RC Sport Flyer Mar/Apr 2012 (Vol 17-02) by RC Flyer News

Condor New Soaring simulator! World’s Most In-Depth RC Aircraft Magazine

we test Sebart PC-21

Plus

Flyzone™ corvalis Top Sky 2.0 DLG |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

How to

& Build Reports march/april 2012

USA & Canada $6.49

rc-sf.com

CA Glue Elapor & Install Cowls

A7000 Retract Servo

©2011 Horizon Hobby, Inc. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. US patent 7,391,320. Other patents pending. The Spektrum logo, Bind-N-Fly, DSMX, DSM2, STi and MultiLink are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, Inc. iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. 32741

TM1000 DSMX FullRange Telemetry Module • Sends telemetry data to your transmitter or STi™-enabled device • Compatible with DSM2™ and DSMX transmitters and receivers • Full range for models that often fly to the limits of sight • Multiple sensors available • Built-in signal strength sensor

TM1000

AR10000

• DSM2 and DSMX compatible • Patented MultiLink™ Receiver technology • Includes two remote receivers with the option to add a third • 2048 resolution • High-speed 11ms mode • Flight Log and telemetry capable

D SM X FU LL- RA NG E T E LE M ET RY M O D U L E

AR10000 10-Channel DSMX™ Aircraft Receiver

1 0- C H AN N E L D SMX A I RCRA F T R E CE I V E R

R E T RACT S E R V O

A7000

• 260 oz-in of torque for heavier landing gear and higher speeds • Adjustable endpoints • Adjustable speed • Metal gear train and ball bearing output for long life

STi Spektrum Telemetry Interface • Send telemetry info to your iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch® • View rpm, temps, voltage, airspeed, altitude and more in one easy-to-read display • Set alerts for when values exceed limits you define • Great way to let a buddy watch telemetry info while you fly

Spektrum Keeps You in Complete Command

S P EKT R U M T EL E ME T RY I NT ER FAC E

STi

CONTROL STICK TO SERVO AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN Spektrum gives you more than the best 2.4GHz RC technology available. It also gives you the unmatched situational awareness of the most advanced telemetry available, more receiver choices for specific applications and a growing line of high-performance servos - basically, everything you need for completely integrated control and command of your most valuable models. Go to spektrumrc.com right now to see the entire selection of Spektrum™ transmitters, receivers, servos and accessories.

Falcon Wood Props • Made of top grade German beechwood, • Crafted for top quality & maximum effectiveness at competitive prices, • 100% attention from hub to tip for optimum performance, • Every prop is individually inspected & pre-balanced for immediate use from package,* • Newly launched in the US market - check website for new sizes.

Gas Wood Props P/N WPC1006 WPC1106 WPC1204 WPC1206 WPC1208 WPC1304 WPC1306 WPC1406 WPC1408 WPC1506 WPC1508 WPC1510 WPC1606 WPC1608 WPC1610 WPC1706 WPC1708 WPC1710 WPC1806 WPC1808 WPC1810 WPC1908 WPC1912 WPC2006 WPC2008 WPC2010 WPC2012

DxP 10x6 11x6 12x4 12x6 12x8 13x4 13x6 14x6 14x8 15x6 15x8 15x10 16x6 16x8 16x10 17x6 17x8 17x10 18x6 18x8 18x10 19x8 19x12 20x6 20x8 20x10 20x12

P/N WPC2108 WPC2110 WPC2206 WPC2208 WPC2210 WPC2212 WPC2308 WPC2310 WPC2408 WPC2410 WPC2412 WPC2608 WPC2610 WPC2612 WPC2710 WPC2810 WPC2812 WPC2910 WPC3010 WPC3012 WPC3013 WPC3210 WPC3212 WPC3410 WPC3412 WPC3610 WPC3612

DxP 21x8 21x10 22x6 22x8 22x10 22x12 23x8 23x10 24x8 24x10 24x12 26x8 26x10 26x12 27x10 28x10 28x12 29x10 30x10 30x12 30x13 32x10 32x12 34x10 34x12 36x10 36x12

Electric Wood Props P/N DxP WPE10050 10x5 WPE10060 10x6 WPE11040 11x4 WPE11060 11x6 WPE12050 12x5 WPE12060 12x6 WPE12080 12x8 WPE13040 13x4 WPE13065 13x6.5 WPE13080 13x8 WPE14060 14x6 WPE14070 14x7 WPE14080 14x8 WPE15060 15x6 WPE15070 15x7 WPE15080 15x8 WPE16060 16x6

www.falconhobby.com

P/N DxP WPE16080 16x8 WPE16010 16x10 WPE17080 17x8 WPE17010 17x10 WPE18080 18x8 WPE18010 18x10 WPE18012 18x12 WPE19080 19x8 WPE19010 19x10 WPE20080 20x8 WPE20010 20x10 WPE20012 20x12 WPE22080 22x8 WPE22010 22x10 WPE23080 23x8 WPE23010 23x10 WPE24010 24x10

*Final balance check is suggested before use due to uncontrolled conditions during transit.

US Distributors Aeroworks

www.aero-works.net info@aero-works.net Phone: 303-371-4222, Fax: 303-371-4320

Bobs Hobby Center

www.bobshobbycenter.com derjager@msn.com Phone: (407) 277-1248, Fax: (407) 282-7281

Maxx Products International, LLC.

www.maxxprod.com sales@maxxprod.com Phone: (847) 438-2233, Fax: (847) 438-2898, Ordering: (800)416-6299

Canada Distributor Thunderbolt RC

www.thunderboltrc.com jeff@thunderboltrc.com Phone: 519-971-1975

Success takes hard work and reliable equipment. Dave estimates he’s put in 3,500 practice flights since 2006, building up to his win in 2011. Airplane info: • Wistmodels Bravo, 10.25 lbs • Neu-Motors 1513-2Y F3A • Castle Creations Phoenix Ice HV80 • 10S 5,000 mAh cells • Falcon 20.5 x 14.5 • 3,500 watts peak draw

12S (50.4V)

PHOENIX ICE2 HV SERIES

Up to 12S max, 50 volts max, and available in 40, 60, 80, 120, 160, and Lite 160 amp models. Great for extreme performance planes and helis to 12S.

Climb into the Condor cockpit to discover how much fun you can have flying this simulator. Pg 64

Discover how easy it is to soar to the limit with this new Top Sky discus-launch glider. Pg 80

We give you in-depth information on this hot new scale airplane from Sebart.

New Sebart Pilatus PC-21 Test Report pg 86 6

RC SPORT FLYER â&#x20AC;&#x201D; march/april 2012

DEPARTMENTS 10

leading edge

Hot Products

advertiser index

Mystery airplane

how to

CA & Elapor Foam Learn how to use CA adhesive for building Elapor foam kits and almost-ready-to-fly airplanes. By Gene Cope

Install Cowls Jerry shows you the tricks that professionals use for installing fiberglass cowls. By Jerry Smith

march/April 2012 Condor Soaring Discover the joys of full-scale soaring with this one-of-a-kind simulator. By Scott Manley & Frank Paynter

Corvalis RTF & Rx-r These FlyZone airplanes are foam replicas of the full-scale planes, and they fly great. See why. By Gene Cope

Super Top Sky 2.0 DlG Don explains why the new Top Sky DLG delivers competition-level soaring at an affordable price. By Don Bailey

sebart pilatus PC-21 We give you a first look at the new turbo-prop PC-21 electric-powered sport-scale airplane. By Christian Belleau

pg 46

column

reviews

BUILD

Wings In Part 1 of Building Wings, Jeff takes you through a step-by-step process of making spars and sheeting. By Jeff Troy Sukhoi SU-26MM This month, we show you how to set up the engine, program the servos, and wire this beauty. By Wil Byers / Daniel Holman

pg 72

Tiger Kitten See how this vintage, electricpowered airplane is making a comeback with modern gear. By Gary Ritchie

RC-SF.COM

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Contributing Editors: Don Bailey, Sleepy Cinch, Gene Cope, Daniel Holman, Mike Hoffmeister, Marcus Hubbard, Richard Kuns, Bob McGowan, Joe Nave, Steve Rojecki, Gary Ritchie, Richard Tacklind, Jeff Troy, James VanWinkle RC Sport Flyer (ISSN: 1941-3467) is published monthly for $24.95 per year by Kiona Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004. Periodicals postage paid at Richland, WA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RC Sport Flyer, P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004. Office: (509) 967-0831 Hours: M-Th 8-5, Fri 7:30-4 Closed Sat. & Sun. Subscriptions: kionasubscribe.com Toll Free (Orders Only) (866) 967-0831 Editor/Ads/Design: (509) 967-0832 E-mail: subscriptions@kionapublishing.com Fax Number: (509) 967-2400 Ask for RC Sport Flyer at your local hobby shop! Hobby Shop Orders (800) 558-1544 ext. 818 www.retailers.kalmbach.com

Hobby Shop distribution by: Kalmbach Publishing Co. (800) 558-1544 ext. 818 Subscriptions: USA and possessions and Canada: $24.95 per year, $54.95 overseas. Washington residents add 8.3% sales tax. Single copies $7.49 plus $3.50 S&H U.S. All payments must be in U.S. funds. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover accepted. Send to: RC Sport Flyer – Circulation, P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353-4004. Please allow eight weeks for change of address. 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.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

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True to Life

™

Takes the realism to new heights! Over 85 aircraft and the ultimate in accurate physics — plus: Choose RealFlight 6 with free Airplane Mega Pack for 35+ extra planes…or RealFlight 6 with free Heli Mega Pack for 45+ more helis, and a new InterLink® Elite controller configured just like your heli transmitter.

realflight.com/107u

The only sim with a reset/rewind button!

WIL BYERS

ell, here it is again, that time of the year when I tell you how great it is to attend trade shows and events. Well, why not—they are! Let me explain why I say so again this year. I was reminded of the stark reality of what trade shows have to offer when I attended the recent AMA Expo in Ontario, California during the weekend of January 6–8. Some pilots wonder why they should bother to attend a trade show when they can get the same information from the Internet. The reason is simple! You can’t get the same information from the Internet no matter how hard you try. Moreover, unless you have a computer that lets you shake hands with the people who sell the products, there is absolutely no human interaction. I’m an industry insider, but you can get the same information as I can by visiting a trade show or going to a good event. To underscore my point, I want to tell you about some of the exceptionally knowledgeable people that you’ll meet if you take the time and spend the little bit of money it takes to buy an entry ticket to one of the events. At the Ontario show I had a lengthy chat with the man behind the motors at Desert Aircraft, Dave Johnson. Dave knows his motors like the back of his hand, so when you ask him a question you get a straight answer. It could not be any more fundamental! He doesn’t pretend to be an expert, as is the case with some people on the Internet. Dave is an expert! And, he has assistants who know nearly as much as he does. So… Then I stepped over to the AeroWorks booth to ask some questions about their new Carbon Cub. Who helps me? Rocco Mariani, the owner of AeroWorks as well as the designer of their airplanes. Guys, it isn’t because it was me that dropped into his booth. He is there to help you and everyone that needs real, useable information. It is the same situation over at the Aero-Model, Inc booth. Sean Plummer is the guy who owns Aero-Model, and he is there to give you the inside scoop on Hacker motors and speed controllers. Heck, he’ll tell you how to prop the motor, what controller to use with what motor and what size LiPo pack you should use to power the system. A visit to their booth will guarantee you a successful first flight. If you want to talk to the people at Great Planes, you’ll find Art Pesch and Steve Kaluf serving up some 70+ years of knowledge about what their line of products has to offer. They’ll give you a close look at their radio systems as well as airplanes and helicopters. Why just browse their website when you can talk to the people who provide the information that populates their site? I had a most enjoyable talk with Mike Greenshields from Hobby People. He explained how they have some great new ducted fan models coming to market. We also talked about what their new Airtronics radios are capable of delivering in terms of programming functions. Again, Mike is one of the people who has been in the RC industry for a very long time, so he is exceptionally knowledgeable about airplanes, helicopters, gliders and radio systems. Let me tell you that the Soaring USA booth blew my mind. I visited their site probably at least a couple of times a month to whet my appetite for gliders and sailplanes. However, perusing Bob Breaux’s booth had me on fire for his new 1/3-scale Fox. The reality is that after talking with Bob and learning all about their models, as well as many more, I left with the Fox being shipped to me the next week. Again, Bob is extremely knowledgeable about gliders, sailplanes and electric-powered aircraft. Oh yeah, his energy for gliders and sailplanes is absolutely infectious! Horizon Hobby always has a large booth at the shows, so you definitely want to visit theirs. What you find in the Horizon booth is a bunch of very friendly people who are there to provide you with information about their products. You’ll end up talking with Peter Goldsmith, Jeff Cash, John Redman or Kim Payne, maybe even Mike McConville or Seth Arnold. Often Quique Somenzini attends too. Importantly, it doesn’t matter if you want to know about Blade, Hangar 9, JR, Spektrum, Saito or any number of brands under their distribution; you’ll get an answer to most any question you can ask. I must tell you if you haven’t seen the new Hitec RCD servos, you must see them in person. Shawn Spiker or Mike Mayberry will give you all the details on what their new high-voltage servos can do—they have huge torque! And, they’ll happily show you the complete Multiplex line of airplanes as well. Lee Estingoy is typically the man behind the booth at Castle, but don’t be surprised if you see Patrick Castillo (Castle’s CEO) working at his booth. When it comes to speed controllers, Patrick is probably the guy who knows more about them than anyone! He’ll probably tell you about their next-generation controller too. So, find the Castle booth and check out everything they have to offer electric-powered aircraft pilots. Steve Neu and I have been friends for a very long time. We’ve both had a passion for silent flight for years. Additionally, Steve is an outstanding competitor in F5B. Steve’s electric motors are some of the very best in the world. Steve is also an extremely giving person in terms of his time and energy to the RC industry. I was pretty impressed while sitting in his booth chatting when a fellow stopped by to ask a question about controller efficiency. Steve immediately answered the fellow’s question both fundamentally and technically. I dare say you would not get this kind of feedback from a website, certainly not with a handshake at the end. So, remember, attend a trade show or an event this year to put more knowledge in your noggin. You’ll make some wonderful friends too! By the way, don’t forget to check at iTunes for our new iPad edition of RC Sport Flyer. It should be available by the time you read this issue. 10

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Aresâ&#x201E;˘ UltraMicro MD 500D CX 100 RTF 4-Channel CX Helicopter

Ares Phone: 402-434-5385 ares-rc.com Available exclusively at Hobbytown USA hobbytown.com

he Ares Ultra-Micro MD 500D CX 100 is perfect for both first-time and experienced pilots looking for an ultra-scale and ultrastable helicopter they can fly indoors almost anytime and anywhere. The highly detailed MD 500D scale body is equipped with LED lights and is available in two attractive trim schemes. Included decals allow for quick and easy customization as a news, rescue, fire or police helicopter. The kit contains everything you need to fly on the spot. #AZSH1100B (Blue) #AZSH1100R (Red) Price: $89.99

Specifications Length

7.6 in. (195 mm)

Height

5.1 in. (130 mm)

Main Rotor Diameter

7.5 in. (190 mm)

Weight with Battery

1.6 oz (46 g)

Main Motor Micro

Coreless with fan (2 installed)

Battery

220-mAh 1S 3.7-V LiPo (included)

Charger

1S 3.7-V LiPo DC USB and AC adapter (included)

Transmitter

4-channel 2.4 GHz (included)

On-Board Electronics

5-in-1 receiver/2 servos/2 ESCs/mixer/ gyro (installed)

RC SPORT FLYER â&#x20AC;&#x201D; march/april 2012

HOT PRODUCTS

Ares™ NanoMicro Stick 75 RTF

Ares Phone: 402-434-5385 ares-rc.com Available exclusively at Hobbytown USA hobbytown.com

eighing in at only nine grams ready to fly—about one quarter the weight of typical ultra-micro class models—the Ares™ [air-eez] Nano-Micro Stick 75 is the perfect choice in a lightweight airplane for indoor flying. The nano-micro size and light weight deliver slow and easy flying in small indoor spaces such as your home’s great room or even a conference room at the office. The

E-flite® Platinum Series Super Cub 25e ARF

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

or over half a century, Piper’s Super Cub has been a favorite of general aviation pilots who spend most of their time off the beaten path. Its respectable power, excellent short-field performance and rugged design have made it perfect for back-country transportation, towing gliders or simply getting away from it all. The E-flite Platinum Series Super Cub 25e expertly captures the look and feel of this aviation classic, with an accurate scale outline unlike anything ever seen in its power class.

model’s durable construction means you won’t have to worry about crash damage. The Nano-Micro Stick 75’s classic stick-style design is available in two popular WWI-era trim schemes, so you can fly in squadrons or simulate dogfights with friends. The airframe is factory assembled and ready to fly right out of the box using. The kit includes a 2.4-GHz three-channel transmitter with a built-in charger for the lightweight 30-mAh 1S 3.7-V LiPo battery. That means there’s nothing extra to buy and you can be ready to fly your new model within minutes of opening the box! AZS1150G (British Green) AZS1150R (German Red) Price $89.99

The working split-fold cockpit door and aluminum wing struts make the Super Cub as much fun to display as it is to fly. An optional detailed cockpit kit is also available (#EFL460018). The included shock-absorbing landing gear soaks up bumps during taxi, takeoff and landing just like the full-scale Super Cub. Realistic tires and hub caps are also included. The painted fiberglass cowl features accurately modeled inlets, air scoop detail and panel lines. And, because it is magnetically secured, there are no unsightly mounting screws. The E-flite Super Cub 25e comes out of its kit box with functional flaps that let you experience the same fantastic short-field performance that full-scale Super Cub pilots enjoy. It even has added realistic corrugation to the flap and aileron control surfaces. In addition, the necessary conduit has been built

Specifications Wingspan

12.4 in. (315 mm)

Length

10.6 in. (270 mm)

Weight w/ battery

0.3 oz (9 g)

Battery

30-mAh 1S 3.7-volt LiPo

Charger

Built in

Transmitter

2.4-GHz 3-channel w/ LiPo charger

Electronics

2-in-1 receiver/ESC and magnetic actuator

Specifications Wingspan

68.0 in. (1730 mm)

Overall Length

45.5 in. (1160 mm)

Wing Area

670 in.2 (43.3 dm2)

Flying Weight

5.00–5.60 lb (2.30–2.55 kg)

Motor Size

Power 25–32 brushless outrunner

Speed Control

60-A SW ESC

Servos

6 mini servos

Radio

5-plus channel transmitter and receiver radio system

Recommended Battery

14.8-V 3200-mAh 4S LiPo

into the wing for installing optional LED lights. • Top quality balsa and light plywood construction • Covered in genuine Hangar 9® UltraCote® covering • Traditional Super Cub trim scheme • Leaf spring tail wheel assembly • Two-piece plug-in wings #EFL4625

Price $249.99 RC-SF.COM

E-flite® UMX™ Beast® 3D BNF

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

he E-flite UMX Beast 3D is a totally new experience in all-out 3D flight capability and satisfaction. Designed by aerobatic world champion Quique Somenzini, the more powerful and unbelievably capable UMX Beast 3D can be flown indoors. Enhanced with the breakthrough AS3X™ system, the UMX Beast 3D is specifically set with an aft CG and large control surface deflections for maximum maneuverability. However, instead of handling that feels super-sensitive, the UMX Beast 3D with the AS3X system flies ultrasmooth, even in windy conditions. Plus, you get locked-in precision and the outstanding

X4-Eighty, Four-Port Multicharger

Hitec RCD 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 hitecrcd.com

control authority necessary to perform 3D more confidently. This authentic Ultra Micro eXtreme re-creation of the full-scale Beast delivers precision aerobatic and 3D excitement with the kind of stability and authority more in common with aircraft many times its actual size. And you get all the benefits without having to spend a lot of time programming. No mixing is required—just add your LiPo battery and bind to a basic DSM2™ or DSMX® airplane transmitter setup, and the Beast 3D will instantly offer you the best flight experience possible. The high-output brushless power system provides excellent 3D performance with the recommended E-flite 2S 180-mAh LiPo battery. Its Plane Safe motor mount reduces the chance of motor damage. Wing bracing and embedded carbon fiber reinforcement add durability and rigidity to the structure to increase precision handling

individual balancing ports eliminate the need for a separate balancer when charging Lithium batteries. Equipped with a twin fan cooling system and an internal sensor for controlling fan speed, the X4-Eighty delivers the reliability and safety required in charging various types

#EFLU4850

Price $139.99

Specifications Wingspan

14.7 in. (372 mm)

Wing Area

85.8 in.2 (5.53 dm2)

Length

15.7 in. (400 mm)

Flying Weight

2.54 oz (72 g)

UMX Beast 3D BNF Basic Setup Motor

BL180, 2500-Kv brushless outrunner (installed)

Radio

Six-channel Spektrum™ DSM2 Ultra Micro AS3X/RX/ServoBL ESC unit (installed)

Servos

Two integrated performance ultra-micro linear long-throw servos, and two performance ultra-micro linear longthrow SA2030L servos (installed)

Battery

E-flite 2S 7.4-V 180mAh LiPo (required)

Transmitter

DSM2 or DSMX aircraft transmitter (required)

Charger

E-flite Celectra™ 2S DC LiPo balancing charger (recommended)

of batteries. Its powerful capability combined with its reliable safety functions make it the perfect choice for all modelers. And, the X4-Eighty is supported by Hitec’s legendary customer service and branding! #44169: Hitec X4-80

itec’s line of economical, high-quality battery chargers is expanding with the introduction of their new X4-Eighty! Featuring four identical and independent 80-watt power outputs, this easy-to-operate, microprocessorcontrolled charger has a total output power of 320 watts! Each port is capable of charging all rechargeable battery types at up to 6 A— from a 6S LiPo pack to 15 NiCd/NiMH cells and even 6- to 12-V lead acid batteries. Four

and damage resistance. The brilliant paint scheme and vivid graphics are factory applied.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

$169.99

HOT PRODUCTS

E-flite® UMX™ Hyper Taxi™ BNF

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

he E-flite UMX Hyper Taxi BNF is a totally new 3D thrill-ride that combines aerobatic hyper-agility, super-solid stability and the performance to take off and land vertically. The Hyper Taxi’s breakthrough AS3X™ system electronics help make flying this clever machine enjoyable in any attitude, from the stand-still hover to forward flight to 3D aerobatics. The AS3X system is specially tuned just for the UMX Hyper Taxi and integrated into the Spektrum™ 3-in-1 unit that also contains the DSM2™/DSMX® compatible

receiver and brushless ESC. When you bind the Hyper Taxi to your compatible DSM2/

DSMX 4-channel transmitter, instantly all four independent performance linear long-throw servos will work correctly and in unison when roll input is applied for unbelievable precision and roll rates. All control mixing is factory programmed with AS3X enhancement. The incredible performance of the UMX Hyper Taxi will propel you even further into the realm of advanced aerobatics with VTOL authority. Outstanding thrust for vertical takeoff, hover and forward flight maneuverability is provided by an 180-BL, 2500-Kv brushless outrunner motor and specially assigned propeller. The airplane can handle blinding roll rates, abrupt turns and hard-pitching input, as AS3X helps assure precise aileron, rudder or elevator performance. Total control is yours to make the thrill ride all your own. AS3X will constantly assist for simple cornering with rudder or elevator, including heart-stopping 3/4-rotation loops, power vertical ascents and rolls that are as fast or as slow as you want them too be. Plus, the Hyper Taxi’s original, high-visibility color scheme provides outstanding attitude recognition assistance. Nothing flies like a UMX Hyper Taxi, and because AS3X is on board, no other

are required for completion).

