Worth a Closer Look
14 MODEL AVIATION
Gold Edition Piper Arrow II
The Piper Arrow II is as popular today as it was when it first
came off the assembly line more than 30 years ago, which is a
testament to its versatility and stable flight characteristics.
Top Flite pays homage to this general-aviation staple with a
Sport Scale kit that looks and flies identical to the full-scale
Arrow. As are all Gold Edition models, this will be an enjoyable
assembly project, with impressive dimensions that make it
International Miniature Aircraft Association-legal!
All parts are CAD-designed to fit precisely and accurately, and
the wings, fuselage, and tail are fully sheeted balsa. Instead of
strips or ailerons, the Piper Arrow utilizes a ball-bearing pivot
mechanism that moves the entire stabilizer up and down.
A fixed landing gear is included with the kit, but instructions
for installing optional retracts are supplied. A generous hardware
package is provided.
The model spans 81 inches, has a wing area of 1,089 square
inches, and weighs 12-14 pounds ready to fly. Recommended
power is a two-stroke .60-.91 or four-stroke 91-120 engine. A sixchannel
radio with five to seven standard servos and one miniservo
is required.
The Piper Arrow II has a street price of $249.99 and should be
available by the time you read this.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign IL
61826; Tel.: (800) 682-8948; Web site: www.top-flite.com
RC Engine Sound
Kits
It’s ironic
that now
that we
have
exceptional
electricpowered
aircraft that are
so silent, we want
to add sound to
them. If you want to hear a scale-sounding airplane
rather than the whisper of a motor, Ram has three engine sound
kits available.
Each kit consists of a circuit board and a 3-inch speaker. The
system produces an acoustically recorded digital sound of a
Merlin engine, a radial engine, or a typical lightplane engine.
The system comes complete with a power switch, a servoactuated
control switch, and a speaker amplification box. Power
comes from 9 to 18 volts.
Each kit has a street price of $39.95.
Ram: 229 E. Rollins Rd., Round Lake Beach IL 60073; Tel.:
(847) 740-8726; Web site: www.ramrcandramtrack.com
Corby Starlet 70 ARF
The Corby Starlet is a scale model of the first post-war
Australian-designed single-seater to fly.
This ARF is a semiaerobatic sport airplane with all-wood
construction. The fuselage is a combination of spruce longerons
and frames and is sheeted with plywood. The wing is a singlepiece
structure, consisting of a solid, laminated spar and built-up
ribs. The remainder of the wing, including the ailerons, is open
structure and covered with fabric.
Every attempt has been made to make the model version of the
Corby Starlet as scale as possible; only minor changes were made
to enhance its flying characteristics. The prototype model was
flown with a Magnum XL-70RFS engine, which is a good match
for this airplane.
The Starlet has a span of 60.75 inches, a wing area of 730
square inches, a ready-to-fly weight of 6.5-7.5 pounds, and a street
price of $199.99.
Global Hobby Distributors: 18480 Bandilier Cir., Fountain
Valley CA 92708; Tel.: (714) 963-0133; Web site: www.global
hobby.com
Tensor 4D ARF
E-flite’s new Tensor 4D ARF is an
exciting foamy that won the first
Electric Tournament of
Champions
last year.
That
contest’s
winner and
Unlimited
Aerobatics ace
George Hicks is responsible for the model’s revolutionary design.
Keys to the Tensor are its side-force generators, vertically
oriented wings that generate the necessary lift, and low angles of
sideslip to excel at slow knife-edge flight. Extensive carbon-fiber
wing supports stabilize the structure and make it extraordinarily
strong, yet extremely lightweight. This model also includes
extensive carbon-fiber wing and tail supports.
The Tensor has a wingspan of 27 inches, a wing area of 393
square inches, and a ready-to-fly weight of 9.5 ounces.
Recommended power is from a 370 outrunner brushless motor. A
four-channel radio with three submicroservos is required.
The Tensor’s street price is $54.99.
Horizon Hobby Distributors: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign
IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
February 2005 15
Aero-Pacs
Are you tired of trying
to build your Scale projects
from tiny, blurry prints?
Are you looking for
something in which you see
all details, including rivets,
panel lines, and
nomenclature?
