Author: Greg Gimlick
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 37,38,39
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Bind-N-Fly

by Greg Gimlick

ELECTRIC FLIGHT and 2.4 GHz spread-spectrum radios have burst onto the marketplace in the last couple of years, and Horizon Hobby has been on the cutting edge with its E-flite, ParkZone, and HobbyZone products. Add its Spektrum and JR brands of DSM2 spread-spectrum technology, and 2.4 GHz has quickly become the standard in many locations across the country among the park-flyer crowd.

Any location with sufficient room becomes a flying field, and there are no frequency concerns as there were in the "good ol' days."

What is Bind-N-Fly (BNF)?

If you're familiar with 2.4 GHz radios, you probably know that a radio must be "bound" to a receiver before you fly. That assigns a particular Global Unique Identifier (GUID) to the receiver, which takes commands only from the transmitter with that GUID. It's simple: you bind and then fly.

This new way of marketing a product allows the user to walk out of the hobby shop with an airplane or helicopter that is complete with motor, ESC, gyro, servos, receiver, and, in most cases, a battery and charger. You merely bind it to your transmitter and fly. There is also the RTF system, which comes with a small but sufficient transmitter for park flying.

The beauty of the BNF setup is that several small models can bind to the one small transmitter included with the RTF system. This is simple, inexpensive, and, more important, it works great!

All BNF models will work with the more versatile Spektrum and JR transmitters that use DSM2 spread-spectrum technology.

What We Had

Until Horizon released its BNF systems, an aeromodeler was required to buy a model and then match it with his or her radio gear. Installation and finding tiny receivers and servos for small park flyers was sometimes difficult and costly.

What Happened

Horizon took the bit in its teeth and let its electric-flight experts design well-matched systems. The flight and engineering crews there decided to stress performance and let the marketing take care of itself. This was, quite possibly, a stroke of genius.

What We Have

The BNF line of products ranges from micro-sized helicopters and airplanes to larger-scale aircraft. You can have a small coaxial helicopter to help you get over your fear of helicopters and then transition to the E-flite Blade mSR: a single-rotor, active-tail-rotor helicopter, complete with gyro, batteries, charger, etc.

Airplanes are available with wingspans of roughly 44 inches, so they are not all tiny models. The offerings range from a 39-inch-span, molded-foam P-51 or 44-inch-span T-28D down to a 16-inch-span Sukhoi Su-26m that weighs a scant 11 ounces. And you know that new, cool designs will be released.

Indoor and outdoor flying are covered, assuming that you mind the field’s conditions. These models aren’t made for much wind.

If you’re thinking you’ll get bored with park flying, try the little Sukhoi. It will knife-edge with the best of them. Want it to torque roll? No problem.

Depending on the aircraft’s size and requirements, these BNF systems include a variety of readily available DSM or DSM2 receivers. My Sukhoi uses a Spektrum AR6400 receiver with linear servos and an integrated ESC for the brushed motor. This is exactly the type of receiver I wish I had years ago, when I was trying to scratch-build indoor models.

My larger Blade CX3 helicopter uses a standard Spektrum AR6100e receiver. Everything is available off the shelf and is replaceable.

Marketing Genius or Marketing Madness?

I fall into the category of fliers who think it's genius. The only downside is that if you're tempted by impulse buying, you might get into trouble at home.

I walked into Hayes Hobby House in Fayetteville, North Carolina, last Christmas and saw my first BNF Blade mCX. Allen Hayes was flying it and offered me the sticks—one sold. I handed it to my buddy, and he was sold. He handed it to his friend, and Allen was ringing up three sales.

I couldn't believe I could purchase a complete system that flew this well and worked with my Spektrum DX7 transmitter—for less than $100. Allen was excited too; he told us about other BNF products that were soon to be released. The line has expanded tenfold since then, and there is more on the "horizon."

As a shop owner, he was excited not only because it was clear that these products would sell, but also because he could feel good about selling them. Allen knew that they worked well and that he wouldn't be giving refunds and soothing upset customers who were disappointed by underpowered setups.

The boxes in which the BNF systems are sold are designed so they can be used for travel cases to protect the models. I toss a few in the motor-home storage compartments, and I don't have to worry about my airplanes and helicopters being damaged on the road.

Soapbox

I've heard old-time modelers at my club say that BNF is the "ruination of our hobby." I beg to differ.

People don't build as often as they used to, whether they truly lack the time or they use that as a handy excuse. Our hobby is constantly changing, and we must change with it. The indoor market is growing, and these systems are popping up in indoor models that people are building from scratch.

Although a BNF model might be trashed from crashing or too much hangar rash, the matching radio has real components that can easily be transferred to a new model. At the last indoor meet I attended, I saw several young fliers who had experimented with designs using the "guts" from Ember 2s that they had broken.

This kind of equipment makes experimenting with indoor flyers much easier. And it's undoubtedly cheaper than assembling systems from separate pieces.

I think that the BNF systems are going to help our hobby grow. Parents can buy their children reliable systems off the shelf and know that they will work. Kids of all ages can expand their fleet by adding more BNF products and not have to carry more than one transmitter. The BNF line appeals to members of the instant-gratification group too, because they can simply walk out the door and go fly.

I'm still a builder, but I admit that I do love being tempted by these products when I go into the hobby shop. I can't wait to see what comes next. Anything that brings more people into model aviation is a good thing!

It's time to go out to the park and grab a quick flight or two.

Greg Gimlick [email protected]

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.