As a casual RC truck enthusiast, I’ve
enjoyed hours of racing around
tracks watching the dust fl y and
listening to the hum of a well-tuned glow
engine. Bringing a model truck to life
after hours of setup and tuning, as well as
creative modifi cations, has been a fun and
rewarding experience.
When I was introduced to model
airplanes, I was more than just a little
intrigued, but the same principles I
enjoyed in RC trucks still applied.
Building and tuning the model is a labor
of love, followed by the enjoyment of the
fruits of your labor.
I’d never built a model airplane. I’d
never fl own one. I’d never seen one fl own.
All I know about airplanes is how to
buy the ticket, that I should arrive two
hours before boarding time, and to always
make sure I wear clean socks to avoid
embarrassment at the TSA checkpoint.
The unknowns that made the hobby
interesting to me also made it intimidating.
After a few sessions in front of a
computer fl ight simulator, I decided that
I’d like to learn to fl y models. When I told
our editor, Jay Smith, of my interest he
said, “Great! There’s a club here in town
that gives lessons each month!”
Lessons? I thought to myself, “I have to
buy a plane, and then fi nd and schedule
time with an instructor, then hope the
weather is good on the scheduled day at
the scheduled time—then I can fl y? When
I bought an RC truck, I came home,
started it up, and hit the gas!
Still undeterred, I went to a hobby
shop to look at airplanes—did I mention
I know nothing about them? At the store,
I found a variety of sizes, methods of
construction and propulsion, batteries,
fuels, and price points, as well as a
salesperson who was convinced that I
should probably have at least one of each.
I was a little overwhelmed and I wasn’t up
for a research project to try and fi gure out
what to buy. Now I was a little deterred.
When Jay told me about the
HobbyZone Firebird Stratos, it seemed
like a no-brainer: a model designed
specifi cally for a beginning pilot—
everything a new pilot needs to start
fl ying in one box. Even better, it included
a Virtual Instructor to help me get started
immediately and is designed to help
protect vital components in the event of a crash.
When the Stratos arrived, I was pleased to see a picture of
a trendy, futuristic-looking airplane on the front of the box.
Knowing that people of my skill level are the target market, I
expected to see something more like a bumper car that didn’t
exactly scream excitement, but this airplane does!
Assembly
When I opened the box, I was pleased that although some
assembly is required, the contents don’t look like a jigsaw
puzzle and the only tool required—a screwdriver—is included
in the kit! The instruction manual is well written, with large
illustrations to guide the owner through assembly, which took
me roughly an hour and offered no surprises.
Coincidently, that’s the same amount of time it takes to
charge the battery with the included DC car charger; an AC
charger is available, but not included.
The only point of confusion I encountered during assembly
was determining when to use which screws. Some deductive
reasoning and common sense helps make the right selection,
although better guidance in the manual would be helpful.
Assembly requires a few, simple steps. The tail slides into the
fuselage and is centered using preapplied positioning decals,
then is secured with provided tape. Next, the elevator control
rod is attached to the elevator control horn using a preinstalled
clevis. This control rod is threaded, allowing the clevis to be
moved for simple initial trimming.
Assembling and installing of the wing is equally easy. The
left and right wings slide over a carbon-fiber tube for added
strength and are secured to one another using two brackets
and four self-tapping screws. Use four of the longest screws
provided to secure the two brackets to the wings.
The wing fins are positioned by placing them into formfitting
slots made into the foam and are taped into place;
even the tape was provided.
This completed assembly is attached to the fuselage using
a plastic tab in the front and a carbon-fiber pin in the back,
allowing the wing assembly to pivot and break away in the
event of a crash. The carbon-fiber pin securing the wing
assembly is a tight fit, but it still must be secured with screws.
Use the short, gold-colored machine screws (flat on the ends,
not pointed), because the pointed, self-tapping screws may
damage the pin.
Secure the battery in the battery compartment using the
preplaced hook-and-loop tape, and assembly is complete.
Installing the included wing skids is optional, but I
recommend that the beginner pilot do so. Each wing skid
consists of a small piece of metal that extends from the bottom
of the wing to protect the propeller from impact in the event of
a crash. I can tell you from experience that the wing skids work!
