features including being designed for either pneumatic or electric Robart retracts. It comes with scale details including recessed instruments, molded instrument panel, side panels, floor, and seat. It of course has the Razorback

turtledeck and canopy design from the original P-47. The model’s flaps are prehinged, as are the ailerons. The fuselage has a hatch that is magnetically secured for quick access to LiPo packs, with the hatch being covered in MonoKote. It comes with a pilot figure too. And, you can add a fourblade propeller to give in that final scale finishing touch.

Price

$729.99 #TOPA0714

Wingspan Wing area Length Weight Wing loading Engine Motor ESC Battery Transmitter Servos Battery Ignition battery Retracts

85 in. (2160 mm) 1,329 in.2 (85.7 dm2) 75 in. (1905 mm) 19.5 – 21.5 lb (8.84 – 9.75 kg) 34 – 37 oz/ft2 (104-113 g/dm2) 3.0 – 3.7 in.3 (50 - 61 cc) gas 80 – 85 / 160Kv brushless 160-amp 12S 5000-mAh LiPo 6-channel min.

11 – 12 servos 3200-mAh receiver 1100-mAh (gas) Robart pneumatic or electric retracts

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

OS ENGINES GGT10 GASOLINE ENGINE

F

or RC modelers that want the convenience of gasoline power for their .40-size airplane, O.S. now offers the GGT10. Glow plug ignition makes this engine easy to start — along with reducing

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

Specifications 0.594 in.3 (9.73 cc) 0.945 in.3 (24.0 mm) 0.846 in. (21.5 mm) 2,000 — 11,000 1.58 hp @ 10,000 rpm 19.8 oz (561 g) 15.97 oz (453 g) 3.81 oz (108 g) Unleaded gasoline w/ 2-stroke oil Includes G5 glow plug, E-3071 muffler, PD-08 pump & Tygon fuel line w/inline filter Propellers 12x7, 12x8, 12x9, 13x6, 13x7 & 13x8

Displacement Bore Stroke Rpm Range Output Weight Engine Muffler Fuel

14

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

overall weight by eliminating the ignition module. It performs well using unleaded gasoline, and the PD-08 pump regulates fuel flow for consistent delivery throughout the flight. Also, the engine can be retrofitted in the same space as popular AX glow engines. You’ll want to check this engine out at Great Planes.

Features • Glow-driver starting • Runs on an inexpensive 50:1 gasoline/

oil blend • PD-08 regulating pump ensures consistent fuel flow • PowerBoost Pipe improves performance • Includes muffler mounting hardware, drive hub, prop nut and washer • Forged steel connecting rod features needle bearings at the bottom • Mount size as the 46AX and 55AX Price

$319.99 #OSMG1510

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FLIGHTPOWER FP SERIES LIPO PACKS

F

lightPower is releasing new five series LiPo packs. The five series offer a range of packs, as well as improvements in both performance and quality.

All packs now feature the popular JST XH balancing connector. Most are equipped with the new polarized Star Plug — a connector option that makes heat shrink unnecessary.

FP Series LiPos come in many different voltage, capacity, and discharge rates. FP25, FP30, FP50 and FP70 power packs offer a choice of four discharge rates, plus 3C charging. FPRX packs offer superior options

Distributor

in receiver power and come equipped with two universal connectors.

All packs feature factory-installed leads and connectors, as well as ultra-sonically welded cell tabs and balance connectors for strong, long-lasting connections.

They’re also manufactured to some of the tightest cell-matching specifications and rigid quality control standards in the industry. Their longer life spans, performance, and extended two-year limited warranty make FP Series LiPos today’s most affordable options in premium power.

Star Plugs The Star Plugs are polarized for foolproof hookup, gold-plated, and they make heat-shrink tubing unnecessary. The rear cap slides down to snap tight and hide the solder joints. A tapered housing and molded-in grips make them easy to disconnect as well.

GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

TOWER HOBBIES HOBBICO ST MODELS

T

ower Hobbies, exclusive distributor for ST Model in North America, is now offering three popular brushless ReceiverReady (RR) aircraft for the summer flying season.

The ARCUS M BL RR and Salto BL RR offer the sailplane performance pilots want blended with easy assembly. The ARCUS M is an 87.4-in.-wingspan model with upswept wings. Retractable main gear, as well as a retractable motor pod, help maximize aerodynamics and lengthen flight times. Similarly, the V-tailed Salto, with a wingspan of 71.1 in., features a retractable ducted fan unit and a two-piece wing for easy transportation and storage.

The 47.25-in. wingspan Acrobat 3D BL RR is an ultralight 3D airplane that pilots can have ready for extreme stunts for a minimum investment in time and effort. Like both sailplanes, it offers the convenience and the value of a factoryinstalled brushless motor, ESC and servos.

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Price Arcus M Brushless RR $149.97 #SNNA1066 Salto Brushless RR $129.99 SNNA1069 Acrobat 3D Brushless RR $159.99 #SNNA1071

RC-SF.COM

15

HOT PRODUCTS

TOWERHOBBIES FLITEWORK RED BULL ZLIN Z-50 LX, EDGE 540, STEARMAN

F

litework is now one of the RC industry’s most-respected brands. It has just released a new series of models inspired by the Flying Bulls aircraft, which are flown by the Red Bull Air Force.

These new models are exclusively sold through Tower Hobbies. What is cool about them is that they are officially licensed, incredibly detailed, and designed to deliver exhilarating pilot enjoyment.

Specifications ZLIN Z-50 LX 63.4 in. wingspan Edge 540 66.9 in. wingspan PT-17 Stearman 47.2 in. wingspan Price Flying Bulls ZLIN Z-50 LX ARF $349.98 #FLWA4004

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

Red Bull Edge 540 1700mm ARF $449.97 #FLWA4090 Red Bull PT-17 Stearman RR $229.98 #FLWA4110

TACTIC TTX850 8-CHANNEL RADIO

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he new 8-channel TTX850 is bargain priced, yet it offers a frequencyhopping spread spectrum (FHSS) system compatible with many of the transmitterready (Tx-R™) airplanes, helicopters, and multi-rotor aircraft sold by Great Planes.

Note too that the TTX850 offers separate programming menus for all three aircraft types. Plus it has 30-model memory, push-button programming, and a redbacklit, graphing LCD display. Other pilot conveniences include: programmable and factory-programmed mixes, a servo display screen, dual trainer systems with selectable channels and updatable firmware. This radio may be one you can start with and stay with, so give it a good look when you’re shopping for a new radio system.

Features • 30-model memory • Airplane, helicopter and multi-rotor menus • System Setup, Model Setup & Function menus

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

• Wireless & wired trainer systems with selectable channels • Six programmable mixes per model, plus factory-preset mixes • Two proportional side sliders and other user-selectable controls • Quad-bearing gimbals, plus stick length and tension adjustments • 256x160 red-backlit, graphing LCD with contrast and brightness adjustments • Servo Display Screen • Digital trims with slow/fast adjustment • Audible alarms with adjustable speaker volume • 4.8-volt 1000-mAh NiMH transmitter battery & AC wall charger • Wired and wireless model copy • Fail-safe with selectable channels • Updatable firmware

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

Price 8-Channel SLT Tx $179.99 #TACJ2850 8-Channel SLT Rx $39.99 #TACL0825

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

BLADE MACH 25™ BNF FPV 250 CLASS RACER Specifications

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he new Blade® Mach 25™ racer now makes it easy to get into the FPV 250-class racing. The Mach 25™ quadcopter is powerful and durable. You get an RC experience that features intuitive SAFE® technology for high-energy racing fun.

Experience high-speed action in FPV racing, while not having to build or assemble FPV equipment. Bind-n-Fly ease and Blade engineering makes this a super 250-class racer.

• LED lighting in motor boom for visual orientation • Motors mounted at a forward angle for quick accelerations • Lower flight angle improves camera • Carbon fiber frame • Carbon fiber frame plates surround vital electronics • Spektrum ultra-micro FPV camera is softmounted • Compatible with Fat Shark headset or 5.8-GHz monitor

Features • FPV Ready • Bind-N-Fly® completion • Charge, bind, and fly • Canted motor mounts • Self-tightening propellers • Self-tightening hubs make propeller changes quick • Integrated LED Lighting

Price

Type Pilot Skill Length Width Height Spread Weight Flight Time Motors Propeller ESC Transmitter Receiver Battery Charger Monitor

$429.99 BLH8980

Camera

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

Ham license

Quadcopter Intermediate 210 mm 210 mm 80 mm 250 mm 505 g 4 minutes plus (4) 2300-Kv brushless (2) 5x3CW, (2) 5x3CCW Castle Creations 4-in-1 5-channel+ w/ DSMX® technology (required) Spektrum™ AR636QR DSMX® w/ SAFE E-flite® 3S 11.1-volt 1350-mAh 30C LiPo AC/DC 3S LiPo balance charger (required) Fat Shark compatible or 5.8-GHz Spektrum 25-mw ultramicro airborne FPV Is required and recommended

HOBBYZONE® SPORTSMAN S+ RTF/BNF Price

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obbyZone’s Sportsman® S+ comes loaded with SAFE Plus technology that makes it easy for almost anyone to learn to fly. SAFE® Plus technology uses advanced attitude awareness and GPS sensors for stabilization. Landing is easy thanks to AutoLand technology and Panic Recovery Mode, which greatly reduce crash risk. Holding Pattern allows its pilot to virtually pause their flight by activating an autonomous orbit flight path. Its Virtual Fence creates an invisible boundary that prevents pilots from flying further than they can see too. These features are in addition to the Beginner, Intermediate, and Experienced modes that have helped many new pilots learn to fly.

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Features • AutoLand lands the airplane autonomously • Panic Recovery mode provides instant flight recovery • Holding Pattern keeps the airplane flying without pilot input • Virtual Fence prevents the aircraft from flying away • Beginner, Intermediate, and Experienced flight modes for progressive learning • 480-size brushless motor and ESV • 3S 11.1-volt 1300-mAh LiPo battery • Spektrum DX4e transmitter included (RTF only) • Impact-resistant Z-Foam™ construction • Camera mount for EFC-721 included

$349.99 #HBZ8400 $309.99 #HBZ8480

Specifications 56.4 in. (1390 mm) 480-size brushless 18 amp DC-powered 3S LiPo balancing Weight 33.5 oz (950 g) Landing gear Yes Wingspan Motor ESC Charger

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

17

HOT PRODUCTS

HUBSAN H109S X4 PRO FPV

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f you are wanting to explore the exciting world of FPV flying, the H109S X4 Pro quadcopter and its onboard 1080p HD camera are ready for you to start aerial filmmaking.

The complete package of quadcopter, 10-channel transceiver, camera, gimbal, batteries, and charger comes at a price that’s accessible to almost anyone. Yet the X4 Pro also has features not found in even the best-known systems, including an exceptionally reliable 5.8-GHz video signal system.

Features • First Person View On its large, 17.8 cm (7-in.) FPV touchscreen, the X4 Pro’s transceiver displays what the onboard Reflec camera sees in real time. Pilots can frame scenes for filming by remotely controlling the camera gimbal. One, two, and threeaxis gimbal options are available, each designed to accept GoPro® cameras.

• GPS Flight Control GPS programming options enable the X4 Pro to virtually fly itself. It can hold steady at a chosen altitude and position, or execute complex flight patterns set with numerous separate Waypoints (coordinates can be saved and the identical path flown again any number of times). To focus filming on a specific area, the pilot needs only enter the desired coordinate using Focus Point.

The X4 Pro then flies completely around that point at the preferred altitude.

• Touchscreen Programming The transceiver has a built-in Android™ device for programming X4 Pro functions through the touchscreen.

Between flights, pilots can use its WiFi® capability to browse the Web, download maps, check Facebook and read email. A separate organic lightemitting diode (OLED) telemetry screen displays valuable flight data such as GPS coordinates, altitude, and battery power status.

Specifications Diagonal dimension 14.6 in. (370 mm) Weight 36.8 oz (1060) ready-tofly, w/o battery Battery 3S 7000-mAh 25C LiPo

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

• More Hobbyists can experience hightech quad flight and enjoy filming sports action, family trips, real estate, and much more. Plus: Range — 500 meters (3/10 mile) for flight and video signals Flight Times — 30 minutes per battery charge Return to Home — A command to bring the ORA back to its pilot Actual Direction — Prevents control reversal confusion during manual flight Failsafe Systems — Low battery protection Price

$1399.99 #HBNE0010

Video/Camera Specifications

Transceiver Specifications Dimensions 12.4 x 6.77 x 1.73 in. (315 x 172 x 44 mm) Display 7 in. (177.8 mm) touchscreen Display resolution 1280 x 800 Data port Micro USB Battery 2S 5400-mAh 1C LiPo

Size 2.32 x 1.61 x 1.31 in.

(59 x 41 x 33.2 mm) Weight 1.59 oz (45 g) Battery 1S 650-mAh LiPo Battery life 1 hour in recording mode w/ charge Video definition 1920 x 1080 P @ 30 fps Photo definition 4032 x 3024 pixels Video compression H.264 Video format MP4 Photo format JPEG

RETRO RC LLC

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etro RC LLC has acquired Campbell’s Custom Kits and Brand X Kits because the founder, Lee Campbell has retired.

Retro RC LLC will offer Campbell’s line of kits, short kits and plans, including hand-haunch gliders, catapult launched gliders, tow line gliders, indoor and outdoor rubber-powered models and competition gas-powered models — many of which are suitable for electric conversion. Our product line includes: Jabberwock, Gollywock, Polly, BoWeevil, Sweepette, Thermal Piglet, Straight Up, Souper 30, Jesse James,

1/2A T-Bord, 1/2A Maverick, Sloworm 300, Smith Mulvihill, Lanzo Stick, and more.

We also carry many of the accessories and supplies that Lee offered, including rubber bands, DT fuse, propellers, timers, flying accessories, rubber. etc…

Distributor Retro RC LLC P.O. Gox 193 Keego Harbor, MI 48320 Phone: 248-212-9666 RetroRC.us.com twitter.com/rcsportflyer

TOWER HOBBIES VISTA BL GLIDER

Distributor GREAT PLANES P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Greatplanes.com

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Specifications Wingspan Wing area Wing loading Length Weight Transmitter Servos Battery

78.5 in. (1,995 mm) 678 in.² (43.7 dm²) 7.5-8 oz/ft² (23-24 g/dm²) 41 in. (1040 mm) 35 – 38 oz (992 – 1077 g) 4-channel w/ Rx 2 mini or standard servos 3S 11.1-volt 1800- to 2200mAh LiPo

egardless of your skill level, the Vista BL is an electric sailplane that will let you soar for hours. It’s just as capable of slow-and-steady flight, so you can easily find thermals.

A factory-installed 1000Kv brushless motor and LiPo-compatible 30-amp brushless ESC allow the Vista BL to climb to thermal-soaring altitudes in just a few seconds. The glider’s low parts count helps keep assembly time down to a mere two to threes hours too. A factory-applied trim

scheme helps the Vista BL stand out in the air, so you’ll have no trouble seeing it at altitude.

This looks to be a model that will give you hours of soaring, but at an affordable price.

Features • Climbs to thermal-catching altitudes in seconds.

• Powerful 1000Kv brushless motor • LiPo-compatible 30-amp brushless ESC • Lightweight, built-up balsa/plywood construction • Factory-covered in colorful, quality heatshrink film • Pre-hinged tail surfaces and factoryinstalled control horns • Spacious interior for micro or standard servos • Convenient, quick-access battery hatch • 12 x 6.5-in. folding propeller • Low parts count Price

$129.99 #TOWA4020

SEAGULL MODELS SKYRAIDER navigation lights. It also includes a fixed landing gear, which is upgradeable to the optional electric-powered retracts.

