Park View: Horizon Hobby Super Cub, Aerobird Swift, Cessna 210, and PTU - 2008/02

62 MODEL AVIATION
MA STAFF
Park View: Horizon Hobby Super Cub, Aerobird Swift, Cessna 210, and PTU
These ParkZone and
HobbyZone products
will get newcomers
flying indoors or out
Jenna Helms holds the
Super Cub, which is
ready for its first flight.
Durable Z-foam is the
primary construction
material.
EVEN THOUGH my mom has been working for the AMA since
before I was born, it wasn’t until last summer that I was finally able
to try flying a model airplane of my own. I had always wanted to,
and when I was helping out at the Nats a model came in for testing
that Michael Ramsey needed a beginner to try out.
One of the best things about the HobbyZone Super Cub is that
everything I needed to go flying was in the box. As a matter of fact,
the morning I got it Michael said that he would take me out flying in
the afternoon if I got right on the project. As proof, he took pictures
of my reading the manual and building the model in the office while
mom worked on NatsNews.
There were a few times while reading the manual that I had to do
a double take. I’d never had any experience with a model, and the
part about charging the batteries had me somewhat confused.
Apparently the batteries shouldn’t get “hot” while being charged
with the wall or car charger, or they’ll be damaged.
Along with the manual is a DVD that goes through how the
Super Cub goes together and shows video of it flying. I couldn’t
believe this was a model I was going to be able to fly by myself for
the first time.
I guess the manufacturer thought of someone like me when it
designed the model because it has this safety device called Anti-
Crash Technology (ACT), which is supposed to keep the airplane
from hitting the ground if I get confused or lose control. All I have
to do is let go of the control stick, and the model’s sensors tell the
controls how to level it.
Above: The servos for the Super Cub are
specially designed to work with the Anti-
Crash Technology system.
Left: The contents of the box even include
a Phillips-head screwdriver as well as one
AC and one DC battery charger.
Even if the ACT didn’t work in time, I thought it was so cool that
the model was made from a material that could take a beating. Michael
said that the Z-foam was practically indestructible and proved it by
taking the wing and beating it against my foot. The plastic nose and tail
pieces aren’t quite as rugged, but they seem flexible enough to take a
beating if something bigger than my foot gets in front of the model
while I’m flying.
The only tool needed to put the model together is a Phillips-head
screwdriver, and even that is included in the box! The tail parts are
held on with two plastic nuts that come up through the bottom, and the
landing gear plugs right in and isn’t going to fall out; trust me, I tested
it. Matching white rubber bands are included to attach the wing.
HobbyZone Super Cub RTF
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 10:04 AM Page 62February 2008 63
Photos by Michael Ramsey
The Anti-Crash Technology is activated
from the transmitter. Light sensors on
the model note its flight attitude.
The Super Cub is capable of flying for as many as 10 minutes on a single charge, and
it’s powerful enough to fly from rough grass fields.
Pluses and Minuses
+•
Everything is included in one box.
• It’s a beginner’s model that looks like a
real airplane.
-•
Small wheels catch in tall-grass landings.
• Included AA batteries last only a short
time.
Super Cub Specifications
Wingspan: 47.75 inches
Length: 32.5 inches
Flying weight: 26 ounces
Motor: Geared Speed 480
Radio: Three-channel proportional FM
Recommended battery: 8.4-volt,
1000 mAh NiMH (included)
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
park field
Flight duration: 10-15 minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $159.99
When the plastic struts were attached, all
I had to do was wait for the battery to finish
charging, so I had lunch and watched the
DVD. That afternoon I went out with
Michael to test-fly the model.
Because he builds a lot of model
airplanes I wanted him to double-check that
everything was the way it should be so I
wouldn’t mess up anything I hadn’t tested!
All he had to do was adjust some of the
pushrods on the rudder and elevator, but
otherwise everything seemed okay. Michael
asked me if he should hand launch or try to
take the model off the thick grass.
“Let’s see if it will fly out of the grass,” I
said.
The Super Cub leaped from the ground
and flew straight out. Even in the wind,
Michael said that he had plenty of control to
fly it and all the power he needed to fly it up
and down the field. As I was about to ask
when it would be my turn to try, he held the
transmitter in front of me and said “Your
turn!”