E-flite® Hawker Sea Fury 480 ARF

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

• • • •

A thick can design that resists distortion Three high-quality bearings Rigid and secure rear mounting design Shortened motor length for easy installation in short cowls • A stainless steel prop shaft

Specifications Wingspan

14.7 in. (373 mm)

Wing Area

108 in.2 (695 cm2)

Length

12.7 in. (323 mm)

Flying Weight

2.55 oz (73 g)

UMX Beast 3D BNF Basic Setup Motor

180-BL 2500-Kv brushless outrunner (installed)

Receiver

Six-channel DSM2 ultra-micro AS3X/ RX/BL ESC unit with Spektrum technology (installed)

Servos

Four performance ultra-micro linear SA2030L servos (installed)

Battery

E-flite 2S 7.4-V 180mAh LiPo (included)

Charger

E-flite Celectra™ 2S DC LiPo balance charger (included)

Transmitter

DSM2 or DSMX aircraft transmitter (required)

RC flight experience will be as rewarding. #EFLU4780 Price $169.99

• A back plate, prop shaft and gold-plated female plugs. #EFL6065 Price $99.99 (MAP)

he E-flite Hawker Sea Fury 480 ARF is an electric-powered scale model of the famous British fighter. The airframe is produced using injection-molded Z-Foam™ material, which offers lightweight, durable and easily repairable construction. The design features striking scale detail, including an authentic paint scheme, fully detailed factorypainted cockpit and pilot figure, plus factoryfinished rockets, propeller and scale spinner. Mechanical retractable landing gear are also included (two E-flite DS76 servos, #EFLRDS76, RC-SF.COM

ElectriFly Gee Bee Rx-R™ 1932 Thompson Trophy Winner!

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

esigned by the Granville Brothers, the original Gee Bee’s shape was intended to accommodate the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine—the largest and most powerful engine of its day. With Jimmy Doolittle in the cockpit, the Gee Bee won the prestigious 1932 Thompson Trophy race and set a world airplane speed record of 476 km/h (296 mph) in the Shell Speed Dash. ElectriFly has recreated this unique design using foam construction, with a brushless electric power system, and four micro servos that come installed. It’s ready for simple, fast, no-glue assembly, which gets pilots to the airfield within minutes of radio and battery installation!

High-Voltage S.Bus Servos

Futaba 3002 N Apollo Drive, Suite #1 Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 futaba-rc.com

nnovative Futaba S.Bus components use digital serial data communication technology to streamline the electronics in model airplanes. They are: • Fully programmable • High-voltage—run on 2S LiPo voltage • Dual bearings and water resistant • BLS172HV and BLS175HV are ideal for largescale airplanes • BLS272HV is an excellent for helicopter cyclic control

• Preinstalled brushless motor, ESC and servos • One-piece wing attaches with one screw • Roomy interior makes battery pack changes easy • Magnet hatch locking • AeroCell™ foam fuselage has details like panel lines and vents molded-in (easy-toinstall “flying wire” elastic cord included for realism) • Wheel pants attach magnetically and break away during a hard landing GPMA6020

• Includes a metal middle casing and metal gears • 292 oz-in. @ 7.4 V BLS272HV S. Bus Programmable HighSpeed Heli Servo: • Offers high speed (.08 @ 7.4 V) operation • Metal gear train • 167 oz-in. @ 7.4 V FUTM0732 BLS172HV Street $219.99 FUTM0735 BLS175HV Street $159.99 FUTM0742 BLS272HV Street $159.99

BLS172HV S.Bus Programmable UltraTorque Aircraft Servo: • Delivers 514 oz-in. @ 7.4 volts • Includes a metal middle casing and an aluminum/stainless steel hybrid gear set that’s lighter and stronger than titanium BLS175HV S. Bus Programmable HighTorque Aircraft Servo:

Street $159.99

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Specifications Wingspan

38.5 in. (980 mm)

Wing Area

241 in.² (15.5 dm²)

Weight

1.75–2.0 lb (790–910 g)

Wing Loading

16.7–19.1 oz/ft² (51–58 g/dm²)

Length

27 in. (685 mm)

Requires

4-channel Tx and Rx, 2200-mAh 3S 11.1-V LiPo and charger

HOT PRODUCTS

BH Models Edge 540 V3

Global Hobby 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92780 Phone: 714-963-0329

he BH Models Edge 540 V3 is a 46-in.wingspan electric-powered almost-readyto-fly (ARF) that delivers superior performance. The built-up wood airframe with Oracover is simply stunning. And as you might expect, it features a two-piece wing, molded/painted cowl and removable fuselage top for battery access. You’ll be impressed by the quality and performance of this little electric 3D airplane. BH Models is in a constant pursuit of perfection, and their latest models show just

Specifications Construction

Plywood/Balsa w/ Oracover®

Wingspan

45.67 in. (1160 mm)

Length

37.4 in. (950 mm)

Weight

2.86 lb (1.3 kg)

Radio

4 channels

Servos

5 Airtronics 94809 digital micro

Motor

HP 2814/06 brushless

Battery

LiPo 3S 11.1-V 2200-mAh

ESC

Castle Phoenix Ice 50 ESC

Propeller

11 x 6

Price

$199.99

how impressively their mass-manufactured ARFs are built. The laser-cut, interlocking parts make for an ultra lightweight airplane that will hang together under the most violent maneuvers. The finish is professional quality using hand-applied Oracover over a perfectly sanded and aligned airframe. In the air the Edge is a superior aerobat.

Fly Airplanes with Your Transmitter

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

ll pilots have a “go-to” transmitter—the one they use when it’s time to fly. Now there’s a way to get the full potential of that transmitter and almost any other, regardless of brand, band or modulation with the AnyLink™ radio adapter. It’s so innovative that a patent is pending, yet is so easy to use that it can be installed in seconds. Once installed, it enables virtually any transmitter to broadcast a true, 2.4-GHz signal to fly a wider variety of aircraft than ever before. One of the big pluses of the AnyLink is that it will work with virtually all popular transmitter brands, including Futaba®, Hitec®, JR® and Spektrum®. Once AnyLink is installed, the transmitter will broadcast a 2.4-GHz signal and function like any other frequencyhopping, spread spectrum transmitter. Compatible receivers are already available and very affordable. AnyLink was designed around the 2.4-GHz protocol used in Tactic™ radio systems. That makes all Tactic SLT

receivers compatible with AnyLink—and it’s why SLT receivers are supplied with the new Tx-R ™(Transmitter-Ready)™ aircraft now available from Flyzone™ and Great Planes®. Tx-R aircraft need only a transmitter and AnyLink. All twelve aircraft come factoryequipped with an SLT receiver, motor, ESC and servos, plus a LiPo battery and charger. Choices range from WWI biplanes and WWII fighters as well as some classics. There is even the new Great Planes F-86 micro—a 15-in. wingspan jet that boasts true EDF performance.

Pilots that buy a Tx-R aircraft through April 30, 2012 get their AnyLink absolutely free!

RC-SF.COM

BH Models Fieseler Fi 156C Storch

Global Hobby 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92780 Phone: 714-963-0329

ired of flying what everyone else is? Get a BIG Storch and be the talk of the airfield. The new Fieseler Fi156C Storch from BH Models is truly a giant. Its 112-in. wingspan

makes it the biggest scale airplane in the BH line. The construction is all wood, with the finish being printed to provide a scale detailing. BH set out to make large-scale modeling fun and easy. This big bird is an ARF (almost ready to fly) and features factory installed scale hinging, two-piece plug-in wings, fiberglass factory painted cowl and all the right hardware—much of it custom made. The Storch is not the most common WWII

Specifications Construction

Balsa/plywood & covering

Wingspan

112 in. (2850 mm)

Length

75.2 in. (1910 mm)

Weight

17.82 lb (8.1 kg)

Radio

Six channels

Servo

Eight

Engine

35-cc gas (FUJI IMVAC)

Landing Gear

Stainless steel oleo struts

Price

$899.99

aircraft, but the full-scale airplane was an amazing performer. The model is similar. Short-field performance is shocking, and it just looks cool with its scale hinging and control surface positions. Look closely at the finish and you’ll see panel lines and detailed weathering along with a matching cowl. The quality of this airplane is simply beyond compare!

Horizon Hobby AS3X™ System

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

orizon Hobby has always designed unique aircraft with the kind of performance experts love. Now, Horizon makes it possible to instantly experience precise control and smooth handling so gratifying it’s as though you’re at the controls of an expertly tuned giant-scale model. The Horizon Hobby AS3X system delivers breakthrough performance for UMX airplanes, offering pilots the freedom to experience RC flight that’s more enjoyable than ever dreamed possible. Horizon’s world-class team of RC pilots developed the system exclusively for airplanes, based on the successful use of AS3X with ultra-micro flybarless helicopters. An industry first, the AS3X system helps the pilot focus on the thrill of flying rather than the workload required to stay in smooth control. It’s all about control. Before AS3X, stability and agility were typically limited to a narrow control range. Any attempt to gain more stability meant a sacrifice of agility, or vice-versa. With AS3X, there is no compromise. It has been designed to free you from juggling flight complications such as turbulence, torque and tip stalls. All you’ll feel is ultrasmooth control (even outdoors in moderate wind) and exhilarating aircraft agility that will

allow you to quickly build skills as an RC pilot. AS3X system setup is easy. Just bind your DSM2™/DSMX® transmitter to the model using a basic airplane program. AS3X will assure that the locked-in feel and control authority you want is instantly at your command to help show off your RC pilot skills. E-flite features the radical AS3X system with three acclaimed airplanes, each of which demonstrates the inspiring potential of this exclusive technology. Enhanced with AS3X, the Beast® 3D (#EFLU4850), Hyper Taxi™ (#EFLU4780), and Gee Bee® R2 (#EFLU4580) UMX models are the friendliest airplanes offered in their class, and are more capable and fun to fly than ever. Each is painstakingly tuned so that you enjoy that best flight, every flight. “With AS3X, I get the giant-scale airplane feel—smooth handling, crisp control—with an

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

airplane that I can fly indoors or out, such as the UMX Beast 3D. The larger flying envelope, plus the rock-solid handling in the wind, takes my fun of flying to the next level.”—Quique Somenzini “AS3X, for me, has really been a huge confidence booster. The stability and control authority offers an extra level of security never before possible, and I’ve actually been able to step outside my usual boundaries and explore new flight skills, as well as new flight types, such as the VTOL capable UMX Hyper Taxi.”— Seth Arnold “AS3X has re-written the rule book about how a model can be designed and set up. Challenging airplanes, such as the UMX Gee Bee R2, can now be engineered with scale accuracy and super-smooth handling. To the RC pilot, AS3X is a dream come true.”—David Payne

HOT PRODUCTS

BH Models Zlin

Global Hobby 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92780 Phone: 714-963-0329

f you want something different, look to BH Models and the Zlin. This beautiful scale model features an all-wood airframe that’s laser cut with interlocking tab construction, and expertly jig-built for a laser-perfect straight airframe. It’s wrapped in Oracover, the leading iron-on covering in the world today, and topped off with perfectly matched molded cowl and wheel pants. The wing and stab are two-piece and bolt-on, making construction a breeze. The hardware is all custom and extremely easy to install. The hinges are factory finished and feature a tab/ pin style usually only found on much more expensive aircraft. We flew ours with the Mark Engines 1.4 Gas/Ignition engine. Anything from a good-performing 120 to 180FS glow will fly the Zlin with authority.

New O. S. Brushless Motors

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

This is a cool aircraft that performs well, looks good and is quick to assemble. When you receive yours take a look inside. The wood framing is industry-leading with sheeting and construction techniques that are impressive. And when you’ve got it all buttoned up and ready to fly, you’ll appreciate they’ve even included a painted pilot so in the air, it’s got a realism factor that makes this aerobatic airplane appealing even to scale pilots. It’s these details that truly are the icing on the cake. Advanced construction and value.

Specifications

Construction

Balsa/Plywood w/Oracover®

Wingspan

2145 mm (84.45 in.)

Length

1641 mm (64.61 in.)

Weight

5.7 kg 12.54 lb

Radio

Five channels

Servo

Seven

Engine

26- to 30-cc gas

Functions

Ailerons, flaps, elevator, rudder, throttle

Price

$549.99

.10-Size KV

1050

Watts

300

Weight

102 g

.S. has expanded its lineup of innovative, exceptionally efficient electric motors with two new brushless powerhouses. Now pilots of .10- and .15-size electric-powered aircraft can also enjoy O. S. quality and reliability!

ESC

50/60 A

Features • A thick can design that resists distortion • A unique, patent pending ventilation system boosts efficiency • The thicker can resists distortion

Specifications

.15-Size KV

100

Watts

400

Weight

130 g

ESC

50/70 A

• Installs in tight cowls with a rear mounting design that’s rigid and secure • Two high-quality bearings • Stainless steel propeller shaft • Backplate included OSMG9510 .10-Size Street: $59.99 OSMG9515 .15-Size Street: $64.99

RC-SF.COM

Hitec introduces the New Eclipse 7 Pro

Hitec RCD 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 hitecrcd.com

itec gave its fan favorite Eclipse 7 radio a facelift and numerous upgraded features to create the Eclipse 7 Pro. Offering a high-intensity white, backlit LCD screen, ergonomically positioned, back mounted slider knob and ultra-smooth quad ball bearing gimbals, this advanced AFHSS 2.4-GHz system is your next feature-packed radio! It possesses 16-model storage, intuitive control switches and an array of telemetric functions, including sensor monitoring and on-board receiver low battery warning. And, it doesn’t stop there. The Eclipse 7 Pro provides specific programming for fixed wing, glow, gas or electric-powered airplanes, helicopters as well as sailplanes! Basic Features 7-Channel 2.4-GHz telemetric system 3-Model Type (ACRO/GLID/HELI) programming 16-model memory ACRO Programming Landing Mix, Flap Trim Adjust, Aileronto-Rudder Mix, Ultra Smooth and Precise Quad Ball-Bearing Gimbals, Elevator-to-Flap Mix, Easy-to-Read Backlit LCD Screen, Back

Du-Bro Snowbird Snow Skis

Du-Bro Products 480 Bonner Road Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: 847-526-1030, 207 dubro.com

u-Bro has added five new swatches to its hugely successful Snowbird Snow Skis.

Mounted Sliders for Easy Access, Range Check Mode, Auto-Assignable Control Switch, Flap-to-Elevator Mix, Elevon Mix, V-Tail Mix, Telemetry Monitoring (HTS-SS Nitro or HTS-SS Blue), Ailevator Mix, Built-in Battery Telemetry with User Adjustable, Low Battery Warning, Selectable Stick Mode, Digital Trims, 7-Character Model Naming, Three Flight Conditions, Model Copy Sub Trims, Two Flight Timers with Throttle Activation on Primary, EPA, 5 Programmable Mixes, All Channel Servo Reverse, Dual Rates on Channel 1, 2 and 4, Exponential Rates on Channels 1, 2 and 4, Data Reset to Defaults, Throttle Cut Switch, Throttle Lock, Trainer

Aileron-to-Flap Coupling

Price: 173242 2.4GHz Standard Version Tx w/ Optima 7 Rx, four HS-5485HB Digital servos, rechargeable Tx and Rx batteries w/ AC charger $362.99

HELI Programming Throttle Cut, Rudder-to-Throttle Mix, 2 Idle-up, 1 Throttle Hold, 5-Point Throttle Curve, 5-Point Pitch Curve, Gyro Gain Adjust, Revolution Mix, Hovering Pitch Knob, Hovering Throttle Knob, Engine Lock Switch, 4 Swash Types: 90° Type, 120° Type, 140° Type,180° Type GLIDER Programming 2 Servo Wing Mode, Camber Mix, Aileron Differential, V-Tail Mix, Elevator-to-Flap Mix, Aileron-toRudder Mix, Flap-to-Aileron Coupling, Flap-to-Elevator Coupling, Flap-toAileron Trim, 4 Servo Wing Mode – Same as Above Plus: Crow Mix, Aileron-to-Dual Flap Trim, Aileron-toDual Coupling, Dual Flap-to-Aileron Trim,

Now pilots can choose the best color match for their aircraft, including blue, lime-green, orange, red, yellow, pink and black. These skis all share the same spring-loaded design, which ensures the skis stay in a positive position while in flight, but will flex on take-offs and landings, and provide great

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

tracking on the ground. Molded out of highdensity polyethylene, the skis will keep your path true, and work on wire or Dural landing gear. Snowbird Snow Skis install in minutes and will extend your flying season into the later part of the year.

HOT PRODUCTS

Specifications HiTec Sky Scout

Hitec RCD 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 hitecrcd.com

he new HiTec Sky Scout models will wow flyers everywhere with their long-lasting foam construction and smooth gliding style. Pre-assembled and made of durable Elapor® foam, the Sky Scouts feature a powerful, protected top-mounted outrunner motor.

#13207 SkyScout R2GO

Wingspan

54.5 in.

Includes pre-installed

Weight

24.5 oz

Motor

Length

38.6 in.

235-W brushless outrunner

Wing Area

372 in.2

Radio

Wing Loading

5.47 oz/ft2

HiTec Lite 4 2.4-GHz 4-channel, with four AA alkaline batteries

Servos

HS-55

Battery

3S 1300-mAh LiPo

Receiver

Minima 6i

Charger

DC/DC balancing charger

ESC

18 A

They’re easy to transport and offer basic rudder, elevator and motor control, gentle gliding characteristics and optional ailerons.

#13209 SkyScout H2GO Includes pre-installed

BH Models Sea Fury

Global Hobby 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92780 Phone: 714-963-0329

new Sea Fury from BH, with its 77-in. wingspan and all-wood airframe construction captures the good looks and high performance of the full-scale Sea Fury with its amazing attention to detail. And it’s easy to build too with 2-piece bolt on wing and stab, factory installed tab/pin hinging and custom hardware. The fiberglass cowl is a beautiful fit, and the color matching

Motor

235-W brushless outrunner

Servos

HS-55

Battery

3S 1300-mAh LiPo

Receiver

Minima 6i

Charger

DC/DC balancing charger

ESC

18 A

#13210 SkyScout P2GO Includes pre-installed Motor

235-W brushless outrunner

Servos

HS-55

ESC

18 A

large-scale, heavy metal airplane was never so easy to assembly and fly! The

Specifications Construction

Balsa/plywood cover w/ printed PVC material

Wingspan

76.77 in. (1950 mm)

Length

69.17 in. (1757 mm)

Weight

14.96 lb (6.8 kg)

Radio

Six channels

Servos

Airtronics 94851 (6), 94722 (2)

Engine

35-cc Gas (DLE)

Landing Gear

Air Up/Down w/ oleo struts

Price

$649.9

is phenomenal.The Air Operated Retracts are included and even have Oleo struts and gear doors included. The finish is a self-adhesive heat-shrink covering with printed finish that has tremendous scale detail from exhaust weathering to panel lines. RC-SF.COM

Radio Carbon Art Productions Electric Sailplane Clinic DVD

Radio Carbon Art Productions Glider Photography Prints

Radio Carbon Art P.O. Box 464 Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: 888-834-2261 radiocarbonart.com

njoy 48 beautiful fine-art glider poster prints from photographer Paul Naton of Radio Carbon Art Productions. These unique works of glider photo art will look fantastic on the walls of your office, home or workshop, and will last a lifetime. Photo subjects include

Orion Carbon Pro LiPo Batteries

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

eam Orion Carbon Pro LiPo batteries are engineered to provide 1/8- and 1/10-scale electric RC competitors with the ultimate in

adio Carbon Art’s Electric Sailplane Clinic DVD teaches you the essential skills you’ll need to successfully operate today’s electricassisted sailplanes. Shot on high-definition video, the DVD features easy-to-understand tutorials and demonstrations that will guide you through the complicated hardware and set-up procedures of modern glider power systems. Tutorials include electric speed controller programming, propellor theory, electrical basics

slope, thermal, scale, electric, vintage and full-size sailplanes. Each high-quality photo is printed on Fuji Archive photo paper and is available in sizes from 8 in. x 10 in. to a larger 30 in. x 40 in. They are affordable too, as a 20 in. x 30-in. full-color print is only $24.95. All prints are fully guaranteed and can be ordered online or by phone.

and power-system monitoring and optimizing with a watt meter. Also covered in detail are lithium polymer and lithium ion battery charging strategies, cell balancing, monitoring, safety and techniques to make your packs last longer. A detailed soldering clinic will teach you how to properly solder various high-amp connectors to motors, ESCs and batteries. Other tutorials cover electricity basics, propellor balancing and tips on running separate battery eliminator circuits with 2.4GHz radio systems. Price $24.95