The slightly loose fit of the wing skids concerns me. They
could possibly fall off and they do not appear to be available
for purchase as replacements except as part of the landing gear
kit ($5.99). I anticipate I’ll be using mine somewhat frequently
in the beginning, so I’ll probably try to secure mine better
using tape or even an adhesive.
The transmitter is made in the same shape as a modern
video-game controller—a familiar shape to many new, young
pilots. The manual explains the transmitter’s operation using
a combination of plain English and aviation terminology so
the pilot can understand the concept at hand as well as learn
some basic terms that are likely to appear elsewhere on the
aviation scene.
The manual goes on to describe the features of the Virtual
Instructor and what behaviors the pilot can expect when the
Virtual Instructor is providing in-flight assistance.
Finally, the manual includes information about the selection
of a suitable flying site, launch, flight, and landing tips to help
guide the new pilot through his or her first flying experience.
I have to admit, because there was one readily available, a
seasoned pilot launched
the airplane for me on
my first flight. I spent
a few minutes getting
accustomed to the
controls with the model
already in the air.
After a couple of
minutes of flying,
I decided I was a
professional pilot and
was ready to launch it
myself; as it turns out,
I’m not a professional
pilot and the launch
wasn’t successful,
but it didn’t end in
catastrophe. The Stratos
climbed for a moment,
then veered to the
left and lost altitude. Before I could say
“more throttle, up elevator,” my new
airplane had met the grass, wing first.
To my relief, everything worked as
designed: The small metal wing skids
were adorned with a few tufts of grass,
but the propellers were unharmed and
the wing assembly separated from the
fuselage preventing damage to the wing.
Reassembly took only seconds (and
no tools) and the total damage from this
crash was a small dimple in the foam
where the propeller made contact with
the fuselage after the wing came loose.
After a little touch-up work with a felttip
marker, it was as though it never
happened.
My second launch was less than
picture perfect, but was successful.
With a little more throttle than in my
first attempt, the Stratos climbed and I
was flying a large circular pattern with
relative confidence. Bright, preapplied
decals on the wings and fuselage helped
me maintain a sense of the model’s
orientation in the sky.
Out of the box, the Stratos was
maneuverable and relatively simple
to control. Anytime I felt as though I
was in trouble, releasing the elevator
stick allowed the Virtual Instructor to
stabilize the aircraft and within seconds,
I was back in my comfort zone.
My first landing was not necessarily
a thing of beauty, but wasn’t a crash
landing either. With little throttle, the
aircraft’s glide is smooth and level while
steadily losing altitude. I undeniably
panicked as the model approached a
few feet from the ground and gave it too
much up-elevator causing it to nosedive
into the grass where it skidded to a stop
(so that’s what a stall is).
Fortunately, someone at HobbyZone
foresaw this and cushioned the nose
with rubber. Although the model comes
with landing gear, the users’ manual
recommends becoming comfortable
with landing the model on its belly
before installing the gear.
Total flight time was roughly 10
minutes. With the airplane and my selfesteem
both intact, I felt that I had a very
successful first flight—and what a blast!
I certainly wouldn’t turn down
the opportunity to learn from an
experienced flight instructor. As I
learned from a FF flier who was at the
field the day I was flying the Stratos,
many pilots are excited to talk to a
beginning modeler about the hobby and
pass on what they know.
Still, the ability to get out on the flying
field and fly a model whenever the mood
strikes is the motivation that I needed to
get involved and to “get the bug.”
The Stratos’ assistance features can
be turned off in three stages as the
pilot’s skill level increases. The Virtual
Instructor (in-flight assistance) can be
turned off for a more traditional flight
experience, the transmitter can be set
to allow for more surface movement of
the elevator and rudder, and the elevator
itself can be made larger using the parts
included in the kit to make the aircraft
more responsive.
If a more severe accident occurs
and the model is damaged, a variety of
affordable replacement parts and kits are
available from HobbyZone.
I couldn’t be happier with this
kit! While still offering a challenge,
the Firebird Stratos with its Virtual
Instructor, gives me the assistance I
need to have fun and be successful
while I develop my piloting skills. Its
forgiving construction gives me the
confidence to actually get out and
fly it. I think I’m going to need more
batteries!