I let the Cub fly by itself for a couple
seconds because I was scared and didn’t
want to mess up. However, seeing as how
the model practically flew itself, I started to
move the control stick and easily turned it
back toward us. As I flew, Michael helped
me with the correct control-stick
movements and told me when and how
much throttle to use.
He only had to take over the controls
once when we tested the ACT, which
obviously worked, but only if the model
was high enough to do the gentle pullout.
During that first flight we were up for
almost 10 minutes, and the motor stopped
working. This is what happens to save
power so the Cub can glide down to a
controlled landing. I was still nervous about
flying, but it was fun to finally fly my own
model.
The Super Cub looks like a real
airplane—not some cute box with wings.
I’ve flown it since and don’t have any
trouble flying around. My landings still
need some work, but grass stains on the
nose clean off easily and I’m really glad
there was a spare propeller in the box.
Because they were such a bargain, mom
bought me a couple more battery packs so
we can fly more than once at a time. Who
knows? Maybe next I’ll be able to get mom
to try flying RC!
Jenna Helms
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
Quiet and Electric Flight, November 2006
Backyard Flyer, January 2007
Quiet Flyer, April 2007
R/C Report, April 2007 and August 2007
ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurion RTF
We tested three ParkZone Cessna 210
Centurions—one in each trim scheme
(Electric Blue/Red, Electric Red/Yellow,
and Electric Green/Silver). Lucky for us
there were three boys to do the rigorous
research involved with this type of product.
William, 10; Devin, 7; and Jacob, 7, were
scheduled to spend the weekend at the JR
Indoor Electric Festival, and they were
eager to fly the models to the limits.
As do all airplanes in the ParkZone line,
the Cessna 210 comes with everything.
Because of its size it is packed fully
assembled.
The model is constructed from a
combination of molded foam materials. The
fuselage is bead foam that has a smooth
appearance and a stiff structure to support
the motor and landing gear as well as hold
the tail surfaces in position without allowing
them to flex or twist. The wings and tail
surfaces are molded Depron-type foam that
is moderately stiff because of the hot-press
manufacturing process, but it is extremely
stable and uniform in shape.
The tail and landing gear are adhered to
the fuselage with flexible cement. That
proved to be a benefit during rough handling
later. The wing appears to be attached with
double-stick tape.
The two-piece fuselage captures the allin-
one receiver/ESC/servo board and the
5.28:1 brushed-motor gearbox that is set
with approximately 8° of downthrust on
purpose. (Looks broken, doesn’t it?)
The radio system uses 2.4 GHz
technology, so there are no frequencycontrol
issues or an unsightly antenna
dangling from the model. The linear-drive
servos actuate the rudder and elevator in a
stepping, but more than adequate,
proportional fashion. The control
movement’s roughness didn’t harm the
Cessna’s ability to fly smoothly. The wire
pushrods are adjustable via the Z bends
outside the fuselage.
One of the three models seemed to have
less power than the other two. It also had a
shorter flight time, which seemed to be an
issue that was related to the particular 3.7-
volt, 70 mAh Li-Poly battery.
The Cessna 210 package is all-inclusive,
in that there’s no charging equipment to
buy. The display stand is powered with four
of the eight AA batteries that are supplied
and can charge a fully depleted Cessna
battery in 10-20 minutes.
The supplied batteries lasted roughly five
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 9:49 AM Page 6364 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The 18-gram Cessna will cruise at
the half-throttle setting.
Left inset: The Cessna 210 Centurion is
available in three color schemes and uses
2.4 GHz radio technology.
Below (L-R): Jacob, Devin, and William
thoroughly tested their Cessnas at the
2007 JR Indoor Electric Festival.
Clear tape at four points holds the
elevator in place. All linkages are
adjustable.
The 3.7-volt, 70 mAh Li-Poly flight
battery fits snugly under the Cessna
fuselage. Flight times exceed 10 minutes.
The charging station will have the
battery ready in less than 20 minutes. It
runs on four AA alkaline batteries.