Distributor SIG MFG. CO., INC. 401 South Front Street P O Box 520 Montezuma, IA 50171-0520 Phone: 641-623-5154 Sigmfg.com

Specifications Wingspan Wing area Length Weight Wing loading Transmitter Servos Engine Electric

63 in. (1600 mm) 637 in.2 (51.1 dm2) 47.8 in. (1215 mm) ≈8.6 lb (3.9 kg) 31.0 oz/ft2 (94.2 g/dm2) 6-channel 7 required 10- to 15-cc gas or glow Brushless

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IG’s new Seagull Model’s airplane captures the look and history of the legendary Douglas Skyraider in a semi-scale ARF. This model is designed to be suitable for glow, gas, or electric power.

The airframe is conventional built balsa and plywood construction, yet it employs a modern laser-cut design that makes the airplane lightweight yet strong. Most of the assembly work of this model has been done by the factory. For example, the pushrods are pre-made to the correct lengths and the control surfaces’ hinges are installed. Seagull’s Douglas Skyraider includes scale features such as wing guns, drop tanks, antenna, and operating

Features • Balsa and plywood ARF • Major components are factory built and finished • Utilizes CAD design and laser-cut parts • 2-piece plug-in wing for easy transport • Strong aluminum wing joiner tube joiner • Operational flaps • Airfoil shaped tail surfaces • Fiberglass cowl with dummy engine and cowl flap details • Covered in genuine UltraCote® • Scale cockpit detail with pilot • Scale details: wing guns, drop tanks, antenna • Wing mounted navigation lights included • Designed for glow, gasoline or electric power • Fixed landing gear included (optional electric retracts) • All necessary hardware and accessories included Price

$294.99 #SEA230B RC-SF.COM

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HOT PRODUCTS

E-FLITE P-47D THUNDERBOLT

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he Republic P-47D multi-role fighter is an impressive warbird, with an outstanding service record. Its massive radial engine gave the 47D power to deliver a variety of weapons. Its wide landing gear allowed it set down in varied field conditions. While its armor let pilots survive heavy fire.

The E-flite® P-47D Thunderbolt let’s you fly this warbird, and at affordable price. This model comes out of the box equipped with operational flaps and retracts installed.

Z-Foam™ material not only makes this fighter tough, but also lightweight, even with its scale details. Plus its tuned AS3X receiver makes this little warbird easy to pilot.

Specifications Wingspan Length Wing area Weight Motor Transmitter Receiver Propeller ESC Battery

Features • AS3X technology • Flaps/retracts installed

Flaps Retracts

42.2 in. (1070 mm) 36.9 in. (940 mm) 326 in.2 (21.0 dm2) 44.7 oz (1268 g) 15-size outrunner, 950 Kv 6-channel (required) 6-channel (BNF Basic only) 4-blade 9.8 x 6 or 2-blade 10.75 x 8 30-amp 3S 30C 11.1-volt 2200-mAh LiPo Yes Yes

SOARING USA XPLORER II F5J

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he New Xplorer II F5J has been specifically designed for F5J, ALES type electric-powered glider competitions. It has the same wing design and profiles as the two-time F3J World Championship winning Xplorer. The new F5J wing employs new layup techniques combined with even lighter materials for an incredibly lightweight F5J model. A new fuselage design has further reduced drag and weight. The Xplorer II F5J sports a 3.8-meter wingspan that has proven to be the most effective and best overall size in most flight conditions. The empty airframe with all parts and hardware weighs only

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

$249.99 #EFL6850 $224.99 #EFL6875

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

SOARING USA 827 N Glendora Ave Covina, CA 91724 Phone: 626-967-6660 soaringusa.com

Specifications Wingspan Wing area Length Weight Airfoil

149 in.

1263 in.2 64 in.

39 oz (1130 g) NAN X-II F3J

approximately 1130 grams. The all-up weight starts from an incredible 1625 grams, which is dependent on the power system and radio gear. There is a complete hardware package included with the model.

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Price

Distributor

QUABECK HQ-PROFILE FOR MODEL AIRPLANES his new book is authored by Dr Helmut Quabeck. It is written in German language, however, the polars, charts and diagrams provide the modelers with a wealth of information.

The book describes the peculiarities in the developments of wings and tail surfaces for model aircraft with respect to the HQ profiles and sections. There is a detailed introduction and summary that delves into the aerodynamics of the airfoil profiles. Also to aid in the proper selection of suitable profiles for typical models their is in-depth

• 4-blade propeller • 15-size brushless outrunner • Z-Foam construction

Price $1899.95

Distributor DR. HELMUT QUABECK HQ-Modellflugliteratur Paperback mit Klebebindung 408 Seiten, Bezug hq-modellflug.de

discussion relative to HQ profile sections.

The book includes an appendix with a compact disc for the coordinates of the HQ profiles. It includes several graphics for each section, with the polars for all relevant flight conditions. In addition, the author provides essays on specific topics related to airfoils.

Price

$69 Euro ISBN 978-3-9804171-3-6 1 twitter.com/rcsportflyer

MAPLE LEAF ROYALE Distributor MAPLE LEAF DESIGN 9997 E Morrill Way Tucson, AZ 85749 Phone: 520-465-6420 Mapleleafdesign.com

Specifications Wingspan Wing area Horizontal stabilizer Vertical Stab Length Aspect ratio Airfoils Planform Weight Price

158 in. (4.00 m) 1,365 in.² (88 dm²) 125 in.² (8.1 dm²) 82 in.² (5.3 dm²) 73 in. (1855 mm) 18.8 Drela AG series Drela 63.5 – 69 oz (1670 - 1900 gm) $2795

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he Royale is a new F3J thermal duration glider. It employees state-of-the art technology, starting with Mark Drela’s proven design work. The model employees extensive computer modeling done by Dave Beardsley, so the CNC-cut tooling delivers incredibly accurate airfoils as well as excellent fit and finish.

Major design improvements include drag and weight reductions. The wing is based on our proprietary spar system — a pressure-molded, fully wrapped hollow box section using UHM carbon spar caps.

It is one of the lightest and strongest spars in use today. ML’s standard wing build includes painted carbon skins delivering gliders weighing approximately 1900 grams ready to fly. There is a lightweight version that uses very light carbon skins, with naked carbon wing bottoms, rear fuselage and fin.

These gliders weigh close to 1670 grams.

In both cases the spars are the same, so the lighter version is still competition suitable.

The removable rudder and horizontal stab are film covered, open-bay structures joined to high-modulus carbon D-box fronts. This is a proven system that has survived World Championship seasons.

The front of the fuselage is constructed of Kevlar and S glass transitioning to several weights and styles of carbon, all pressure molded to form a stiff, void-free structure that is 2.4-GHz friendly.

The glider comes with carbon pushrods, wiring harness, removable ballast system, and servo tray installed. Finishing requires servo and radio installation.

E-FLITE PULSE 15E BNF BASIC/PNP

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Specifications Wingspan Length Wing area Weight Motor Propeller ESC Transmitter Receiver Servos Battery

55.0 in. (1400 mm) 45.5 in. (1160 mm) 551 in.2 (35.5 dm2) 58.5 oz (1660 g) BL15 outrunner, 880 Kv 2-blade 12 x 8 40-amp BL 4-channel, full range 6-channel installed 4 analog 7-gram 3S 11-volt 32000-mAh LiPo

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he new E-flite® Pulse 15e is great-flying platform made of durable Z-Foam™ material. The Pulse 15e sport airplane gives you the flexibility to choose from multiple undercarriage setups including tricycle and tail-dragger configurations — hardware for both is included. It can be converted to floats using the Apprentice® S 15e float set, which are sold separately.

Features • AS3X® technology • Spektrum™ 6-channel AR636A DSMX® receiver

• Tricycle and tail dragger landing gear options • Oversized access hatch and battery compartment • Matching wheel pants • Blue anodized aluminum main gear • 15-size brushless motor • Uses a range of 3S 11.1-volt LiPos • (4) microservos installed • Lightweight, hollow structure • Constructed of Z-Foam™ • Tinted canopy Price

$239.99 #EFL4350 $209.99 #EFL4375

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

21

HOT PRODUCTS

MULTIPLEX HITEC RCD HERON

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

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ultiplex has introduced their new Heron glider design. This highperformance electric-powered glider incorporates an efficient T-tail design and four-flap wing, with low-drag fuselage.

Now, whether you like thermal soaring, high-speed, spirited aerobatics, the Heron delivers your piloting preference.

Its four-flap wing uses an innovative CFRP/aluminum tubular spar technology for extreme rigidity, which sets a new benchmark for the 2.4-meter wingspan gliders. The model is designed of resilient Elapor® foam and uses Multiplex a folding propeller. It has detachable wings and tail surfaces, which make for easy transport. It is finished a cockpit with a clear canopy, the Heron raises the bar in the glider genre.

The Heron is available in a Receiver Ready (RR) and a Kit versions. The RR includes an ultra-efficient brushless motor, servos, servo extensions and decals, while the Kit version requires a power pack.

Features • 5-channel control • Innovative aluminum spar

• H igh-speed, aerobatics & thermal soaring capable • GRP “M-Space Technology” for a rigid fuselage • Ultra-efficient four-flap wing • Elegant, streamline design • Clear canopy w/ detailed cockpit • Detachable wings and tailplane Price

$374.99 RR # M264276 $169.98 Kit # M214276

Specifications Wingspan Length Weight Weight Motor ESC Battery Servos Receiver

94.44 in.

43.2 in.

45.87 oz glider 52.91 oz electric 300 – 400 watt 36-mm brushless 40 amp 3S 2200-mAh LiPo (2) HS-81 and (4) HS-55 Optima 6-channel

E-FLITE UMX FPV RADIAN BNF

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he First-Person View (FPV) often requires complex electronics to make a good working system.

The FPV UMX™ Radian™ aircraft is an evolutionary first-person-view platform that combines an airplane with easy-to-use ultra-micro electronics. Included is AS3X® technology for stabilization that reduce the effects of wind and turbulence, so flight performance is as smooth as possible. The FPV Radian’s simple 3-channel proportional control and an efficient power system provide an FPV experience and long flight times. All combined, you get the feel that you’re flying in a full-scale aircraft.

Features • AS3X® technology • Spektrum™ VA1100 ultra-micro FPV system • Fat Shark 5.8-GHz FPV headset compatible • 3-channel control for easy flying • One-piece, removable wing with carbon fiber support • Ultra-lightweight foam construction • Transparent, folding propeller blades

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

Specifications • Efficient coreless brushed motor system • Spektrum 5-channel DSMX® receiver/ ESC/servo unit • 150-mAh 1S LiPo battery (included) • USB 1S LiPo charger (included) Price

$189.99 #EFLU6780

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

Wingspan Length Wing area Weight Motor Transmitter Receiver ESC Servos Battery Charger Propeller FPV Monitor

28.7 in. (730 mm) 16.5 in. (418 mm) 83.4 in.2 (538 cm2) 1.75 oz (49 g) 8.5-mm brushed coreless 4-channel+ DSM2/DSMX DSMX 5-channel AS3X w/ brake Brushed (2) ultra-micro linear 2.3 g 1S 3.7-volt 150-mAh 25C LiPo 300-mA USB included 2-blade folding 130 x 70-mm, transparent Fat Shark 5.8-GHz headset or monitor needed twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Distributor

SOARING USA VIXEN F3J

SOARING USA 827 N Glendora Ave Covina, CA 91724 Phone: 626-967-6660 Soaringusa.com

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oaring USA tells us that their new Vixen has been in development and testing stages for some time. It was done in a joint cooperation between Jiri Baudis and Championship pilot Daryl Perkins. They now have the Vixen in production and ready for the competition season!

Here is what five-time world champion Daryl Perkins has to say about the design philosophy of the Vixen; “Everything about the Vixen was well thought out for the task. It was designed to be easy to build light, and to keep the weight out of the extremities — note the V-Tail and two-piece wing. There is no joiner box structure or joiner weight at half span which reduces weight out at the tips. The section choices are designed to have a wide speed range, pull hard on tow, and slow down well for a slow controlled approaches. Many of you will question the six servo wing; it must be flown to be believed! The control surfaces are quite short, enabling the use of very small and lightweight servos, and making it less prone to twist or flutter. The largest benefits here are in the landing circle and the ability to slow down, controllably, and work the

clock for that last 10th of a second. F3J contests are won on tow, and in the LZ. The Vixen is optimized for both.”

Features • 5-channel control • Innovative aluminum spar • High-speed, aerobatics & thermal soaring capable • GRP “M-Space Technology” for a rigid fuselage • Ultra-efficient four-flap wing • Elegant, streamline design • Clear canopy w/ detailed cockpit • Detachable wings and tailplane Price $2299.95

Specifications Wingspan Wing area Length Weight Airfoil section

144 in. (3.68 m) 1169 in.2 (75.41 dm2) 68 in. (1.72 m) 66–70 oz (1870–1985 g) JW transitioning to Drela mod

3-day entry fee only $25 August 28 – 30 Friday & Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

FMI: rc-warbirdflyer.com Hosted by: Miniature Aircraft Association, Tri-Cities Sponsored by: rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

RC-SF.COM

23

EVENT

MONSTER ENERGY JET JAM THEY’RE PILOTS WANTING TO BUZZ THE TOWER!

BY SHIRLEY BRENON AND MURRAY ROSS

Monster Jet Jam banner

24

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

This was one of the Horizon Hobby’s team low mirror pass smoke on.

Here you see one of Horizon Hobby’s formation team maneuvers.

Terry Buckley’s giant MIBO A-10 Warthog weighs 63 lb and requires special waiver inspection. It is powered by two Titans P-160. (160 refers to Newtons )

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he Coachella Valley Radio Control Club’s (CVRCC) flying field is 25.3 miles from the Palm Springs International Airport, or just close enough to be at risk for a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) when Airforce One arrives.

Sure enough, for the second year in a row, President Obama flew in for a few rounds of golf and warm weather. Club president, Dan Metz and contest director Clay Seddon had to scramble to get a waiver for the Jet Jam weekend of February 13 – 15. The scramble was successful, but the waiver stated no flying above 1000 feet or any further than half mile radius from the runway. In addition, the pit area was closed to all spectators and no flying could occur after 3:00 p.m. Saturday until after the rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

president left on Monday.

Some of the 37 pilots arrived before the weekend in recreational vehicles, taking advantage of the ample parking area and others trickled in during the weekend. Both Friday and Saturday, pilot meetings were conducted by Metz and Seddon to familiarize the pilots with the field procedures and safety equipment and explain how to earn tickets for the big pilot raffle. The raffle was organized so that a pilot was given a ticket for each flight, encouraging him to fly more times over the weekend.

Each day after the pilot meeting, the National Anthem came over the PA system, accompanied by an astounding demonstration of formation flying by the Horizon Hobby Team. The team members,

Vince Tolomeo’s EDF A-10 gets power from twin 90-mm fans — gear down approach.

Mike Adams and Ken McSpadden used special Spektrum radio equipment designed to facilitate synchronized flying. Both were flying Sky Master Vipers. McSpadden’s Viper has a P-160 engine and Adams’ a P-180 to enable “catching up.”

Otherwise, the speed of each plane is locked at the same value. Additionally, each plane has a second receiver, which is under control of one pilot so that use of smoke is precisely synchronized. They orchestrated their demonstrations many times over the weekend and really wowed the audience with the belly-to-belly mirror formation. Adams said, “We fly six minutes and 30 seconds and that leaves us enough fuel if we have to go around again for another approach.”