Glider Photography Poster Prints Price $15.00 – $39.00

power and performance. These batteries pack a real punch, with 90C discharge rates and the option of getting Deans or Tube connectors. Various mAh capacities are available, as are the voltage selections, which include 3.7, 7.4, 11.1, 14.8, 18.5 and 22.2 V. The packs are also available as stick or as saddle packs. ORI14040 Carbon Pro LiPo 5000-mAh 90C 7.4-V, Deans Price $113.99 ORI14046 Carbon Pro LiPo 4600mAh 90C 11.1-V, Tube Price $142.99 ORI14049 Carbon Pro 5500-mAh

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

90C 7.4-V Saddle Pack (Deans plug) Price $99.99

HOT PRODUCTS

Seagull® Turbo Raven 46-55 ARF

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

rom 1998 to 1999, Wayne Hadley’s marvelously overpowered Turbo Raven reigned supreme as the most powerful propellerdriven aerobatic plane on the air-show circuit. The staggering

JR® Triple-Axis Gyro System TAGS01

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

R’s TAGS01 Triple-Axis Gyro System utilizes an advanced control algorithm with a wide dynamic range, allowing for unmatched hovering stability combined with extreme

2,800 pounds of thrust its turbine engine and specially designed Hartzell prop produced could catapult its 1,600-pound airframe into the sky using little more than 100 feet of runway. In the air, this awesome power-toweight ratio allowed Hadley to perform all kinds of jaw-dropping vertical maneuvers that defied both

gravity and the imagination. Now you can get a taste of what it was like to fly this one-of-a-kind air-show legend with the Seagull Turbo Raven 46-55 ARF. Like its full-scale inspiration, the model has been designed for extreme aerobatic performance. Assembly is a breeze and the

maneuverability during 3D flight. There is no need to change the transmitter’s CCPM settings when installing the TAGS01 (the settings are recognized by the gyro)—just perform a quick calibration process. Basic settings can be intuitively carried out using only the switches and dials, which are incorporated separately for each function in the control unit. It is possible to connect the TAGS01 to a PC for finely detailed adjustments easy to identify with the exclusive JR GTUNE software, as well as to access additional functionality (an additional dedicated interface cable and software will be required). The firmware upgrade is carried out by connecting the control unit to a PC using the dedicated USB interface cable, and then installing the firmware. The latest firmware is available for download from the JR website. • Highdefinition Multi-axis MEMS sensor • 32-bit high-speed processor

Specifications Wingspan

60.0 in. (1520 mm)

Length

51.0 in. (1180 mm)

Wing Area

590 in.2 (38.1 dm2)

Flying Weight

6.40-7.10 lb (2.90-3.25 kg)

Recommended engines

.46–.55 2-stroke, .52–.72 4-stroke

Recommended motor

46-size brushless outrunner

Transmitter

Four-plus channel

Servos

five servos (four servos for EP)

ample proportions of the fiberglass cowl will completely conceal most of the glow and electric power options with which it’s designed to fly. Other notable features include the authentic Turbo Raven trim scheme, fiberglass wheel pants and a pilot figure. #SEA117 Price $224.99 (Street)

Specifications Supported control systems

Mechanical swash mix and three CCPM mixes

Receiver channels used

4–7 channels (swash, 3 channels; rudder, one channel; gain, 0–3 channels)

Rated voltage

4.8–8.5 V

Size (control unit TAGS01-A)

37.0 x 55.0 x 11.5 mm

Weight (control unit TAGS01-A)

22 g

Size (gyro sensorTAGS01S)

27.0 mm dia, 10.3 mm height

Weight (gyro sensorTAGS01S)

16 g

Current consumption

215-mAh (max, when all LEDs are lit)

Recommended servos

Fast, high-torque servos

• Swash MIX scan system • PC client applications #JRPATA01

Price $279.99

RC-SF.COM

Dynamite SpeedTreads™ Wheels and Tires

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

he SpeedTreads wheel and tire line features mounted and non-mounted wheels and tires specifically designed for 1/8-scale and short-course platforms. With five tread patterns for 1/8-scale vehicles, and two tread patterns for short-course vehicles, SpeedTreads are perfect for beginner to intermediate surface enthusiasts looking for quality, high-performance tires at an affordable price. 1/8th Scale: • Soft compounds provide high traction • White sidewall lettering for easy identification (excluding RoadRunner) • High-performance, low-rebound foam inserts (mounted wheels/tires and tires only) • Reusable/resealable packaging with application chart Short Course: • Scale/race-inspired design provides optimum performance on many surfaces • High-performance, low-rebound foam inserts (mounted wheels/tires and tires only) • White sidewall lettering for easy identification • 12-mm hex drive (mounted and wheels only) • Two different offsets for use with Traxxas

E-flite® 90-Degree Main Micro Pneumatic Retracts

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

odelers have always wanted to add retracts to their new micro airplanes, but it has been something of a problem to make the installation easy or reliable enough for sport fliers. E-flite’s Micro Pneumatic Retracts make installing retracts in your new electric or small glow airplane so simple that you will no longer have any excuses for the gear hanging down during those cool, low, high-speed

Slash, Slash 4X4, Jammin SCRT10 and HPI Blitz (mounted and wheels only) • Silver matte finish provides scale looks (mounted and wheels only) #DYN5117 SpeedTreads Breakaway SC Tire MNTD: SLHR, 4X4FR Price: $19.99 #DYN5119 SpeedTreads Konekt SC MNTD: TRA SL F (2) Price: $19.99 #DYN5122 MTD SpeedTreads Robber SC: TRA SL F(2) Price: $19.99 #DYN5124 SpeedTreads Shootout SC Tire (2) Price: $14.99 #DYN8265 Speed Treads 1/8 Buggy Triple Threat MNTD (2) Price: $17.99 #DYN8266 SpeedTreads 1/8 Buggy Watch Dog MNTD (2) Price: $17.99 #DYN8267 SpeedTreads 1/8 Double Barrel Mounted (2) Price: $17.99 #DYN8268 SpeedTreads 1/8 Trigger MNTD (2) Price: $17.99 #DYN8269 SpeedTreads 1/8 Buggy Roadrunner MNTD (2) Price: $17.99

flybys at the RC field. E-flite’s Micro Pneumatic Retracts are constructed of high-quality, machined aluminum, and are specially designed for modelers who want to add functional retracts to their 10-sized and below models. Low profile design allows the retracts to be installed in smaller spaces. Everything you’ll needed (except the air pump) is included in the box: air line, tee fittings, fill valve, even

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

a quick disconnect valve to facilitate installation in airplanes with main gear located in a wing that must be removed for transport. Recommended for the Beechcraft Staggerwing 480 ARF (EFL6125). #EFLGP0150 Price $106.99

HOT PRODUCTS

Specifications Dynamite® Speedpack Platinum Li-Po Batteries

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

ynamite Platinum Series Li-Po batteries come competition-ready with a 50-C discharge rate and 5200-mAh capacity. Pricesensitive electric-racing enthusiasts no longer need to break their banks with higher-priced Li-Po batteries. In addition, each battery in the Platinum Series is ROAR-approved and legal in all ROAR-sanctioned events. You may also select between authentic Traxxas® connectors or Deans Ultra connectors based on your vehicle setup.

Specifications

Type

Lithium Polymer

Type

Lithium Polymer

Capacity

5200 mAh

Capacity

5200 mAh

Voltage

7.4

Voltage

11.1V

Connector Type

Traxxas

Connector Type

Traxxas

Weight

10.83 oz (307 g)

Weight

15.66 oz (443.9 g)

Configuration

2S2P

Configuration

3S2P

Length

138 mm

Length

138 mm

Width

46.9 mm

Width

46.9 mm

Height

24.9 mm

Height

34.6 mm

Maximum Continuous Discharge

50C

Maximum Continuous Discharge

50C

Maximum Burst Discharge

100C

Maximum Burst Discharge

100C

#DYNP4000D Speedpack Platinum 7.4-V 5200-mAh 2S 50C LiPo Case (Deans Connector)

DYNP4001T Speedpack Platinum 11.1-V 5200 -Ah 3S 50C LiPo Case (Traxxas Connector) Price: $129.99

#DYNP4000T Speedpack Platinum 7.4-V 5200-mAh 2S 50C LiPo Case (Traxxas Connector) Price: $99.99

NMPRS NMP Aluminum Racing Stack

Central Hobbies 1401 Central Avenue Billings, MT 59102 Phone: 406-259-9004 centralhobbies.com

the NMPYS63AB adaptor, or the Saito 50–65 using the NMPS5065AB adaptor. It fits the Saito 72–100 engines using the NMP72100AB adaptor. The cool “boloney” style outlet brings a touch of nostalgia to this exhaust stack too.

Length: 1-7/8 in. overall NMPRS racing stack NMPYS63AB adapter NMPS5065AB adaptor NMPS7210AB adaptor

$19.87 $17.97 $17.97 $17.97

he NMPRS aluminum racing stack is extremely lightweight and designed to get the exhaust gases out of the fuselage in as short a distance as possible—not to mention it looks great! The NMPRS has 13x 1.0-mm threads and will fit YS engines from the 91 through 175 sizes as well as the Saito 125. It will fit the YS 53, 63 and 70 4-cycle engines when using RC-SF.COM

F-86 SABRE EDF TRANSMITTERREADY™ JET WITH TRUE EDF PERFORMANCE.

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

reat Planes’ new F-86 Sabre is a 15-in. wingspan electric-powered micro flyer

ParkZone® P-51D BL DSMX® RTF With DX4e

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

that offers genuine ducted fan performance, with impressive scale appearance. Performance equipment includes a factoryinstalled brushless motor and electronic speed controller, as well as a LiPo battery and charger. A 30-mm HyperFlow™ ducted fan is included—the ducting runs the length of the aircraft. It gives the F-86 the power and thrust for fast, full-throttle passes just off the deck to outstanding sport aerobatics. The F-86 Sabre’s scale design is a solid match for its performance. The factory-finished fuselage and wings feature moldedin details and decals that provide authentic markings and insignia. The battery hatch is hidden under a realistic canopy, complete with pilot figure, and is held in place magnetically. The landing gear can be attached for rise-off-ground takeoffs, but can also be removed for

Specifications Wingspan

15 in. (381 mm)

Wing area

53.1 in.² (3.4 dm²)

Weight

2.35 oz (67 g)

Wing loading

6.4 oz/ft² (20 g/dm²)

Length

14.4 in (366 mm)

Requires

AnyLink and compatible 4-channel transmitter

hand launching. The F-86 Sabre offers the unique advantages of new Transmitter-Ready™ (Tx-R) aircraft. Like all Tx-R airplanes, the F-86 comes with a 2.4-GHz Tactic™ SLT™ receiver. Tx-R allows pilots to fly the F-86 with their transmitter and the AnyLink™ Radio Adapter. #GPMA1771

Price $139.99

enjoy the superior security and response of DSMX, and fly other RC aircraft including many Bind-N-Fly® helicopters and airplanes from

he ready-to-fly version of the brushlesspowered ParkZone P-51D Mustang is now available with the full-range Spektrum™ DX4e 4-Channel DSMX transmitter. Now pilots can

Specifications Wingspan

39.0 in. (990 mm)

Length

33.5 in. (850 mm)

Flying Weight

25.0 oz (710 g)

Motor

480-size 960-Kv brushless outrunner (installed)

ESC

ParkZone 18-amp brushless (installed)

Receiver

Spektrum AR600 sixchannel DSM2/DSMX receiver (installed)

Battery

3S 11.1-V 1300-mAh LiPo (included)

Charger

2S–3S DC LiPo balancing fast charger (included)

ParkZone, E-flite® and Blade®. The trainer port on the back of the DX4e lets you buddy box with other DSM2™/DSMX transmitters or connect to the

Multiplex® Funcopter

Multiplex Modelsport USA 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 multiplexusa.com

urable, quiet and lightweight, the Funcopter is a heavy hitter in the heli world. The Funcopter features fixed pitch rotors, full-body EPP foam fuselage, a quiet direct-drive power system, easily accessible electronics and a full four-channel control using traditional yaw, pitch and roll/throttle functions.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Phoenix R/C Pro Flight Simulator and fly on your PC. #PKZ2200

Price $219.99 (Street)

#M263003 FunCopter V2 RR Price $399.99 Includes motor, ESC, gyro and servos #M223031 FunCopter V2 Upgrade Kit Price $49.99 Includes upgraded flybar blades, higher KV motor and brass tail-rotor shaft with brass tailblade support

Specifications Fuselage Length

34 in.

Rotor Diameter

31 in.

Weight

45 oz

HOT PRODUCTS

Spektrum™ AR12200 12-Channel DSMX® Cockpit Receiver

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

f your model has a complex servo setup that draws lots of current, you’re going to love the Spektrum AR12200 Cockpit Receiver. It’s a

12-channel receiver, voltage regulator, servo sequencer and servo matcher all in one. It can accommodate dual battery inputs of six to nine volts each and deliver a constant current of 20 amps. Its servo sequencer can program up to six servos to perform 12 different steps, while the integrated servo matcher can be used to perfectly synchronize multiple servos driving a single control surface. A clear signal path is maintained by four small, remotely-mounted receivers that allow the AR12200 to “see around” conductive materials like carbon, stainless-steel bypass

tubes and tuned exhausts. This redundancy is complemented by the security of a Spektrum SensorSwitch that is designed to fail in the “on” position, virtually eliminating any chance of accidental power interruption. • Four remote receivers (#SPM9645) • SensorSwitch (#PBS9050) • One 36-in. remote receiver extension (#SPM9014)

Spektrum™ STi™ Telemetry Interface for iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®

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

onitor telemetry in realtime on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with the Spektrum STi interface. Just plug it in, download the free app and bind it. Telemetry info will appear in an easy-to-read display that even non-modelers can comprehend. You can also set alarms for when specific values exceed limits you define. Best of all, you don’t have to have a telemetry-capable Spektrum transmitter to use it. The STi will work with any DSM2™ or DSMX® transmitter, including JR® DSM®

Specifications Channels

Modulation

DSM2™/DSMX

Band

2.4-GHz

Input voltage range

6–9 V

Resolution

2048

Main unit dimensions

4.35 x 2.9 x .78 in. (111 x 73 x 20 mm)

Main unit weight

4 oz (113 g)

Remote receiver dimensions

1 x .8 x .27 in. (26 x 20 x 6.8 mm)

Remote receiver weight

.2 oz (3 g)

SensorSwitch dimensions

2.55 x .91 x .71 in. (65 x 23 x 18 mm)

SensorSwitch Weight

.7 oz (20 g)

• One 24-in. remote receiver extension (#SPM9013) • One 12-in. remote receiver extension (#SPM9012) • One 9-in. remote receiver extension (#SPM9011) • Instruction manual #SPMAR12200 Price $639.99 (Street)

transmitters or transmitters equipped with Spektrum DSM2 modules. Even if you have a telemetry-capable Spektrum transmitter, the STi is a fun way to let a friend keep an eye on model functions while you focus the flight. Compatible with iPad, iPod touch (4th generation), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPhone. #SPMTR1000 Price $99.99 (Street)

RC-SF.COM

O.S. 105HZ and 105HZ-R Heli Engines

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

eli pilots who demand huge power and performance for their helicopters can rest easy. Everything they’ve been waiting for is now available in the new O.S. 105HZ and 150HZ-R engines! For 90-sized machines to nail huge aerobatic or 3D maneuvers, it’s all about power. These new engines deliver! Displacement has been increased by 15 percent, but these engines still fit in a .90-sized mounting pattern.

fuel flow regardless of attitude • Velocity stack to increase airflow and enhance engine performance • Ideal bore/stroke ratio to minimize vibration, without gear ratio changes • Backplate accepts the Futaba BPS-1 rpm sensor for the GY701 and CGY750 • PowerBoost pipe compatible • On 15% nitro, the 105s run as strong or stronger than 91s using 30% nitro

Specifications Displacement

1.048 cu in. (17.17 cc)

Bore

1.142 in. (29 mm)

Stroke

1.024 in. (26 mm)

Rpm range

2000 – 16,500

Output

3.7 ps @ 15,000 rpm

105HZ Weight

21.03 oz (596 g)

105HZ-R Weight

21.46 oz (608 g)

OSMG1960 105HZ Street $479.99 OSMG1961 105HZ-R w/ DRS Street $529.99

• Displacements are 1.05 in the mounting space of a .90-size engine • Boost displacement by 15% • Machined, blue anodized heat sink head is lightweight w/ efficient cooling • The 105HZ-R is the pressurized DRS (Demand Regulator System) to ensure consistent

Thunder Tiger® Ace RC G-T5 Flybarless System

Thunder Tiger Corp. No. 7, 6th Road Industry Park Taichung, Taiwan R.O.C. thundertiger.com

he Ace RC G-T5 Flybarless System for helicopters is adjustable without external programming boxes or laptop computers because of the high-resolution display and touch-pad features. The G-T5 is programmed

Futaba PS-01RS 1-Amp Voltage Regulator

Futaba 3002 North Apollo Drive, Suite #1 Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-398-0007 futaba-rc.com

he Futaba PS-01RS 1-Amp Voltage Regulator is ideal for helicopter tail-rotor servos using LiFe or LiPo packs. This regulator allows the use of a 4.8-volt servo with a high-voltage 2.4-GHz radio system. Easy to

with different factory settings for Thunder Tiger helicopters, and has a standard setting usable for all helicopter models. The G-T5 adapts quickly and easily, and features a beginner and advanced setting with limited or full access to all set-up parameters. An additional USB interface allows for the storage and exchange of data, and easy firmware update. The system is fully compatible with all types of receivers. Serial

install, it regulates the battery voltage to 5 volts. Measuring only .95 in. x .31 in. x .33 in. (24.2 mm x 7.8 mm x 8.3 mm), and weighing only .18 oz (5.2 g), the regulator is both compact and lightweight. #FUTM0960 Price $24.99 (Street)

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

and S-Bus are fully supported. #ACEM8074 Price $179.99 (Street)

HOT PRODUCTS

TP1430C High-Power Multi-Chemistry Charger/ Discharger/ Cycler/Balancer System

Thunder Power 4720 West University Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89103 Phone: 702-228-8883 thunderpowerrc.com

he all-new TP1430C is the most powerful multi-chemistry charger, discharger, cycler and balancer system ever released by Thunder Power RC. Boasting up to 1000 watts of total power, the TP1430C can charge, discharge and cycle a wide variety of 1–14S LiPo, LiIon and LiFe (A123) batteries, as well as 1 – 40-cell NiCd and NiMH, and 6- to 48-volt Pb (lead-

acid) batteries. The built-in 2 – 14S LiPo/ LiIon/LiFe (A123) cell balancer and included balance connector adapter board are readily compatible with all Thunder Power balance connectors as well as the JST-XH balance connectors found on most other batteries. Boasting the same compact design and technology as the TP820CD, the TP1430C is capable of charging at rates of up to 30 amps, offering the ability to charge many of the latest-generation LiPo batteries at ultrafast rates up to 9C and beyond. Additional features include built-in data monitoring and viewing on the large, class-leading and easy-to-read 48-character blue backlit LCD screen, internal resistance measurement and an advanced storage mode function to automatically charge or discharge LiPo/LiIon/

Specifications Type

Multi-chemistry single-port DC charger/ discharger/cycler with integrated balancer

Input

12- to 36-V DC (40 A recommended)

Cells

1–14S LiPo/LiIon/LiFe (A123), 1- to 40-cell NiCd/NiMH, and 6- to 48-volt Pb (lead-acid)

Charge rate

Adjustable from 0.2amp to 30-amp

Input connector

4-mm bullet connector or alligator clips

Output connector

4-mm bullet/banana

LiFe (A123) batteries as needed. Other great features include dual computer-controlled cooling fans and temperature protection, an attractive and extremely durable aluminum case, plus the ability to install future firmware updates (available for free download from ThunderPowerRC.com using a standard mini USB cable). Best of all, these incredible features are all available at a value that’s hard to beat, and are fully supported and backed by Thunder Power RC’s industry-leading two-year warranty. #TP1430C Price $229.99 (Street)

Orion Rocket Sport LiPo Batteries

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

Price $33.99 ORI14170 Rocket Sport LiPo 3300 25-C 7.4-V, UNI Plug Price $42.99 ORI14171 Rocket Sport LiPo 4200 25-C 7.4-V, UNI Plug Price $49.99

ocket Sport LiPo batteries combine power, affordability and Team Orion quality to bring you the optimal choice for an affordable sport-level LiPo. Various capacities are available, and each pack comes with the patented Venom universal plug system, eliminating the need for an assortment of aftermarket adapters. ORI14169 Rocket Sport LiPo 2400 25-C 7.4-V, UNI Plug

RC-SF.COM

Great Planes RealFlight 6 Upgrade Rebate Deadline Extended

Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

y popular demand, Great Planes is extending its RealFlight 6 Upgrade Rebate offer. If you purchased RealFlight G5.5 between August 1, 2011, and September 30,

A6110 HighVoltage Standard Servo

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

he A6110’s digital precision, low dead band sensitivity and class−leading 0.14 second transit time is ideal for any 40- to 60−size sport aircraft. The cored motor delivers reliable

H5020G Mini Digital Gyro Metal Gear Servo

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

he incredible speed and accuracy of the Spektrum™ H5020G gyro servo will transform the performance of any 250- to 500size 3D helicopter. Besides delivering precise tail response and holding power that is second to none, the 5020G boasts a metal gear train

Blade® mCP X Aluminum Carrying Case

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

lade mCP X owners who can’t go anywhere without their helicopter will love this deluxe aluminum carrying case. Its soft foam interior comes with cutouts for the mCP X, nine flight batteries, the Celectra™ 1S variable

2011, you now have until December 31, 2011, to send in your entry. You can obtain the rebate form and the official rules at realflight.com. Just click on “Upgrades,” find the “Click Here” option at the bottom of the page and print the form. There are two options to choose from. Option A upgrades you to RealFlight 6 with the choice of either Mega Pack, for only $20. Option B upgrades you to RealFlight 6 with a Heli Mega Pack and an upgraded Interlink® Elite Heli Contoller, for only $50.

power to the tight plastic gear train. Ball bearing support helps assure that accuracy continues throughout the long life of the servo. Its ability to accept the higher voltage from a 2S LiPo battery makes setup simpler and operation more efficient. • High-voltage • Digital precision • Cored motor SPMSA6110 $26.99

designed to withstand the punishment of aggressive 3D maneuvers. It also has a specially designed case with an aluminum center section that dissipates heat so the motor and electronics run cooler and last longer. • Prefect for 250−500-sized 3D helicopters • Metal gear train • Digital Precision • Dual ball bearing support SPMSH5020G $49.99

rate charger, AC adapter and other accessories. Durable plastic feet protect the bottom of the case, while locks on the latches keep everything secure. A large display window in the lid lets you see at a glance if you’ve got everything you need before heading out to fly. #BLH3548 Price $39.99 (Street)

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

HOT PRODUCTS

A7030 HV Thin Wing Servo

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

he A7030’s metal gear train, great speed and incredible 49 oz-in. of torque are ideal for any aircraft requiring a thin-wing servo—

ParkZone® RAF S.E.5a

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

ou advance the throttle. The tail comes up as you gain speed. A little back pressure on the elevator and suddenly you’re transported back in time to dawn patrol on the Western Front. At least that’s what it will feel like the first time you take to the skies with the

like that of a sailplane where 10-mm wing depths are typical. The ability of the A7030 to accept the voltage of a 2S LiPo battery makes control setup simpler and lighter, but without the need for a voltage regulator. • Thin-wing servo • 49 oz-in. of torque • Dual ball bearing support SPMSA7030 $41.99

ParkZone RAF S.E.5a, the first ParkZone World War I park flyer. It comes with an authentic British trim scheme and all kinds of pre-applied details, including a dashing pilot figure with a white flying scarf. These details, combined with the model’s light wing-loading and potent 480size brushless power system, will win the heart of anyone who loves the classics. Available in Bind-N-Fly® and Plug-N-Play® versions. PKZ5575 S.E.5a WWI PNP Price $184.99 PKZ5580 S.E.5a WWI BNF Price $249.99

Specifications Wingspan

37.1 in. (943 mm)

Length

30.0 in. (760 mm)

Flying Weight

40.6 oz (1150 g)

Motor

480-size 960-Kv brushless outrunner (installed)

ESC

E-flite® 30-amp Pro Switch-Mode BEC (installed)

Receiver

Spektrum™ AR600 six-channel DSM2™/ DSMX® (installed on BNF only)

Battery

3S 11.1-V 1800-mAh 15C LiPo (w/ BNF only)

Charger

2S–3S DC LiPo balancing fast charger (w/ BNF only)

Specifications Weight

105 = 233 g 55II = 163 g

engine easier to tune as well as running much quieter.