ParkZone Cessna 210
Centurion RTF
+
• All-in-one package is perfect for any
indoor environment
• Scale appearance
• Ease of use
• Excellent micro-flight performance -•
Limited range
• Can get swamped in active 2.4 GHz
radio environment
Cessna 210 Specifications
Wingspan: 15 inches
Length: 12.8125 inches
Flying weight: 0.6 ounce (18 grams)
Radio: Three-channel 2.4 GHz
(included)
Recommended battery: 3.7-volt, 70
mAh Li-Poly (included)
Gear Ratio: 5.28:1
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
indoor site
Assembly time: Less than 15 minutes
Flight duration: Exceeds 10 minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $149.99
Pluses and Minuses
flights. When the radio range became
questionable and the charge times took
much longer, we knew it was time to put in
good alkaline batteries.
The ParkZone Cessna 210 is designed
for the absolute beginner, so after
unpacking and preflight of the models we
let the boys go out and test-fly. They had a
great deal of RC simulator experience and
varying skills as real-time RC pilots. All
three executed the maiden flights without
incident. In fact, they got brave with the
models very quickly.
The sign I use to judge a pilot’s
confidence with a model is the number of
touch-n-gos he or she does with it. All three
boys performed them during the first flight.
The Cessna will ROG (rise off ground)
or hand launch and needs only
approximately half power to cruise. The
model’s range was found to be somewhat
short—especially at the JR Indoor Electric
Festival’s heavily used 2.4 GHz radio
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 9:50 AM Page 64February 2008 65
Aerobird Swift Specifications
Wingspan: 46.5 inches
Length: 33 inches
Flying weight: 22 ounces
Motor: Speed 480
Radio: Three-channel proportional FM
Recommended battery: Seven-cell,
8.4-volt, 1000 mAh NiMH (included)
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
park field
Assembly time: Less than 30 minutes
Flight duration: 10-12 minutes
Required to complete: Nothing
Price: $149.99
+
• Stable like a trainer but terrific at basic
aerobatics
• Complete ready-to-fly package
• Powerful brushed-motor combination -•
No ground steering
Pluses and Minuses
HobbyZone Aerobird
Swift RTF
Above: Frank loads
the close-fitting
8 . 4 - v o l t NiMH
battery into the
nose compartment.
Left: The directdrive
Speed 480
motor can deplete
the fully charged
pack in six to seven
minutes.
The HobbyZone Aerobird is a great basic aerobatic trainer. It is
capable of performing rolls and inverted flight.
During the two-day event the boys got
daring with their models, which was allowed;
we wanted to see how they would take abuse.
After 10 or so flights, the nose-gear mounts
started weakening. A flexible adhesive, such
as UHU or aliphatic white glue, worked best
for that repair.
All three pilots managed to tear the left
stabilizer almost completely off, which was
quick to fix with foam-safe cyanoacrylate.
One of the models was involved in a midair
with a larger foamie, which tore the left wing
diagonally across its span. That Cessna was
mended on the spot with cyanoacrylate, and it
flew again a few minutes later. None of the
models seemed to experience depleted
performance because of the repairs.
Although the nose wheel is fixed, the
Cessna can be steered on the ground. It can
turn tightly in the air and shows no sign of tipstalling.
When the controls are relaxed, the
model returns to level flight. After a shallow
dive the Cessna will loop, and with a skilled
pilot at the controls it will fly out inverted at
the top of a half loop.
Ventilation systems cause considerable
turbulence indoors, so if outdoor flying is
attempted the conditions better be dead calm.
The Cessna slows quickly, and to flare the
landing smoothly it’s best to leave in just a
touch of power so the elevator control remains
effective.
As a father with boys who are excited
about the RC hobby, I can attest to the fact
that the ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurion has
seemed to increase these young fliers’
confidence. At a big event such as the JR
gathering the boys were able to participate on
a level that was appreciated not only by other
pilots, but by the spectators. I was extremely
proud to see them participate in a constructive
and sportsmanlike manner.
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
Fly RC, November 2007
Backyard Flyer, January 2008
Hobby Merchandiser, November 2007
environment. If it took a second for the
Cessna to respond to a command, we knew to
turn it back toward us.
Since the Cessna trimmed hands off, there
was little worry of losing the aircraft. And at
just 18 grams in weight, risk of property
damage was minimal. Instead of glitching,
the out-of-range model would center its
controls and go to low power, as if it had a
programmed fail-safe.