One of the stand-out airplanes RC-SF.COM

25

EVENT

MONSTER ENERGY JET JAM

Matt Carroll’s Navy Cat JetCat P-160 requires governor to keep its speed under 170 mph.

This is a Comp Art Flash with Simjet 3000.

Scott Bahde takes off his Jet Legend L-39 with Titan 160. He joked that the runway was too long and wide and hindered his perspective.

Dan Avila’s BVM Bandit uses a P-180 detuned to P-140.

26

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

on Friday was Terry Buckley’s huge Mibo A-10 Warthog with two JetCat Titan engines. This beauty weighs 63 pounds and requires an AMA LTMA-1 (55-77.2 lb. with fuel) waiver inspection yearly. This A-10 is worth about $30,000.

Chris Balling, an exceptional flyer and organizer from Arizona, used a lot of Jet-A all weekend in his novel Blue Angel version of the Global Jet Club Viper with a JetCat P120. Chris has been affiliated with Arizona Speed World for several years.

A really unusual and beautiful model of the Epic Victory executive jet was flown expertly by Scott Bahde. During the flight, Metz on the PA discussed the severe structural and control requirements for these

Scott Bahde’s scale model of the Epic Victory is powered by a Graupner 160.

Rob Sawyer’s Reaction with JetCat 70 turbine. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Clay Sherrow ‘s Boomerang Sprint is powered by Ram 1000.

Mike Lin’s Global Jet Club F-5 Aggressor uses a JetCat P-160.

Chris Balling’s Global Jet Club sport viper is P-120 powered an in Blue Angel’s dress passing by lunar crescent.

RC-SF.COM

27

EVENT

MONSTER ENERGY JET JAM

Freddie Jones “DV8R” King Tech 140 engine. Big sport model (Non-scale) .

miniature jet aircraft for the benefit of the spectators. He particularly addressed the deadly terror of flutter and how to eliminate it with absolutely slop-free control surfaces.

Powerful servos with up to 300–400 in.-oz torque, strong hinges and servo arms are mandatory.

On Saturday, Adams and McSpadden again thrilled the audience with their formation skills. They finished their routine a smoke heart as a tribute to Valentines Day. There were many more outstanding models demonstrated on Saturday, but the one that drew the most interest was Barry Hou’s F-14 Tomcat. It is probably the most technologically advanced and expensive model ever built. It is primarily constructed of carbon fiber,

Clay Sherrow serves as Terry Buckley’s mandatory spotter, and is seen viewing his watch to monitor the planes flight time (fuel consideration).

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

David Euse’s “Global Jet Club” Viper in beautiful original metallic bronze, black and white colors, constructed with both fiberglass and carbon fiber, Engine JetCat P-120 (P-120 means 120 Newtons of static thrust) has proportional brakes. Very fast plane. 200+

Dan Avila’s BVM F-86, Jet Cat P-160 Engine, 80-in. wingspan.

Dan Avila’s F-100 is 13 years old, has well maintained Presto aluminized mylar finish. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Terry Buckley’s large RCAF Tudor trainer called “Snowbird.”

Plane has JetCat Titan engine with 36 lbs static thrust.

F14 Tomcat with tail hook deployed on approach.

Barry Hou’s F-14 Tomcat cockpit detail.

F-14 sweep mechanism detail. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Tomcat after takeoff.

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MONSTER ENERGY JET JAM

The Tomcat has a fully swept wing configuration.

One of the smallest model is Rick Silz’ little edf.

This Blanik is a jet-powered sailplane that’s owned by Scott Bahde.

has operating wing sweep, leading edge slats, spoilers for roll control, tail hook, navigation lights and running lights. The wing sweep is powered by a precision 15-lb linear actuator.

Barry uses an 18-channel JR radio, but needs more channels and employs two Y-harnesses to accommodate the extra servos. The Tomcat is powered by two King Tech 210 turbines. It’s estimated to be worth a whopping $100,000.

Another extreme crowd pleaser was a traditional airplane that has been around for 13 years. It’s Dan Avila’s gorgeous F-100 with P-160 power, decked out in super-shiny aluminum “Presto” metalized Mylar with simulated rivets.

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

Here you see the south end of pit area at 10:30 AM Saturday.

Scott Bahde’s Czech sailplane called “Blanik” cavorted around like an aerobatic Extra 300 to surprised everyone. This beauty is powered by a Graupner 160.

The CVRCC is fortunate to have a lease on 240 acres of Bureau of Reclamation land for their home.

Nine acres have been developed with an 865 X 70 foot runway, and a large concrete pit area shaded by 10 large polyester canopies, plus car and RV parking. Their facility has hosted Best in the West Jets four times, and this is the fifth occurrence of the Monster Jet Jam. They also hold aerotows, warbird events, IMAC, and pylon racing. There are 160 members enjoying the facility.

FIELD STATISTICS Runway is 865 x 70 Surrounded by earthcrete and creosote bushes Altitude – sea level Shade structures – 10 RV dry-camping available

SPONSORS

EVENT

Monster Energy Jet Propulsion Association Global Jet Club JETI USA RC Jet International King Tech House of Balsa Hot Purple Energy Jet CentralPhotos by: Jim Burk, John Cunningham and Murray Ross twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The Best Adhesive Selection for All Foams.

With the addition of Foam-Cure, BSI gives you the most choices when building your foam aircraft. With over 60 items, BSI has the largest selection of CA and epoxy adhesives available for modelers. Consistent high performance and freshness is what BSI provides in the adhesives that are always available at 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 Find us on Facebook at Bob Smith Industries “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

BUILD

DECATHLON FUSELAGE THE WOODWORK IS ABOUT CRAFTSMANSHIP

BY JEFF TROY

T

he woodwork for my Dynaflite Super Decathlon has been completed, and in this installment, I will show you the procedures I used to assemble and mount the wing struts and prepare the fuselage for covering. I hope you can take advantage of some of the methods I describe when

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constructing your own favorite models.

I use Bob Smith Industries (BSI) Insta-Cure + medium CA (cyanocrylate) glue for most of my models’ basic construction. InstaCure thin CA and Maxi-Cure thick CA are also used where needed. When epoxy is called for, BSI Quik-Cure (5

This installment picks up with the Dynaflite Super Decathlon woodwork nearly complete, needing only a final filling and sanding of the fuselage, and assembly of the two hardwood wing struts before moving to the next installment.

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

minute), Mid-Cure (15 minute), and Slow-Cure (30 minute) epoxy are my choices.

Before the model can be covered, it’s important that no rough edges, high spots, or low spots are present in the woodwork. High spots will cause lumps in the covering. Low spots will result in valleys where there the covering is unsupported. Rough edges can cause snags in the covering and prevent it from shrinking correctly, most often at joints between stringers and bulkheads, as well as where ribs meet leading and trailing edges, spars, and sheeting.

If you’re building something—not necessarily the Decathlon—along with me, you’ve already block-sanded the fuselage with medium to coarse sandpaper on the Easy-Touch Bar Sander from Great Planes®. Block sanding does a nice job of eliminating high spots and ridges, but something more is needed to fill valleys and gaps in your model’s joints. I use HobbyLite from Hobbico, which is available in your choice of two colors: white and “balsa,” which is a pleasing shade of medium tan.

Before applying HobbyLite, it’s wise to clean up any rough edges twitter.com/rcsportflyer

2

Remove any fuzz, splinters, and blemishes from the model’s LitePly parts. My favorite tool for this kind of edge dressing is the Sanding Pad Dual Grit 120/240 from Stevens AeroModel.

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I use HobbyLite filler to bridge any valleys and minor gaps in my models. For optimum penetration and adhesion, dab the area with tap water just before applying the filler.

4

The coarse — 120-grit — side of the Stevens Dual Grit pad is ideal for taking down the filler. Flip it over to feather the edges of the filler into the wood.

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HobbyLite sands easily, and doesn’t require much elbow grease to make the smoothest possible base for the Coverite 21st Century Fabric skin that will eventually cover my Dynaflite Super Decathlon.

that may still remain on your model’s Lite-Ply parts. Blemishes in the cabin area are the most obvious in the window perimeters and wing saddle.

These blemishes are generally in the form of fuzz or small splinters created when the die-cut parts were removed from their sheets. Coarse sandpaper can gauge these edges or remove too much material, so I use the coarse (120 grit) side of the Stevens AeroModel Sanding Pad Dual Grit 120/240 to dress Lite-Ply edges after block sanding.

Get a feel for using the sanding pad by lightly dusting the edges of the wing saddle; then you’ll see how nicely this tools works and how easy it is to master. Next, work the sander around the inside and outside edges of the window openings, applying only light to medium pressure. The object is to remove any fuzz and jagged edges without altering the rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

hard edge of the opening. After a few minutes with this amazing tool, you will have become a sanding-pad expert, and will most likely never build another model airplane without having one or more of these pads on hand.

HobbyLite is a pleasure to use, and you’ll love the results. It’s soft, dries quickly, and sands easily. You can apply it directly onto the surface, although I like to treat balsa and other porous surfaces with a dab of fresh water before wiping on the filler.

Doing this helps the filler penetrate the grain of the wood and increases the bond. I keep an open jar of water next to the tub of HobbyLite, using one finger to wet the surface being filled, and another finger to apply the filler. You might also want to use the water finger to help smooth the filler over the surface as it’s being applied. Just remember that the filler

must always dry at a level above the surface. Sanding is what brings it flush.

Unless it’s heavily applied, HobbyLite will dry within a few hours.

You can test it with a light dusting of the Stevens sanding pad. If the filler takes down smoothly, you’re all set, but if it starts to load the pad, wait an hour or two longer and check again.

When it’s dry, sand with the coarse side of the pad to bring the filler level with the surface, then use the fine side to smooth the job and feather the edges so they can’t be detected under the model’s film or fabric covering.

Each Decathlon V-strut is made from two pieces of airfoil-shaped wood. Holes must be drilled for the mounting hardware, and the individual struts must be joined at the base to form the V. Begin by drilling a 1/8-in. hole on one end of each of the four lengths of strut material, then threading a nylon strut-mount RC-SF.COM

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DECATHLON FUSELAGE

6

Use a fine-tooth ZONA saw to get the cleanest possible cut on the hardwood wing struts. See the text for an easy trick for threading the fittings onto the studs.

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A paste-like mix of slow-setting BSI epoxy and Great Planes PRO Milled Fiberglass makes an ideal filler for the valleys between the struts. It’s tough to sand, but super strong.

fitting onto the ends of the six lengths of 4-40 threaded studs. Common practice has many modelers holding the stud with pliers or a Vice Grips while they twist the fitting on, but doing this often damages the threads.

A better method is to thread two 4-40 hex nuts onto the stud and tighten them against each other. Then the nuts can be gripped with pliers, a Vice Grips, or wrench to prevent the stud from rotating while the fitting is threaded on.

Remove the nuts from the studs, and thread four of the six studs— with the fittings on the studs—into the holes you drilled in the ends of the four struts. This puts the correct threads into the holes, so be sure that the studs are twisted in far enough to let the fittings contact the ends of the struts. Now you can remove the studs and mix a small batch of 15-minute epoxy. Stand the struts on end, hole

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

7

9

After marking, cutting, fitting, and adjusting, join each pair of forward and rear struts with slow-setting epoxy. Hold the struts together with wraps of masking tape while the adhesive cures.

These 6-32 Threaded Inserts and screws from Du-Bro Products will be used to attach the ABS cowl. Du-Bro 8-32 screws and inserts will replace the wing struts’ self-tapping wood screws.

side up, and use a toothpick to work the epoxy into the holes. I like to apply the epoxy in a small mound above each hole and let gravity draw most of it in, then force the remainder down with a paper towel. Before the epoxy cures, thread the studs back into the holes and set these four assemblies aside while the adhesive cures.

The struts must be cut to length, and that means mounting the wing to the fuselage and turning the model inverted. Drill a 1/8-in. hole in the mounting areas in the plywood floor behind the landing gear slot, and use an included self-tapping screw to attach one of the struts to the fuselage. Screw one of the two remaining stud/strut fittings into the forward plywood strut-mounting plate in the wing, and position the strut against the fitting so you can mark its length. Use a fine-tooth ZONA saw to cut the strut on the

mark, then remove the strut, drill the end, and install one of the remaining stud/fittings with epoxy. Repeat this procedure for the strut on the opposite wide of the model. After the epoxy cures, reinstall both of the completed forward struts.

Two struts remain, and they can now be installed into the rear mounting plates in the wing panels.

One at a time, bring the rear strut against the forward strut at the fuselage side, overlapping the forward strut until their trailing edges come to approximately 1/8-in. of each other.

Mark the rear strut for length, and draw another pencil line on the rear strut, parallel to the forward strut and roughly 1/4- to 3/8-in. behind the leading edge of the rear strut. Remove the rear strut and make the two saw cuts: one for the length and the other on the angled mark that matches the angle of the forward strut. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

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Thread a hex nut and one insert onto a socket-head machine screw.

Snug the nut against the insert and use a hex wrench to drive the insert into the wood.

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12

I installed Du-Bro 8-32 Threaded Inserts in each wing panel to hold the forward and rear ends of the wing struts. Inserts allow machine screws to replace the wood screws.

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Reattach the rear strut and position it to overlap the forward strut. Use a soft pencil to trace the overlap onto the forward strut, then remove the forward strut and cut away the material behind the pencil lines.

Reattach the forward strut and check the angles where the forward and rear struts mate to form the V. Use the Easy-Touch Bar Sander to correct any imperfections in the angle cuts, then use 15- or 30-minute epoxy to join the struts where they meet. Use tape to wrap the joint securely while the epoxy cures overnight.

Get the struts off the model and remove the tape, then sand the V-joint as smoothly as possible without altering the airfoil shape at the trailing and leading edges. Mix a batch of 15- or 30-minute epoxy, and add Great Planes PRO Milled Fiberglass in moderate increments until the mix becomes a thick paste that won’t run. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

This image shows one of two Du-Bro 8-32 Threaded Insert installed in the Decathlon’s fuselage. These inserts and 8-32 machine screws hold the “V” side of the two wing struts.

With threaded inserts and machine screws, there is no limit to the number of times the struts can be installed and removed without doing any damage to the mounting plates.

Apply this filler over the V-joint. When the filler is thoroughly cured, use a flat Perma-Grit tool and an Easy-Touch sander to take down the filler and feather the edges smoothly into the struts.

The strut-mounting screws provided in the kits are okay, but even though the threaded holes in the plywood plates will be hardened with thin CA, I’m a bit concerned about installing and removing the srews each time the model is assembled or disassembled for transportation. The solution to my concern comes by way of Threaded Inserts from Du-Bro Products: 8-32 inserts for the struts, and 6-32 inserts for the cowl in the next installment.

For the wing struts, thread a hex nut approximately 1/2-in. onto an 8-32 socket-head screw, and thread the screw into one of the 8-32 DuBro Threaded Inserts. Tighten the

nut against the insert. Use a 7/32 drill to enlarge the hole in each of the six strut-mounting plates, and twist one of these screw-fitted inserts into each hole. When they are fully seated against the plywood plates, you can do either of two things. The first is to unscrew the inserts, coat the edges with epoxy and reinstall them, then remove the crews and nuts. The second option is to just remove the socket-head screws and nuts, and apply a bead of thin CA to the wood surrounding each insert. I chose the CA method because it’s quicker and easier, and because the inserts are made to hold securely into plywood with no adhesive of any kind. With the inserts installed, you can replace the #8 self-tapping screws with 8-32 machine screws, and never worry about stripped threads in the plywood mounting plates.