Airborne Media has
introduced a new line of
scale documentation called
Aero-Pacs. Each Aero-Pac
is a digital library devoted
to a specific aircraft. You
can choose from a CAP
231, P-51D, J-3 Cub, Pitts
S-2C, Sukhoi Su-26,
WACO WMF-5, etc.
All pictures are shot
with the latest digital
technology, capturing detail never
available from other sources. Since the files are
digital, you can enlarge them on your computer screen, print
enlargements and/or smaller copies using your color printer, and
use them for your final documentation package.
Each Aero-Pac has an eight-point walk-around, exterior and
interior details, enhanced close-ups, a three-view, and more! All
wording (N numbers, nomenclature, etc.) is shot close-up and
head-on for easier duplication.
You can look at the photos in any up-to-date Web browser, and
it will work with Mac and PC systems.
For complete details on the ever-expanding library of aircraft in
this series, visit the Web site. Each Aero-Pac CD-ROM sells for
$15.95.
Airborne Media: 5655 David Pl., Fairfield OH 45014; Tel.:
(888) 829-4060; Web site: www.airbornemedia.com MA
RealFlight Generation 3
This system far exceeds
previous simulators’ twodimensional
“billboard”
look. It’s a living,
breathing environment.
Trees sway in the
background, clouds on the
horizon follow the path of
the prevailing winds, glare
increases and subsides in
relation to the sun’s
position, and background
objects even reflect off of the aircraft.
There are almost four dozen stock designs from which to
choose, including park flyers, 3-D aerobats, Slope Soarers, Reno
racers, helicopters, and gliders. There’s an aircraft to appeal to
every modeler’s tastes.
World-class modelers put the flight performance of the new
RealPhysics 3D engine through demanding tests and trials, and
all agree that aircraft on Generation 3 (G3) fly more realistically
than ever. This simulator
sets unprecedented
standards for accuracy in
exciting high-alpha (3-D)
flight!
G3 includes an easier
and more powerful
Aircraft Editor with an
almost infinite number of
adjustable parameters!
Any modifications a pilot
wants to make to an
airplane are graphically
represented on the wireframe
model and instantly
reflected on the screen.
As in real RC flying, a
modeler may shear a wing
off of an aircraft if he or
she is too careless. The
simulated airplane will
continue its flight while
accurately reflecting the
part(s) lost.
Instead of one unchanging wind field for the entire simulation,
G3’s TruFlo Wind Dynamics combines key components: terrain
shape, convection, macroturbulence, microturbulence, etc.
The Virtual Flight Instructor (VFI) has been expanded and
enhanced to include additional maneuvers for pilots of all skill
levels. Experienced fliers will be able to learn high-alpha 3-D
aerobatics from world-class pilots!
The InterLink Plus controller has been improved with a Multi-
Mode feature! This allows modelers to connect an additional
InterLink or standard radio transmitter to the simulation! The
InterLink Plus controller can also be used as an interface with
most four- to 10-channel, FM, or PPM (Pulse Position
Modulation)-selectable radios which include a trainer jack.
There are far too many other features to list here, so look for a
full review of the G3 system in an upcoming issue of MA. For
system requirements or additional information, visit the Web site.
The G3 has a street price of $219.99.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign IL
61826; Tel.: (800) 682-8948; Web site: www.realflight.com
AeroKote
Sig has introduced a new pair of
iron-on coverings: AeroKote and
AeroKote-Lite. The difference in
them is that AeroKote-Lite weighs
only 1.8 ounces per square yard.
This makes it a good choice for
small, lightweight airplanes.
Both kinds come in 31.5 x
78.75-inch rolls, which amounts to
as much as 25% more than you get
with some other coverings. They
are extremely fuel resistant and
stable, which makes them resistant
to wrinkling. Their shrinking
properties allow you to cover
wingtips and compound curves
easily.
Each type of AeroKote is
featured in 36 color choices. These
include opaques, transparents, pearls, and metallics. They have a
retail price of $15.99-$20.99 per roll.