02sig3.QXD 12/20/07 12:16 PM Page 6566 MODEL AVIATION
Millennium PTU Specifications
Length: 8 inches
Flying weight: 12 grams (0.4 ounce)
Radio: 2.4 GHz two-channel with digital
trims
Recommended environment:
Indoors
Assembly time: Five minutes
Flight duration: Three to five minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $49.99
+•
Ready to go as soon as the box is opened
• 2.4 GHz radio
• Anyone can fly it. -• Foam body breaks
• Included AA batteries lasted only a few
flights.
Pluses and Minuses
HobbyZone Millennium PTU RTF
Above left: The Millennium PTU can hover steadily with little or
no input from the pilot.
Above: The PTU body is bead foam, and the supports and
tailboom are carbon fiber. The PTU’s low head speed makes it
safe to fly almost anywhere.
Left: The 2.4 GHz transmitter features digital trims and a
pocket door that hides the PTU charge plug.
HobbyZone Aerobird Swift RTF
HobbyZone’s Aerobird Swift is probably
the ultimate development of the all-foam,
electric-powered pusher RTFs that have
become popular recently. Unlike basic
airplanes in this class, the Swift features
ailerons for roll control and enough power to
perform most maneuvers including level
inverted flight. This model is lightweight,
thanks to its composite components, durable
foam construction, and three 9-gram servos.
The Swift features the three-channel
ZX10 radio system that uses a dual rate, 10-
bit, 1,024-step (extraordinarily responsive)
transmitter and a six-channel receiver. Six 27
MHz channels are available for this FM
system. Separate aileron servos provide
precise roll control.
The seven-cell, 1,000 mAh NiMH battery
keeps the 480-size brushed motor powered
for approximately 12 minutes. The battery
gets its energy from the 1.2-amp, variablerate,
peak-detecting, 12-volt charger. The
airplane also has X-Port if you want to fly
combat or drop things.
Assembling the Swift requires roughly 20
minutes and a screwdriver. Flying it is
surprising. Aircraft in this class are not
supposed to climb this fast, roll this well, fly
level while inverted, perform round loops,
snap roll, or slow roll as well as it does.
Maybe it is time to redefine this category to
include basic aerobatic performance.
Ground takeoffs are quick, but there is no
ground steering. Hand launches are best
since the landing gear and the model’s extra
drag/weight can be left in the box. Flying
“shoeless” means the Swift climbs a bit
faster with slightly more maneuvering
authority.
For just $150 this airplane provides highquality
components, flying excitement, and
pilot growth, while remaining easy to fly.
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator online
magazine features an in-depth article about
the Swift. Learn about building it, flying it,
and what it can do, in the Ultra-Lites section.
Frank Granelli
[email protected]
02sig3.QXD 12/20/07 12:16 PM Page 66Sources:
Sport Aviator
www.masportaviator.com
Other Review Sources:
Backyard Flyer, July 2007
Quiet and Electric Flight, July 2007
Sport Aviator, December 2007
HobbyZone Millennium PTU RTF
The HobbyZone Millennium PTU (Personal
Transport Unit) is much like the Pico Z indoor
helicopters my brother and I got last
Christmas. They were a lot of fun, but it
wasn’t long before the Li-Poly battery inside
wouldn’t charge. Also, if one of our friends
wanted to fly his helicopter with us, he
couldn’t because there were only a couple
infrared channels available.
The PTU uses the 2.4 GHz frequency
system, so no matter how many of us want to
fly, there’s never a problem. Because the main
rotor and tail are black, the spaceman is all
that’s visible, so it really looks like a rocket
man flying through the air. The transmitter
controls the power and the rudder control;
there’s no roll or up-elevator control.
Everything that is needed to fly is found in
the box. The transmitter is also the charger for
the PTU, and it needs only four AA batteries.
The transmitter and PTU have to be off for the
charger to work, and the plug connects easily
to the outlet on the PTU. The outlet on my old
Pico pushed in after awhile.
When the red light is on, the transmitter
goes out, and the PTU is ready to fly. Most
flights last 10 minutes or so. I found that the
PTU tipped over easily if I tried to take off
slowly. If I gave the transmitter full power,
the PTU lifted off without a problem and was
steady in the air.
It pretty much hovers in one place, but if I
blew on it the PTU would easily fly away and
then settle into a hover again. When full
power is added the PTU flies just a little
forward and up, and when power is reduced it
comes straight down and rotates to the left
depending on how quickly the power is
changed.