"AMA's Golden Boy"
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/09
Page Numbers: 59,60,61,62
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/09
Page Numbers: 59,60,61,62
As a casual RC truck enthusiast, I’ve
enjoyed hours of racing around
tracks watching the dust fl y and
listening to the hum of a well-tuned glow
engine. Bringing a model truck to life
after hours of setup and tuning, as well as
creative modifi cations, has been a fun and
rewarding experience.
When I was introduced to model
airplanes, I was more than just a little
intrigued, but the same principles I
enjoyed in RC trucks still applied.
Building and tuning the model is a labor
of love, followed by the enjoyment of the
fruits of your labor.
I’d never built a model airplane. I’d
never fl own one. I’d never seen one fl own.
All I know about airplanes is how to
buy the ticket, that I should arrive two
hours before boarding time, and to always
make sure I wear clean socks to avoid
embarrassment at the TSA checkpoint.
The unknowns that made the hobby
interesting to me also made it intimidating.
After a few sessions in front of a
computer fl ight simulator, I decided that
I’d like to learn to fl y models. When I told
our editor, Jay Smith, of my interest he
said, “Great! There’s a club here in town
that gives lessons each month!”
Lessons? I thought to myself, “I have to
buy a plane, and then fi nd and schedule
time with an instructor, then hope the
weather is good on the scheduled day at
the scheduled time—then I can fl y? When
I bought an RC truck, I came home,
started it up, and hit the gas!
Still undeterred, I went to a hobby
shop to look at airplanes—did I mention
I know nothing about them? At the store,
I found a variety of sizes, methods of
construction and propulsion, batteries,
fuels, and price points, as well as a
salesperson who was convinced that I
should probably have at least one of each.
I was a little overwhelmed and I wasn’t up
for a research project to try and fi gure out
what to buy. Now I was a little deterred.
When Jay told me about the
HobbyZone Firebird Stratos, it seemed
like a no-brainer: a model designed
specifi cally for a beginning pilot—
everything a new pilot needs to start
fl ying in one box. Even better, it included
a Virtual Instructor to help me get started
immediately and is designed to help
protect vital components in the event of a crash.
When the Stratos arrived, I was pleased to see a picture of
a trendy, futuristic-looking airplane on the front of the box.
Knowing that people of my skill level are the target market, I
expected to see something more like a bumper car that didn’t
exactly scream excitement, but this airplane does!
Assembly
When I opened the box, I was pleased that although some
assembly is required, the contents don’t look like a jigsaw
puzzle and the only tool required—a screwdriver—is included
in the kit! The instruction manual is well written, with large
illustrations to guide the owner through assembly, which took
me roughly an hour and offered no surprises.
Coincidently, that’s the same amount of time it takes to
charge the battery with the included DC car charger; an AC
charger is available, but not included.
The only point of confusion I encountered during assembly
was determining when to use which screws. Some deductive
reasoning and common sense helps make the right selection,
although better guidance in the manual would be helpful.
Assembly requires a few, simple steps. The tail slides into the
fuselage and is centered using preapplied positioning decals,
then is secured with provided tape. Next, the elevator control
rod is attached to the elevator control horn using a preinstalled
clevis. This control rod is threaded, allowing the clevis to be
moved for simple initial trimming.
Assembling and installing of the wing is equally easy. The
left and right wings slide over a carbon-fiber tube for added
strength and are secured to one another using two brackets
and four self-tapping screws. Use four of the longest screws
provided to secure the two brackets to the wings.
The wing fins are positioned by placing them into formfitting
slots made into the foam and are taped into place;
even the tape was provided.
This completed assembly is attached to the fuselage using
a plastic tab in the front and a carbon-fiber pin in the back,
allowing the wing assembly to pivot and break away in the
event of a crash. The carbon-fiber pin securing the wing
assembly is a tight fit, but it still must be secured with screws.
Use the short, gold-colored machine screws (flat on the ends,
not pointed), because the pointed, self-tapping screws may
damage the pin.
Secure the battery in the battery compartment using the
preplaced hook-and-loop tape, and assembly is complete.
Installing the included wing skids is optional, but I
recommend that the beginner pilot do so. Each wing skid
consists of a small piece of metal that extends from the bottom
of the wing to protect the propeller from impact in the event of
a crash. I can tell you from experience that the wing skids work!