O.S. Engine PowerBoost Pipes for 55HZ & 105HZ

perfect partners for the O.S. 55HZ or 105HZ engines. They’re designed to make the Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com

OSMG2879 Pipe 55II $159.99 OSMG2884 Pipe 105HZ $269.99

Street Street

he O.S. PowerBoost Pipes meet the demand of expert helicopter pilots needing a high-performance exhaust system for their machines. Delivering peak exhaust efficiency while improving engine power, the PowerBoost Pipes are engineered to be RC-SF.COM

HOT PRODUCTS

The Pilot’s Quad-Copter

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

he nimble Blade® mQX is a pilot’s quadcopter engineered to be remarkably responsive and fun to fly. Its advanced AS3X™ (Artificial Stabilization3 aXis) System gives the mQX a sense of precision control which rivals its bigger and more expensive quadcopter contemporaries. Indoors or out, breezy conditions or calm, you’ll be able to fly the mQX with complete confidence just about anywhere, anytime. BLH7500 Blade mQX RTF BLH7580 Blade mQX BNF

Multiplex Easy Star II

$169.99 $139.99

Multiplex Modelsport USA 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-6948 multiplexusa.com

ultiplex’s entry-level Easy Star II provides a winning combination for beginner

Miracle Starter from Madison Components

Madison Components, Inc. 4258 East Los Altos Road Gilbert, AZ 85297 Phone: 800-811-9135 qualityrcproducts.com

flyers, featuring durable pre-fabricated Elapor foam parts, a protected pod motor mount, basic rudder, elevator and motor control and optional ailerons. Perfect for transporting and experimenting, the gentle-gliding Easy Star II more than lives up to its name. #M214260 Price #129.00

Specifications Wingspan

54.5 in.

Weight

24.5 oz

Length

38.6 in.

Wing area

372 in.2

Wing loading

5.47 oz/ft2

Recommended Equipment

erfect for those quick but necessary jumps, Madison Components’ Miracle Starter will have you back up in the air in no time. With easy-to-follow instructions and plenty of power, the Miracle Starter really is a miracle for the seasoned flyer. Boasting 14 volts and over six amps, it’s capable of starting

Motor

200-watt 28-mm

Battery

3S 1600–2500-mAh LiPo

ESC

17- 27-amp

Propeller

5.5 x 4.5 in.

Servos

Two HS-55

Receiver

Minima 6 BUILD IT YOURSELF

180-cc four-strokes and 30-cc gas-powered engines. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, with no worrisome wires that may cause safety issues. Features include gear-reduction drive, reversible silicon insert, charging connectors on each battery, an aircraft aluminum powdercoated battery holder, plus a convenient in-handle switch. It also includes an available charge cable with alligator clips and a Tamiya receptacle. Two 3000-mAh NiMH 7.2-volt batteries are included, and there is a one-year warranty on the motor. Price $128.00

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

YS 175

YS 175 CDI

Developed for serious aerobatics competition and just won the world championships. • Crankcase supercharging system • Direct inject system • Conventional fuel pump adjustment • High hprsepower output with long service life

YS 140 SPORT

$459.97

$887.97

$788.29

This engine is very easy to operate with smooth running characteristics and the ability to run well on fuel in a variety of nitro percentages. But we still recommend YS 20/20 fuel for best results. Fits the same area as the 1.20. Displacement 23cc Bore 32.0mm Stroke 29.0mm Weight 890g

TETTRa WHEElS

Sullivan SKYliTE liGHT WEiGHT WHEElS SUL874 SUL875 SUL876 SUL877 SUL879 SUL881 SUL882 SUL883

WHEELS SKYLITE TRD 2-1/4”.66oz WHEELS SKYLITE 2-1/2” .65oz WHEELS SKYLITE 2-3/4” 1.02oz WHEELS SKYLITE 3” 1.17oz WHEELS SKYLITE 3-1/2” (1) 2.26oz WHEELS SKYLITE 4” 3.25oz WHEELS SKYLITE 4-1/2” 4.96oz WHEELS SKYLITE 5” 5.51oz

Tailwheel Assembly

$29.50 MKD0581

Replacement Tail Wheel $7.65 MKD0581H

White NyLONOR DuRaLumiNum TET1131 WHITE NYLON WHEEL 55MM 0.52oz TET1141 WHITE NYLON WHEEL 60MM 0.58oz TET1151 WHITE NYLON WHEEL 65MM 0.64oz TET1172 TAIL WHEEL 25MM 0.1oz TET11720 SPARE TIRE TAIL WHEEL SPONGE TET11830 SPARE TIRE 45MM 0.05oz TET11840 SPARE TIRE 50MM 0.05oz TET11850 SPARE TIRE 55 MM 0.3oz TET11860 SPARE TIRE 60MMM 0.4oz TET11870 SPARE TIRE 65MM 0.4oz TET1188 SPARE TIRE 70MM 0.5oz

$ 9.39 $12.46 $13.44 $10.45 $10.60 $11.96 $11.55 $11.57

Fuel Outlet 45 Degree, Aluminum $6.59 CHS004F

$9.95 $10.95 $11.95 $5.95 $2.89 $3.97 $4.36 $6.97 $5.79 $5.99 $8.39

packaged & priced individually

Tettra “Crank Tank Weight with Filter $6.49 TET4105

2 MM Clevis/2-56 clevis Ball Bearing $6.47 CHS045C

2.5mm/4-40 clevis $6.49 CHS046C

Aluminum Control Horn

with ball bearing clevis for 2mm pushrod

$4.95 WHKBBH

Saito Adaptors

These adaptors enable you to use the YS exhaust stacks on your SAITO engine Saito 50-65 NMPS5065AB Saito 72-100 NMPS7210AB

$17.97

bladehelis.com

WHAT’S YOUR BlAde PATH? The first time he saw an RC heli fly, he wanted one in the worst way. Friends and forums pointed him to Blade. He’s glad they did. He couldn’t have come this far this fast with anything else.

mCX

mCX2

CX2

CX3 MD 520N®

mSR

When it comes to giving you a clear path to your RC heli dream, no one beats Blade. From ready-for-anyone-to-fly ultra micros to high-performance 3D thrill machines there’s a Blade for every step of the way.

120 SR

mCP X

Blaze your own Blade path. Go to bladehelis.com right now to see the entire selection of Blade® helicopters and accessories or to find the Blade retailer nearest you. 450 3D

horizonhobby.com ©2011 Horizon Hobby, Inc. Blade and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, Inc. MD 520N is a registered trademark or trademark of MD Helicopters Inc. and is used under license to Horizon Hobby, Inc. www.bladehelis.com 32000

BY Jeff Troy

Wings, Part I Let’s Stretch our Wings in this Build

uilding RC airplanes is big fun! I hope you’re having as much fun building as I am. Currently, I’m constructing five all-wood RC airplane kits for the camera, and giving you the what, when, where, why and how of it. If you’re building a model along with me, you should have the tail section—the empennage—constructed and sanded smooth with the slots or holes prepared for the hinges. The wings are the next part of the process. Using my five models I’ll show you a total of seven different wings. The extra two are for the Ziroli Dr.1, which is a triplane. Constructing model airplane wings may appear to be intimidating if you’ve never done it, but follow along and I’ll show you just how easy it is to build a beautiful, straight and sturdy wings. Wing types are usually described by their airfoil, which is the combined shape of a wing’s ribs, leading edges and trailing edges when viewed from the tip or root of a panel. The easiest of all wing types to construct is the flat-bottom. A flat-bottom wing is just that, flat on the bottom from the leading edge to the trailing edge, with all the curvature on the top side. If

you place a flat-bottom wing on your workbench, its entire bottom will hug the surface and it won’t rock or tilt. A few other popular airfoil types for RC airplane wings are raisedentry, also known as Phillips-entry, symmetrical, semi-symmetrical and undercambered. Each type, including the flat-bottom, comes with its own set of performance rewards. The flat-bottom wing is most often found on trainer airplanes and entry-level sailplanes. The flatbottom’s most valuable performance rewards are high lift, low stall speed and good stability. The raised-entry airfoil is essentially a flat-bottom with a slight upward curvature in the lower outline from the main spar to the leading edge. This upward curvature doesn’t surrender much in the lift and stability capacities of the flat-bottom, but it does improve penetration— the ability to advance against an oncoming wind. Most often found on highperformance aerobatic airplanes, the symmetrical wing has exactly the same shape on the top and bottom of the airfoil. If you drew a line through the airfoil of a symmetrical wing from the center of the leading

Jeff Troy’s 1/4-scale Nick Ziroli Fokker Dr.1 triplane needs a lot of parts to build its wings. The first step to construction is picking the correct parts from the kit box, so here are all the pieces required to frame the top wing, just one of three.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

edge to the center of the trailing edge, then folded the airfoil over on itself along that line, both sides would be identical. Because there is no difference in the top and bottom of the airfoil, the symmetrical wing generates no lift and zero degrees angle of attack. While this may seem like a negative, the symmetrical wing offers many positive performance rewards. In addition to excellent penetration, the most advantageous of these rewards are tremendous agility and identical performance whether upright or inverted. The semi-symmetrical airfoil is a compromise between the raisedentry and symmetrical airfoils. The bottom is not flat, but the curve of the bottom is still not as severe as the curve of the top. The semisymmetrical wing’s rewards include those of all the common RC wing types, but usually just to a somewhat lesser degree. The typical semisymmetrical wing provides good lift, stability and penetration, and provides better inverted performance than a flat-bottom or raised-entry wing. The undercamber airfoil is unique because it has curvature on the top and bottom, but the bottom

The triplane’s spars are each built by joining two lengths of 1/4-in. square spruce. Butt joints in a spar are a surefire recipe for wing failure, so Jeff follows the Ziroli design and uses scarf joints. Perfectly matching cuts are made in pairs with a kerf saw from the Zona Tool Company.

Wings, Part I

Scarf joints can be secured with slow-setting epoxy, but thin CA is also acceptable when the spar is sheeted over and the scarf joint falls over a rib location. When using CA, the best bond is ensured by a dusting of baking soda over the ends to be joined.

When the CA has penetrated and cured, use 100-grit sandpaper on a bar sander to smooth the scarf joint on all four sides of the spar.

curvature is concave rather than convex. Looking somewhat like a bird’s wing, undercamber airfoils are most often seen on vintage airplanes through World War I. In models, undercambered wings are most often found on scale World War I and on old timers. Old timers are essentially new or original designs that exemplify some of the earliest free-flight, RC or RC-assisted models. In addition to its airfoil, there are many other factors that contribute to a model airplane’s performance. These include but are positively not limited to wingspan, chord, airfoil thickness, weight and weight distribution, wing and tail incidence, thrust line, number and location of wings and an endless number of variables. Rather than lecture on

With the two spar lengths pressed against a straightedge to ensure a straight finished part, Jeff applies a few drops of Bob Smith thin CA to the scarf joint.

Pin down the trailing edge parts of the top wing and shim the lower main spar with short scraps of 3/32-in. balsa. The plans are taped to the workbench and protected by Great Planes Plan Protector. A 25-ft. roll is less than nine bucks.

aerodynamics, which is positively not my strong suit, I want to show you how each can be most easily constructed. Of the five models I’m building for you, none uses a true flat-bottom wing. The closest to a flat-bottom wing are the three raised-entry wings of the quarter-scale Fokker Dr.1 triplane. The full-scale Dr.1 has undercamber wings, but Nick Ziroli (the designer) wanted a sport-scale model that would be easier to build and deliver better flight performance than an exact-scale model. The raised-entry airfoil that Nick incorporated into his triplane design works well. Follow along with me for the basics of wing construction, and the result should be a set of properly built, straight wings that look good and perform correctly.

As always, begin by taping the wing plans down over a dead-flat work surface, followed by a sheet of Great Planes® Plans Protector or other protective barrier to prevent the parts from being glued to the plans. My work surface is a solidcore door, and although it requires a tack hammer to drive pins into the surface, the solid-core door has been my preferred building board since the ‘70s. When the plans are taped down and protected, you can rummage through the kit box and collect all the necessary bits and pieces needed to construct the wing. Of the triplane’s three wings, the bottom and mid wings have no ailerons, and that makes them the easiest to construct. For that reason, I chose to begin with the top wing. The top wing has ailerons and other RC-SF.COM

To ensure a wing that’s just as vertically true as it is horizontally, install each rib with the aid of a small triangle or upright. Jeff uses the 90-degree L-upright in the Builder’s Metal Template Set from Hobbico.

With all the ribs glued in, install the upper main spar and sub spar and secure the leading edge with thin CA.

features that allow me to present additional construction techniques. The key component in almost every wing is the spar, or spars. The Ziroli Dr.1 wing spars are made from 1/4-in. square spruce, and two lengths must be joined to make each full-length spar. Each wing has an upper and lower main spar, so a total of 12 lengths of spruce will be cut and joined to result in the necessary six wing spars. Butt joints are to be avoided at all costs, not just in spar construction but in nearly every area of model building. Butt joints offer the least possible gluing area and the least possible strength at the joint. A scarf (angled) joint is preferred. Here’s how: Lay two lengths of spruce over the plans with their ends extending slightly beyond the end of the wing. Make pencil marks on both pieces 38

Upper and lower wing sheeting won’t be installed on the wings until a future installment, but it’s easiest to prepare the sheets ahead of time. The first step is to true the edges of every balsa sheet required.

at the wing center. To make a proper cut for the scarf joint, place the two pieces side by side with the pencil marks in line, and use a kerf saw from the Zona Tool Company to cut the two parts at once at the same angle, usually between 30 and 45 degrees. The longer the cut, the greater the gluing area will be, and that results in the stongest joint. Having the scarf joint positioned directly over a rib will provide additional support. If the wing you’re building does not have a rib at the very center of the wing, make your pencil marks and cuts over one of the ribs nearest the center. With the two halves of the spar cut, apply a thin coating of baking soda over one of the cuts. I keep a small cup of baking soda on my bench. I just dip one end into the cup to coat it. Position the two lengths of

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

spruce together over the plans, with the scarf cuts over the nearest rib to the center of the wing, then place a straightedge alongside of the two pieces to ensure they are in perfect alignment. When you’re satisfied with the fit, apply a few drops of thin cyanoacrylate (CA) to the joint. You can use epoxy without the baking soda if you prefer, but as long as the joint is over a rib and you’ve dusted the wood with baking soda, the CA joint shouldn’t separate. A few seconds later, when the CA has cured, use a bar sander with 100-grit sandpaper to smooth the joint on the top, bottom and both sides of the newly finished spar. If your model has leading edges, trailing edges or sub-spars that are also made of multiple pieces, they can be scarf-jointed in the same

Wings, Part I

Hold two sheets together against a straightedge, overlapping at the joint. Cut the scarf with a second straightedge and a hobby knife with a sharp #11 blade. Mate the sheets with a drop of thin CA applied at every inch or so along the joint.

It’s nice to be able to measure and fit all the sheeting while every nook and cranny of the wing is still accessible. After measuring for the center section, cut small pieces away at the corners to allow a round sanding to be used.

manner. You may also consider making your cuts so that each scarf joint is located at a different point in the wing. Instead of having every joint at or near the center rib, you’ll avoid having a weak spot in the finished wing if, for example, one scarf joint is at the center, another is toward the left tip, another is toward the right tip and any others are positioned at different points in between. The raised-entry wings of the Ziroli Dr.1 are built just like flatbottom wings, but because the 3/32-in. trailing edge sheeting for the wing and ailerons is where the tail of each rib is attached, the bottom spar must be shimmed 3/32-in. to keep the structure flat while it’s being built. Pin down pieces of 3/32-in. scrap balsa along the length of the spar between

Cut, fit and add the sheeting for the center section and any trailing edge parts if necessary. Two sheet skins are required for each wing—one top sheet and one bottom.

Jeff uses the 3/4-in. round Perma-Grit tool to sand a uniform shape into all the corners of the center section sheeting. A good alternative is 100-grit sandpaper wrapped around a 3/4-in. dowel or a length of PVC pipe.

the ribs, then place the main spar over the shims without pinning it down. Pin down the aileron trailing edge pieces. The top wing of the Dr.1 also has a rear spar, sometimes called a sub-spar or drag spar, which is glued over the trailing edges of the wing. Before applying adhesive to any parts of the wing, be sure that both ends of the spars extend past the ends of the wing—you don’t want to build a wing with a short spar at one end. With the spar ends all extending past the tip rib locations, use two or three of the wing ribs to get the sub-spar into the correct position before pinning it down and applying thin CA to adhere it to the sheeting. You can also use the ribs to ensure that the main spar is correctly positioned.

With the spars and trailing edges in their proper locations over the plans, you’ll then install the wing ribs. If you want a proper wing, the ribs must all be standing at 90 degrees to the work surface when the adhesive is applied. Hobbico makes an inexpensive accessory that helps. It’s called the Builder’s Metal Template Set, and it consists of three aluminum triangles and one L-shaped upright. Two of the triangles are relieved at the base so you can get them up close to most structures when you need to verify their angles. Working with one rib at a time, use one of the triangles or the L part to ensure that each rib is at 90 degrees to the work surface, then apply thin CA to glue the ribs to the main spar, sub-spar and trailing edge sheeting. RC-SF.COM

To avoid sanding high or lows spots into the wing sheeting, do your finishing sanding before installing the sheets. When using fabric covering, a final sanding with 100-grit sandpaper is fine, but go down to 320 or finer for film-covered models.

I installed a separate aileron servo in each of the top wings. Rolled-cardboard tubes will carry the servo wires through the wing. Rough-cut the slots with a Zona saw, then round the bottom of the notches with the 3/4-in. round Perma-Grit tool.

Use the Zona kerf saw to cut the ailerons away from the top wing. The ailerons are much easier to handle and complete as separate components once they are detached from the wing’s structure.

The triplane’s bottom wing has a thick balsa center rib that houses the wing hold-down dowel. Be sure that this rib is installed precisely at 90 degrees to the work surface. I’m using a small square here to set them in place.

With the wing well on its way, it’s a good time to ensure that it’s built dead-flat. This is done by pinning down the main spar, but you do not want to weaken the spar by passing pins through it. Instead, use the method known as cross-pinning. Drive two pins into the workbench at each location, having them cross over the spar in an “X” formation that traps the spar without piercing it. Then add the top spar and sub-spar, and glue the 1/4-in. square leading edge into the notch at the front of each rib. The leading edge is next, and is where raised-entry construction differs slightly from building a flat-

18 40

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

bottom wing. If the wing was a flat-bottom design, the ribs would be flat to the work surface along their entire length, and the leading edge would also be positioned flat to the work surface and against the nose of each rib. Because the nose of each rib is not flat against the surface, the leading edge must also be raised to the proper height so it will fit correctly against the nose of each rib. You can do this visually or with shims, or by measuring and marking the center of each rib’s nose, and drawing a center line down the entire length of the leading edge, then lining up the marks as you apply glue to each leading edge/rib joint. I just eyeball

Secure the carrier tubes with Titebond, Elmer’s or any similar aliphatic resin. These tubes are non-structural components and only require enough adhesive to prevent the joints from cracking under engine vibration. Apply the glue to one side of the tube, then rotate the tube to spread the glue evenly over the notches.

Wings, Part I

Use epoxy to secure the plywood doublers on both sides of the bottom wing’s center rib. Use clamps to keep the parts tight against the rib while the epoxy cures.