The steering trim on the transmitter is
digital and beeps when it’s used. You can
press either side of the trim five or six times
before the trim adjustment runs out. On mine
we had to bend more pitch into the tail-rotor
propeller so the trim could be recentered, and
then I had equal right and left control.
I let all my friends fly the PTU. If the
Millennium Man bumps into stuff or lands
hard it seems to come out unbroken for the
most part. But we’ve had to glue his feet,
arms, and hands back on. We used the UHU
and GWS glue to fix those parts.
The PTU is different, but I like it. When
I’m stuck in my room doing homework, I can
fly anytime I need a break. MA
William Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
None at time of publication
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Horizon Hobby Inc.
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com

62 MODEL AVIATION
MA STAFF
Park View: Horizon Hobby Super Cub, Aerobird Swift, Cessna 210, and PTU
These ParkZone and
HobbyZone products
will get newcomers
flying indoors or out
Jenna Helms holds the
Super Cub, which is
ready for its first flight.
Durable Z-foam is the
primary construction
material.
EVEN THOUGH my mom has been working for the AMA since
before I was born, it wasn’t until last summer that I was finally able
to try flying a model airplane of my own. I had always wanted to,
and when I was helping out at the Nats a model came in for testing
that Michael Ramsey needed a beginner to try out.
One of the best things about the HobbyZone Super Cub is that
everything I needed to go flying was in the box. As a matter of fact,
the morning I got it Michael said that he would take me out flying in
the afternoon if I got right on the project. As proof, he took pictures
of my reading the manual and building the model in the office while
mom worked on NatsNews.
There were a few times while reading the manual that I had to do
a double take. I’d never had any experience with a model, and the
part about charging the batteries had me somewhat confused.
Apparently the batteries shouldn’t get “hot” while being charged
with the wall or car charger, or they’ll be damaged.
Along with the manual is a DVD that goes through how the
Super Cub goes together and shows video of it flying. I couldn’t
believe this was a model I was going to be able to fly by myself for
the first time.
I guess the manufacturer thought of someone like me when it
designed the model because it has this safety device called Anti-
Crash Technology (ACT), which is supposed to keep the airplane
from hitting the ground if I get confused or lose control. All I have
to do is let go of the control stick, and the model’s sensors tell the
controls how to level it.
Above: The servos for the Super Cub are
specially designed to work with the Anti-
Crash Technology system.
Left: The contents of the box even include
a Phillips-head screwdriver as well as one
AC and one DC battery charger.
Even if the ACT didn’t work in time, I thought it was so cool that
the model was made from a material that could take a beating. Michael
said that the Z-foam was practically indestructible and proved it by
taking the wing and beating it against my foot. The plastic nose and tail
pieces aren’t quite as rugged, but they seem flexible enough to take a
beating if something bigger than my foot gets in front of the model
while I’m flying.
The only tool needed to put the model together is a Phillips-head
screwdriver, and even that is included in the box! The tail parts are
held on with two plastic nuts that come up through the bottom, and the
landing gear plugs right in and isn’t going to fall out; trust me, I tested
it. Matching white rubber bands are included to attach the wing.
HobbyZone Super Cub RTF
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 10:04 AM Page 62February 2008 63
Photos by Michael Ramsey
The Anti-Crash Technology is activated
from the transmitter. Light sensors on
the model note its flight attitude.
The Super Cub is capable of flying for as many as 10 minutes on a single charge, and
it’s powerful enough to fly from rough grass fields.
Pluses and Minuses
+•
Everything is included in one box.
• It’s a beginner’s model that looks like a
real airplane.
-•
Small wheels catch in tall-grass landings.
• Included AA batteries last only a short
time.
Super Cub Specifications
Wingspan: 47.75 inches
Length: 32.5 inches
Flying weight: 26 ounces
Motor: Geared Speed 480
Radio: Three-channel proportional FM
Recommended battery: 8.4-volt,
1000 mAh NiMH (included)
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
park field
Flight duration: 10-15 minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $159.99
When the plastic struts were attached, all
I had to do was wait for the battery to finish
charging, so I had lunch and watched the
DVD. That afternoon I went out with
Michael to test-fly the model.
Because he builds a lot of model
airplanes I wanted him to double-check that
everything was the way it should be so I
wouldn’t mess up anything I hadn’t tested!