The slightly loose fit of the wing skids concerns me. They
could possibly fall off and they do not appear to be available
for purchase as replacements except as part of the landing gear
kit ($5.99). I anticipate I’ll be using mine somewhat frequently
in the beginning, so I’ll probably try to secure mine better
using tape or even an adhesive.
The transmitter is made in the same shape as a modern
video-game controller—a familiar shape to many new, young
pilots. The manual explains the transmitter’s operation using
a combination of plain English and aviation terminology so
the pilot can understand the concept at hand as well as learn
some basic terms that are likely to appear elsewhere on the
aviation scene.
The manual goes on to describe the features of the Virtual
Instructor and what behaviors the pilot can expect when the
Virtual Instructor is providing in-flight assistance.
Finally, the manual includes information about the selection
of a suitable flying site, launch, flight, and landing tips to help
guide the new pilot through his or her first flying experience.
I have to admit, because there was one readily available, a
seasoned pilot launched
the airplane for me on
my first flight. I spent
a few minutes getting
accustomed to the
controls with the model
already in the air.
After a couple of
minutes of flying,
I decided I was a
professional pilot and
was ready to launch it
myself; as it turns out,
I’m not a professional
pilot and the launch
wasn’t successful,
but it didn’t end in
catastrophe. The Stratos
climbed for a moment,
then veered to the
left and lost altitude. Before I could say
“more throttle, up elevator,” my new
airplane had met the grass, wing first.
To my relief, everything worked as
designed: The small metal wing skids
were adorned with a few tufts of grass,
but the propellers were unharmed and
the wing assembly separated from the
fuselage preventing damage to the wing.
Reassembly took only seconds (and
no tools) and the total damage from this
crash was a small dimple in the foam
where the propeller made contact with
the fuselage after the wing came loose.
After a little touch-up work with a felttip
marker, it was as though it never
happened.
My second launch was less than
picture perfect, but was successful.
With a little more throttle than in my
first attempt, the Stratos climbed and I
was flying a large circular pattern with
relative confidence. Bright, preapplied
decals on the wings and fuselage helped
me maintain a sense of the model’s
orientation in the sky.
Out of the box, the Stratos was
maneuverable and relatively simple
to control. Anytime I felt as though I
was in trouble, releasing the elevator
stick allowed the Virtual Instructor to
stabilize the aircraft and within seconds,
I was back in my comfort zone.
My first landing was not necessarily
a thing of beauty, but wasn’t a crash
landing either. With little throttle, the
aircraft’s glide is smooth and level while
steadily losing altitude. I undeniably
panicked as the model approached a
few feet from the ground and gave it too
much up-elevator causing it to nosedive
into the grass where it skidded to a stop
(so that’s what a stall is).
Fortunately, someone at HobbyZone
foresaw this and cushioned the nose
with rubber. Although the model comes
with landing gear, the users’ manual
recommends becoming comfortable
with landing the model on its belly
before installing the gear.
Total flight time was roughly 10
minutes. With the airplane and my selfesteem
both intact, I felt that I had a very
successful first flight—and what a blast!
I certainly wouldn’t turn down
the opportunity to learn from an
experienced flight instructor. As I
learned from a FF flier who was at the
field the day I was flying the Stratos,
many pilots are excited to talk to a
beginning modeler about the hobby and
pass on what they know.
Still, the ability to get out on the flying
field and fly a model whenever the mood
strikes is the motivation that I needed to
get involved and to “get the bug.”
The Stratos’ assistance features can
be turned off in three stages as the
pilot’s skill level increases. The Virtual
Instructor (in-flight assistance) can be
turned off for a more traditional flight
experience, the transmitter can be set
to allow for more surface movement of
the elevator and rudder, and the elevator
itself can be made larger using the parts
included in the kit to make the aircraft
more responsive.
If a more severe accident occurs
and the model is damaged, a variety of
affordable replacement parts and kits are
available from HobbyZone.
I couldn’t be happier with this
kit! While still offering a challenge,
the Firebird Stratos with its Virtual
Instructor, gives me the assistance I
need to have fun and be successful
while I develop my piloting skills. Its
forgiving construction gives me the
confidence to actually get out and
fly it. I think I’m going to need more
batteries!