Use a scissors to cut away the RC-SF.COM

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DECATHLON FUSELAGE

Use scissors to trim the windshield near the molded-in cut line.

Continue trimming in small increments and trial-fitting until the windshield fits in front of the cabin with no gaps.

excess material on the crystal-clear windshield. Cut it approximately 1/4-in. outside of the molded-in line, and then fit the windshield over the fuselage to check the fit. Now you can cut closer to the line, removing only a little material at a time, and ensuring the perfect fit of the windshield to the fuselage. Remove the windshield and place it back inside its soft paper wrapping; it won’t be need again until after the model is covered.

The final prep-step is assembling and installing the throttle servo tray.

This is described in the manual, although I chose to embellish the installation with a scrap-plywood plate that will support the end of the throttle pushrod tube at the correct

15

Here, the throttle servo mount is installed. The height of the scrapplywood tab I made to support the pushrod tube will be adjusted and glued after the servo is mounted.

height to align with the pushrod connector on the servo output arm.

This completes the woodwork for my Super Decathlon, which is now ready for covering with Coverite 21st Century Fabric. In the next installment, I will show you how I assembled the ABS plastic cowl and wheel pants, mounted them, and prepared them for painting to match the Coverite fabric.

Many of the techniques I describe in my series for RC Sport Flyer have been demonstrated in previous installments. Back issues are available from RC-SF. Subscriptions to the magazine are available at $29.95 for 12 issues.

SOURCES

BUILD

Bob Smith Industries 8060 Morro Rd. Atascadero, CA 93422 Bsi-inc.com Coverite / Dynaflite Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Bestrc.com Du-Bro Products, Inc. P.O. Box 815 480 W. Bonner Rd. Wauconda, IL 60084 Dubro.com Perma-Grit Traplet Distribution USA 816 N. Country Fair Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 Us.trapletshop.com Stevens AeroModel 26405 Judge Orr Rd. Calhan, CO 80808 Stevensaero.com Zona Tool Company 16 Stony Hill Rd. Bethel, CT 06801 Zonatool.co.uk

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The Decathlon is now ready for covering with 21st Century Fabric, but the ABS cowl and wheel pants must be assembled, fitted, and prepared for paint. That will happen next.

RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

3-VIEW

CESSNA 195 DRAWINGS BY HANS-JĂœRGEN FISCHER

T

he Cessna 195 Businessliner was manufactured by Cessna between 1947 and 1954. It is a single, radial-engine-powered, general aviation aircraft, with the use a tail-dragger type landing gear.

The first 195 prototype flew in 1945, and it entered production in 1947.

The 195 was Cessna’s first all aluminum airplane. It features a cantilever wing. The wing planform has a straight taper from root chord to tip chord, and it has no dihedral.

The airfoil employed is a NACA 2412.

The 195 has two seats up front, with three passengers accommodated on a bench seat in the back.

The 195 has flat sprung-steel landing gear legs. Many were equipped with swiveling crosswind

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

twitter.com/rcsportflyer

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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3-VIEW

CESSNA 195

SPECIFICATIONS

landing gear, which facilitates 15-degrees crab landings — it makes ground handling difficult though.

Cessna offered a factory-produced

floatplane version that was equipped with a triple tail for improved lateral stability.

The Cessna 195 was used by

Crew : One

the United States Air Force, Air National Guard and Army as a light transport and utility aircraft under the designation LC-126.

The 195 was sold at a price of only $24,700.

Capacity : Four passengers Length : 27 ft 4 in.

Wingspan : 36 ft 2 in.

Height : 7 ft 2 in.

Empty weight : 2,100 lb Gross weight : 3,350 lb Wing loading : 15.36 lb/ft2 Fuel capacity : 75 US gallons Powerplant : Jacobs R-755 300-hp radial Propeller : 2-bladed Hamilton Standard constant speed Rate of climb : 1,200 ft/min Max airspeed : 185 mph Cruise speed : 170 mph @ 70% power Stall : 62 mph, power off, flaps 45° Range : 800 mi @ 70% power Service ceiling : 18,300 ft

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

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

FIREWALLS

MAKE IT REMOVABLE TO MAKE IT EASY

BY ROBERT CASO

1

This is the nose of the Bulldog with blind nuts mounted in a circumferential ring to accommodate the firewall. A centering ring was also fabricated.

C

ertainly, by now you should know that I am a big proponent of electric power for RC scale models. Electric motors are compact, clean, powerful, reliable, and vibration free, all of which are critical elements for a flying scale model. My Mosquito and DH2 for example could never have been successful and field friendly models with other than an electric motor — and the combinations available today in terms of motor, propeller, electronic speed controller (ESC), and batteries are almost limitless.

Nevertheless, I am always searching for ways to make my models more scale and easier to work on. This goal oftentimes requires models to be designed at the outset to eliminate non-scale features such as exposed linkages and equipment access hatches or panels. While not really a new idea per se, I have started using removable firewalls on my electric models to help accomplish this goal.

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

2

Here is the plywood firewall plate that mounts to the nose. It is shown prior to the installation of the airplane’s box-shaped motor mount.

With such a design feature, the model’s front end essentially becomes a power unit, and would incorporate the motor and its mount, the ESC, attachment points for the cowling and dummy engine, and a flange for mounting the unit to the model. There are a number of benefits here that take advantage of a motor’s characteristics noted above.

First, without significant vibration, there is little risk of the power unit parting company from the model.

Once removed from the model, the open area on the nose becomes a hidden equipment access hatch for batteries and servos. This area also makes a model easier to fit out during construction, allowing the insertion of pushrods, scale cockpits, landing gear and other critical items.

A useful byproduct of this design is that it also allows you to change your mind. Let me explain. Although I use Motocalc to determine the power needs of a given design, a critical input to Motocalc is airframe weight.

I have the bad habit of constantly underestimating what this will be, which in turn requires the installation of a larger motor, batteries and ESC. Sometimes too, I simply decide that I want to use a different motor, for whatever reason. If the motor mount was designed to accommodate the initial selection has already been permanently affixed to the airframe, I’m looking at a major redo of a critical area on my model. Not so with a properly designed removable mount. With the latter, it is simply a question of making a new mount to accommodate the change and affixing this to a plate that already fits the model. Done!

An excellent case in point is my recent 51-in. Bulldog. Early on, I estimated the flying weight to be three and one half pounds and selected an appropriate motor to power it. What was I thinking? The final weight was north of five pounds.

Thankfully, I recognized this when I was well into the build as I was twitter.com/rcsportflyer

3

At this point, the plywood firewall plate has been test fit to the nose. The rectangular holes for servo pushrods were later eliminated.

4

The mounting ring is shown with the installation of the 4-40 blind nuts. It is a bit flimsy by itself, but is later boxed in with balsa filler pieces

5

Here the nose filler pieces are being installed that give shape to the Bulldog’s nose aft of the cowling.

6

The reverse side of the removable firewall is test fit in its ring and showing the vertical cross grain hard balsa stiffeners

7

This photo shows the nose of a three-engined SM-79 Sparviero I have been working lately. It uses the same removable firewall concept as the Bulldog

8

This is the layout of all the necessary pieces for the removable fuselage firewall — the same setup will be used for the wing mounted engines.

slathering on layer after layer of fiberglass and filler. Although I had good cause to believe the model would fly at this weight, I nevertheless had to up-gun the motor selection. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

The new motor was slightly larger in footprint, longer and had a different propeller mount. Since I had already employed the power unit concept in the original design of the model,

ultimately this change was no big deal. Had I used a traditional construction methodology, I would have had a real mess on my hands.

Using the Bulldog as the guinea RC-SF.COM

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HOW TO

FIREWALLS

9

This shows the Sparviero’s removable firewall, motor mount, and centering ring. Fewer blind nuts were needed due to the smaller mount diameter.

10

Here you see one of the two servos mounted in the nose of the Bulldog. The huge opening provides quite convenient access for hardware installations and adjustments.

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The Bulldog’s open nose also provided for the easy assembly and installation of the model’s functional sprung landing gear. You can put your hand in here.

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Who says you cannot do this with a foamie model? This photo shows the propulsion system that I used in my 1/12-scale Fw-190A fighter.

pig here, another issue with this model was servo and landing gear installation. Many similar such designs employ non-scale hatches for access, but these would have looked out of place on the Bulldog and would have added weight and complexity to a design that was already complex and which was getting porkier by the minute. The opening for the firewall solved all these problems with the landing gear mount being installed through the fuselage opening and the servos mounted in its perimeter, thus allowing a straight pushrod run to the tail. In retrospect, this solution was the simplest and the most obvious, but it came to me late in the game while I was cutting out all the parts for the nose.

The best thing about this idea is that the needed parts can be easily fabricated by hand, although I always

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

recommend 2D computer aided design (CAD) for laying out the pieces. About the hardest thing to do here is accurately plotting the blind nut locations and deciding upon their size, but this stuff is just building.

Is this a Four sheet metal screws secure the firewall to a plywood ring that revolutionarily was epoxy glued in the nose of the Fw-190A. Now crashes are not new idea? It is a major problem! absolutely not!

But the best ideas are usually tweaks of those that that makes for better models and currently exist and making changes modelers. to accommodate particular models or equipment. It’s this kind of stuff

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rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

RC-SF.COM

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HOW TO

SYSTEMS EXPANDER NOT MAGIC: JUST MODERN ELECTRONICS

BY DIPL. ING. KARL-HEINZ KEUFNER

I

t is possible to control up to eighteen servos using just a small three-channel receiver; the key is a combination of modern electronics and the new form of transmission technology on the 2.4GHz band. The task is accomplished by a high-performance processor and appropriate software. But what’s the secret of the Expander, which PowerBox systems recently introduced, and how exactly does it work? Does it actually fulfill the

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

promises of the advertising? Those are questions that this product review is intended to clarify.

There is one point which must be emphasized at the outset: the PowerBox Expander is not itself a receiver per se; in fact it is a device which expands the facilities of an existing receiver by adding more servo sockets. The Expander must be used in conjunction with a receiver, which provides the information which the unit processes.

TECHNICAL Many modern 2.4-GHz transmitters produce a large number of channels to cater for the various control functions. Since the bandwidth available using this transmission technology is large, the data for all the channels are combined to form a data stream which is sent to the receiver. This means all the data which are generated by the positions of the transmitter’s primary sticks, sliders and switches are present at the receiver. However, the small physical size of many receivers makes it impossible to provide sufficient servo sockets to make all the data available.

Most small mini-receivers are fitted with the same receive module as large receivers of the same make, and this means that the small receiver could operate like a large receiver if only it had sufficient servo sockets.

The PowerBox Systems Expander circumvents precisely this problem.

The motor speed controllers employed by multirotors require serial servo signals, and the same applies to modern battery backers as used in large-scale model aircraft.

That is why recent 2.4-GHz receivers are equipped with the appropriate serial ports; alternatively it may be twitter.com/rcsportflyer

A two-part plastic case protects the PowerBox Expander’s electronic circuitry. This one is designed for the Deans power input.

In addition to the actual hardware, the set includes operating instructions, a selfadhesive pad, and two patch-leads.

possible to configure a receiver in such a way that a sum signal is present at a particular output. Such serial ports are typically used for directly connecting the input of a quadcopter’s multi-function unit, which is then responsible for all the model’s control requirements. In most cases this type of serial interface offers all the channel information that is generated by the transmitter.

In practical terms, this arrangement can be exploited with, say, a Futaba® T18MZ transmitter to control up to eighteen servos even with a small three-channel Futaba FASST receiver of the R6303SB type. In exactly the same way, the Expander allows an eight-channel HoTT receiver of the This is the typical wiring arrangement for the PowerBox Expander system. It is very easy to set up and implement in most any model.

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

GR-16 type to feed control data to a maximum of sixteen servos if an MC32 transmitter is employed. All that’s required is an electronic device which separates the data stream, provides the required additional servo sockets, and distributes the data to them in the appropriate manner. Along with additional features, this is what the PowerExpander SRS does: it provides a means of making full use of all the channels generated by the RC system transmitter — even when small but full-featured receivers are used.

PERFORMANCE The PowerExpander constitutes a significant enhancement to radio link security, since it provides receiver redundancy: the unit is fitted with two serial inputs to which

two independent receivers can be connected. When the system is switched on, the integral Serial Receiver System (SRS) selects either receiver, and automatically switches over to the other receiver if an error should occur in use. However, it is also true that the system works perfectly with just one receiver; in this case the Expander serves only as a channel expansion device. The second receiver provides an additional safety enhancement. In many systems the dual receivers feature four receiver aerials in total, and this provides a further positive effect. The receivers act as satellites, and can be installed in the model at locations where there are no potential sources of interference, or where no metal or

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47

HOW TO

POWERBOX SYSTEMS EXPANDER

Two versions are available. The only difference is the power socket, which features either a Deans or MPX connector.

The case effectively protects the sockets from damage and short-circuit contacts. It is durable and rugged enough to fit in any model.

carbon fibre materials are present which could have a shielding effect.

There is no reason why the Expander should not be installed where the servo leads terminate — regardless of the receiving conditions at that point — because the receivers themselves are located at the optimum positions.

PowerBox Systems have always concentrated on methods of implementing reliable, efficient power supply systems in model aircraft, so it is only natural to find heavy-duty battery sockets utilizing Deans or MPX connectors. These sockets ensure the connection between the battery and the servos has high current-handling capacity all through. It is also possible to connect a battery backer to this generously dimensioned power

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

supply socket, and this in turn means that battery redundancy can be added to receiver redundancy.

For example, a Gemini or BaseLog backer from the PowerBox range could be used for this; these units process the output of the LiPo batteries to produce a regulated voltage of 5.9 volts, making it possible to use any standard servos.

the S-BUS signal — regardless of the radio control system used — which means it is possible to use PowerBUS or S-Bus components with any radio control system supported by the unit.

Unscrewing the case reveals a very neatly made circuit board dominated by a high-performance processor that is responsible for all the signal and data processing. The circuit board is a multi-layer type, ensuring a lowresistance connection for the servo power supply.

DESIGN The circuit board containing the electronic components is housed in a small, two-part plastic case which is screwed together. Each end of the case is fitted with a whole row of sockets, and this large number is necessary since so many servos can be connected. The righthand end houses the sockets for servos 01 to 12, while those for servos 13 to 18 are located at the opposite end. Useful features are that the servo connector pins are effectively shrouded by the case, and that the connector pin assignment is clearly shown by stickers.

The lefthand end of the device also houses the two SRS ports, labelled RX1 and RX2, while the adjacent USB socket is designed for connection to a PC — in conjunction with a USB bridge — in case you need to program the PowerExpander, or install a new software update. At the final socket, labelled MISC, a PowerBUS signal is present. This is identical to

COMPATIBILITY The PowerExpander SRS is designed to work with a whole series of different radio control systems: it can be operated with Futaba, Spektrum, Graupner, Jeti, Multiplex and JR RC systems and their receivers.

By default the unit is set up for the Futaba S-Bus system, and if this is your preferred equipment, then there is no need to modify the configuration. The instructions provide clear information on connecting the various Futaba receivers with S-Bus facilities. If you wish to use Spektrum receivers, they must feature what is known as an “SRXL” output. Graupner’s HoTT receivers must be configured in such a way that a sum signal is present at the output socket with the highest channel number. In the case of Jeti EX equipment, all you have to do is connect one, or better, two R-Sat2 receivers to the serial ports after binding them to the transmitter.