A wide, plywood strip ensures the integrity of the leading edge hold-down dowel. Measure and drill the hole for the dowel, then use five-minute epoxy and plenty of clamps to secure the plywood strip to the structure.

the center and glue the leading edge against the ribs, one rib at a time. Preparing the upper and lower sheeting for the top wing is next, but you will not install the sheeting until a later installment in these articles. The wide leading-edge sheeting is made from two sheets of 3/32-in. balsa. It spans the entire length of the wing and covers the area between the main spar and leading edge. The leading-edge sheets, one for the top and another for the bottom, are the first to be prepared. Before attempting to glue any sheeting parts together, the edges of all your sheets must be trued. Truing parts means that their edges must be made perfectly straight so that the parts can mate with no gap anywhere between them. The easiest way to do this is by holding the sheet down on

Balsa filler blocks are installed in the bottom wing where the wing bolts pass through into the Dr.1’s fuselage. The blocks prevent the bolts from crushing the sheeting.

The mid wing requires the installation of a grooved, hardwood block to carry the rear cabane struts. Glue this block into the structure with epoxy, then add balsa filler blocks over the hardwood.

your workbench with its edge slightly overhanging the bench, then using a bar sander to sand away the overhang until the sander sweeps perfectly flat against the side of the bench. Use only light pressure for two reasons: you don’t want to break, crack or otherwise damage the delicate sheet that you’re sanding; and, you certainly don’t want to sand any imperfections into the edge of your work bench. True the edges of all the sheeting, then join each pair of sheeting parts in a similar way to the way in which you made the main spars. Hold two sheets against a straightedge, but this time overlap them at the joint area instead of holding them next to each other. Now use a second straightedge and a hobby knife with a fresh #11 blade to make the scarf cut down through the top sheet

and into the bottom sheet. Don’t try to cut through both sheets in a single pass. Instead, work slowly and deliberately, cut by cut, until you’ve gone completely through both sheets. Separate the sheets and position them on your work surface, cut-tocut, against the straightedge. The fit should be perfect, so use a fingertip to press down both sheets along the cut line while applying a few drops of thin CA at every inch or two along the joint and rubbing it in with a fingertip. Capillary action will draw the CA in, and ensure that the entire joint is secure. Give that side—the underside—a light sanding, then flip the joined sheets over and sand the top side smooth. Sand enough to remove any bumps or ridges in the sheets, and any traces of raised or rippled adhesive. That takes care RC-SF.COM

The center section at the rear of the mid wing has a recess that allows it to clear the Dr.1’s cockpit. The recess span is strengthened by a plywood strip. Plenty of clamps and fiveminute epoxy do the trick.

The Dr.1 top wing and ailerons are shown here, fully framed and ready for upper and lower sheeting, and the 3/32-in. cap strips over the ribs.

of the top leading edge sheet; now repeat the procedure to create the bottom leading edge sheeting. The center section sheeting is next. After it has been cut to the proper length and trued, it must be glued to the rear edge of the leading edge sheeting. Make sure that the center section sheeting is indeed positioned at the center of the leading edge sheeting, then secure it to the leading edge sheet with drops of thin CA along the joint. Sand the underside, then flip it over and sand the top side smooth. Repeat the procedure for the bottom sheeting. The bottom-side trailing edges were pinned under the ribs and are already a part of the wing. Not so with the top trailing edges, so fit, attach and sand them now, just as you did the center section sheeting. The 42

With strut tab fairings and trailing edge center fairings installed, the frame-up of the Ziroli Dr.1 mid wing is complete. You’ll see all sheeting installed in a later installment of this column.

The framed bottom wing of the Dr.1 is shown here next to one of its finished wing skins. Four more wings will be constructed in coming issues of RC Sport Flyer, one undercamber, one symmetrical and two semi-symmetrical.

Ziroli plans show rounded corners of the center section sheeting at every location where it meets the leading edge and trailing edge sheeting. This could be very difficult to cut evenly, but here’s an easier way to get all the corners uniform: Draw a line approximately 1/8-in. outward of each outer rib location on the underside of the center section sheeting, and another line approximately 3/4-in. outward from the first two lines to mark the outer edge of the radius. With the photographs to guide you, use your hobby knife to cut a small angle away from the center section sheeting near each corner, then, use a 3/4-in. round Perma-Grit tool to sand the corner radius perfectly. Cut the excess wood away along the inner line between the radii and you’re done. If you don’t

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

have Perma-Grit tools, you can wrap sandpaper around a piece of PVC tubing or any other round length of material to create an impromptu sanding tool. After all the cutting is done, flip the sheets right-side-up and sand them perfectly smooth. In the case of the Dr.1, which will be covered with fabric, sanding with 100-grit sandpaper is sufficient. If you were building a model that would be film covered, sanding down to 320-grit or finer is necessary to prevent the wood grain from impressing itself into your model’s final finish. So, are you wondering why I am final-sanding my wing sheeting before it is installed on the wing? There is a reason, and it’s rather important whether you are sheeting a wing or any other type of open-

Wings, Part I bay structure. By its very nature, an open-bay structure has hard and soft spots. In my Dr.1 wing, the hard spots are anywhere the sheeting covers a rib, spar, block or any other part of the sub-structure that contacts the sheeting. The soft spots are any open, unsupported areas under the sheeting. If you installed the sheeting and then attempted to sand it, you would get flat spots over any hard spots where the sheeting would not yield against the pressure of the sanding bar, and high spots over the open areas where the sheeting was pushed down by the sander, only to come back up after each pass of the sander. The result of this common mistake is a row of hills and valleys along the entire sheet, and a truly unsightly wing. In most cases, the only areas of the wing sheeting that should be sanded after installation are where the sheeting must be blended into the leading edges, trailing edges or cap strips. Finish fitting and sanding the upper and lower sheeting and set it aside in an area where it will be safe from damage. Use the Zona® saw to cut the ailerons away from the wing, and flat-sand the faces of the ailerons and the trailing edges of the aileron recesses in the wing. These areas will be sheeted later. With the ailerons pinned in position over the plans, shim the leading edges and use epoxy to install the plywood control horn mount in each aileron. When the epoxy has cured, follow the plans and finish dressing the top sides of the aileron tips with 1/8×1/4-in. and 1/4×1/4-in. balsa strips. You’ll have to decide how you’ll want your RC system to drive the ailerons. Three choices come to mind. One is shown on the plans, and that is to use a single centermounted servo to drive a 90-degree bellcrank at each aileron location. This installation requires that you cut holes through the ribs for the musicwire pushrods to pass from the servo output arm to the bellcranks. The other two options use two servos, one at each aileron location. One of these options has the servos mounted inside the wing with only their output arms protruding

through the covers. The other has the servos mounted with no covers and their top halves protruding from the outside of the wing. Whichever option you choose, you’ll need some kind of carrier to allow the servo wires to pass from the servos to an exit near the center of the wing. I chose the dual servo option under the covers, and my carrier choice is a rolled-cardboard tube. I cut the tube in two lengths to fit between the servo bays and center of the wing, although in retrospect, before sheeting the wing, I would shorten one tube and lengthen the other so that my servo wire exit could be made near one of the strut mounting areas. If you choose the tube carrier, hold the cardboard tube in position over the wing and mark each rib for a notch to seat the tube. Use the Zona saw to cut both sides of each notch, then break away the unwanted wood and round the bottom of the notch with that 3/4-in. round Perma-Grit tool. Check the fit of the tube as you go, using a small scrap of wood over each rib to verify that the tube is seated just below the top edge of each rib. When both tubes seat correctly, apply a bead of Titebond aliphatic resin (white or yellow carpenter’s glue) to the tubes at each rib location, then simply rotate the tubes to get the glue onto the ribs. These tubes are non-structural components and do not require a lot of glue. Their only purpose is to let the servo wires pass through the wing ribs, so use just enough glue to make a solid bond that won’t come apart from engine vibration. The mid wing and bottom wing of the triplane are constructed in a similar manner to the top wing, but without the ailerons. The bottom wing has a thick center rib that carries the 3/8-in. hold-down dowel. The mid wing has short rear spars to support the center section sheeting, but they do not run full length. Pin the trailing edges, shim up the spars and install the ribs, followed by the top spars and leading edges of both wings. To prevent the forward holddown dowel from tearing out of the bottom wing, two plywood doublers

are installed over the center rib, sandwiching the dowel in place and ensuring a vibration-free, forward mounting point for the wing. A plywood strip runs along the forward cutout of the wing, further preventing the dowel from pulling sideways, upward or downward from the pressures of flight. Two 1/4-20 nylon bolts will pass through the rear of the bottom wing, holding it fast to the fuselage. Two balsa filler blocks are glued into the structure at the bolt locations to prevent the bolts from crushing the wing sheeting. The mid wing requires having a grooved, hardwood block installed to mount the rear cabane struts that will extend upward to the top wing. Similarly, two hardwood blocks must be installed in the underside of the top wing to receive the struts from the mid wing and the forward fuselage. I installed the block in the mid wing with Bob Smith five-minute epoxy, and used the company’s 30-minute epoxy for the blocks in the top wing. Balsa filler blocks were cut and installed over the mid-wing block. The mid wing also received a 3/32-in. plywood strip that spans the wide recess at the trailing edge. The plywood strip prevents failure of what would otherwise be a weak spot at the mid wing’s center. Fiveminute epoxy is sufficient for this part. This completes the basic framing of my three Dr.1 wings. The undercamber wing of the Shive Specialties 108-in. Dallaire Sportster old timer will happen in the next issue of RC Sport Flyer. In following issues, I’ll show you three more wings, one symmetrical and two semi-symmetrical, and show you what to do with all the wing sheeting components that you worked so hard to scarf, assemble and sand to perfection. Building model airplanes is fun and rewarding, and there’s no better feeling than stepping back from an ongoing project, looking at what you’ve accomplished and mulling over the you that’s become a built-in part of the model. This is art, and your skills are surely developing.

RC-SF.COM

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By Wil Byers / Daniel Holman

Hangar 9 3.1-m Sukhoi SU-26MM ®

Do it Right. Do it Once. Do it Safely!

s I told you in Part I of this build series, the 3.1-m-wingspan Mike McConnville Sukhoi SU-26 is the first large-scale, gas-powered airplane I’ve built. It has truly been a fun learning experience! While I’ve done a number of things right, I’ve also done a few things wrong with respect to using this airplane for full-on 3D flying. Pilots who push their airplanes to the limit in 3D know that the airframe, engine, servos and all systems are

also taxed to their limit. Consequently, if you are going to have an airplane that flies at optimum capacity and is safe, you must assemble the model so that the chances of any component failing are reduced to the absolute minimum—no matter how hard the airplane is pushed to the outside of its performance envelope! Please know that we had previously planned to have the final build and flight report in this issue. However, the Northwest’s weather has not been cooperative, especially

We had planned to fly the Sukhoi out over the Columbia River for some great shots, but the weather just didn’t cooperate.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

No matter what angle you look at this 3.1-m-wingspan Mike McConville Sukhoi SU-66 from, it has the lines of a full-on 3D machine.

in Eastern Washington where I live! Although we did test-run the motor and think about flying it in the 20-degree weather, when we realized the pilot’s fingers would not work well in such conditions, we decided against it. You’ll get an in-depth flight report in the our upcoming May issue.

Inspector Holman

Because I have a considerable amount of money and time invested in my Sukhoi, I wanted the airplane inspected by someone who is much more knowledgeable than I when it comes to large-scale 3D airplanes.

This shot shows you just how finely machined the big, purple anodized TruTurn spinner is that you’ll want to buy for the Sukhoi.

Hangar 9® 3.1-m Sukhoi SU-26MM That person is Daniel Holman. Daniel is a local pilot who is heavily involved in flying 3D type aircraft. He recently built and is now flying a Hangar 9 Extra 300 that is DA-120 powered. It was reviewed in the January 2012 issue of this magazine. As a result, Daniel, his brother Michael and I spent a day in my shop going over The servo setups for ailerons, elevators and rudder are This is how we tied down the battery connectors and explained in this article. If you’ve never set them up mounted one of the satellite receivers. Again, doing it the Sukhoi from rudder before, we explain how easy it is to do! right means reliability. to spinner and wingtip to wingtip to make certain This airplane looks great from it was built properly before it was It was making certain that everything any angle. It shouts out big-time flown. was in place and set up to withstand power and fun all over its attractive airframe! What I learned from Daniel was the rigors of 3D flying. Importantly, how to set up the Sukhoi for a 3D competition. It was the good stuff!

Daniel (left) and Michael (right) have huge smiles on their faces as we fire up the Sukhoi’s DA-170 engine and run some gasoline (w/ Red Line® oil [redlineoil.com]) through it to get it broken in for its maiden flight.

RC-SF.COM

everything was neat, fastened down as it must be and protected against control failure!

Learned

Programming Ailerons’ Servos The kit manufacturer recommends that you use their MatchBox® system as a way to program the ailerons’ center points and throws. However, we opted to use the Spektrum AR12110 12-channel DSMX PowerSafe™ receiver with four satellite receivers. It gets power from two Spektrum 4000-mAh LiPo packs. By using the AR12110 receiver, we were able to use separate channels on the receiver for each servo. This eliminated the need for the two Matchbox systems. Because the Matchboxes were not used, the ailerons’ servo extensions were made 6 in. longer than what was recommended in the manual. The longer extensions could then extend inside the fuselage where they are connected and disconnected to the

receiver’s leads. From the receiver we used 6-in. servo extensions for each of the servos’ aileron channels. The 6-in. extensions out of the receiver eliminates the need to plug and unplug directly from the receiver every time the wings are removed. Once the wings were mounted and all the servo leads were connected, Daniel set up the servos. He started by only bolting the inboard servos to their pushrods. Using the inboard servos to power the ailerons, Daniel set the servos’ centers as well as the endpoints so that they had equal travel both sides of their center. Then he bolted the outboard servos’ linkages to their control horns, but NOT the servo horn. After he had ensured that the linkages were the proper length, he held the pushrods’ ball link over the servo’s control horn hole and used sub-trim to line 48

Installing the receiver and running all the servo wires and connectors in a clean way is very important to having a reliable airplane to fly.

Notice how the servo extensions run through the formers and are tied to them by Zip-Ties with foam padding between. A second satellite receiver mounts to a former too. This shot gives you a good look at the Sukhoi’s planform, fuselage width, elevators and cowl.

the hole up perfectly. Keeping the outboard servo free of its pushrod, he then deflected the aileron up by its inboard servo while holding the outboard pushrod’s ball link over the hole in the outboard servo horn. Daniel then set the outboard servo’s endpoints so that its control horn’s hole was positioned exactly beneath

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

the pushrod’s ball link. Next, the control surface was deflected in the opposite direction and the process was repeated to ensure that both servos would travel equal distances. Satisfied with the synchronization of the servos, Daniel bolted the outboard aileron pushrod to the outboard aileron’s servo horn. He then adjusted the Hangar 9 Titanium ProLink ever so slightly until both servos went silent, which indicates that the servos are not fighting each other. After getting the servos’ centers set equally, Daniel programmed the servos’ endpoints to fine-tune their maximum travels. This guarantees that both aileron servos share the control surface loads equally and do not fight each other. Note that when servos fight each other they consume lots of current from the battery pack, which is NOT good!

Hangar 9® 3.1-m Sukhoi SU-26MM

Here is how we mounted the receiver’s on/off switch, with a third satellite receiver placed right below it. Remember that wire layout is important in an airplane of this size.

We put heat-shrink tubing over the ignition cable connector so it wouldn’t come apart in flight and to reinforce the connection.

The fuel line’s T-connector is tied to the fuselage floor with a ZipTie, foam and an adhesive mount. The mount had CA glue applied between the foam and wood too.

Rudder The rudder is driven by two servos, one mounted on each side of the fuselage. The process for setting them up is almost identical to that used for the ailerons. Each of the rudder’s servos is plugged into a separate receiver channel. Daniel connected one of the servos’ pushrods to the rudder but left the other free. After programming the center and endpoints of the right servo, he programmed the center and endpoints of the left servo so that the pushrod’s ball link hole was always directly over the hole in the left servo’s control horn. After both servos were programmed to have identical center points and equal endpoints, he connected the pushrod to the left rudder servo and adjusted its Pro-Link slightly to silence the servos and ensure that they would NOT fight each other. Then he used the endpoints to double-check that both servos shared the rudder’s flight loads equally. Elevator Programming the radio for the elevators’ servos

is quite simple because there is only one servo per control surface. After installing the servos, servo horns and pushrods as I described in my previous build part II, the only thing left for Daniel to do was to program the servos’ centers and travel volumes. Again, I used a separate receiver channel for the left and right elevators’ servos. Daniel programmed the sub-trim values to equalize the control surfaces’ center points. Programming the endpoints, he set the desired throws on both elevators, making sure they were equal. Wire Runs I like clean wiring installations! They increase reliability by reducing wire chafing and even Rf crosstalk. So, I routed the rudder and elevator servos’ extensions through the lasercut holes in the fuselage formers up to the receiver. To prevent wire chafing, we cut 3/4-in. squares of foamrubber and put it between the wires and the formers. The extension wires were then Zip-Tied to the formers. For the rudder servos’ connections to their extensions, I used dental floss to tie them together so they would not pull apart. Because the horizontal stabilizers must be removed for transport, I used plastic Safety Clips that hold

The ignition cable was wrapped in foam to protect it against abrasion from the cowl former that it must run through. Cable ties were used to hold the foam around the connector. RC-SF.COM

Hangar 9® 3.1-m Sukhoi SU-26MM

This photo shows you what the ignition cable connection looks like from the engine side of the cowl former. It will not suffer from any chafing in this installation.

the connections together. They can be easily removed when necessary to unplug the servos. Note that the horizontal stabilizers bolt to the fuselage with M3 bolts. Fuel Lines Michael did a little rerouting of the fuel lines and tied the line going to the engine down in a few places to prevent its flopping around in flight, which could create air bubbles in the line. He also routed the vent line around the back of the gas tank, which prevents fuel siphoning during the airplane’s down-lines in flight. The fuel line exits the fuselage through the cowl, as I had done it previously. Throttle Setting up the throttle servo was simple, but it required attention to detail. After the servo was mounted, Michael ensured that the pushrod was the right length by opening the carburetor’s butterfly valve 50 percent, and then he centered the servo. He connected the pushrod to the servo’s control horn and to the throttle’s arm on the engine’s carburetor. After plugging the servo’s lead into the receiver, he programmed the endpoints on the throttle channel down to about 30 percent each way. Then the transmitter was programmed to fine-tune the servo so that it was not over-driving the butterfly valve 50

We ran the choke pull through the bottom front of the cowl. It is easy to reach and done so that the choke will stay open in flight no matter what G-force the airplane experiences.

at either extreme. You’ll do this by pulling the throttle stick and trim all the way back to the low setting while watching the butterfly valve. With the servo’s endpoints set at 30 percent, the butterfly shouldn’t close completely. While holding the throttle stick all the way back, you’ll slowly increase the low endpoint on the throttle until the butterfly closes completely. Then you’ll push the transmitter’s throttle stick full forward and slowly increase the fullthrottle endpoint until the butterfly opens completely. If you hear the throttle servo buzzing, it is trying to travel too much. You must back off the endpoints a couple of percentage points. Ignition Wiring I had used dental floss to tie the ignition timing lead to the ignition module. I got reprimanded for this! Instead, Michael and I put shrink tubing on the ignition lead’s connection. I then wrapped it in foam as a way to isolate it from vibration and to prevent connector wear. As I was told, this connection is the most prone to vibration because it is in close proximity to the engine. If that connection should fail, the engine will die—NOT GOOD!

Next Month

It has taken me about three months to finish this airplane.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

We had to prime the fuel line, but once that was done the engine fired up after only a few flips of the Falcon propeller. This DA-170 engine delivers about 100 lb of thrust at full power, so hang on for some fun flights!

Normally, you could build this model in about 40 hours of focused work. However, with the photos, the learning process, the oversight and the writing, this build has taken a bit longer. Next month, we will give you some stunning pictures of this huge Sukhoi SU-26MM in flight. You’ll also get a very in-depth analysis of the airplane’s flight characteristics. So, stay tuned!

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BY Gary A. Ritchie

TIGER KITTEN Rebirth of a Classic Electric Airplane

On the day of the maiden flight, my Tiger Kitten is all dressed up and ready to go flying.

ifteen years ago, when I first ventured into the realm of electricpowered RC aircraft flying, motors were brushed, geared, inefficient and heavy. The typical model battery packs were NiCads, and One slight modification I made was to reinforce the upper section of the rudder with 1/8-in. balsa. This they were very heavy. protects the rudder from damage in the event of a The airplanes, normally rollover on landing. converted glow kits, flew okay but tended to lack the zip of their glowpowered brothers. Back in those early days of electric flight, AMA Hall-ofFamer Bob Benjamin began designing and offering kits designed specifically for electric motor power. Originally distributed by ACE R/C in the 1990s, one of An E-Flite 25 brushless motor on a four-cell LiPo battery pack was used. The motor mount holes fit the Bob’s designs was the back-mount perfectly. Tiger Kitten—an elegant little 54-in.-wingspan, low-wing tail-dragger with a distinct electric-powered model. Many were Golden Age look. The Tiger Kitten powered with the Turbo-10 brushed was designed to be a “no excuses” electric motor, an MEC (Model

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

This shows a detail of the ailerons’ torsion bars. They were made from the bottom ends of two pushrods. Note that the copper tubes must be added before the bars are bent.

Openings were cut into the front of the cowling and then smoothed off with a Dremel tool and a 1/2-in. drum of medium sandpaper.

Electronics Corporation) gearbox, and 10 NiCad cells wired in series. These airplanes exceeded everyone’s

TIGER KITTEN expectations for electric flight. Fast forward to today. A fledgling company in Olympia, Washington, Premier Balsa Kits has reintroduced this little classic as a modern-day no excuses electricpowered model. Company partners Darrin Anderson and Mike Crawford have produced a laser-cut kit and short kit, both designed for brawny, brushless outrunner motors and lightweight, powerful LiPo batteries. Recently I had the good fortune to build and fly the first production model of their short kit. Here is my report:

This is a preliminary sketch I drew of the color/ graphics scheme I planned for my Tiger Kitten model.

I made a small test panel and covered it with black Solartex. Then I tested different types of graphic material. MonoKote Trim Sheets worked best. These were then over sprayed with Krylon Matte Finish clear to match the dull finish on the Solartex.

The graphics were applied, but using the Windex method—spray Windex on the surface, then apply the graphic and slide it around until it is in position. You’ll squeegee out the liquid from beneath the graphic and let it dry overnight.