Sig Manufacturing Company: Box 520, Montezuma IA 50171;
Tel.: (641) 623-5154; Web site: www.sigmfg.com
02sig1.QXD 12/22/04 8:58 AM Page 15
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/02
Page Numbers: 14,15
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/02
Page Numbers: 14,15
Worth a Closer Look
14 MODEL AVIATION
Gold Edition Piper Arrow II
The Piper Arrow II is as popular today as it was when it first
came off the assembly line more than 30 years ago, which is a
testament to its versatility and stable flight characteristics.
Top Flite pays homage to this general-aviation staple with a
Sport Scale kit that looks and flies identical to the full-scale
Arrow. As are all Gold Edition models, this will be an enjoyable
assembly project, with impressive dimensions that make it
International Miniature Aircraft Association-legal!
All parts are CAD-designed to fit precisely and accurately, and
the wings, fuselage, and tail are fully sheeted balsa. Instead of
strips or ailerons, the Piper Arrow utilizes a ball-bearing pivot
mechanism that moves the entire stabilizer up and down.
A fixed landing gear is included with the kit, but instructions
for installing optional retracts are supplied. A generous hardware
package is provided.
The model spans 81 inches, has a wing area of 1,089 square
inches, and weighs 12-14 pounds ready to fly. Recommended
power is a two-stroke .60-.91 or four-stroke 91-120 engine. A sixchannel
radio with five to seven standard servos and one miniservo
is required.
The Piper Arrow II has a street price of $249.99 and should be
available by the time you read this.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign IL
61826; Tel.: (800) 682-8948; Web site: www.top-flite.com
RC Engine Sound
Kits
It’s ironic
that now
that we
have
exceptional
electricpowered
aircraft that are
so silent, we want
to add sound to
them. If you want to hear a scale-sounding airplane
rather than the whisper of a motor, Ram has three engine sound
kits available.
Each kit consists of a circuit board and a 3-inch speaker. The
system produces an acoustically recorded digital sound of a
Merlin engine, a radial engine, or a typical lightplane engine.
The system comes complete with a power switch, a servoactuated
control switch, and a speaker amplification box. Power
comes from 9 to 18 volts.
Each kit has a street price of $39.95.
Ram: 229 E. Rollins Rd., Round Lake Beach IL 60073; Tel.:
(847) 740-8726; Web site: www.ramrcandramtrack.com
Corby Starlet 70 ARF
The Corby Starlet is a scale model of the first post-war
Australian-designed single-seater to fly.
This ARF is a semiaerobatic sport airplane with all-wood
construction. The fuselage is a combination of spruce longerons
and frames and is sheeted with plywood. The wing is a singlepiece
structure, consisting of a solid, laminated spar and built-up
ribs. The remainder of the wing, including the ailerons, is open
structure and covered with fabric.
Every attempt has been made to make the model version of the
Corby Starlet as scale as possible; only minor changes were made
to enhance its flying characteristics. The prototype model was
flown with a Magnum XL-70RFS engine, which is a good match
for this airplane.
The Starlet has a span of 60.75 inches, a wing area of 730
square inches, a ready-to-fly weight of 6.5-7.5 pounds, and a street
price of $199.99.
Global Hobby Distributors: 18480 Bandilier Cir., Fountain
Valley CA 92708; Tel.: (714) 963-0133; Web site: www.global
hobby.com
Tensor 4D ARF
E-flite’s new Tensor 4D ARF is an
exciting foamy that won the first
Electric Tournament of
Champions
last year.
That
contest’s
winner and
Unlimited
Aerobatics ace
George Hicks is responsible for the model’s revolutionary design.
Keys to the Tensor are its side-force generators, vertically
oriented wings that generate the necessary lift, and low angles of
sideslip to excel at slow knife-edge flight. Extensive carbon-fiber
wing supports stabilize the structure and make it extraordinarily
strong, yet extremely lightweight. This model also includes
extensive carbon-fiber wing and tail supports.
The Tensor has a wingspan of 27 inches, a wing area of 393
square inches, and a ready-to-fly weight of 9.5 ounces.
Recommended power is from a 370 outrunner brushless motor. A
four-channel radio with three submicroservos is required.
The Tensor’s street price is $54.99.
Horizon Hobby Distributors: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign
IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
February 2005 15
Aero-Pacs
Are you tired of trying
to build your Scale projects
from tiny, blurry prints?
Are you looking for
something in which you see
all details, including rivets,
panel lines, and
nomenclature?