"AMA's Golden Boy"
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/09
Page Numbers: 59,60,61,62
As a casual RC truck enthusiast, I’ve
enjoyed hours of racing around
tracks watching the dust fl y and
listening to the hum of a well-tuned glow
engine. Bringing a model truck to life
after hours of setup and tuning, as well as
creative modifi cations, has been a fun and
rewarding experience.
When I was introduced to model
airplanes, I was more than just a little
intrigued, but the same principles I
enjoyed in RC trucks still applied.
Building and tuning the model is a labor
of love, followed by the enjoyment of the
fruits of your labor.
I’d never built a model airplane. I’d
never fl own one. I’d never seen one fl own.
All I know about airplanes is how to
buy the ticket, that I should arrive two
hours before boarding time, and to always
make sure I wear clean socks to avoid
embarrassment at the TSA checkpoint.
The unknowns that made the hobby
interesting to me also made it intimidating.
After a few sessions in front of a
computer fl ight simulator, I decided that
I’d like to learn to fl y models. When I told
our editor, Jay Smith, of my interest he
said, “Great! There’s a club here in town
that gives lessons each month!”
Lessons? I thought to myself, “I have to
buy a plane, and then fi nd and schedule
time with an instructor, then hope the
weather is good on the scheduled day at
the scheduled time—then I can fl y? When
I bought an RC truck, I came home,
started it up, and hit the gas!
Still undeterred, I went to a hobby
shop to look at airplanes—did I mention
I know nothing about them? At the store,
I found a variety of sizes, methods of
construction and propulsion, batteries,
fuels, and price points, as well as a
salesperson who was convinced that I
should probably have at least one of each.
I was a little overwhelmed and I wasn’t up
for a research project to try and fi gure out
what to buy. Now I was a little deterred.
When Jay told me about the
HobbyZone Firebird Stratos, it seemed
like a no-brainer: a model designed
specifi cally for a beginning pilot—
everything a new pilot needs to start
fl ying in one box. Even better, it included
a Virtual Instructor to help me get started
immediately and is designed to help
protect vital components in the event of a crash.
When the Stratos arrived, I was pleased to see a picture of
a trendy, futuristic-looking airplane on the front of the box.
Knowing that people of my skill level are the target market, I
expected to see something more like a bumper car that didn’t
exactly scream excitement, but this airplane does!
Assembly
When I opened the box, I was pleased that although some
assembly is required, the contents don’t look like a jigsaw
puzzle and the only tool required—a screwdriver—is included
in the kit! The instruction manual is well written, with large
illustrations to guide the owner through assembly, which took
me roughly an hour and offered no surprises.
Coincidently, that’s the same amount of time it takes to
charge the battery with the included DC car charger; an AC
charger is available, but not included.
The only point of confusion I encountered during assembly
was determining when to use which screws. Some deductive
reasoning and common sense helps make the right selection,
although better guidance in the manual would be helpful.
Assembly requires a few, simple steps. The tail slides into the
fuselage and is centered using preapplied positioning decals,
then is secured with provided tape. Next, the elevator control
rod is attached to the elevator control horn using a preinstalled
clevis. This control rod is threaded, allowing the clevis to be
moved for simple initial trimming.
Assembling and installing of the wing is equally easy. The
left and right wings slide over a carbon-fiber tube for added
strength and are secured to one another using two brackets
and four self-tapping screws. Use four of the longest screws
provided to secure the two brackets to the wings.
The wing fins are positioned by placing them into formfitting
slots made into the foam and are taped into place;
even the tape was provided.
This completed assembly is attached to the fuselage using
a plastic tab in the front and a carbon-fiber pin in the back,
allowing the wing assembly to pivot and break away in the
event of a crash. The carbon-fiber pin securing the wing
assembly is a tight fit, but it still must be secured with screws.
Use the short, gold-colored machine screws (flat on the ends,
not pointed), because the pointed, self-tapping screws may
damage the pin.
Secure the battery in the battery compartment using the
preplaced hook-and-loop tape, and assembly is complete.
Installing the included wing skids is optional, but I
recommend that the beginner pilot do so. Each wing skid
consists of a small piece of metal that extends from the bottom
of the wing to protect the propeller from impact in the event of
a crash. I can tell you from experience that the wing skids work!