The only paint used on this model was that applied to the cowling. I first sprayed it with white. Then it was masked off and the black was applied. Finally, everything was over sprayed with Matte Finish.

Short Kit

When you order the short kit here’s what you will get: Three generations of Kittens: at right is designer Bob Benjamin with his original, 22-year-old Tiger Kitten, left is Mike Crawford with the first prototype of the newly upgraded short kit and center is me with my Tiger Kitten.

RC-SF.COM

The finished Tiger Kitten is an elegant little 54-in.-wingspan, low-wing tail-dragger with a distinct Golden Age look.

• a 36 x 64-in. detailed plan • laser-cut balsa and plywood parts • highstrength aluminum landing gear struts • plastic cowling and wheel pant halves by Plastic Solutions LLC • windscreen material

Propellers Full-throttle static performance (measured w/ AstroFlight Watt meter): 11×7 APC

11×7 Xoar

12×8 APC

Volts (no load)

16.7

16.5

16.9

Volts (load)

14.6

14.9

14.0

Amps

Watts

680

600

732

RPM

10,000

10,070

7,800

Power loading (Watts/lb)

188

165

202

From their website premierbalsakits.com, you can download a list of items you need to complete the kit and an instruction manual. It is the original manual written by Bob Benjamin. This manual is extremely well written and illustrated.

Flight envelope

The removable battery hatch cover contains the painted pilot figure, instrument panel and windshield. The windshield was cut from thin acetate. The edge of the cockpit opening and the windshield were finished off with plastic cockpit coaming strips.

Bob the designer, Mike and Darrin were all there for the Tiger Kitten’s maiden flight. They were joined by some club members—all eager to see the new airplane fly. Before I maiden any airplane, the first thing I do is test its ground handling capabilities. I’ll typically stand at one end of the runway, directly behind the airplane, with the model pointed into the wind. Then I’ll simulate a takeoff—pulling back on the throttle and aborting about halfway down the runway. This gives me an indication of whether the 54

airplane is pulling to the left or to the right, whether or not it’s going to bump up and down on the airfield and how much airspeed it is going to need to get off the ground. Then I run it around in circles a few times to see how much rudder and tail wheel authority it will have on takeoff and landing, and whether I need to be concerned about ground looping. For the first flight, Bob stood by my side at the ready in case sudden trim adjustments might be needed. I

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Using my drawing as a guide, I cut out several pieces of card stock and trial-fitted them to develop a final graphic scheme.

lined the Kitten up, pointed her into the very light north breeze, pushed the throttle slowly forward and fed in some right rudder. Up came her tail and off she went. No trim adjustments were needed. I flew her for a couple of patterns around the airfield. Then I took her up to about 200 ft and tested her stalling characteristics. She had a slight downward mush, but without wing dropping. A few practice landing approaches were done, then a near-

TIGER KITTEN With the battery hatch off, you can see the location of the four-cell LiPo battery, the elevator and rudder servos and the receiver switch. The switch is mounted on a small table so that it can be accessed through the cockpit opening when the hatch is in place.

perfect landing was made after a fiveminute flight. Checking the batteries I found that they were down to 3.9 V, indicating that I could probably fly the model for more than 10 minutes on the 3300-mAh LiPo that it was using. That ended the flying for the day. However, I came back to the airfield a few days later to try flying the Kitten through some aerobatics. Again, during the takeoff roll, the model required some right rudder input. I also learned that I needed to carry motor power through the landing and to touch down softly to avoid bouncing. There was no tendency for wing dropping or nose-over on landing though. The basic maneuvers—loops, rolls and spins—were easily performed. When looping, it was important to enter the loop with the airplane’s wings level and to hold the rudder at center throughout the loop. Rolls must be initiated with a slight nose up attitude. Owing to the dihedral angle, rolls cannot be called axial.

The Kitten is captured here making a low pass over the runway so my cameraperson can get some quick shots.

We have liftoff! No trim adjustments were needed, even during this first flight.

RC-SF.COM

TIGER KITTEN

A Fun Build I’m not going into a lot of details on building. Rather, I’ll refer you to a build thread on RC Groups. This thread was done by Mike Crawford, partner in Premier Balsa Kits. Just log onto RC Groups and search for Tiger Kitten on the build thread. As you’ll see, Mike is a fine craftsman. Bob Benjamin is also developing a build guide on his website: Bob Benjamin’s Old Time Model Airplane Workshop (rcmodel.com). It should be done by the time this review is published. For my part, I’ll mention only a few of things I did that were a bit different from Mike’s build. First, I chose a different power system—the E-Flite® 25 with a 40-A electronic speed controller (ESC). This motor, on four LiPo cells, delivers almost 700 W of power, which is more than enough to fly the Tiger Kitten. Fortunately, it fit perfectly on the existing motor mounts. The ESC comes with a radio switch. I wanted to mount this somewhere where I could get to it easily, so a small plywood table was constructed and glued on the battery tray, so it just barely protrudes up into the cockpit. Since the grass airfield I use promotes nose-overs, I reinforced the top of the rudder with a bit of 1/8-in. balsa. I also added pieces of 3/4-in.-long by 1/4-in.-thick square balsa to the wing’s trailing edges to reinforce the hinge points.

Nevertheless, they are clean and realistic. In order to enter a spin I needed to add both rudder and aileron inputs. Vertical up lines were crisp and straight. Following hammerheads, the airplane tended to yaw back and forth slightly on the downline. All in all, for an airplane not designed specifically for aerobatics, my Tiger Kitten performed the basics very competently.

Conclusions

The Tiger Kitten is a builder’s kit right from the start. If you love to build, as I do, you’ll really enjoy putting this airplane together. Its flight envelope is competent, comfortable and graceful. Kudos High above, you can see that the Tiger Kitten has gorgeous lines and a graceful style.

My Tiger Kitten was covered with Solartex® from Balsa USA. This is a superior product and works wonderfully. It’s very strong, adheres well to wood surfaces and shrinks tight to provide an outstanding finish. The Solartex was pre-colored so no painting was required. MonoKote® Trim Sheets were used for the graphics and pin stripes. You could also iron on Solartex sheets, but trials with a test wing panel indicated that the trim sheets were easier to apply. I put them on using the Windex® method. You simply spray the area where the trim sheets will be positioned with Windex before adding the trim sheet. This lets you slide the sheet around and get it into exactly the right position. Then you squeegee out the moisture and bubbles from between the trim and the covering (I used a playing card). Then you’ll let the trim sheets set overnight. After the covering was applied and the trims were dry, they were sprayed over with Krylon® Matte Finish clear. This toned them down nicely to match the matte finish of the Solartex.

References Premier Balsa Kits premierbalsakits.com E-flite Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-352-1913 horizonhobbycorp.com Solartex Balsa USA P.O. Box 164 Marinette, WI 54143 balsausa.com Plastic Solutions, LLC David Higgs 7235 40th Court NE Olympia, WA 98516 360-413-7787 plasticsolutionsns.com

Specifications Kit

Short kit

Details

Laser-cut balsa and plywood, formed plastic cowling and wheel pant halves

Skill level

Intermediate kit building and piloting

Wingspan

54 in.

Wing Area

450 in.2

Length

38 in.

RTF weight

58 oz w/ 3300-mAh LiPo

Wing Loading

18.6 oz/ft2

Cube loading

10.5

Motor

E-Flite 25

ESC

E-Flite 40-A

Battery

Turnigy Nano-tech 3300mAh 4S 25-50C LiPo

Propeller

11 x 7 (APC)

Transmitter

Futaba 10C w/ Spektrum® DM8 module

Receiver

Spektrum AR 600

Servos

(3) JR DS368BB

Price

$129.00

to designer Bob Benjamin and to partners Mike Crawford and Darrin Anderson for reintroducing a wonderful, electric-powered sport aircraft. Priced at only $129, this airplane will give you hours of enjoyment at the airfield, and a few hours of fun building it too.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

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CA & ELAPOR Foam ®

Its Easy! Do it This Way to Have Success.

n the process of assembling an aerotow trainer, in this case a Multiplex® Cularis, I realized that there are some of you modelers who have never used cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesives. Fortunately for me, the manufacturer’s step-bystep instructions include excellent illustrations to show where to apply the adhesive. However, CA is not forgiving! So if you want to build an Elapor airplane, it is important to read and understand the instructions before starting the assembly.

How To

Here is what I’ve learned about using CA with Elapor: First, ELAPOR® EP Foam does not bond properly with epoxy or even styrofoam-safe cyanoacrylate. You must use regular CA glue. You’ll want to follow the instructions and dry-fit the parts to ensure they will assemble properly and in the right order because there is no second chance to fit them once the CA is applied and it has “kicked” off. Any trimming or adjusting must be done prior to applying adhesive. You’ll want to have a large, level work surface as well. It lets you keep the flat parts flat when gluing spars in the wings or GRP rods into the side of the fuselage. In some cases an extra set of hands will do wonders in terms of holding parts and pieces in place while the CA cures. When installing GRP rods I’ve

Bob Smith offers cyanoacrylate (CA) products in a wide variety of adhesives, with accelerator and de-bonder. You can find them at most hobby shops.

Carbon wing spars must be prefitted in their channels prior to gluing them in place. This wing jig is supplied by Multiplex as part of the Cularis package. Use it on a level surface to ensure the wings are built straight.

found that it is best to use a rolling action to seat the rod in a foam channel. However, you’ll want to apply a small bead of thick CA the full length of the channel first. Again, be sure to prefit the GRP rod in the channel to ensure it is the correct For this step I applied a bead of thick CA along the length of the spar channel. Then the spar was pressed into position and held there until the adhesive cured. When bonding connectors in place, you must use a small amount of CA so it does not wick uncontrollably. I applied the CA to the rearmost part of the connectors to prevent permanently bonding them together.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

CA & ELAPOR® Foam length and that it fits the channel properly. By using this method, the rod will displace the adhesive around its sides, leaving a clean surface finish when the glue cures. This method also works for other flexible rods. If you are installing carbon wing rods CA de-bonder and tissue can be used to remove any remember they do not overruns of the glue, should it end up where you bend unless under lots didn’t want it. Here I’m using a piece of tissue to clean CA from the wing joiner. of pressure, so you must install them using a relatively quick and even downward motion such that the glue does not kick during the install. I recommend you get help to push the rod into place, and to keep the rod at the bottom of its channel until the adhesive sets. You might also want to cut some blocks of wood to use as a way to distribute Here you can see that the control horns are fitted to the force on the carbon the foam ailerons without any gaps. This makes for a rods over a wider area. very secure connection to the control surfaces. You’ll just run the CA under the control horn and kick it. Sometimes you’ll want to use a long applicator tube on the CA bottle as a way to reach deep recesses in the foam. I like to use Bob Smith’s #303 Extra Long Extender tips and his #304 Pocket CA Extenders. But, you may even want to use the #305 Teflon tubing to get deep inside a part. Check them out at bsiinc.com. Multiplex, like most manufactures, provides a stepWhen working by-step illustrated manual. It shows you where the with servo connectors CA adhesive must be placed on parts during assembly. Such a manual is a great aid to the builder, so take that get permanently the extra few minutes required to read it. mounted in either the fuselage or wings, I recommend you have the connectors much adhesive can result in wicking, plugged together when you apply the which can result in permanently CA to the parts. This will guarantee bonding the male and female plugs perfect alignment of the plugs when together. you are assembling the model. Let me sum up what I’ve learned. Typically, it will only require a small Don’t let the fear of using CA tack at the rear of the connector adhesives on Elapor foam scare you to secure it tightly to the foam. Be away from building such a model. Just careful with connectors because too read and understand the instructions

As per the instructions for mounting the control horns on the wings, CA accelerator was sprayed into the slot and recess so that when it cures it provides a gapless fit.

After a bead of CA adhesive was streamed into the bottom of its channel, the GRP rod was rolled into place. Once the CA cured, it left a clean application without overrun.

To aid in applying a bead of CA into the bottom of a deep channel or recess, an applicator tip may be attached to the CA bottle. It makes the task of putting the glue where you want it much quicker and easier, and without any mess.

before you start a project. Typically, the manufacturer will provide a good step-by-step process to follow. As they say when working with wood, “measure twice and cut once.” When working with CA glue and Elapor foam, I say, “fit twice and bond once!”

RC-SF.COM

BY Jerry Smith

Install Cowls

hen it comes time to install a cowl, many modelers consider this a real problem. It need not be the case! Most almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) aircraft on the market that must have their cowls installed provide small tabs on the front sides of the fuselage. Sometimes these tabs are backed with plywood, which accept mounting screws that will retain the cowl. Some of the better-designed aircraft even have carbon fiber backing the mounting tabs. However, drilling a hole through the cowl and hoping that the mounting tab is positioned as you thought is certainly not the way to go about mounting a cowl. There are several ways to drill a cowl to avoid this problem. In this article I want to show you the quickest and easiest way to mount a cowl on your next model. For aircraft that have sheet metal construction, there is a tool that can be slid under the edge of the cowl. It allows the builder or mechanic to drill a hole that matches both the cowl and mounting surface. However,

we don’t need this high-dollar tool for our task. All we need to mount a cowling properly and accurately is some thin blue low-tack masking

Looking at the mounting tab, mark the center where you want to drill the screw hole. I usually eye-ball this spot, making a mark with a felt tip pen. Shoot for the center of the radius on the plywood tab. Mark all the tabs before drilling.

Drill a small pilot hole through the tab at each mark, which depends on the screw size used to mount the cowl. It is a good idea to punch the center mark with an awl as a way to keep the drill from wandering when you first start to drill.

Cut a piece of masking tape approximately 3 in. long. Then place it in line with all the mounting tabs. Be sure the tape lies flat against the side without wrinkles. The tape is fairly transparent so you can see the hole’s center. Using a ball point pen, push a hole through the tape at each hole location.

Carefully pull the tape back half way to expose the holes in the tabs. You’ll need to do this enough to allow the cowl to be installed and aligned without interfering with the tape.

Mount and align the cowl to the fuselage with the masking tape. Then pull the pieces of tape over the cowl to mark where to drill the hole in the cowl. Be careful! Don’t pull any wrinkles in the tape, and keep it flat and straight against the cowl. The alignment tape will help hold the cowl in place. Now drill the holes for the mounting screws through the cowl.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

tape, a pen and a hand drill. If you don’t have blue masking tape, it is sold at Home Depot® or Lowes® home supply stores.

Install Cowls These are the Ohio Superstars All Threads. They are a plastic insert, colorcoded and sized for a specific thread. They are available in six sizes: number 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 1/4 in. They may be used on cowls, hatches and canopies—any place with the fastener in shear. They are not to be used on engine and motor mounts or any place with the fastener in tension. To install them, all you do is drill the proper size hole, slide in the insert and apply thin cyanoacrylate glue. The instructions say to drill the hole, apply CA and then install the insert. I recommend you do it the way I do.

Here is one of my tricks. To keep a screw fastened in place I use All Threads, which are plastic inserts that provide the necessary holding power for the screws. They are easy to install! Just use the proper drill size to drill the tabs for them. I’ve used them for years, and they work great.

Now follow along in the photos to see the way I install cowls—be they electric, glow or gas airplanes. It is the easiest way I know of mounting a cowl that always guarantees me success.

Supplier All threads towerhobbies.com

This is easy and works great every time! The cowl is mounted and you have the peace of mind that the screws are going to stay secure.

Mount your model’s cowl this way the next time you need to mount one. You’ll discover that you won’t miss a tab when drilling, that it is easy and that your airplane will look fantastic at the airfield.

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Get it on your iPad @ iTunes Visit the iTunes store or go to our Website to get a link to where you can download the app. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve downloaded it youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discover an interactive magazine that offers you more real, useable information than ever before. So you now get both hardcopy and a softcopy issues of RC Sport Flyer just for pointing your browser at: rc-sf.com or by launching the App Store on your iPad.

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BY Scott Manley & Frank Paynter

Condor

Soaring Simulation that Puts You in the Cockpit

e want to introduce modelers to a simulator designed to give you a real-life soaring experience. The simulator is Condor. It has been used by full-scale glider pilots now for a few years. It is designed to increase their glider piloting skills, help them experience soaring flight in different areas of the world, test their racing abilities against other competitors, maintain their proficiency and dramatically improve glider flight instruction. In this issue we want to highlight the uses of Condor for a flight training tool, for a virtual cross-country badge and record attempts and for online multi-player cross-country racing. Scott Manley and I will explain how the simulator can be used to instruct as well as how to hone your skills for cross-country and competition flying. Scott is an experienced certified flight instructor in gliders (CFIG) and an advocate for the use of simulation in glider flight instruction. I am, for want of a better description, a completely fanatic, certifiably insane crosscountry racing pilot. For those of you who are already Condor pilots, please drop us a line and tell us about it. Scott and I would love to draw on your experiences in future columns that we write for the Soaring Society of America (ssa.org). You can contact Frank Paynter at paynterf@gmail.com and/or Scott Manley at smanley@wisc. edu.

you can’t or don’t want to afford a $200,000 18-m-wingspan ASG 29 or a Ventus-2cx it is not a problem. Just step right up to Condor (cumulussoaring.com/condor.htm). In it you will discover that these gliders,

What is Condor?

Condor—the Competition Soaring Simulator—is, quite simply, the finest soaring simulator on the planet. So, if 64

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

When you are “flying” Condor, you can pick a sailplane you want to fly and climb into the cockpit for hours of soaring adventure. Pilots can race each other via the Internet. Some report that they break a sweat during these competitions because they are so real.

Condor and many more, are available to fly right from your desktop! The simulations in Condor are incredibly realistic—right down to the fabric patterns in the cockpit interiors. So when you fly Condor as a beginner student you don’t have to freak out every time you try to box the wake. Rather, you practice using Condor, pausing the action as necessary to Gregor Rozman started writing look at the situation As you can see, Uroš Bergant is a model glider flyer. He is also the code for the simulator in 2002 and man who had the vision and foresight to design the Condor flight from different angles. optimized it for real-life physics. simulator in 2000 as an alternative to full-scale soaring. Alternately, if you are an instructor you pilots too. All you need to do will no longer watch a student’s Whether it is a high-aspect-ratio sailplane or a classic glider, Condor can give you the experience is sign up for one of the many eyes glaze over as you explain about of flying full scale, but without the high costs. ongoing, online multi-player maintaining coordination in the races that take place any time pattern to avoid the dreaded basein Condor. I’ll tell you that to-final stall/spin disaster. It is no you better be sure to wear problem! Now you can realistically your asbestos undies though demonstrate this situation in Condor, because some of the more complete with a wing-tucked-under, popular European races draw breath-stopping, cross-control stall. It hundreds of competitors— won’t take too many crashes before and they don’t take prisoners. your student is watching the yaw Monday night soaring races, string like, well, a Condor. by contrast, are run at times As a model glider/sailplane pilot, convenient for U.S. pilots, and have you ever wanted to learn a they are beginner friendly. little or a lot more about crosscountry flying in a full-scale aircraft? However, maybe you did not have the budget for a real glider or the confidence to fly full-scale, let alone the local mentoring support it takes to fly away from the takeoff airport. With Condor, you can now experience cross-country soaring in realistic conditions almost anywhere on the planet, but without worrying about landing out or crashing, which could cost you dearly monetarily or worse. When you “fly” Condor you can test your cross-country racing skills against other You’ll be able to check out what it feels like to fly in formation with another sailplane, even in lift.

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public in late 2005 with just one scenery—the authors’ native Slovenia— and a half-dozen or so glider types. Since then it has gone through 12 significant revisions, called patches in the Condor world. Currently, Condor sports all the top glider/ sailplane types and usercontributed sceneries for every popular soaring site in the world, with some that are literally out of this world. Condor will let you slope soar, thermal soar or just take Note too, that the a flat gliding flight. You can be a student learning the Condor website hosts a basics, or be a competitor in a race. number of forums: General, Support, Competition, Condor History etc. On these forums you can ask The Condor simulation software questions, get answers and share code was written by Uroš Bergant information. For more detailed and Gregor Rozman. They are information about the program and aviation and soaring enthusiasts from the authors point your browser at Slovenia. Uroš started the Condor condorsim.fr/uros_en.htm. effort in 2000 as a way of combining his background in physics, a love Features of soaring and a knack for graphics • Super high-fidelity 6-degrees of programming. Gregor joined the freedom (6DOF) flight physics Condor effort in 2002 after doing engine built in the software. work on military jet simulators. • All the modern racing Condor was first released to the sailplanes and many club gliders 66

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Condor even lets you train on how to do an aerotow properly, so you’ll be ready to climb in the cockpit of a full-scale glider with an instructor at some point.

•

• •

supported—complete with accurate flight physics and polar responses for each. High-resolution photo-realistic scenery for all popular soaring areas, including Europe, New Zealand, Australia and many popular U.S. soaring sites. Very realistic aerotow and winch launch simulations included. Extremely realistic thermal generations—the thermals initiate off the ground, grow to form cumulus clouds, mature and then dissipate. There is a “thermal helper” mode that makes nearby thermals visible, which is perfect for introductory thermalling instruction and is disabled for most races, of course! Super-realistic ridge soaring effects are included. Designed and implemented from the ground up as an online multiplayer racing platform. Pilots join a race by logging on to a server, and nearby (in the sim) gliders are depicted accurately in the field of view. The sim

Condor

Here you see that the weather conditions will change to simulate real-world soaring conditions both in the mountains and out over the plains.

pilots may be anywhere on earth, but their aircraft appear in the same airspace, with the actions completely synchronized so everything happens in real time; e.g., a three-hour race in Condor takes three hours in real time, so make sure to go to the bathroom first—there is a rudimentary autopilot for those of us with short-range tanks.

Getting Started

All you need to start flying Condor is a decent computer with a good display and graphics card. However, it does not need to be a game machine—almost any computer that is less than about three years old will work. I’m using a two-yearold Dell Precision M6300 laptop

with two gigabytes of RAM. It has a built-in NVIDIA graphics card. Condor will only run on Microsoft Windows machines, however, Mac users can run it too. They need a Mac with an Intel processor and an operating system (e.g., Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion) that supports Boot Camp (apple.com/bootcamp) as a way to launch Windows. Condor will not run under Windows emulation. I use Windows XP Pro, but Vista and the new Windows 7 OS also work fine. Scott runs Condor on his Mac that is booted into Windows. If you are running from a laptop, like I do, an external mouse is highly recommended. You will need a decent joystick, and a pair of USB rudder pedals. The pedals are not absolutely required unless you are just getting started with glider flying. Experienced soaring pilots can fly Condor with “auto-coordination” and a twist-grip joystick. A complete, very detailed

How-To document is available from Soaring Magazine’s page on the SSA website.