If you use a Multiplex system, you must use the receiver’s B/D output socket, which must first be switched twitter.com/rcsportflyer

PLUG-AND-PLAY The configuration procedure only has to be carried out once, and is quickly completed in any case. The PowerBox Expander can then immediately be put to use: the receivers are connected to the SRS inputs, preferably using two patchleads. The servos and power supply are then connected, and the system is ready for use. The Expander feeds electrical power to the two receivers via the serial connection.

In the laboratory we checked all aspects of the device using two different sets of radio control equipment: one Graupner HoTT system and one Futaba system, and in both cases everything functioned perfectly. The GR-16 HoTT receiver only allows a maximum of eight servos to be connected, whereas the MC-32 transmitter generates sixteen;

SPECIFICATIONS

SOFTWARE As mentioned above, many receivers require the user to activate the serial output, and set the appropriate operating mode.

However, it may also be necessary to adjust certain settings at the PowerExpander. For example, if you do not use a Futaba radio control system, as this is the default setting for the Expander as supplied. If you wish to use a different radio control system, the changes required can be entered with the help of a PowerBox USB Interface Adapter and the free PowerBox Terminal program.

The free Terminal program and associated instructions can be downloaded from the PowerBox Systems website. The installation and configuration procedures use standard Windows methods, and are quickly completed; the instructions are very helpful at this stage. Once you have connected the Expander to

the PC as described, the next step is to start the program, which immediately reads out the device’s current configuration. A menu is provided for activating your preferred radio control system, and it is also possible to adjust the servos’ signal frame rate.

It is important to read the operating instructions supplied with the servos before you change this value. The default setting is 18 milliseconds, at which most servos work properly without modification. Any changes you make are automatically saved.

with the Expander connected, it was possible to control the servos for all sixteen channels, and all the servos followed the appropriate commands correctly. Exactly the same applies to the unit’s use in conjunction with a Futaba T14SG transmitter. Although our test system only included two small three-channel receivers, it proved possible to control fourteen servos. Use a large T18MZ transmitter, and eighteen servos can be controlled.

CONCLUSION Any modeler aiming to improve the security and safety of their model aircraft by adding receiver and battery redundancy is well served with the PowerBox Expander. The device also makes it possible to exploit all the transmitter’s channels, even if the receiving system utilizes only one or two small receivers. The final advantage of this new PowerBox device is that it provides a heavy-duty energy supply to the servos. If you possess models that deserve this treatment, then our recommendation is that you include the Expander SRS when selecting their RC equipment.

DISTRIBUTOR

to “Serial Servo Data SRXL”. JR DMSS system users must use receivers fitted with an X-Bus output. The receiver or receivers should be bound to the transmitter, and programmed to “MODE A”; the X-BUS output then supplies sixteen channels, which are available at the PowerExpander SRS. The instructions describe concisely all the settings required for each receiver type, and the procedures are easy and straightforward to carry out.

PowerBox Systems Ludwig-Auer-Straße 5 D-86609 Donauwörth powerbox-systems. com

Operating voltage : 4.0 – 9.0 volts Supported RC systems : Futaba, Jeti, Graupner, JR, Spektrum, Multiplex Signal input : Serial Power supply : 2S LiPo, 2S LiFe, 5S NiCd / NiMH Current drain, power- : 25 mA on state Maximum load : max. 30 amps current Receiver redundancy : 2 SRS ports Channels : 18 servo sockets

The PowerBox Terminal PC program provides an easy means of setting up the Expander to match the radio control system in use, and adjusting the servo signal frame rate. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Signal frame rate : 12 ms, 15 ms, 18 ms Servo signal : 0.5 µs resolution Temperature range : -30oC – 75oC Dimensions : 55 x 40 x 14 mm Weight : 25 g RC-SF.COM

49

REVIEW

VALIANT CLASSIC LOOKS IN A MODERN, EASY-TO-FLY MACHINE

BY WIL BYERS

The Valiant is a high-wing monoplane design that employs a strong, cantilevered wing to reduce drag and increase performance. An Evolution 33GX engine powers the model.

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A

fellow modeler once said, “If it looks good it will fly good!” That is certainly the case with the new Hangar 9 Valiant 33-cc-powered, high-wing, monoplane. It has good looks and performance to spare, with an affordable price tag that nearly any modeler can fit into their budget.

When this model landed in our office I was immediately drawn to the design from the box art. Then when I opened the box I knew this gas-powered model would be one I’d want to review. It has all the fit and finish of the typical Hangar 9 almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) airplane, plus the gas-powered engine meant

affordability and performance. Throw in the Spektrum servos, receiver, and batteries and you have a winning combination. What you’ll discover is that the Valiant can be powered by an Evolution 33GX engine or by an E-flite Power 160 motor. Also, there is an option for tundra-style landing gear and balloon tires, or you can add floats to fly it off water.

Plus, the engine’s igntion can be run on a two-cell LiPo packs, as can the high-voltage servos. That means radio setup and ignition are easy to do, which is a time saver! It certainly seems that Hangar 9 was thinking outside the kit box on this monoplane.

Hangar 9’s Valiant has classic good looks that are in combination with modern, state-of-the-art design and engineering, which makes it an excellent sport flyer. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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REVIEW

HANGAR 9® VALIANT

The Evolution 33GX is a 2.00 cu in. gaspowered engine that runs on 32-to-1 gasto-oil mix. It is a near perfect match for the 108-in. wingspan Valiant.

INCLUDES • CNC, built-up wood fuselage • Lightweight balsa and plywood construction • Two-piece, plug-in cantilevered wing panels • Removable horizontal and vertical tail surfaces • Pre-drilled or pre-slotted control surface hinge locations • Fiberglass cowl and wheel pants in matching colors • Functional, hinged flaps • Designed for Evolution® 33GX gas engine • Painted aluminum landing gear • Tinted windows and windshield • Hangar 9® UltraCote® film covering The Valiant co flaps and aile mes with a carbon fiber jo ro and a horizon ns that you’ll need to hi iner, ng tal and vertic you’ll need to al stabilizers e, that mount.

These are the additional items that are recommended for the assembly of the model. Using this gear will make your model’s assembly easy and quick.

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We used Spektrum radio gear throughout in the Valiant. It made the build quick and easy because everything fit as it was designed to, with plenty of control power.

This is the hardware package that is included with the Valiant ARF. We found it to be quite complete, so the model was easy and quick to assemble.

• Electric motor mount kit (sold separately) • Complete hardware package included • Optional tundra-style landing gear • Optional float kit NEEDED TO COMPLETE GAS ENGINE • 6-channel-plus transmitter (DX9 used) • Receiver (Spektrum AR9020 used)

• Spektrum A6180 (8) digital servos • Spektrum 2S 6.6-volt 2200-mAh LiFe • Heavy duty servo extensions • Evolution 33GX gas-powered engine • BOLD brand 18 x 8 propeller • 3.25-in. aluminum spinner ELECTRIC POWER • 6-channel plus transmitter

The flaps’ hinges are pinned plastic points. They let the surfaces work like Fowler type flaps. With the flaps down this airplanes slows nicely for landings and touch-and-goes — FUN! rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

• • • • • • • • •

Spektrum AR9020 Rx (7) digital servos Motor - E-flite Power 160 ESC - Pheonix Edge HV 80Amp Propeller 19 x 10E Battery - E-flite 5S 30C 5000mAh LiPo EC5 battery harness EP mount set 3.25 in. aluminum spinner

The Spektrum A6180 servos are high-voltage type, so they allow you to run a two-cell Spektrum LiPo pack for the receiver and servos, which simplifies the build and setup immensely.

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53

REVIEW

HANGAR 9® VALIANT

This view shows where we located the ignition batter and the ignition, which is in the bottom, forward part of the fuselage just behind the model’s firewall. It is a clean installation.

FLIGHT TEST Evolution recommends you run their 33GX on a 20-to-1 gas-to-oil mix ratio for break-in, and then, after a gallon of gas through it, you can go to a 32-to-1 mix. We found the engine came to life almost immediately on the first start, however, that was with an electric starter. The 33GX ran a bit rich, so after about six tanks of fuel I leaned it out about one-eighth of a turn on the high needle. The low needle seems to be set well from the factory. Note the 33GX is turning a BOLD brand 18 x 8 wood propeller, which is working extremely well.

Ground handing of the model is excellent. Its tailwheel works good on asphalt and in grass. Moreover, it does a superb job of keeping the model tracking well down the runway until the model’s tail lifts off. Once the tail is up the rudder is very effective at keeping the model tracking straight, and it does so with only a hint of right rudder control required.

In the air this model excels!

I’m not pushing the outside of the envelope when I say this model

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Here you see where the receiver (center) and receiver battery (lower left) are located in the fusealge. The two elevator servos are in upper left and right, while the rudder servo is center (cables not yet tightened).

This photo shows the throttle servo and the second satellite receiver. Notice that this receiver is mounted vertical whereas the other is horizontal — for 2.4 GHz diversity. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

There is nothing special about the tailwheel installation.

It is a straightforward build, as is the rudder and elevator connections.

delivers performance for beginner to expert pilots. I don’t recommend it for a beginner without the aid of an instructor, but with one the new RC pilot will delight in the Valiant’s ease of handling and coordinated controls.

With an expert at the controls, this model will deliver nice loops, rolls,

and even knife-edge flight.

I found the 33GX engine affords plenty of power for the Valiant to do anything but maybe 3D type maneuvers, but then it wasn’t designed to be a 3D machine. As I found, the model is an outstanding sport airplane. It is an absolute joy

Once you have the cowl properly position relative to the spinner’s backplate, then you will drill the holes in the cowl, using the templates as shown above. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

As you can see, the motor install is clean and easy to do. Notice we did make a slight bend in the throttle pushrod to remove a bit of binding that we were getting. Now it runs without friction. We used four pieces of cereal box cardboard and blue painter’s tape to make drill templates for the fiberglass cowl. You’ll want to fasten the cardboard in place with the screws, with the aft ends held fast with the tape.

to fly. I like its takeoff performance, landing with and without flaps, loops, rolls, wingovers, knife-edge flight, and it delivers good inverted performance with just a bit of down elevator applied. All around, this model has well-balanced contros that are responsive yet not overly so.

Then engine mounts inverted in the Valiant. The ignition cable is running through the firewall in the right of the photos, with the tanks overflow tube shown centered.

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55

REVIEW

HANGAR 9® VALIANT

The fuel tube T-fitting provides for a fill in the lower right of the fuselage with the tank fuel coming from the center and around the engine’s standoffs.

Pilot to copilot, over? My copilot is Gene Cope. Here we’re using an AeroWork’s gas tank, with electric fuel pump, to fill the model’s tank with a 20-to-1 gas-to-oil fuel mix for the maiden flight.

If you live in an area where it is hot, you’ll want to make a baffle to force air over the cylinder head when the model is in flight. The manual includes a good template for cutting the baffle from cardboard.

DEBRIEF Again, this is a model that will deliver superb handling for pilots from beginner to expert. I found it one of the most enjoyable sport airplanes I’ve had the opportunity to fly. It is just fun to hang out the flaps, pull the throttle back, and cruise this airplane in for a perfect three-point landing. The flaps are large enough they slow the model well, which is advantageous for the beginner pilots. It is even more fun to hit the gas and watch this machine climb with tons of authority. I found the rudder delivers superb directional control and it provides exceptional coordination with ailerons. It has no trouble doing big round loops, and rolls are easy as well.

I’ve run at least 10 tanks of gas

“Glessner field, will you give Whisky Bravo a vector to do a few go arounds for the maiden flight?” Then it was throttle up and straight down the runway for a nice, relaxing first flight.

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The only thing lacking in this shot is some kind of a pilot figure. I think the model looks that much in the way of scale that a pilot in the cockpit would have most thinking it is a scale bird of one kind or another.

Here you can see why this model is such an excellent flyer. It just has a great looking design lines from fuselage, to wings to tail feathers. It is a well designed and made high-wing, monoplane.

through the Evolution 33GX engine so far and the only tweak I’ve had to make is to lean the high needle. I’m still using an electric starter on the model, but I think you could hand start it without too much trouble.

Even in somewhat windy conditions I’ve found the model to be an excellent performer, having no trouble with crosswind landings. I like the fact that you can add the tundra

BUILD Assembly of the Hangar 9 Valiant is completed by simply following the manufacturer’s assembly manual almost to the letter. It is an easy assembly that could be completed in about three four-hour evenings of work.

The only exception to the manual’s procedure would be in the area of the throttle’s pushrod linkage. When we installed it as per the manual there was a bit of binding in the plastic tube that runs thru the firewall. Consequently, we made a modest Z-bend in the metal pushrod so that it would run more friction free between the servo and the carburetor’s throttle arm. We also bent the throttle arm ever so slightly out and away from the carburetor. That alleviated the binding completely.

I recommend you read the manual carefully too when it comes to fitting and mounting the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The manual provides you the option of making the tail feathers removable or fixed. If I were to build this model again, I would absolutely make the tail feathers removable. It would make transportation and storage of the Valiant much more user friendly. The manual details the procedure for this option quite clearly, so be sure to read the step-by-step procedures before gluing the model’s stabilizers in place on the fuselage tail boom.

The instructions detail how to install the flap and ailerons’ servos. This is quite straightforward, so I won’t rehash it here.

You must be careful gluing the control surfaces’ hinges in place. You’ll want to be certain to protect the hinge points against glue getting into their joints. Vaseline® will work well to prevent any excess glue from wicking into the hinge and locking it in position. Use it!

You’ll definitely want to look at the photos that accompany this article to see how we made hole templates for drilling rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

the fastener screw’s holes in the fiberglass cowl. This is very important if you want the cowl to align with the backplate of the aluminum spinner properly. Note that an extra set of hands will make this part of the build a little bit easier in that your assistant can hold the cowl in place while you do the drilling.

Also, you’ll want cut the bottom rear of the cowl for the engine’s exhaust stacks. So I recommend you make a template for that part of the build as well. In this case be certain to measure twice and cut once. Doing so will result in a cowl that fits the engine’s pipes nicely, and without a huge, ugly hole in the bottom of the cowl.

Another piece of advice would be to make certain the travel volumes are turned down in your transmitter before you bind the model’s receiver to the transmitter. That will prevent over driving the servos against their control surfaces and throttle, which could damage the servo or surface. If you are challenged by radio programming and have a Spektrum DX9 transmitter, you can contact me and I’ll happily e-mail you the programming template from my radio. Then you’ll at least have a place to start your transmitter’s programming.

Also, keep the servo wires, batteries and satellites neat and tiddy inside the airplane. A sloppy install will likely make for sloppy flights — if not down right dangerous flights that could result in a wayward airplane.

Finally, I recommend you hang your model by a sting wrapped around the wing joiner to get its center of gravity (CG) set properly. Many modelers overlook setting the model’s CG right. The results of not doing so can be disastrous, so do the work! I found my model’s balance point was at the four and three quarters setting, without a tank of gas — very nice.

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REVIEW

POWERBOX IGYRO 3E

There is an optional tundra type landing gear that you can buy for the model, complete with big Dubro balloon tires. I’m thinking it is a musthave, fun item for this airplane.

SPECIFICATIONS

Flaps deployed and this models slows down well. This photo was taken during the maiden flight, but I’ve run at least 10 tanks of gas through it now and it flies exceptionally well. I’m loving it!