The slightly loose fit of the wing skids concerns me. They
could possibly fall off and they do not appear to be available
for purchase as replacements except as part of the landing gear
kit ($5.99). I anticipate I’ll be using mine somewhat frequently
in the beginning, so I’ll probably try to secure mine better
using tape or even an adhesive.
The transmitter is made in the same shape as a modern
video-game controller—a familiar shape to many new, young
pilots. The manual explains the transmitter’s operation using
a combination of plain English and aviation terminology so
the pilot can understand the concept at hand as well as learn
some basic terms that are likely to appear elsewhere on the
aviation scene.
The manual goes on to describe the features of the Virtual
Instructor and what behaviors the pilot can expect when the
Virtual Instructor is providing in-flight assistance.
Finally, the manual includes information about the selection
of a suitable flying site, launch, flight, and landing tips to help
guide the new pilot through his or her first flying experience.
I have to admit, because there was one readily available, a
seasoned pilot launched
the airplane for me on
my first flight. I spent
a few minutes getting
accustomed to the
controls with the model
already in the air.
After a couple of
minutes of flying,
I decided I was a
professional pilot and
was ready to launch it
myself; as it turns out,
I’m not a professional
pilot and the launch
wasn’t successful,
but it didn’t end in
catastrophe. The Stratos
climbed for a moment,
then veered to the
left and lost altitude. Before I could say
“more throttle, up elevator,” my new
airplane had met the grass, wing first.
To my relief, everything worked as
designed: The small metal wing skids
were adorned with a few tufts of grass,
but the propellers were unharmed and
the wing assembly separated from the
fuselage preventing damage to the wing.
Reassembly took only seconds (and
no tools) and the total damage from this
crash was a small dimple in the foam
where the propeller made contact with
the fuselage after the wing came loose.
After a little touch-up work with a felttip
marker, it was as though it never
happened.
My second launch was less than
picture perfect, but was successful.
With a little more throttle than in my
first attempt, the Stratos climbed and I
was flying a large circular pattern with
relative confidence. Bright, preapplied
decals on the wings and fuselage helped
me maintain a sense of the model’s
orientation in the sky.
Out of the box, the Stratos was
maneuverable and relatively simple
to control. Anytime I felt as though I
was in trouble, releasing the elevator
stick allowed the Virtual Instructor to
stabilize the aircraft and within seconds,
I was back in my comfort zone.
My first landing was not necessarily
a thing of beauty, but wasn’t a crash
landing either. With little throttle, the
aircraft’s glide is smooth and level while
steadily losing altitude. I undeniably
panicked as the model approached a
few feet from the ground and gave it too
much up-elevator causing it to nosedive
into the grass where it skidded to a stop
(so that’s what a stall is).
Fortunately, someone at HobbyZone
foresaw this and cushioned the nose
with rubber. Although the model comes
with landing gear, the users’ manual
recommends becoming comfortable
with landing the model on its belly
before installing the gear.
Total flight time was roughly 10
minutes. With the airplane and my selfesteem
both intact, I felt that I had a very
successful first flight—and what a blast!
I certainly wouldn’t turn down
the opportunity to learn from an
experienced flight instructor. As I
learned from a FF flier who was at the
field the day I was flying the Stratos,
many pilots are excited to talk to a
beginning modeler about the hobby and
pass on what they know.
Still, the ability to get out on the flying
field and fly a model whenever the mood
strikes is the motivation that I needed to
get involved and to “get the bug.”
The Stratos’ assistance features can
be turned off in three stages as the
pilot’s skill level increases. The Virtual
Instructor (in-flight assistance) can be
turned off for a more traditional flight
experience, the transmitter can be set
to allow for more surface movement of
the elevator and rudder, and the elevator
itself can be made larger using the parts
included in the kit to make the aircraft
more responsive.
If a more severe accident occurs
and the model is damaged, a variety of
affordable replacement parts and kits are
available from HobbyZone.
I couldn’t be happier with this
kit! While still offering a challenge,
the Firebird Stratos with its Virtual
Instructor, gives me the assistance I
need to have fun and be successful
while I develop my piloting skills. Its
forgiving construction gives me the
confidence to actually get out and
fly it. I think I’m going to need more
batteries!