Cross-Country Soaring Frank Paynter

I’m down to 1000 ft above ground level (AGL) scratching around in crappy lift. My landing options in this remote New Zealand valley are okay, but if I have to land it will be a long aircraft retrieve, as well as the end of my aspirations for this contest. The sweat is pouring off my face and my heart rate is elevated as I struggle not only with this crummy thermal, but with my own incipient panic. I must stay calm and focused if I want to “dig out,” but my inner coward is threatening to take over. Slowly I climb my glider out of trouble, and eventually I get back up to an altitude that lets me continue my flight on course. At the end of the day, I RC-SF.COM

You can pick soaring sites from almost anywhere in the world. You can also download soaring environments, including some race courses that have been flown by world champion full-scale pilots.

make it around the course in good order—not winning the day, but not embarrassing myself either. As I chat with my fellow competitors after the flight, I discover that most of them also had difficult patches of lift, so I don’t feel like a complete idiot. I wound up in 15th place for the day and 13th overall after three days of flying—not too shabby after all, considering I’m one of only three U.S. pilots in the huge field of 125 competitors! Stepping out of my beloved Ventus 2cx cockpit, I walk the five steps from my home office to the kitchen and grab a beer from the fridge, intending to regale my wife with all the details of my inspired and heroic exploits. My ever-so-diplomatic wife’s first words are, “Go take a shower. You stink!” What? How did I get from a glider in New Zealand to a kitchen in Columbus, Ohio? Well, the answer is, I was competing in a recent five-day Condor Grand Prix race series held at Omaramara, New Zealand. I was competing against the best glider pilots from around the world, and while my mind and soul were in New Zealand, my body was still parked in front of my PC in Columbus, Ohio. When most people think about soaring flight simulators, what comes to mind is something like the soaring simulation in Microsoft Flight Simulator—a very simple simulation of a generic glider and some puffy clouds over a landscape of Chicago or New York. The flight physics are 68

You’ll be able to see how you did during your flight with many charts and graphs. These can and will help on future flights and in different aircraft.

mediocre at best, and the weather model is laughable. Condor’s soaring simulator is more aptly comparable to the fullmotion, six-degrees-of-freedom simulators used by airlines to train their pilots. In these airline simulators, it isn’t unusual for pilots to emerge drenched in sweat after being wrung out with multiple emergency scenarios. The same is true for Condor! Alternately, the “emergencies” are the minute-byminute decisions and trials faced by cross-country racing pilots. While purists can and do argue that Condor

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flying is a pale shadow of real life flying, the preponderance of evidence shows that Condor is good enough to engage the same sorts of decisionmaking and flying skills as required in real life. And, as all modern professional flying organizations have found, training received and skills honed in good-enough simulators transfer efficiently to real life situations. Here is just one of the many courses that you might choose to fly. As you can see, you’ll be flying over some very rugged terrain, where landing out is not good!

Condor Condor is like no other soaring simulator in the world. Check it out on the Internet, and you’ll discover that it is a simulator that will have a LearJet pilot with 8200 hours sweating bullets during an online race!

Condor is the first commercially available program to model the complexities of glider/sailplane crosscountry racing good enough (and believe me, Condor races are far beyond just good enough) to be used as a serious trainer.

Glider Flight Instruction Scott Manley

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. While teaching high school math and computer science in Milwaukee, I earned my private pilot license (ASEL) and an instrument rating while teaching sailing in the summers. In 1977 I went to work for the University of Wisconsin, the Madison’s Division of Information Technology. Then over the next 30 years I taught more than a thousand staff how to extract data/information from the university’s computer systems. I started flying gliders about 10 years ago. Since then I have become a commercial glider pilot, tow pilot and glider flight instructor. Last year, on my birthday, I added a single-engine seaplane rating (ASES) to my pilot certificate. In summary, I like anything that flies and I really love to teach.

And so it was, from the perspective of a longtime educator, that I began to struggle with the realities of flight instruction—glider flight in particular. Those realities are: 1. Aircraft make lousy classrooms— the worst place to teach someone to fly is in an aircraft. 2. Classrooms make lousy aircraft— the second worst place to teach someone to fly is on the ground. 3. Insufficient opportunity to practice—glider flights are too short, too few and too far between for instructional purposes. 4. The weather never cooperates— lesson sequencing is adversely affected; e.g., can’t get a crosswind when I need one. 5. Many valuable lessons are never experienced, and therefore never learned—you can only demonstrate the result of a stall/ spin from base to final one time. This seemingly insurmountable list of obstacles led me to search for a solution. My aviation readings and training suggested the obvious choice: flight simulation. Simulation is widely recognized as a powerful tool in the educational community, and from a flight training perspective, the military and the airlines had this figured out

long ago. Flight simulation is a highly efficient and cost-effective way to train pilots. The question was for me was whether I could find an affordable, high-quality glider flight simulator. Then one day at our glider joint, I mentioned my quest for a glider flight simulator. A 15-year-old kid named Trace Lewis (who had already earned his Silver badge and could fly the pants off most of us) quietly suggested, “You should try Condor.” So, I did and the rest is history! I can now be found, most days, in the Flight Instruction Wing of the Frank Paynter Institute for the Completely Fanatic and Certifiably Insane. What I have found flying and teaching with Condor is that I can now provide: • Proficiency training—normal operations & emergency unusual situations. This alone may be the key to dramatically reducing the number of times we wreck our equipment and/or kill/injure ourselves. • Learning new skills—ridge soaring, wave soaring, cross country flying, competition flying, aerobatics, mountain flying, high performance aircraft with gear, flaps, water ballast, flight computers, etc. • Promoting soaring—educating the public by introducing anyone who will listen to this amazing sport— simulation is a great presentation medium. • Distance education—freeing yourself from the time/space continuum—teaching and learning between real flights with the student and instructor being anywhere at any time. If you have wanted to become a full-scale pilot or at least fly a simulator that offers the experience of full-scale soaring, I suggest you give Condor a test flight. At the price of only $238 including installation DVD, license, plane packs 1 and 2, a joystick and rudder pedals, Condor is a super buy no matter how you soar it.

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BY Gene Cope

Flyzone Cessna 350 Corvalis RTF & Rx-R ™

Cessna 350 Corvalis are a Wining Pair

The Corvalis has it all: good looks, a strong running motor, ailerons, flaps, rudder, elevator, tricycle landing gear and excellent flight performance. The RTF version comes as a complete package with transmitter, LiPo battery, AA batteries, charger and manual. You’ll be at the airfield in short order.

he full-scale, four-passenger Cessna Corvalis 350 is a slick-looking, fast and highperformance airplane that has a maximum cruising speed of 191 knots. It sports a wingspan of 36 ft. The Corvalis epitomizes sleek, new, modern aircraft with its attractive lines and “glass” cockpit. The Corvalis also features low-speed stability by way of stall-resistant airfoils on the outer sections of its wings. Flyzone™ has captured this slick composite aircraft in two versions, one ready to fly (RTF) and the other receiver ready (Rx-R). They are built as AeroCell™ foam park flyers that let you start flying RC quickly, easily and happily. I wanted one to fly at my local park flyer site. When it arrived, I was happy to find that in the time it takes to charge the airplane’s 1800mAh 3S 11.1-V LiPo battery, you can assemble the aircraft—you’ll only need a small Phillips screwdriver

and a pair of needle-nose pliers. It is so easy, even your son or daughter can do it.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Flyzone™ Cessna® 350 Corvalis RTF & Rx-R

Kit Contents • AeroCell™ construction • Hobbico brushless outrunner • Hobbico 30-A ESC • Servos • Navigational lights

While the 1800-mAh 11.1-V LiPo battery is charging by way of the supplied balancing charger, you’ll have enough time to assemble the aircraft.

The main landing gear comes preassembled. It is screwed to hard points that are built into the bottom of the fuselage.

The ready-to-fly version comes with a Tactic R624 six-channel receiver installed. It is also pre-linked to the Tactic transmitter.

For my Rx-R version I installed the recommended Futaba R617FS seven-channel receiver, which works great in this application.

Included in RTF Version

• Tactic TTX6006 6-channel 2.4-GHz transmitter • Tactic TR624 Spread Spectrum receiver • 3S 1800-mAh 15C LiPo battery • Four AA batteries • AC / DC 3S 11.1-V LiPo charger

Needed to Complete for Rx-R Version

• 6-channel+ Futaba 6EX transmitter • 7-Channel Futaba R617FS receiver • 3S 1800-mAh 15C LiPo battery • 3S 11.1-V LiPo charger

In Flight

A quick radio range check at the airfield and my Corvalis was ready to fly—check! Then it was taxiing the model out to the airstrip for a few circuits of the pattern. I found that it ground handles pretty well, although on pavement it is much better than on grass.

The full-scale anti-stall wing has been incorporated into the Corvalis park flyer. So, when I hit the throttle the aircraft rose briskly into the air. At full throttle it climbs aggressively! With its stall-resistant wings I found it difficult to stall the Corvalis, even at half throttle and full up elevator. Rather, it just

Accelerating down the runway, my Corvalis is about to lift off. Notice that it does not need to use flaps during the takeoff and climbout.

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seems to mush, but with an increased sink rate. The fowler flaps slow the aircraft nicely. Also, this model has an exceptional glide path with the power pull back. The aircraft is responsive to control input, but due to the wing’s airfoil a barrel roll is slow and full down elevator control On the RTF and Rx-R versions, the elevator mount is required when the and control horn drive mechanism come molded into the fuselage. model is inverted. I don’t recommend your doing a roll with the Corvalis if it is below 100 ft in altitude. I had fun doing loops because there is plenty of power in the climb and it slows coming down when the throttle is pulled back. The speed of the Corvalis is certainly not excessively fast and half throttle flying seems just about right for most pilots I’d think. The wing joiner slides over a carbon wing spar that is installed in the wing, and is then held in place by a I set the model clamp screw. up for a few landings, but with a pretty long downwind leg. It lands well with or without flaps, and is just a little flare before touchdown stable all the way to the ground with required.

Hangar Debrief

This is a very enjoyable aircraft to fly. Note that my RTF version does not provide control mixing in

The horizontal stabilizer interlocks with the mount unit in the fuselage to provide elevator control. The elevators fasten to the fuselage with two screws.

It is important that the flap and aileron control wires get installed through the servo arm connectors when the wing halves are slid together on the joiner.

its Tactic transmitter; however, it did not impact the flight performance of this models as near as I could tell. Alternately, the Rx-R version provides you with the option of using your favorite transmitter, which

The outrunner motor and LiPo battery will give you about 10–12 minutes of solid flying, even if the weather is pretty cool.

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Flyzoneâ&#x201E;˘ CessnaÂŽ 350 Corvalis RTF & Rx-R I found the model to be extremely easy to land. You can set the model up for slow flight prior to making an approach to final with a bit of flaps.

Stall-resistant airfoils help with slow-speed stalling. The aileron control horn is contoured into the wing to reduce drag and give a neat appearance.

The 1800-mAh LiPo battery is held in position by a hook-and-loop strap. The outrunner motor comes with the correct offset and down thrust built in.

Both versions of the Corvalis provide excellent ground handling on pavement, with okay handling on a grass airfield.

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Assembly As I said earlier, assembly of the Cessna 350 Corvalis requires only a small Phillips screwdriver and a pair of needle-nose pliers. The instructions are clear and concise, with lots of illustrations. Note that the flap and aileron servos fit in the root of the wing. So it is important to get the flap and aileron control rods into the servos’ control arms’ connectors as you slide the wing onto its joiner. The position of the control surfaces is set only after the wing is assembled and the servos are connected to the receiver. However, you must center the servos first. The main landing gear fastens to the fuselage with four screws, while the nose gear fastens into the wheel pan with two screws. When the stabilizers are attached to the fuselage’s vertical fin they interlock with the elevator drive horn. They are held in place with two screws, one on each side. Once the battery was charged I linked my Rx-R version to its receiver (Futaba R617FS) with a Futaba T8FG transmitter. The RTF version of the Corvalis comes with a Tactic radio. Once the wings were plugged into the receiver, the flight controls were

will then let you have the ability to mix control channels. What I found right from the moment I opened the box is that the Corvalis is detailed well. It goes together easy. Most importantly, the Corvalis flies great. With a 57-in. wingspan, navigation lights and fowler flaps, it is also an extremely attractive aircraft on the ground and in the air. Finally, priced at only $279.97, the RTF Corvalis is an excellent value when it comes to RC airplanes. Turning away from the camera, you get a good look at the bottom of the Corvalis and its stall-resistant wingtips.

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centered and the screws on the wings’ servo arm connectors were secured. The aircraft’s center of gravity was set at two inches back from the leading edge of the wing. That was with the 1800-mAh battery in place as per the instructions. The Corvalis has a CG range of 1-7/16 to 2-1/2 in. back of the wing’s leading edge. The final step for my model was to balance the 9×5 propeller before it was mounted to the motor. Then it is off to the airfield to give this slick, little aircraft its first flight. Control Throws High Rate ( Up / Down in.) Low Rate (Up / Down in.) Ailerons

9/16 / 9/16

3/8 / 3/8

Elevator

15/32 / 15/32

5/16 / 5/16

Rudder

1.0 (+/-)

5/8 (+/-)

I’ve pulled the throttle back, put down the flaps and slowed the airplane for a pass by the spectators. In this mode it handles great.

Flyzone™ Cessna® 350 Corvalis RTF & Rx-R

You’re going to love the look of this model. It is sleek, streamlined and easy to fly. So, no matter your piloting skill level, this is a nice-handling airplane.

You can see why this airplane is popular with modelers. Look at that landing gear, wing and fuselage. It just says, I’m super fun to fly! Try me out and you’ll have a blast!

Specifications Type

Scale civilian

Experience Level

Intermediate

Wingspan

57 in. (1450 mm)

Length

38 in. (965 mm)

Weight (RTF)

32 –38 oz. (910–1020 g) oz.

Motor

Outrunner

Fuel

Electric

Transmitter

5-channel minimum for Rx-R version w/ receiver

Servos

Four (installed)

Trim Scheme Colors

White with green or red and black trim

Center of Gravity

2 in. (50.8 mm) back of the leading edge

Propeller

9x5

Speed Control

30-A BEC (installed)

Distributor Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 Website: greatplanes.com

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Stay SHarp

NEW Hangar 9 Katana 50 ®

Staying at the top of your aerobatic game takes practice, practice, practice. But if you fly giant-scale, you may not always feel like risking an expensive competition plane to try something new. The Hangar 9 Katana 50 is the perfect knock around plane for honing your 3D or precision aerobatic skills, whether you fly giant- scale or not. ®

Designed by aerobatic champ, Mike McConville, the Katana 50 is exceptionally lightweight without sacrificing strength or agility. The amazing powerto-weight ratio this construction makes possible is complemented by an airfoil that has been specially designed for aggressive 3D flight. The result is explosive aerobatic performance that will let you boldly explore the limits of your abilities while enjoying absolute precision and control at every corner of the envelope.

SPECIFICATIONS | HAN5010 Wingspan Length Wing Area Weight Engine

Shown with Wingtip Side Force Generators™ Sold Separately (HAN417011)

59.0 in (150 cm) 58.0 in (147 cm) 825 sq in (53.2 sq dm) 6.60–7.50 lb (3.00–3.40 kg) .46–.55 2-stroke glow, .72–.82 4-stroke glow 14cc gas Electric Motor 52-size brushless outrunner Transmitter 4+ channel with 6 servos & Servos (5 servos if electric power)

Get to Hangar-9.com right now to see the Katana 50 in action and to find the Hangar 9 retailer near you. horizonhobby.com

O.S. PERFORMANCE GOES ELECTRIC. Pilots loyal to O.S. performance and reliability — but eager to fly electric — now have the perfect solution: O.S. brushless motors. They’re manufactured to the same high quality standards that have made O.S. engines the worldwide favorite for over 75 years. Painstaking research by O.S. engineers led to significant improvements in motor design. For example, O.S. developed an innovative system for effective cooling that doesn’t use energydraining fans. Instead, O.S. motors turn that energy into more power. To handle the additional muscle, O.S. also developed a sturdier can that resists heat-related distortion — and includes a stronger, stainless steel prop shaft. Three high-quality ball bearings erase friction, and a shortened motor length simplifies installations. With these brushless motors, O.S. reaffirms its standing as your most innovative resource for R/C model power. See osengines.com today for more details.

All O.S. brushless motors include a strong stainless steel prop shaft, back plate and gold-plated connectors.

osengines.com / 106F Patent pending.

BY Don Bailey

Super Top Sky 2.0 DLG Get Started and Win Contests with this DLG

here is no question that the advent of discuslaunch gliders (DLG) has completely dominated the R/C handlaunch glider scene, and the old “javelin-launch” overhand method has now virtually vanished into ignominy. In order to be competitive in today’s handlaunch contests, a pilot needs to be skilled in sidearm launching. Moreover, a quality DLG glider with lightweight construction, good moments and an efficient wing is absolutely essential. Many aspiring modelers are stunned to find that the very best DLG glider kits can cost upwards of a thousand dollars for a hollow-molded machine with space-age materials and precision tolerances. While

Turning onto final, you can see that the Top Sky has lots of tail moment as well as wing area, which gives it superb handling. The kit includes all of the major components, pushrods and assorted hardware you’ll need to get this DLG flying.

Both rudder and elevator use an included ply jig to locate the fixed surfaces to the correct position on the boom.

the very best pilots will notice the subtle advantage in performance of a high-end machine, most pilots at the local level will do well with a glider in a more affordable price range. For all practical purposes, a good-quality DLG glider, made of all the right materials and featuring the latest airfoils and geometries, is all most pilots will need to beat the next guy—with a little practice, that is. Among the mid-priced DLG glider kits, the new Super Top Sky 2.0 DLG is truly a bargain. For a little over 80

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300 dollars, you get a well-designed, precision-made glider, where a pilot’s skill, rather than the limitations of the equipment, can put you over the top against your peers. If this model can’t place you well within shooting range of a trophy at your local contest, you need more practice, not a better glider. The Top Sky 2.0 represents a high level of craftsmanship, putting to rest any doubts that the mainland Chinese have figured out how to make good quality glider kits. Featuring all

Super Top Sky 2.0 DLG carbon/aramid materials, with blue foam cores and a wound carbon fiber tapered boom, the construction methods of the 2.0 result in a lightweight and yet torsionally very stiff airframe. The 2.0 version includes a prefabricated fiberglass-over-foam tail group, each piece (stabilizer/elevator and fin/rudder) weighing a mere 5.5 g. This is about the lightest tail assembly available, and a decided advantage over the former balsa sheet tail feathers, which required the builder to cover with fiberglass and vacuumbag the surfaces. Much of the fabrication of the Top Sky 2.0 is already done, and the remaining tasks can be performed in just a few evenings.

The pod provides enough space for all the components—servos, receiver, LiPo battery and a voltage regulator.

The aileron servos fit into servo pockets, which are cut into the foam core wing—in my case I used a router to cut them.

You will attach the tail feathers to the boom with fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. Note the elevator is driven with the metal pushrod.

Ready to fly, my Top Sky glider has an all-up weight of 306 g. It is lightweight yet very strong so it can withstand side-arm launching.

In the air, you can see why the Top Sky can be a winner when flown by a competent pilot. It has everything you’ll need to discover the fun of flying DLGs.

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The Build My Top Sky kit arrived from Atlanta Hobbies in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box. The contents were well packaged in foam to prevent shipping damage. The contents of the box are few, consisting of the two wing panels, the tail surfaces, the fuselage pod and boom and some assorted hardware, such as pushrod materials, control horns, plywood servo tray, etc. The instruction booklet that was included with my kit was for the original 1.0 version with the balsa tails, but I was able to download the new 2.0 instructions from the Atlanta Hobby website. The instruction manual is very detailed, with color pictures of every step in the process, and the English translation is well done and quite concise. I started my Top Sky by attaching the tail feathers to the rear of the boom. A separate instruction manual for installing the tail feathers is also available on the website. Included with the kit are some plywood pieces that you’ll assemble to form a construction jig. By creating a precision saddle for accurately locating the respective surfaces to the boom, the proper alignment of the stabilizing surfaces is achieved, with no need for measuring or adjustment. While the fin is simply epoxied directly to the boom, the horizontal stabilizer is mounted to a pylon with a single nylon screw. The carbon-fiber pylon is fiberglassed to the boom to serve as a mounting pedestal for the stabilizer, and this arrangement allows for removal of the horizontal surfaces if you wish to stow the glider flat in a transport box. The wings are butt joined at the roots with epoxy and fiberglass, and, prior to joining, each root gets potted with epoxy resin and microballoons where the hold-down bolts goes. Servo wells are cut into the Kevlar® skins with a razor blade, and the foam can be routed out with a Dremel tool (my choice) or picked out with a scraper. The servos are then installed by wrapping them in masking

On the Wing

On the day of my test flight, I met up with my good buddy Dave Jensen, who also had a Top Sky 2.0, which was identical to mine. He had just a few days earlier built the newer Top Sky 2.0 Disser, with the crosshatched carbon weave wing skins. Dave showed me how much extra torsional rigidity the Disser wing

I added about 18 g of lead in the model’s nose to bring my Top Sky to balance at the prescribed center of gravity (CG) location of 82 mm aft of the wing’s leading edge. The all-up weight of the model came in at 10.8 oz ready to fly. I’m confident that a determined builder, who is willing to make certain changes, such as using pull-string-and-spring tail surface actuation and lighter radio components, and perhaps shortening the boom a bit, could get their model to come in at under 10 ounces.

has compared to the Kevlar wing. I felt the stock wing was plenty stiff enough for me, though I had to admit the weight difference between the two wing types was negligible and might well be worth the additional cost. Dave’s Disser was first in the air. I was impressed with his throwing skill. He has a good sense of balance and a

Our gaggle of Top Sky DLGs was shot before I maidened mine— Dave’s Disser (rear), his 2.0 (middle) and my 2.0 (foreground).

tape and gluing them into the wells with silicone glue. Lightweight carbon pushrods are provided for aileron actuation, along with fiberglass pre-cut control horns. I appreciated the flat-blade throwing peg, which is easily installed by slotting the wing at the tip and slipping the peg into position, with epoxy to glue it in place. The flat blade design presents minimal frontal area for less drag, and has a nice, substantial feel to it during a strong sidearm launch. The carbon/aramid fuselage pod is molded as one piece, with a carbon canopy hatch to cover the radio compartment access hole. The tail boom fits perfectly over the stub on the pod, and no grinding or adjustments are required. In keeping with common practice, the pushrods are mounted along the length of the boom on the outside. The steel wire pushrods are sheathed in Teflon® tubing, and I was able to simply wrap clear tape around the boom at evenly spaced intervals along its length to retain the pushrods in position. The elevator and rudder servos are installed in a laser-cut plywood servo tray, which is precisely cut to fit between the pod walls. Though the pod seems small at first, I soon realized there was more than adequate room forward of the servos to insert a 350-mAh 2S LiPo battery, with voltage regulator and a Berg Microstamp receiver.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

strong right arm that can really fling the Top Sky to altitude. His on-board How High altimeter revealed peak launch heights of over 130 ft. My efforts were more modest, especially at first, until I was able to fine-tune the trims and get comfortable with my new bird. I am really amazed at how the Top Sky continues to coast upward ever higher, until the last bit

Dave hand catches his Top Sky 2.0. Note how he has deflected his model’s flaps at 45 degrees for its final approach to “handing.”