Wingspan : 108.3 in. (275 cm) Length : 78.2 in. (199 cm) Wing area : 1663.0 in.2 (107.3 dm2) Weight : 16.5 – 17.5 lb ( 7.48 – 7.94 kg) Wing loading : 23 – 24 oz/ft2 Wing tube length : 39 in. (993 mm) Wing Tube OD : 1.25 in. (31.75 mm) Engine : 33-cc Propeller : BOLD 17 x 8 – 18 x 8 Spinner : 3.25 in. (83 mm) aluminum Transmitter : 6-channel-plus (Spektrum DX9 used) Receiver : Spektrum AR9020 Receiver battery : 6.6-volt 2S 2200 3000mAh LiFe Servos : Spektrum A6180 Experience : White, silver, true red Price : $599.99 (HAN5060)

tires and Cub style landing gear. That will add much to the fun to doing steep takeoffs and landings. Also, I think if you are inclined to power this model with the E-flite Power 160 motor you’ll enjoy its performance as well.

Finally, the $599.99 price is a reasonable considering you get Hangar 9 quality throughout. Also, the 2.00-cu in. Evolution 33GX gas-powered engine is priced at only $349.99. So, this airplane and its engine are a very affordable combination.

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DISTRIBUTOR

The BOLD 18 x 8 wood propeller is an excellent match for the Evolution 33GX gas-powered engine. You can get them at: franktiano.com/xoarprops/boldprops.htm.

Horizon Hobby / Spektrum 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 Horizonhobby.com Bold Propellers 3607 Ventura Drive E Lakeland, FL 33811 Phone: 863-607-6611 Franktiano.com

CONTROL THROWS Control Throws AILERONS ELEVATOR RUDDER FLAPS

Low (Up / Down) 15/16 / 13/16 in.

1-3/8 in.

2-1/8 in.

1-1/2 in. mid

High (Up / Down) 1-1/8 / 15/16 in.

1-3/4 in.

2-3/4 in.

3.0 in. full

CENTER OF GRAVITY 4-1/8 – 4-3/4 in. (105 – 121 mm) behind leading edge at wing root.

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Maxx Products is your complete source for Electric Airplane Accessories

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Spinners - 29, 38, 44 and 50mm lightweight polished aluminum spinners - Fit 2 to 5mm motor shafts.

Gearboxes - Assorted planetary and offset gearboxes to fit a variety of motors.

Tools - Universal Pinion Puller. Universal Extracting Tool

1570 Switch - This simple switch temporarily disconnects BEC power to the radio system between flights.

• Micro wire (32AWG) extensions, Y-harness, switch harness for small electric airplanes, • Full line of Himax Brushless motors and gear motors, • Full line of ferrite motors and high performance cobalt & neodymium motors, Micro servos, micro receivers, and battery packs.

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www.maxxprod.com

REVIEW

180 CFX BNF BASIC

BY JAMES VANWINKLE

The 180 CFX is only a 360-mm machine, but it delivers large helicopter performance that you must experience to truly appreciate. It is even fit for beginner pilot training.

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T

he RC 3D helicopter craze continues to grow, which is a huge positive for pilots everywhere. It was not so long ago that it required a very special skill set to fly an RC helicopter, which were quite difficult to master. Today most RC pilots can make the leap from winged flight to rotors without a lot of damage and/or broken parts in their wake thanks to advanced stabilization technologies.

The popularity of 3D helicopters also makes for many choices in machine brands and sizes. Previously the rotor world was dominated by the 600-size helicopters, where the machines’ rotor diameters measured roughly 600 mm in length. Today a standard size seems to be the 700, with a few 800 versions now gaining in popularity. In addition to these larger sizes, other helicopter versions continue to get smaller, and way more powerful than ever. The smaller machines have been dominated by the 450 size. Note that there is no standard small size thanks to the evolution of batteries, motors, and most of all, the stabilization systems we typically refer to as gyros.

BladeÂŽ offers helicopters in almost any size as a way to fit the needs of rotor pilots. One of their best offers in the micro-size is the 180 CFX. This helicopter can perform amazing twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The Blade 180 CFX BNF Basic’s all-around good looks will impress you.

The color scheme makes it easy to see in the air, while the power under the canopy delivers stellar 3D action.

stunts, or gently fly in circles if the pilot chooses — powered by a 3-cell LiPo battery. Moreover, this little helicopter is an entirely new design, not a new face on an older version, so be ready to be astounded.

IN THE AIR Flying the Blade® 180 CFX is amazing! For such a small helicopter it is not only more stable than I would have thought, but it is also extremely agile and quick.

Taking off in normal mode, and hovering a few feet off the ground to avoid the cushion of air we refer to as ground effect, the 180 CFX holds its position very well. A quick switch flip to Stunt 1, and then the most aggressive Stunt 2, and I was off and away to a great time zipping around the sky with the 180.

One quick note to those who may not be aware, stunt mode means the rotor head speed is mostly constant.

The main rotor changes pitch and goes full positive when the throttle

With an aluminum center section wedged between two carbon fiber frames, the 180CFX is stiff and strong, which it must be for the amazing stunts this little machine can deliver. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

The Blade® 180CFX arrives assembled in this molded-plastic and cardboard box. Just charge the battery, bind the Rx to any DSM2/DSMX , transmitter, program, and it’s ready to take to the skies.

is pushed up and the pitch goes full negative when the throttle is lowered.

The helicopter will hold its altitude position at someplace around the mid-throttle settings, but lowering the throttle will not lower the rotor speed.

Only switching back to normal mode will allow that to happen.

I suggest you take it off in normal mode and once a stable hover is established around a mid-stick position on throttle, simply flip the stunt mode switch for the extreme flight capabilities to shine. Most pilots switch back to normal mode for landings, so the rotor head speed will slow when lowering the throttle. After flying around in stunt mode, getting back into normal mode is simple, requiring the stick to be someplace around mid-level, and just flipping the switch back to normal mode for control of pitch and rotor speed to work together again.

This little helicopter is smooth, and capable of flying away very fast if pitched forward while at full power.

Check out the side frames, landing gear, swashplate and battery pack. They are all high quality, and make for a helicopter that you can put thru its paces.

It is amazingly fast actually, and will cover lots of ground quickly. There isn’t anything the Blade® 180 CFX cannot do either as far as I can tell.

I fly a little aggressively but I am by no means a skilled 3D pilot, though I have witnessed some simply amazing flying with this helicopter in its stock configuration. Inverted flight is a no-brainer, and tic-tocs, funnels, and about anything you can possibly imagine can be done when flown by the right pilot.

Expect about three-minute flights to start, and then work your way up depending on how the battery performs for your piloting style. If you look online at some of the great videos available, three minutes will give plenty of time to fly some amazing aerobatics.

Check out this one from a team Horizon pilot: youtube.com/ watch?t=54&v=BuU4xmQj52A Let me tell you a quick story. One day a guy was walking his dog around the local park. He saw my 180 CFX

This little helicopter is entirely flybarless thanks to the amazing AS3X® technology in the stabilization system. That means its fast and more precise than its predecessor.

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REVIEW

BLADE® 180 CFX BNF BASIC

The tail rotor is driven by a torque tube. The drive shaft delivers power to the tail rotor directly from the main motor, rather than from a motor for the tail rotor, which draws power from the main motor.

The rotor head is high quality throughout, including an aluminum swashplate. This model delivers precise control in all axis and is fast in forward flight.

One thing is for sure, you will not be nervous flying this model through 3D maneuvers or training on it because it is inexpensive and easy to repair should you have a crash or accident while getting down low.

With a frontal section this compact, it’s easy to understand how the Blade® 180CFX has such excellent forward speed when you push the throttle up and the stick forward.

zipping around and of course he wants to talk to me while I’m flying.

Because I wanted to be safe and not be guilty of flying while distracted, I sat the heli down gently just out of reach of his overzealous dog. Then we engaged in the normal questions

Taking off in normal mode, the rotors spin up slowly until liftoff is achieved. Once a few feet off the ground and above the cushion of air referred to as ground effect, it’s time to see what this helicopter can do.

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all of us RC pilots hear, such as how much does it cost, how high can it go, you get the idea. It was a nice conversation actually then he asked me a question I wasn’t ready for, which was if the 180 CFX would be a good beginner helicopter. My goal

This little helicopter is so easy to fly and stable that I was able to bring it right up to the photographer for this inverted flight shot. You’ll like the way the model handles in all attitudes. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Making a few camera passes reveals just how smoothly the helicopter flies. It’s easy to place it exactly where it needs to be for the best shots from the photographer, as I’m showing here.

Here you can see how the motor is nested into the helicopter’s frames.

Also, notice how the landing gear fastens to the frame by way of four screws and the battery is held in place by hook-n-loop material.

The design of the 180CFX is very compact, with the three main rotor servos arranged to create the most efficient output directly to the swashplate. It is obvious a lot of engineering went into this helicopter, and it pays off in performance.

ASSEMBLY

The Blade® 180CFX comes assembled, as well as in a nicely made reinforced box. The box can serve as a carrying case.

To prepare the model for flight, there is absolutely nothing to do but charge the battery and bind the receiver to a Spektrum™ DSM2® or DSMX® transmitter. It is a bind-and-fly (BNF) model in every sense of the word.

The manual explains step-by-step how to program the transmitter for this helicopter. Note that you must program the transmitter before you bind the receiver to it. This will avoid hardware damage. Follow the simple steps that detail the transmitter’s settings and literally you’ll be ready to fly your 180 model in minutes.

Included in the setup details are model type (HELI), swash type, flight modes, dual rates, exponential settings, and servo setups. Nothing is left to chance, if the steps are followed as outlined. Once a few flights have been accomplished, those pilots who really like to go aggressive can tune to the machine to their taste, though the stock setup is capable of exceptional 3D flight performance.

Binding the transmitter to the receiver is very simple, especially if you have the DX9 transmitter. Attach a bind plug in the port located on the side of the model, then connect the battery to the helicopter. Next, select BIND from the system’s menu. The radio will annuciate when the bind is complete.

Within a few seconds you will see the LED on the receiver glow solid, letting you know the helicopter’s receiver is bound to

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was to zip around the sky and use it to test a few maneuvers that I am too scared to try with my 700-sized beast, and generally get better at 3D. It never occurred to me to look at this from the opposite spectrum, and the more I thought about it, the more it was clear that yes, this can absolutely be a beginner’s helicopter. Generally the rule is to start with as big a helicopter as you can rightly afford because they are more stable, easier to see, and handle wind better. That’s a great general rule. However, most of us

the transmitter. Then remove the bind plug. Other Spektrum transmitter models are nearly as easy.

The Blade® 180CFX has the AS3X® symbol shown on the box and manual, which refers to the flybarless technology system utilized. There is no special bailout switch or auto-leveling system. AS3X® in this case refers to the advanced pirocompensation of the flybarless stability system. It just means the model has a top-of-the-line flybarless system, and for the 180 CFX it’s in a very small package.

I recommend you spend some time at the bladehelis.com website to learn more about the helicopter and how to use the advanced menu options. At the site, they’ve also posted some excellent videos of pilots flying amazing maneuvers with the 180 CFX. The update to firmware is not required, but the website does offer a lot of insight on how to tweak the helicopter. One item of some importance is servo centering, which the website delves into with step-by-step instructions on how to center the servos perfectly. The firmware update is required for adjusting servo settings. Honestly, my helicopter flew so well right out of the box that I did not update the software, lest I screw something up in the process. My 180 is flying so well that I don’t want to tweak anything at this point either.

There is no battery charger included with the Blade® 180 CFX, though if you already have a LiPo charger with a JST type connector, then you are in business. Otherwise there is a charger recommended by Blade® that costs only $30.

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BLADE® 180 CFX BNF BASIC

You must land once the Tx’s timer goes off. I pushed the outside of the envelope a bit too much on a previous flight, and ended up learning how to repair this helicopter, which was inexpensive by the way.

CONCLUSION The Blade® 180CFX is an amazing aircraft. I have had many helicopters in different sizes. This helicopter is the

most fun for its size of any. As I get more flights logged, I’ve started to use the 180 to attempt new maneuvers, which I will eventually perform with my larger helicopters. For now, I am having much fun just flying this one.

SPECIFICATIONS

trained on a 450-size helicopter. The Blade 180 CFX is not much smaller, and in reality it is much more capable than what I used as a trainer. I would say it is imperative to have someone with experience willing to “buddy box” with them though! Even so, most definitely this would make a great trainer helicopter that pilots may never outgrow. The manual says it is for advanced pilots, and generally that is true, but with a good instructor there is no reason this cannot be “the one.”

It’s no problem to remain in a stable hover, even during moderately windy days. It handles like a much larger machine thanks to the stability of the built-in gyro system.

Time will tell whether the parts will hold up, but so far so good. It has taken quite a beating and is still flying strong. I am extremely pleased with the latest offering from Blade® and fully expect you will be as well.

Main rotor diameter : 14.17 in. (360 mm) Tail rotor diameter : 3.56 in. (90.5 mm) Length : 13.39 in. (340 mm) Weight : 6.7 oz (190 g) Motor : Brushless 5800Kv outrunner

DISTRIBUTOR

REVIEW

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

ESC : Castle Creations 15 amp Transmitter : 6-channel DSM2 / DSMX Servos : Nanolite Hi-speed w/ DS76T tail Battery : 3S 450-mAh LiPo Flybarless : Spektrum™ AR6335 6-channel Nanolite Price : $249.99 (BLH3450)

CONFESSION

I overflew the battery’s charge in my haste to get my model flying. Consequently, I didn’t bother to program a timer into my transmitter. I know I always mention flight times in my articles and how important it is to set the timer low and work up to a conservative number that works best for you. Also yes, the manual setup specifically says to set the timer at three minutes, but I was just so excited I set it up and within a few hours of receiving the helicopter I was flying up and down the length of the park, and doing who knows what with it.

How cool would it be to get a few shots of it in a low inverted hover over the grass? Cool, right? Well that’s when the battery decided it had enough. The little bird hit the dirt with a thud, though I was quick to set the hold switch on the transmitter it had already touched the ground. Damage was minor, though it did chip a few teeth on the main gear and snapped the splines on the torque tube, and somehow the landing gear was broken too. I was pretty bummed because it was a crash that could have easily been avoided.

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I learned several things thanks to my lack of proper preparation, such as how easy it is to disassemble the 180CFX. It only took a few screws and it was apart. It’s also easy to acquire the needed parts, which are outlined in an exploded view in the manual. Another thing I learned is how economical this model is to repair. For less than $30 I received two torque tubes, two sets of landing gear, two main gears, and two pinion shafts. If this happened with my 700-size, I would be out several hundred dollars at the very least. Best part is the model was ready to fly again in less than an hour once the parts arrived.

The manual has two pages dedicated to people like me, who will need to take their model apart. There is a diagram showing all of the parts in an exploded view, followed by a page detailing all of the components, which makes ordering replacement parts easy. Thankfully the helicopter checked out fine during the next flight. I was so pleased that I ordered a few extra batteries so I can fly it nearly continuously during a practice session. I also now listen for the beep of the threeminute timer, and know not to push my luck.

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2015 CUBS N’ COUSINS

WEAVER FIELD

OTHELLO, WA

AUGUST 21 – 23

ADMISSION ONLY $20 If it is a Cub or a Cousin it can Fly; i.e., Aeronca, Bellanca, Fairchild, Stinson, etc.

CONTACTS CD

Gary Owen: 206-284-5627 Cain Lopez: 509-760-0335 Wil Byers: 509-947-0640 rc-cubsncousins.com

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65

REVIEW

F4U CORSAIR S RTF w/ SAFE® A CLASSIC WWII FIGHTER MAKES YOU THE VICTOR

BY MAX KEPPLER

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The hobbyzone F4U Corsair comes as a very much almost-ready-to-fly kit. You’ll spend less that 30 minute getting it flight ready, including charing the LiPo battery!