"AMA's Golden Boy"
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/09
Page Numbers: 59,60,61,62
As a casual RC truck enthusiast, I’ve
enjoyed hours of racing around
tracks watching the dust fl y and
listening to the hum of a well-tuned glow
engine. Bringing a model truck to life
after hours of setup and tuning, as well as
creative modifi cations, has been a fun and
rewarding experience.
When I was introduced to model
airplanes, I was more than just a little
intrigued, but the same principles I
enjoyed in RC trucks still applied.
Building and tuning the model is a labor
of love, followed by the enjoyment of the
fruits of your labor.
I’d never built a model airplane. I’d
never fl own one. I’d never seen one fl own.
All I know about airplanes is how to
buy the ticket, that I should arrive two
hours before boarding time, and to always
make sure I wear clean socks to avoid
embarrassment at the TSA checkpoint.
The unknowns that made the hobby
interesting to me also made it intimidating.
After a few sessions in front of a
computer fl ight simulator, I decided that
I’d like to learn to fl y models. When I told
our editor, Jay Smith, of my interest he
said, “Great! There’s a club here in town
that gives lessons each month!”
Lessons? I thought to myself, “I have to
buy a plane, and then fi nd and schedule
time with an instructor, then hope the
weather is good on the scheduled day at
the scheduled time—then I can fl y? When
I bought an RC truck, I came home,
started it up, and hit the gas!
Still undeterred, I went to a hobby
shop to look at airplanes—did I mention
I know nothing about them? At the store,
I found a variety of sizes, methods of
construction and propulsion, batteries,
fuels, and price points, as well as a
salesperson who was convinced that I
should probably have at least one of each.
I was a little overwhelmed and I wasn’t up
for a research project to try and fi gure out
what to buy. Now I was a little deterred.
When Jay told me about the
HobbyZone Firebird Stratos, it seemed
like a no-brainer: a model designed
specifi cally for a beginning pilot—
everything a new pilot needs to start
fl ying in one box. Even better, it included
a Virtual Instructor to help me get started
immediately and is designed to help
protect vital components in the event of a crash.
When the Stratos arrived, I was pleased to see a picture of
a trendy, futuristic-looking airplane on the front of the box.
Knowing that people of my skill level are the target market, I
expected to see something more like a bumper car that didn’t
exactly scream excitement, but this airplane does!
Assembly
When I opened the box, I was pleased that although some
assembly is required, the contents don’t look like a jigsaw
puzzle and the only tool required—a screwdriver—is included
in the kit! The instruction manual is well written, with large
illustrations to guide the owner through assembly, which took
me roughly an hour and offered no surprises.
Coincidently, that’s the same amount of time it takes to
charge the battery with the included DC car charger; an AC
charger is available, but not included.
The only point of confusion I encountered during assembly
was determining when to use which screws. Some deductive
reasoning and common sense helps make the right selection,
although better guidance in the manual would be helpful.
Assembly requires a few, simple steps. The tail slides into the
fuselage and is centered using preapplied positioning decals,
then is secured with provided tape. Next, the elevator control
rod is attached to the elevator control horn using a preinstalled
clevis. This control rod is threaded, allowing the clevis to be
moved for simple initial trimming.
Assembling and installing of the wing is equally easy. The
left and right wings slide over a carbon-fiber tube for added
strength and are secured to one another using two brackets
and four self-tapping screws. Use four of the longest screws
provided to secure the two brackets to the wings.
The wing fins are positioned by placing them into formfitting
slots made into the foam and are taped into place;
even the tape was provided.
This completed assembly is attached to the fuselage using
a plastic tab in the front and a carbon-fiber pin in the back,
allowing the wing assembly to pivot and break away in the
event of a crash. The carbon-fiber pin securing the wing
assembly is a tight fit, but it still must be secured with screws.
Use the short, gold-colored machine screws (flat on the ends,
not pointed), because the pointed, self-tapping screws may
damage the pin.
Secure the battery in the battery compartment using the
preplaced hook-and-loop tape, and assembly is complete.
Installing the included wing skids is optional, but I
recommend that the beginner pilot do so. Each wing skid
consists of a small piece of metal that extends from the bottom
of the wing to protect the propeller from impact in the event of
a crash. I can tell you from experience that the wing skids work!