Super Top Sky 2.0 DLG of airspeed has run out, and the nose can then be gently pushed forward into cruise configuration. Dave uses a spring-loaded elevator trim switch for the first moments of his launch, to ensure an upward climb, but I found that releasing the glider with the nose just above the level position allowed for a nice curving trajectory upward, with only a little encouragement needed from the elevator. The boom is very stiff, so I did not see any boom deflections or rudder wagging after release. At no time during even the heartiest launches did I notice any sign of wing or tail flutter. The Top Sky is a nice, solid model! The Top Sky is slippery for such a lightweight machine. The Drela AG-series blended-airfoil wing allows for a confident stride in penetration mode, with little altitude lost over large tracts of sky. Lift is indicated with the usual restless wiggle, and the Top Sky responds nicely to an aggressive turn into the rising core. Tight turns are possible at minimum Priced at only $314.99, no matter how you look at this DLG it represents a bargain in terms of a fun-to-fly airplane. Get one!

sink rate, and the ailerons remain lightning quick at just above the stall. This is one airplane that inspires confidence at low altitudes close to the ground. I did find that some rudder helped keep the adverse yaw to a minimum, but I have yet to experiment with rudder mixing. Somehow I don’t think the Top Sky needs it, as the rudder is responsive and the effect is easily discerned. Pitch response is also spirited, but not excessive. Dave uses a bit of trailing edge droop while on the hunt (about 2 mm down aileron), and a full four mm during thermalling. He recommends not exceeding 45 degrees of flaperon during approach to the hand catch, however, as the ailerons can become sluggish.

On Final

Considering the quality construction of the kit components, the simple and minimal work required to put it together, and the superb flying characteristics of the finished model, I’d say the Top Sky 2.0 represents a real bargain at Atlanta Hobby’s affordable price. It is a capable machine that can yield competition-level performance that

Flying DLG is addictive, so plan on getting lots of airtime when you are flying this glider, even in the lightest of lift conditions.

is only limited by the skill of the pilot, and would make an excellent choice for club competition for the expert, as well as being a good choice for aspiring pilots who are getting into DLG flying for the first time.

Specifications Type

Competition-level discus launch glider

Functions

Rudder, elevator, ailerons

Wingspan

59.1 in. (1500 mm)

Length

46.5 in. (1180 mm)

Wing Area

354 in. 2 (22.84 dm2)

Airfoil

AG45CT-AG46CT-AG47CT (Mark Drela)

RTF weight

9.2–9.9 oz (260–280 g) advertised (10.8 oz [306 g] as tested)

Materials

Blue foam wings and tail w/ carbon and Kevlar, Kevlar fuselage pod, wound carbon boom

Transmitter

Futaba 7CAP

Receiver

Berg 4L Microstamp

Servos

JR DS188 (rudder/ elevator/), Atlas DS09 SCD (ailerons)

Price

$314.99 + shipping

Distributor Atlanta Hobby 6110 Parkway North Dr Cumming, GA 30040 Phone: 678-513-4450 atlantahobby.com

Reference How High Altimeter Winged Shadow Systems P.O. Box 432 Streamwood, IL 60107 Phone: 630-837-6553 wingedshadow.com

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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 $595

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

BY Christian Belleau

Sebart

PC-21

Great Scale Looks Combine with Excellent Perforamce

In terms of good looks and design, the Sebart PC-21 has it all going for it, including a color scheme that you will not lose in the air.

he Pilatus PC-21 is a single-engine, turboproppowered aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. It is a low-wing monoplane that sports a cockpit with a tandem seating arrangement. The PC-21 was designed as a trainer aircraft for Swiss military pilots. Pilatus began development of their new airplane in January 1999, with the prototype airplane being flown April 30, 2002 in Stans, Switzerland. With defense budgets worldwide under pressure to reduce costs, militaries have been looking for a low-cost alternative to jet

fighter training. Pilatus’ PC-21 provides a training platform at a minimum cost that delivers fourth-generation fighter systems, including front and rear night-vision gogglecompatible “glass” cockpits, a heads-up display in the front seat and a jet-type single-lever throttle. The PC-21 has pilots believing they are flying a jet-powered aircraft within minutes of leaving the tarmac. It gives them the feeling that they are flying an F/A 18 because the 21’s cockpit was designed to replicate it. It is simply an affordable aircraft that is a joy for pilots to fly and use for training.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Specifications Year Built

2002

Function

Military trainer

Length

36 ft 11 in. (11.23 m)

Wingspan

29 ft 11 in. (9.10 m)

Weight empty

5,026 lb (2.280 kg)

Max. speed

337 mph (624 kph)

Engine

Pratt & Whitney PT6A68B turboprop

Horsepower

1600

Range

828 miles (1333 km)

Rate of climb

4000 fpm (1219 mm)

Sebart Pilatus PC-21

Model

The PC-21 model was designed to replicate the full-scale aircraft in terms of performance and handling. The design is by13-time Italian Champion Sebastiano Silvestri, viceEuropean Champ and FAI World Cup winner in F3A. The 60-in.-wingspan PC-21 has the aerodynamic design lines that make it a great sport flyer as well as one that an RC pilot can fly through precise pattern maneuvers. Sebastiano’s almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) Pilatus PC-21 kit is the result of his research and experience in F3A as well as his passion for scale

airplanes. Sebart’s attention to detail in design, combined with the model’s extremely lightweight structure, plus some aerodynamic innovations give the PC-21 nice pilot feel as well as good overall performance. Plus with power delivered by way of a Hacker A50-14S motor that turns a APC 16x8E propeller, this model has a superb rate of climb. I wanted to own and fly this 60-in.-wingspan airplane because it has the looks I’ve been after in a scale model. It also is powered by a clean, high-performance electric motor that will deliver hours of reliable service. So, when I saw it is

This model delivers very good knife-edge performance, and it tracks like it is on rails because of the long design moments.

RC-SF.COM

now being offered by Sebart USA out of Las Vegas I decided it was time to buy one, especially since I could get the combo package from AeroModel Inc. (aero-model.com) at a very affordable price. The PC-21 is the perfect fit for my type of flying too. Also, this model will give me the ability to practice flying some challenging pattern maneuvers that I don’t currently get by way of my other scale models. So, when I looked at all the reasons I should buy it, I decided it could not be a better fit for my hangar or my piloting style. So, a call to Aero-Model was made, and the model arrived at my doorstep in just a few days.

Kit Contents • • • • • • • •

Fuselage Wing w/ retracts installed Elevator Rudder Fiberglass cowl Small parts Canopy & cockpit Decal set

Needed to Complete Motor: Hacker A50-14S ESC: Hacker X-70 SB Pro Battery: TP 4400-mAh 5S PL25 Propeller: APC 16×8E or 16×10E Glue: CA, 5-minute epoxy Miscellaneous tools About 10 hours

The PC-21 handles extremely well, even in the pattern onto final. It slows down well, with just a slight amount of flaperon added.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Sebart Pilatus PC-21

In Flight

The PC-21 delivers good ground on a smooth airfield, but the small wheels on the landing gear require attention to navigation. You’ll discover that takeoffs require a slight amount of rudder correction with the application of throttle, but other than that it’s easy to take off. The Hacker power system has more than enough power to fly this model, and it can easily be airborne in around 50 ft. Its climbout can be as steep and as fast as you want. Once I had the model in the air it took just a few clicks of trim to have it flying straight and level.

You’ll enjoy having the opportunity to pull the gear up— always fun and it looks great too. One of the main gear doors deflected sideways on takeoff, which prohibited the gear from retracting all the way. So be sure to check that the doors are secure before flight. The biggest thing that I enjoyed about the airplane was its tracking ability. Because the fuselage is longer than the wingspan, the PC-21 tracks like a bullet, and it feels almost like a pattern-type aircraft. While doing fast passes, it flies like it is on track and requires very little input from the pilot to keep it flying perfectly straight—nice!

You will not have any trouble flying the airplane inverted. It takes just a little down elevator control and good throttle management to do.

You’re going to like to watch this scale airplane make long, straightin final approaches such as this one—manage the throttle though.

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Sebart Pilatus PC-21 Here is a shot of my Sebart PC-21 sitting on the runway before its maiden flight. You’ll love these colors in the air!

Check out the rudder deflection during this knife-edge pass. You won’t have any problems showing off for friends at the airfield.

In terms of a scale airplane, the PC-21 is quite aerobatic. It’s not meant to be a 3D-type aircraft, but it will torque roll with an experienced pilot at the control sticks. Just be ready on the power when needed. 90

Basic pattern and precision aerobatics are fun and easy to do. Loops, Cuban 8s and the shark tooth are all easy to do thanks to the excellent tracking and power from the Hacker motor system.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Sebart Pilatus PC-21

Sebart gives you everything you’ll need to get this model built quickly and easily. As you can see, even the landing gear comes installed. Plus, you get a great decal set to make this airplane really stand out at the airfield.

My model was outfitted with Hitec RCD HS-985MGs and an Optima 9-channel receiver. Tx was an Aurora 9.

The “juice” for this baby comes from a TP 4400-mAh 5S PL25 LiPo battery—about 10 minutes of flight time.

800 Battlefield Blvd S, Suite 109, Chesapeake, VA 23322 RC-SF.COM

In knife-edge flight the model has lots of control authority, but there is some roll and pitch coupling. You can mix that out in your transmitter though. Then point rolls and slow rolls are smooth and accurate. Inverted flight requires a little down elevator and is quite easy to do. Snap rolls are possible, but they don’t stop as fast as a true aerobatic model. Be prepared for it to lose altitude in a negative snap unless it is at high speed. Slow flight is very good, and with the flaps down it will slow to a crawl. Stalls are straight, and it lets you know before they happen. It typically mushes slightly and then drops the nose. If you start with a nose-high attitude, it might drop a wing, but nothing scary. After the application of power, recovery is as easy as gently pulling back on the elevator stick to establish level flight. Landings are slow, but after extending the gear, keep the nose down and the speed constant. Keep the power on while flaring and control its altitude with throttle, so you get a gentle landing.

The servos’ installations are straightforward, but don’t forget to harden the screws’ holes with CA.

The PC-21’s electric-powered retractable landing gears come installed in the model.

When the landing gear is retracted into the wings, they aerodynamically clean up the airplane.

Again, there is nothing very difficult about how you will install the elevator servo and linkage.

The linkage and servo install for the rudder is almost identical to how the elevator is done.

In the Hangar

From take off to landing the PC21 50E delivers super fun pattern maneuvers with unbelievably easy knife-edge flight, loops, rolling circles, torque rolls and almost anything else you can dream up for a scale airplane. Your only limit on aerobatic fun will be your imagination! You’ll enjoy flying this airplane for aerobatics as well as for the pure joy of seeing your scale airplane buzzing the field.

RC SPORT FLYER — march/april 2012

Here you see how easy it is to install the nose gear’s servo—stupid easy!

Specifications Wingspan

60 in. (1510 mm)

Length

65 in. (1660 mm)

Wing area

713 in.2 (46 dm2)

Weight

105 oz (3000 g) w/o battery

Radio

6-channel min. (Hitec Aurora 9 used)

Receiver

Hitec Optima 9

Servos

4 Hitec RCD HS-985MG

Price

$874.99 (combo @ aeromodel.com)

References Hacker Brushless USA 2122 W. 5th Place Tempe, AZ Phone: 480-726-7519 aero-model.com

Distributor Sebart USA 4720 W University Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89103 Phone: 702-228-8883 sebartrc.com

Assembly I used all the recommended equipment for the build, including the Hacker power system and Hitec HS-985MG servos on all the control surfaces. Be sure to use blue thread locker on all bolts to keep them tight. And, you’ll want to use thin CA on all wood screw holes to strengthen the wood against stripping. The assembly starts with the wing. The electric retracts are preinstalled, as is the nose wheel steering servo. You’ll need to hinge the ailerons using thin CA glue to bond them in place. You must install control horns with gap-filling CA after roughing up the bottom of the control horn as a way to create a stronger glue joint between wing and horn. The aileron servos and linkages are easy to install because the pull strings are installed, so you can pull the extension wires through the wings. The mock aileron pushrod fairings are designed to improve flight performance. You just glue them to the bottom of the wing with CA adhesive. That is about all there is to complete the wing. I recommend you use CA to join the two pieces of the vertical stabilizer. You’ll need to iron the edges of the covering to cover the glue line after the glue sets. Again you glue the hinges in the rudder with thin CA. You will also install the rudder control horn in the same manner as you did the aileron control horns. Then you’ll glue the vertical stabilizer to the fuselage with medium CA or 30-minute epoxy—don’t skimp on the glue, but don’t make a mess either. After attaching the servo extension to the rudder servo, install it per the manual. I found it easiest to install the elevator servo at this time as well. Next you will build and install the horizontal stabilizer. DO NOT GLUE the HINGES IN PLACE YET! Installing the horizontal stabilizer must be done in the correct sequence: First slide the elevator into the stabilizer slot. Then follow it with the horizontal stabilizer. Once they’re both in place you can use thin CA to glue in the hinges. Once the hinging is done, you will align the stabilizer with the fuselage and install the sweeps of the horizontal stabilizer to each side—do so just like you did with the vertical fin. Once everything lines up perfectly and is square, use CA to permanently glue the horizontal stabilizer into the fuselage. Only then will you install the control horn and set up its linkage. Motor installation will be next. The PC-21 is built to accept an electric motor or glow-powered engine. Installing a glow engine will require a little extra work, but the installation of such an engine is documented well in the manual. Alternately, the Hacker power system that is recommended is very simple to install. First, the

secondary motor box gets mounted to the front of the existing box. You’ll use the bolts that are included in the kit. The motor is then bolted to the secondary motor box, with the standoffs setting the distance between the propeller and cowl. The bolts that came in my review model were too short, so longer ones were required. You must check that the space between the firewall and the propeller adapter is such that the propeller adapter protrudes about 1/16 inch in front of the cowling. To mount the electronic speed controller requires that you make a set of three 300-mm long extensions for the motor wires. Then you just mount the ESC as shown in the manual. Next, you’ll mount the cowl. I recommend you use the spinner to align it perfectly to the fuselage. The dummy exhaust stacks glue to the cowl with CA, but only after you rough up the contact surfaces to get better adhesion. I mounted the receiver on the inside wall of the fuselage just as the picture in the manual shows. The canopy hatch comes prebuilt, but the cockpit insert must be glued in place. After applying the included instruments and seat-back decals, I used canopy glue to bond the insert in place. Tacking it in place with a couple drops of CA will hold it firm until the canopy glue cures. If you plan to fly your PC-21 off of a grass- or dirt-covered airfield, it’s a good idea to paint the interior of the landing gear bays to protect the wood against damage. To add detail to my model, I applied the kit’s decals to replicate the model pictured on the box. Then I programmed my transmitter per the instruction manual’s recommendations. The model’s center of gravity was set 5.9 in. behind the leading edge of the wing. I positioned the battery on its tray to adjust where the model balanced. Be sure to use a Velcro ®strap to secure the battery in place. That is all there was to assembling this model. It’s easy! Center of Gravity

Control Throws Ailerons 30° left & right (30% differential) Elevator 30° up & down Rudder

5.9 in. from the wing’s leading edge

30° left & right

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

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

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ParkZone has a Twin! The NEW Ultra Micro Series Mosquito Mk VI BNF The Mosquito Mk VI was one of the fastest fighters of World War II, not to mention one of the most unique aircraft ever built. And it’s setting itself apart yet again as RC’s first ever, 4-channel ultra micro twin. The new Ultra Micro Series Mosquito Mk VI comes flight ready with an authentic “Mossie” camouflage trim scheme, nose cannons, exhaust covers and more already applied. Two 8.5mm motors with counter-rotating 3-blade propellers provide impressive speed and climb performance that perfectly complements the smooth, balanced control response. You can even remove the landing gear for a more realistic look in flight or leave it on and shoot touch and gos with the convenience of tail wheel steering. Find out more about this one-of-a-kind ultra micro warbird classic - get to your favorite ParkZone retailer or visit ParkZoneRC.com and take the tour.

Wingspan: Length: Flying Weight: Motors: Battery: Receiver:

20.5 in (520 mm) 15.2 in (387 mm) 2.60 oz (74 g) 8.5mm brushed (2) (installed) 1S 3.7V 250mAh Li-Po (included) Spektrum™ AR6400T DSM2™ Receiver/Twin ESC unit (installed) Charger: 1S 3.7V DC Li-Po (included) Transmitter: 4+ Channel (transmitter sold separately)

BNF (PKZU1380) Magnetic Battery Hatch

Counter Rotating 3-Blade Propellers

©2011 Horizon Hobby, Inc. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. 28641 ParkZone, just fly and DSM2 and are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, Inc. US D578,146. PRC ZL 200720069025.2. Other patents pending.

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A FREE SPORT FLYER HAT

Give us the name of the airplane to win! Submission information Please e-mail your response to support@rc-sf.com or mail a letter to Kiona Publishing ATTN: RC-SF 17-02 Contest P.O. Box 4250 W Richland, WA 99353 Submissions must be received by 3/20/2012

Statement of Ownership—Management, and Circulation (USPS Form 3526) 1.) Publication Title: RC Sport Flyer, 2.) Publication Number: 19-202, 3.) Filing Date: 10-30-11, 4.) Issue Frequency: Monthly, 5.) Published monthly, 6.) Annual Subscription Price: $24.95, 7/8.) Complete Mailing Address of Publisher: Kiona Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353, 9.) Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Kiona Publishing, Inc., William R. Byers, PO Box 4250, W. Richland, WA 99353., 10.) Owner: Kiona Publishing, Inc., 1754 Sagewood Street., Richland, WA 99352, 11/12.) N/A, 13.) Publication Title: RC Sport Flyer, 14.) Issue Date for Circulation Data: October 2011, 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: (a.) Average No. copies each issue during preceding 12 months / No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 14,936/12,430. (b1) Paid/Requested Outside County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541: 6864/5044. (b2) Paid in County Subscriptions stated on form 3541: 0/0. (b3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: 4,451/1,834. (b4.) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 0/0. (c) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 11,599/14,630. Free Distribution by Mail: (d1) Outside County as State on Form 3541: 251/384. (d2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541: 0/0. (d3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 0/0. (d4) Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 0/851. (e) Total Free Distribution: 5,932/1,407. (f ) Total Distribution: 12,430/14,936. (g) Copies not distributed: 831/306. (h) Total 14,936/12,430. (i) Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 98%/97%. 16.) Publication of Statement of Ownership: March 2012.

Most Smiles per Gallon Saito™ FG-17 4-Stroke Gas Engine It’s tough not to crack a smile at the sweet sound of a Saito 4-stroke. With the Saito FG-17, you get more smiles per gallon of fuel than you ever could with an equivalent 1.00-size glow engine – and at a fraction of the operating cost too! Perhaps best of all, you’ll enjoy this incredible efficiency without having to sacrifice any of the awesome power-to-weight performance Saito engines are famous for. Get to saitoengines.com right now to learn more about this amazing powerplant and to find the Saito retailer near you.

RC-SF.COM

bladehelis.com

The PiloT’s

QuadcoPTer

specifications LENGTH / WIDTH: 11 in (279mm) w/Rotors 7.0 in (178mm) w/o Rotors HEIGHT: 2.2 in (55mm) FLYING WEIGHT: 2.65 oz (75.0 g) ROTOR 5.5 in (140mm) DIAMETER: MOTORS: 8.5mm Brushed (4 installed) ON-BOARD 4-in-1 receiver/ESCs/ ELECTRONICS: mixer/AS3X™ unit BATTERY: 1S 3.7V 500mAh Li-Po CHARGER: E-flite® Celectra™ 1-cell DC variable rate Li-Po charger with AC adapter TRANSMITTER: MLP4DSM 4-channel DSM2™ transmitter with batteries (RTF only)

BLH7500

BLH7580

The NeW

Blade mQX ®

Unlike quadcopters designed to be camera platforms, the nimble mQX is a pilot’s quadcopter that’s been engineered to be remarkably responsive and fun to fly. Its advanced AS3X™ (Artificial Stabilization in 3 aXis) System gives the mQX a sense of precise control that rivals that of bigger quad-copters that cost a whole lot more. Indoors or out, breezy conditions or calm, you’ll be able to fly the mQX with complete confidence just about anywhere, anytime. And it’s so simple to set up, anyone with experience flying conventional RC helicopters will find it’s the perfect introduction to quadcopter fun. See for yourself just how fun and affordable a quadcopter can be. Get to bladehelis.com right now to watch video of the mQX in action and to find a Blade retailer near you.