You get everything you need to fly the F4U Corsair with the excpetion of a Spektrum transmitter. We recommend you use a DX6 for this model.

T

he F4U Corsair was a superb fighting machine during WWII. It was loved by its pilot because it had plenty of power from its 2800-cubic-inch big, radial engine, was nibble in the air for air-to-air combat, had lots of firepower from rockets, 50-caliber machine guns, and bombs, and was armored well to protect the pilots from enemy fire. It is probably most noted for its performance while in the capable hands of the Jolly Rogers, and was flown by the fighting forces of both the U.S. Marines and Navy — coming to aircraft carriers late in the war after British pilots perfected deck landings.

Now, the F4U Corsair is most seen in aviation musuems and rarely at an airshow like the one at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The hobbyzone® F4U Corsair S RTF with SAFE technology built into its control system gives you the chance to fly this famous airplane, but without having the need for a time machine to take you back to 1942. This little fighter will deliver hours of RC fighter flying for you, as well as let you be part of your club’s next warbird event.

Moreover, it will do so without you needing to spend a couple hundred hours to build it.

The radio gear comes from hobbyzone installed in the model. You’ll only need to charge the 3S LiPo pack and program your radio to fly this model.

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REVIEW

HOBBYZONE F4U CORSAIR S RTF W/ SAFEÂŽ

The F4U Corsair is powered by a 480-size outrunner, 960Kv electric motor, so it is a clean, quiet airplane that you can fly from just about any RC airfield.

The model comes as you see it here, with all the detailing done for you. It even includes a pilot in the cockpit, which adds much to the flight realism.

No matter how you look at this model it has good looks. Check out that gull wing, which on the full-scale airplane was designed to fold up for carrier storage.

In the air, your model has the scale looks of the full-scale Corsair. Its performance will not disappoint you either because the motor makes lots of power.

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FEATURES • Ready to Fly • SAFE technology built it • Spektrum™ DX4e 4-channel 2.4-GHz DSMX® transmitter • 4-channel control: throttle, rudder, ailerons, and elevator • Z-Foam™ construction material • Brushless electric motor power • One 3S LiPo battery included • DC charger with an AC adapter • Removable landing gear NEEDED Nothing! Everything you need is included in the RTF box.

SORTIES As with the full-scale airplane, this model is readysorty assignments.

Its brushless motor makes plenty of power for aggressive climbs, plus impressive strafing runs or bombing missions.

You will find that you must be aggressive on the rudder control during takeoffs. However, the implementation of SAFE technoloy in the control system of this model has tamed the model’s takeoff performance significantly. That said, I would not recommend this model to a rank beginner, unless they agreed to the use of an instructor that was buddy-boxed to their RC controls.

You’ll like the aileron control, especially with the SAFE system turned off. Then the model truly is in its element letting you fly it like the

The model comes with a fixed landing gear. Note that even the propeller has been attached for you at the factory, so this is a very easy model to assemble.

You must attach the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, but it takes only about five minutes to do, even while sipping a cup of coffee — this is an easy assembly! rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

The access hatch is held in place on the model by magnets. It is easy to remove and there is lots of room inside for the battery, servos and receiver.

full-scale Corsair was design to be flown. You can roll the model, loop it, do immelmanns, Spit S turns, wing overs, big barrel rolls, etc. The motor lets you make impressive high-speed runs on enemy targets as well.

The Corsair’s landing gear is well made and plenty sturdy for those times when you don’t make a perfect three-point landing. Then too, the tailwheel provides for good ground handling and takeoffs until the tail gets up and flying.

The SAFE technology won’t make you a Top Gun winning pilot, but it will certainly help you get this little fighter up and down without too much pilot overload. It definitely helps RC-SF.COM

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HOBBYZONE F4U CORSAIR S RTF W/ SAFE®

tame the model in windy or thermal filled conditions. SAFE simply smooths out the flight for you, letting you enjoy your stick time much more.

SYNOPSIS Let me say that this model is priced right, especially considering that you get the airplane, motor, speed controller, servos, receiver and hardware in one very complete package. If you have a Spektrum transmitter you will not need more

From any angle this hobbyzone F4U Corsair looks good. It not only looks good, but it flies well too. Plus it is priced very affordably.

than one trip to the hobby store. All you need to start flying this model — in about 30 minuters after opening the kit box — is to bind the receiver to your transmitter, charge the battery and go flying. Heck, hobbyzone even threw into the package a wall charger for the LiPo battery, so you won’t need to spend extra for one.

What you are really going to like about this 44-inch-wingspan model is that it flies well and will give you the warbird experience, but without the pain of dropping a couple grand for a large-scale model.

Get one, you’ll like it!

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The model even comes with a pilot bust installed in the cockpit because a scale airplane just does not look right without one taking care of business.

SPECIFICATIONS

Even the bottom of the model is detailed well. The landing gear is fixed on this model, so you’ll have no worries about gear not coming down.

Type : Warbird Wingspan : 44 in. (1120 mm) Length : 35 in. (890 mm) Motor : 480 960Kv outrunner ESC : 30-amp Battery : 3S 11.1-volt 1800-mAh LiPo

DISTRIBUTOR

Price : $279.99 #HBZ8200

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

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71

REVIEW

CESSNA 195 IT IS A CLASSIC. IT IS A BUSINESSLINER!

BY WIL BYERS

AeroWorks is one of the few companies left that is building ARF models of this quality for the scale enthusiasts. From tip to tail, AeroWorks has done a superb job of creating a nice looking and flying airplane.

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The DA-35 is turning a 19 x 10 Xoar wooden propeller. This powerplant delivers exceptional climb performance and speed. Let’s just say, you will not need full-throttle power. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The DA-35 is a high-quality gaspowered engine that makes serious power. It started very easily and required no additional tuning, even right out of the box.

The business end of the Cessna 195 tells you that this airplane was built for performance.

It is a very clean design so it will surprise you with its speed and handling.

C

essna 195 Businessliners were manufactured in an era after World War II when men labored long hours building a nation that has been second to none since.

It was a time when even the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) would roll up his sleeves and get dirty on the assembly line if that is what it took to get the job done. In my opinion, the Cessna 195 represent that era’s quintessential business airplane, rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

designed to get the bossman from job to job as quickly as possible and in reasonable comfort. Looking at one — even now, when biz jets streak from country to country carrying seriously overpaid CEOs — I feel like the Cessna 195 was designed to do the dirty work that needed to get done. And, it did its job!

When AeroWorks offered me the chance to review this model I was absolutely delighted. It would be

You’ll find that the AeroWorks Cessna 195 is quite a nimble performer. It is not a slowpoke airplane that will bore you to tears. It is anything but...

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AEROWORKS® CESSNA 195

my chance to fly an airplane that I consider very nostalgic and rarely modeled. I was even more pleased when Desert Aircraft offered to give me a great buy on a DA-35 gaspowered engine. What I found in this ARF is an airplane that will make you feel like a CEO.

The wing and tail feathers are well made and come expertly covered. Notice the split flap on the bottom of the left wing. These are used to slow the model for landing.

The engine cowl comes painted to match the fuselage.

The paint is very well done and matches the fuselage perfectly.

It even includes the valve cover blisters from the original.

The landing gear is nicely made as are the wheels and wheel pants. The tailwheel is driven by the rudder as you see by the bend in the drive rod.

It provides excellent ground handling.

AeroWorks hardware package is very complete, even with a bit of extra covering.

Not shown, but included are a manual and DVD, which details the build from start to finish.

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INCLUDED • Fuselage covered in Oracover® • Left and right wing panels covered with Oracover • Vertical and horizontal stabilizers covered in Oracover • Pre-hinged ailerons and flaps • Painted fiberglass cowl • Pre-installed navigation lights and wiring • Landing gear, with wheels and pants • Extensive hardware kit • Adjustable pushrods with centering nut • Custom throw meter • C.G. Buddy for balancing • 750-cc fuel tank • Carbon wing tube • Aluminum spinner for glow motor • Interior seats • Manual NEEDED TO COMPLETE • 30-cc gas-powered engine (DA-35 used) • (1) Hitec HS-7245MH HV servo • (6) Hitec HS-5585MH HV servos • (1) Optima 9 receiver • (1) Aurora 9X 9-channel transmitter (used) • (2) Spektrum 7.4-volt LiPo batteries • (2) Switches • Smart-Fly ignition cutoff • Heavy duty servo extensions • Servo safety clips • Wood propeller (19 x 10) • Fuel tubing • Wing bag set • Fuel Dot FLIGHT TEST This model is definitely not for the beginner! I would go so far as to say it is more appropriately designed for a good intermediate pilot or better.

The reason I say this is that you must be a capable pilot when it comes to rudder control to get this airplane in the air, especially when powered by a DA-35 turning a 19x10 twitter.com/rcsportflyer

We used Allen head screws to mount the servos to their respective mounting blocks.

They make this task much easier, and their heads do not strip out normally.

We used Hitec high-voltage Monster Torque servos throughout the airplane. They guarantee that the model will be in control at all times, barring any pilot induced errors.

These are the linkages that are provided with the AeroWorks kit. They are first quality.

Notice that the lock nuts have not yet been tightened — don’t forget them!

Here you see how we marked the servo covers for the locations of where the mounting blocks would be glued to the covers — doublecheck your work.

After the blocks were glued to the servo covers, we used small wood screws to provide a second level of security for the bond between blocks and covers.

This shows you how the elevators are driven by a common torque rod. Notice that the rudder’s control cables also drive the tailwheel. It works great!

You must make certain the horizontal stabilizer is square to the wing so that your model will turn left and right with equal control — check it carefully and shim if necessary. rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

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AEROWORKS® CESSNA 195

My helper, Gene Cope, engineered this solution to creating an easy-to-use choke pushrod. It works super well, with pull for choke and push for no choke.

Gene used a JR aluminum servo arm to create an extended throttle arm, which provides a more positive throttle control in the Cessna 195.

Note that we used an aluminum servo arm on the throrrle servo. In combination with the plastic pushrod it provides exceptionally smooth throttle control.

Added to the aluminum motor mounts are aluminum standoffs that provided the proper distance between the spinner’s backplate and the cowl — check your measurements carefully.

Because the model is fitted with high-voltage servos and the Hitec Optima 9 receiver we opted to use Spektrum 7.4-volt LiPo battery packs for the radio gear and for the DA-35’s ignition.

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We recommend you use an ignition cutoff system in your model. In this case it is the Smart-Fly unit, which uses and fiber optic cable between the radio receiver and the ignition system. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The Cessna 195 just shouts out CLASSIC businessliner. It has the great looks of an airplane built in era when airplanes were used by businessmen with real clout.

This planform was designed to reduce drag and increase airspeed. It does the same thing in this wonderful model. You’ll be surprised by its performance.

Xoar wooden propeller. The P-factor of this motor propeller combination is such that the airplane wants to yaw left significantly on throttle application. Consequently, even an accomplished pilot is going to need to drive the airplane straight down the runway until it has enough airspeed to make the rudder’s control significant enough to overcome the P-factor.

I’m fitting the model with a PowerBox single-channel gyro, which I’ll report on on our website in the next couple of weeks. Point your browser at the site rc-sf.com for that report.

As with most all DA engines, the 35 started immediately once it had fuel in the carberator. It was even tuned to perfection. The 35 makes the Cessna 195 pretty much a hotrod, when combined with the Xoar propeller. We never did need full-throttle power, even during steep climb outs. The 35 just makes a boatload of power! It feels like you are flying much more of a racer than a classic monoplane from the ‘50s with that engine/airframe combination. Consequently, we flew the model on about 25 percent power most of the time. Suffice it to say, the 35-size engine may be too much power for this model.

While rudder control was rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

AeroWorks copied the color scheme of a fullscale airplane almost exactly. Even out of the box you could use this model to enter a scale contest or fun fly — and be proud of it.

challenging during the takeoff, it is very effective in the air. So too are the ailerons and the elevator. The model has plenty of control authority for you to put it thru its paces, including doing loops, rolls, and inverted flight. We didn’t knife-edge it, but we’re certain it would, although that wouldn’t look too scale, would it?

AeroWorks has included split flaps in the Cessna’s wing design, which you’ll use to slow it for landing. They

Notice the model comes with running lights installed in each wingtip and at the tail. The kit includes a pretty well done cockpit as well, you’ll want to add a pilot though.

are effective, however, we opted to land the model without flaps for the first flights. Note the airplane is so clean without flaps deployed it has a good glide. As such, you’ll want to set it up for long straight-in approaches.

The glide was so good that we killed the engine as the airplane crossed the runway’s threshold. The glide is that good! Dead stick it landed with a nice long rollout, maintaining tailwheel control all the way to a stop.

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AEROWORKS® CESSNA 195

Besides showing the airplane’s great profile, this photos shows how the exhaust pipe exit the cowl, and you can see the scale split flaps on the inboard wing areas.

We landed the model dead stick. It has an exceptionally clean profile so it has an excellent glide, which meant we had to kill the power as the model cleared the runway’s threshold.

It was a near perfect landing. The model has very good ground handling because the tailwheel works well being driven by the rudder’s control rod and a pull-pull cable system — quite nicely done.

Even the wheel pants are done to scale. We think AeroWorks did an outstanding job of recreating this classic Cessna 195 monoplane — all around GOOD!

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DISTRIBUTOR

DEBRIEF Besides being a gorgeous machine, the AeroWorks Cessna 195 is an excellent flyer. It has the classic

AeroWorks 4903 Nome Street Denver, CO 80239 Phone: 303-371-4222 Aero-works.net Desert Aircraft 1815 South Research Loop Tucson, AZ 85710 Phone: 520-722-0607 Desertaircraft.com Hitec RCD 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 Hitecrcd.com Horizon Hobby / Spektrum 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 Horizonhobby.com Quest Engineering & Development Inc 6125 S Ash Avenue, Suite B-8 Tempe, AZ 85283 Phone: 480-460-2652 Smart-Fly.com Xoar Propellers

SPECIFICATIONS

P.O BOX 661471 Arcadia, CA 91066 Xoarintl.com Wingspan : 90 in.

Wing area : 1350 in.2 Length : 71.5 in. (rudder to spinner) Cowl width : 8.0 in.

Rudder height : 17.0 in. w/ tailwheel Weight : 15 – 16 lb Engine : 30-cc gas (35-cc used) Engine : 1.80 – 2.10 glow Propeller : Xoar 19x10 Spinner : 2.25 in.

Transmitter : Aurora 9X used Receiver : Optima 9 Servos : Hitec HS-7245MH & 5585MH Batteries : Spektrum 2S 1350-mAh LiPo Fuel : 750-cc 2-stroke gas Colors : Yellow, blue, white Price : $949.95 (195 ARF QB) rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

looks of a vintage businessliner, but the performance of a clean, highperformance monoplane.

Again, I do not recommend this model for the beginner pilot. It simply requires too much pilot skill to get into the air and back on the runway. I

would heartily recommend this model for the RC pilot that wants a classic scale machine that will turn heads at any airfield. I can assure you this is a well designed and made model that is worth every penny of the $949.95 retail price.

BUILD AeroWorks’ Cessna 195 ARF is extremely well designed and built model. AeroWorks manual and instruction set is also, without question, the best in the industry. If you follow the instructions to the letter you will not only get a well made model, but you’ll also learn how to build models properly such that in the future you’ll have airplanes that always fly well.