Airborne Media has
introduced a new line of
scale documentation called
Aero-Pacs. Each Aero-Pac
is a digital library devoted
to a specific aircraft. You
can choose from a CAP
231, P-51D, J-3 Cub, Pitts
S-2C, Sukhoi Su-26,
WACO WMF-5, etc.
All pictures are shot
with the latest digital
technology, capturing detail never
available from other sources. Since the files are
digital, you can enlarge them on your computer screen, print
enlargements and/or smaller copies using your color printer, and
use them for your final documentation package.
Each Aero-Pac has an eight-point walk-around, exterior and
interior details, enhanced close-ups, a three-view, and more! All
wording (N numbers, nomenclature, etc.) is shot close-up and
head-on for easier duplication.
You can look at the photos in any up-to-date Web browser, and
it will work with Mac and PC systems.
For complete details on the ever-expanding library of aircraft in
this series, visit the Web site. Each Aero-Pac CD-ROM sells for
$15.95.
Airborne Media: 5655 David Pl., Fairfield OH 45014; Tel.:
(888) 829-4060; Web site: www.airbornemedia.com MA
RealFlight Generation 3
This system far exceeds
previous simulators’ twodimensional
“billboard”
look. It’s a living,
breathing environment.
Trees sway in the
background, clouds on the
horizon follow the path of
the prevailing winds, glare
increases and subsides in
relation to the sun’s
position, and background
objects even reflect off of the aircraft.
There are almost four dozen stock designs from which to
choose, including park flyers, 3-D aerobats, Slope Soarers, Reno
racers, helicopters, and gliders. There’s an aircraft to appeal to
every modeler’s tastes.
World-class modelers put the flight performance of the new
RealPhysics 3D engine through demanding tests and trials, and
all agree that aircraft on Generation 3 (G3) fly more realistically
than ever. This simulator
sets unprecedented
standards for accuracy in
exciting high-alpha (3-D)
flight!
G3 includes an easier
and more powerful
Aircraft Editor with an
almost infinite number of
adjustable parameters!
Any modifications a pilot
wants to make to an
airplane are graphically
represented on the wireframe
model and instantly
reflected on the screen.
As in real RC flying, a
modeler may shear a wing
off of an aircraft if he or
she is too careless. The
simulated airplane will
continue its flight while
accurately reflecting the
part(s) lost.
Instead of one unchanging wind field for the entire simulation,
G3’s TruFlo Wind Dynamics combines key components: terrain
shape, convection, macroturbulence, microturbulence, etc.
The Virtual Flight Instructor (VFI) has been expanded and
enhanced to include additional maneuvers for pilots of all skill
levels. Experienced fliers will be able to learn high-alpha 3-D
aerobatics from world-class pilots!
The InterLink Plus controller has been improved with a Multi-
Mode feature! This allows modelers to connect an additional
InterLink or standard radio transmitter to the simulation! The
InterLink Plus controller can also be used as an interface with
most four- to 10-channel, FM, or PPM (Pulse Position
Modulation)-selectable radios which include a trainer jack.
There are far too many other features to list here, so look for a
full review of the G3 system in an upcoming issue of MA. For
system requirements or additional information, visit the Web site.
The G3 has a street price of $219.99.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign IL
61826; Tel.: (800) 682-8948; Web site: www.realflight.com
AeroKote
Sig has introduced a new pair of
iron-on coverings: AeroKote and
AeroKote-Lite. The difference in
them is that AeroKote-Lite weighs
only 1.8 ounces per square yard.
This makes it a good choice for
small, lightweight airplanes.
Both kinds come in 31.5 x
78.75-inch rolls, which amounts to
as much as 25% more than you get
with some other coverings. They
are extremely fuel resistant and
stable, which makes them resistant
to wrinkling. Their shrinking
properties allow you to cover
wingtips and compound curves
easily.
Each type of AeroKote is
featured in 36 color choices. These
include opaques, transparents, pearls, and metallics. They have a
retail price of $15.99-$20.99 per roll.
Sig Manufacturing Company: Box 520, Montezuma IA 50171;
Tel.: (641) 623-5154; Web site: www.sigmfg.com
02sig1.QXD 12/22/04 8:58 AM Page 15