The slightly loose fit of the wing skids concerns me. They
could possibly fall off and they do not appear to be available
for purchase as replacements except as part of the landing gear
kit ($5.99). I anticipate I’ll be using mine somewhat frequently
in the beginning, so I’ll probably try to secure mine better
using tape or even an adhesive.
The transmitter is made in the same shape as a modern
video-game controller—a familiar shape to many new, young
pilots. The manual explains the transmitter’s operation using
a combination of plain English and aviation terminology so
the pilot can understand the concept at hand as well as learn
some basic terms that are likely to appear elsewhere on the
aviation scene.
The manual goes on to describe the features of the Virtual
Instructor and what behaviors the pilot can expect when the
Virtual Instructor is providing in-flight assistance.
Finally, the manual includes information about the selection
of a suitable flying site, launch, flight, and landing tips to help
guide the new pilot through his or her first flying experience.
I have to admit, because there was one readily available, a
seasoned pilot launched
the airplane for me on
my first flight. I spent
a few minutes getting
accustomed to the
controls with the model
already in the air.
After a couple of
minutes of flying,
I decided I was a
professional pilot and
was ready to launch it
myself; as it turns out,
I’m not a professional
pilot and the launch
wasn’t successful,
but it didn’t end in
catastrophe. The Stratos
climbed for a moment,
then veered to the
left and lost altitude. Before I could say
“more throttle, up elevator,” my new
airplane had met the grass, wing first.
To my relief, everything worked as
designed: The small metal wing skids
were adorned with a few tufts of grass,
but the propellers were unharmed and
the wing assembly separated from the
fuselage preventing damage to the wing.
Reassembly took only seconds (and
no tools) and the total damage from this
crash was a small dimple in the foam
where the propeller made contact with
the fuselage after the wing came loose.
After a little touch-up work with a felttip
marker, it was as though it never
happened.
My second launch was less than
picture perfect, but was successful.
With a little more throttle than in my
first attempt, the Stratos climbed and I
was flying a large circular pattern with
relative confidence. Bright, preapplied
decals on the wings and fuselage helped
me maintain a sense of the model’s
orientation in the sky.
Out of the box, the Stratos was
maneuverable and relatively simple
to control. Anytime I felt as though I
was in trouble, releasing the elevator
stick allowed the Virtual Instructor to
stabilize the aircraft and within seconds,
I was back in my comfort zone.
My first landing was not necessarily
a thing of beauty, but wasn’t a crash
landing either. With little throttle, the
aircraft’s glide is smooth and level while
steadily losing altitude. I undeniably
panicked as the model approached a
few feet from the ground and gave it too
much up-elevator causing it to nosedive
into the grass where it skidded to a stop
(so that’s what a stall is).
Fortunately, someone at HobbyZone
foresaw this and cushioned the nose
with rubber. Although the model comes
with landing gear, the users’ manual
recommends becoming comfortable
with landing the model on its belly
before installing the gear.
Total flight time was roughly 10
minutes. With the airplane and my selfesteem
both intact, I felt that I had a very
successful first flight—and what a blast!
I certainly wouldn’t turn down
the opportunity to learn from an
experienced flight instructor. As I
learned from a FF flier who was at the
field the day I was flying the Stratos,
many pilots are excited to talk to a
beginning modeler about the hobby and
pass on what they know.
Still, the ability to get out on the flying
field and fly a model whenever the mood
strikes is the motivation that I needed to
get involved and to “get the bug.”
The Stratos’ assistance features can
be turned off in three stages as the
pilot’s skill level increases. The Virtual
Instructor (in-flight assistance) can be
turned off for a more traditional flight
experience, the transmitter can be set
to allow for more surface movement of
the elevator and rudder, and the elevator
itself can be made larger using the parts
included in the kit to make the aircraft
more responsive.
If a more severe accident occurs
and the model is damaged, a variety of
affordable replacement parts and kits are
available from HobbyZone.
I couldn’t be happier with this
kit! While still offering a challenge,
the Firebird Stratos with its Virtual
Instructor, gives me the assistance I
need to have fun and be successful
while I develop my piloting skills. Its
forgiving construction gives me the
confidence to actually get out and
fly it. I think I’m going to need more
batteries!
"AMA's Golden Boy"