I will not rehash what the manual details, but I will tell you where we deviated from the AeroWorks instructions.

The airplane’s assembly esentially followed that of manual’s pretty much to the letter. There was nothing that the manual did not explain by word and/or photos. However, when we got to the engine install we had to deviate somewhat from what the manual detailed about that process.

The model was designed for power from a Satio 1.80, OS 1.60, or a DLE 30.

Honestly, I think the Saito 1.80 would be the best choice for this airplane because there are some modifications required from the firewall forward for the DA-35. Also, while the 35 is of superb quality and a good running engine, it is likely a bit too much power for this model size.

If, however, you do choose to use the DA-35 for power here are the modifications we made to the airplane: First, you’ll need additional standoffs to space the engine at the proper distance from the firewall to the front of the cowl. Next, you’ll need to run the throttle’s linkage as per the photo’s that accompany this article so there is no friction in its operation. Then, the ignition module must be mounted to the left of the engine when you are looking at the airplane from the front.

Also, you’ll need to add a push-pull control rod that runs from the choke’s arm to the front of the motor that lets you operate the choke easily.

A somewhat minor modification

must be made to make the DA-35 muffler fit the airplane’s airframe and cowl. Note, if you use the custom-made JTEC Radiowave muffler this will not be required. Obviously, you must cut the bottom of the cowl for the muffler’s exhaust stacks. That is pretty much a straightforward operation, which we recommend you make a template for before cutting the cowl. A template will let you determine the proper place to cut, and the amount to cut away.

Additionally, the fiberglass on the bottom front of the fuselage must be cut to accept the muffler. In this case, you’ll need to grind the pilot-side lower cowl wooden mounting tab as well, but only slightly, so do not get carried away with the Dremel tool.

Oh, and you must grind the beautiful chrome spinner to fit the Xoar propeller. Use a piece of solder fitted to the propeller as a template. Then it is cut away the material with a tungsten Dremel bit a little at a time until the spinner fits the propeller perfectly — cut and measure...

We also recommend you tie the fuel lines and ignition cables as is shown in the accompanying photos to avoid chafing and excess wear. Also, notice that we’ve mounted the ignition battery in front of the instrument console inside the airplane rather than inside the cowl. It makes for a much cleaner installation, and keeps all but one wire inside the airplane. Finally, we used a Smart-Fly ignition cutoff system for the added safety it provides.

All in all, the build of this model is quite easy. We estimate that you’ll spend about 40 hours building it. You could do it in less time, but taking the time to make the assembly neat and well done will reward with an airplane that will log lots of flight time.

We’ll be posting many more photos of the build and flight at our Tumblr site rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com. They’ll help you understand what we did to build the Cessna 195.

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REVIEW

UMX HABU S DF180 ™

BY JAMES VANWINKLE

N

You’ll discover that this UMX Habu will climb impressively well when you push the throttle up and have the need for a bit of speed.

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early all of us have seen the original E-flite Habu 32X, a much larger cousin to this UMX Habu version. These jets are amazing to watch, and even more amazing to fly. E-flite took the cool factor of the 32X and incorporated it in the micro-sized Habu UMX, which has resulted in loads of inexpensive fun. What is really great about this model is that you can fly it in very tight space areas, even the size of a baseball diamond.

Fully assembled and ready to bind to any DSM2 or DSMX capable transmitter, the Habu UMX can be in the air within the time it takes to charge its 200-mAh lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. The airplane comes brightly colored in a U.S. Navy flight twitter.com/rcsportflyer

The model makes for a great looking little electricducted fan model in the air and even on the ramp at the airfield. I like it!

school color scheme that makes the airplane easy to see against any sky condition. It is a very impressive looking little machine, but once you get the Habu in the air the real amazement begins.

FEATURES • AS3X® system stabilization • E-flite 28-mm Delta-V 180m EDF • Brushless 11750Kv inrunner motor • Four-channel control with linear long-throw servos • Engineered intake and exhaust ducting • Removable landing gear • Steerable nose wheel

This is the box that the Habu comes in. It works very well as a carrying case too, which is a nice feature as a way to protect the model during transit.

NEEDED • 4-channel transmitter min.

• 7.4-volt 2S 200-mAh 25C LiPo • 2S 7.4-volt LiPo charger FLIGHT REPORT Talk about a hoot to fly, the UMX Habu is very stable, easy to see and just plain fun!

To get started, just plug in a charged LiPo battery, turn the Habu over, and then wait the few seconds rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

The Habu comes assembled. Its Rx must be bound to a Spektrum™ DSM2®/DSMX® transmitter.

Charge the battery and it’s ready to take flying.

RC-SF.COM

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REVIEW

E-FLITE® UMX™ HABU S DF180

Notice the model has two good-sized inlet ducts for the ducted fan to pull air into the model, which is important to overall thrust.

Just about from any angle this model has that look of action about it. I like the colors too, which make it quite easy to see in the air.

You can fly the model with or without landing gear. The gear simply pugs into the wings. Without the gear you’ll need to hand launch the jet.

The exhaust port compliments the inlet ducting well, so you’ll be pleased with the amount of thrust that this BNF model produces.

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

for the AS3X to initialize. That’s all that is required to get the Habu ready for flight. Once the model is sitting level on the ground, give it a bit of throttle and you will hear the servos start working trying to autocorrect any movements not caused by transmitter stick inputs.

What exactly is AS3X? It’s a fantastic system developed to keep an aircraft stable, when they might not be otherwise without the use of electronic stabilization. E-flite refers to it best by explaining it as giving a pilot “that locked-in feel,” and there is no more descriptive way to say it.

We have all had airplanes that flew like they were on rails, meaning they went exactly where commanded and had no bad flight tendencies in turns, or even when trying to fly them level in less than desirable conditions.

That is exactly how the system functions in the UMX Habu. It makes a small airplane extremely stable and actually makes the model seem well mannered for the pilot. Add in to this equation the use of SAFE™ technology and you have an airplane that is not only stable, but has an active assistant to keep its wings level in a flight emergency. A bail-out system takes the airplane from any attitude and returns it to perfectly level flight within about a second.

The Habu has a steerable nose wheel too, which is amazing, in that I assumed it didn’t when I started its roll down the runway. Much to my surprise I was guiding it along the strip with the model’s rudder. There are plenty of electric ducted fan aircraft at our airfield and even airplanes five twitter.com/rcsportflyer

Your UMX Habu even comes with a pilot in the cockpit. That adds much to its realism when in flight.

The LiPo pack fits snuggly into the nose of the airplane just behind the nose wheel, so it is easy to get in and out of the model.

The control rods are easy to adjust with set of pliers. You simply bend the U-shape open or close to lengthen or shorten the pushrods.

The model uses linear-throw servos to drive the ailerons. These have worked very well and are trouble free so far.

times larger than this one that have no rudder, so it is a nice added touch to the UMX Habu. Somehow E-flite was able to package a steerable nose wheel and rudder into this little jet and still keep it amazingly lightweight.

This Habu required about 30 feet of runway to lift off. Then it tracked straight as an arrow, with power applied. The AS3X system was doing its magic and countering any force that wasn’t dictated though transmitter input. If there isn’t a runway available, that is no problem because the Habu can be hand launched with a simple toss into the wind. If you want to hand launch it, why not go for it all and just remove the landing gear for the best appearance in flight? The nose gear pops out easily with a gentle pull on it. The mains come out with just a pry up of its metal keeper and then gentle remove. I couldn’t tell any difference rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

Notice the contrasting colors on the model between the top and bottom. They make it easy to stay oriented with the airplane, especially at a distance.

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REVIEW

E-FLITE® UMX™ HABU S DF180

The receiver’s built-in AS3X/SAFE stabilization system makes this model surprisingly easy to fly, even in a bit of wind and turbulence.

ASSEMBLY IS A SNAP

Opening the box reveals a fully assembled jet, ready to take flying. It does require a LiPo battery and to be bound to your Spektrum DSM2/DSMX transmitter. The box can be, and should be, used as a carrying case for your Habu — it has extra slots built in for extra batteries and a charger.

The manual is short, sweet, and to the point, with 16 pages of English instructions, though only about five really applying to the Habu, with the rest being cautions, warnings, and seldom needed trouble shooting. There is a complete preflight checklist of tasks to accomplish, plus an excellent page on how to set up the transmitter to take advantage of the Habu’s four SAFE modes. This setup page lists each menu and submenu needed, and the values required to get the perfect transmitter setup.

There are four flight modes discussed, plus the always active AS3X stability system. For those not familiar with AS3X, it is an awesome system that helps autocorrect for external non-pilot induced forces acting on the airplane. Simply put, it corrects for wind or air pockets trying to bump the airplane around in the sky. As the model encounters a bit of wind, the ailerons, elevator, and rudder activate in order to maintain the jet’s orientation. This system is also used on much larger E-flite models such as the Carbon-Z Yak, Cub and the other UMX™ type models such as the UMX™ Pitts S1-S. I have flown all of these aircraft and can’t say enough good about the system. Some of the new Spektrum receivers offer even more programming and the ability to completely turn off the system if desired. In fact, the larger AS3X systems can even be programmed from your smart phone, which is exactly what I do for my Carbon-Z Yak. The UMX Habu’s receiver is not programmable, but it doesn’t require it.

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RC SPORT FLYER . JUNE 15

in flight actually, but it definitely looks better without the landing gear hanging down.

Flying the Habu is so easy with the built-in stabilization systems that any pilot with just a few flight hours under their belt will be able to handle this airplane without any trouble. It can fly fast or slow and do both very well. It will roll, loop, and amaze you with its stability. It is a small airplane so not much room is needed to fly it either. Because it is small you’ll not want to get it too far away because it will difficult to see. The manual recommends an area of at least 600 feet, but I was very happy to fly it in less than half that, with plenty of room to spare.

The Habu has no problem doing basic aerobatics especially flying at higher throttle settings. Making the airplane stall is difficult to do because the stabilization system works to keep the airplane level, but without air flowing over the control surfaces, it is going to stop flying. However, it only takes a few feet for it to recover.

Once the model is out of the box and the battery charged, you must bind the receiver to the transmitter. To do so, connect the battery to the model’s the receiver. The Rx’s light will blink rapidly. At this point turn on the transmitter and find the bind mode of the transmitter and activate it. After a few seconds you will see the LED turn solid on the receiver. That is all it takes. For subsequent flights, turn on the transmitter first and once it is booted, connect the model’s power, and the Rx will bind.

You will likely connect the battery when the model is on its back. That provides the best access to the battery compartment. Once you turn the airplane back over and place it on a level surface, the AS3X will initialize. You will know it is working because you can hear the servos moving slightly and if the model is picked up, you will see the surfaces moving trying to recover the airplane to its original attitude.

You’ll need a battery charger. I used a 12-volt DC charger for mine. You’ll want to plug the Habu’s battery into the charger and press the button to begin charging. If you use the same charger as mine, the charger will blink red and every once in a while blink green, which indicates the battery is getting a balanced charge. Once the light turns solid green, the battery is charged and ready for use. The charge time varies, but you should expect 30 to 45 minutes for each charge. The batteries are so inexpensive I recommend you buy several, so there will be no need to stop flying for long during an outing. Note that the E-flite Pitts S1-S and their other models use the same battery, so they can be shared among airframes, which is how I do it.

Be sure to set the model’s center of gravity at 1.46 in. (37 mm) back of leading edge of wing at the root station. twitter.com/rcsportflyer

rc-sportflyer.tumblr.com

isn’t the safest idea and definitely not allowed at most club airfields. Even so, I did make many passes within a few feet of myself while flying at the park and it was amazingly fun!

Remember there is no propeller to keep airflow moving over the control surfaces, so while slow flight is very stable, stalled flight is a complete no-go. It needs air moving over the surfaces, and that only comes from airspeed with a ducted fan aircraft.

Don’t try to 3D this airplane because it just won’t do it, though what it will do is amaze everyone who sees it fly.

Don’t worry about landings because the Habu glides extremely well, which means nice, slow, and stable all the way to touchdown.

If landing on a paved surface, it is always advisable to keep a tiny bit of power at the ready to maintain a slow descent rate all the way to touchdown. If there is no flat paved surface then the model lands quite nicely in the grass, though the landing gear digs in. One thing to bear in mind is that the motor will try suck grass or other things into the

SPECIFICATIONS

Of course I had to try out all the functions with the SAFE™ technology flight modes. I flipped the first switch that is labelled as Beginner Mode and the Habu flew straight and level.

Adding input to the sticks will move the airplane, but there are pretty severe limitations on how far it will roll or pitch in that mode, and if the sticks are released it will return to level flight on its own. That’s pretty cool!

The second movement of the switch is Intermediate Mode, which still limits the roll and pitch to a lesser degree though the model does not return to level flight on its own when the sticks are released. The Experienced Mode is where most experienced pilots will fly it. There the model will pitch and roll within the flight envelope though it is still AS3X stabilized.

The last mode I tried was the Panic Recovery Mode. I put the Habu into a nearly vertical, inverted position, and then pushed the panic button.

Just as advertised, the Habu flipped upright and began flying straight and level in about one second. Again and again I put the model in different flight attitudes, and it just popped back into position perfectly every time.

This is a feature I see saving many airplanes from disaster, should the pilot become disoriented. It doesn’t take much altitude for the model to recover either. When it is pointed down and inverted is the likely scenario a pilot would want to use the panic system. In any event, it will be a real airplane-saver.

Fast passes are simply exhilarating and it’s hard to not bring it in just a few feet in front of you. That probably

For this photo I removed the landing gear, which makes the model a bit cleaner and somewhat faster too.

intake, so pull the power all the way back before touchdown.

Expect three- to four-minute flights, which is what the manual suggests. I didn’t want to push this, so I stuck to the four-minute mark and had no problems. The battery wasn’t hot so I suspect the time was fine for the type of flying I prefer to do. The airplane still retained plenty of power and could likely fly a bit longer, but just stick to the recommended flight times and enjoy the ride.

DEBRIEF The UMX Habu is an amazing little jet. This is my second UMX™ model and my fourth aircraft using the AS3X technology system, with each providing a consistently amazing flight experience. These airplanes are easy to fly and stable in most conditions, and don’t require much room to perform. From the UMX Hubu’s Bind-and-Fly® (BNF) setup, to the box that seconds as a carrying case, to the hours of fun the model brings, E-flite has a winner in the form of the UMX™ Habu S DF180.

Wingspan : 14.6 in. (372 mm) Length : 17.5 in. (444 mm) Wing area : 54.0 in. (3.50 dm ) 2

2

Weight : 2.7 oz (76 g) Motor : BL180m brushless 11750Kv

DISTRIBUTOR

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

Transmitter : 4-channel min. DSM2/DSMX Servos : Spektrum SPMSA2030L ESC : Brushless AS3X : Yes Price : $ 159.99 (EFLU4380) RC-SF.COM

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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.

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©2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. Blade, AS3X, DSMX, 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. All other trademarks, service marks and logos are property of their respective owners. Patents Pending. Actual product may vary slightly from photos shown. 45715

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©2014 Horizon Hobby, LLC. E-flite, DSMX, Bind-N-Fly, the BNF logo, Serious andlogo, the Horizon Hobby or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, LLC.trademarks The Spektrumoftrademark used with ©2015 Horizon Hobby, LLC. AS3X, E-flite,DSM2, VisionAire, SAFE, AS3X, Bind-N-Fly, theFun BNF Serious Fun logo and are thetrademarks Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered Horizon isHobby, LLC.permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. Actual product may vary slightly frommarks photos and shown.

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