All he had to do was adjust some of the
pushrods on the rudder and elevator, but
otherwise everything seemed okay. Michael
asked me if he should hand launch or try to
take the model off the thick grass.
“Let’s see if it will fly out of the grass,” I
said.
The Super Cub leaped from the ground
and flew straight out. Even in the wind,
Michael said that he had plenty of control to
fly it and all the power he needed to fly it up
and down the field. As I was about to ask
when it would be my turn to try, he held the
transmitter in front of me and said “Your
turn!”
I let the Cub fly by itself for a couple
seconds because I was scared and didn’t
want to mess up. However, seeing as how
the model practically flew itself, I started to
move the control stick and easily turned it
back toward us. As I flew, Michael helped
me with the correct control-stick
movements and told me when and how
much throttle to use.
He only had to take over the controls
once when we tested the ACT, which
obviously worked, but only if the model
was high enough to do the gentle pullout.
During that first flight we were up for
almost 10 minutes, and the motor stopped
working. This is what happens to save
power so the Cub can glide down to a
controlled landing. I was still nervous about
flying, but it was fun to finally fly my own
model.
The Super Cub looks like a real
airplane—not some cute box with wings.
I’ve flown it since and don’t have any
trouble flying around. My landings still
need some work, but grass stains on the
nose clean off easily and I’m really glad
there was a spare propeller in the box.
Because they were such a bargain, mom
bought me a couple more battery packs so
we can fly more than once at a time. Who
knows? Maybe next I’ll be able to get mom
to try flying RC!
Jenna Helms
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
Quiet and Electric Flight, November 2006
Backyard Flyer, January 2007
Quiet Flyer, April 2007
R/C Report, April 2007 and August 2007
ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurion RTF
We tested three ParkZone Cessna 210
Centurions—one in each trim scheme
(Electric Blue/Red, Electric Red/Yellow,
and Electric Green/Silver). Lucky for us
there were three boys to do the rigorous
research involved with this type of product.
William, 10; Devin, 7; and Jacob, 7, were
scheduled to spend the weekend at the JR
Indoor Electric Festival, and they were
eager to fly the models to the limits.
As do all airplanes in the ParkZone line,
the Cessna 210 comes with everything.
Because of its size it is packed fully
assembled.
The model is constructed from a
combination of molded foam materials. The
fuselage is bead foam that has a smooth
appearance and a stiff structure to support
the motor and landing gear as well as hold
the tail surfaces in position without allowing
them to flex or twist. The wings and tail
surfaces are molded Depron-type foam that
is moderately stiff because of the hot-press
manufacturing process, but it is extremely
stable and uniform in shape.
The tail and landing gear are adhered to
the fuselage with flexible cement. That
proved to be a benefit during rough handling
later. The wing appears to be attached with
double-stick tape.
The two-piece fuselage captures the allin-
one receiver/ESC/servo board and the
5.28:1 brushed-motor gearbox that is set
with approximately 8° of downthrust on
purpose. (Looks broken, doesn’t it?)
The radio system uses 2.4 GHz
technology, so there are no frequencycontrol
issues or an unsightly antenna
dangling from the model. The linear-drive
servos actuate the rudder and elevator in a
stepping, but more than adequate,
proportional fashion. The control
movement’s roughness didn’t harm the
Cessna’s ability to fly smoothly. The wire
pushrods are adjustable via the Z bends
outside the fuselage.
One of the three models seemed to have
less power than the other two. It also had a
shorter flight time, which seemed to be an
issue that was related to the particular 3.7-
volt, 70 mAh Li-Poly battery.
The Cessna 210 package is all-inclusive,
in that there’s no charging equipment to
buy. The display stand is powered with four
of the eight AA batteries that are supplied
and can charge a fully depleted Cessna
battery in 10-20 minutes.
The supplied batteries lasted roughly five
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 9:49 AM Page 6364 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The 18-gram Cessna will cruise at
the half-throttle setting.
Left inset: The Cessna 210 Centurion is
available in three color schemes and uses
2.4 GHz radio technology.
Below (L-R): Jacob, Devin, and William
thoroughly tested their Cessnas at the
2007 JR Indoor Electric Festival.
Clear tape at four points holds the
elevator in place. All linkages are
adjustable.
The 3.7-volt, 70 mAh Li-Poly flight
battery fits snugly under the Cessna
fuselage. Flight times exceed 10 minutes.
The charging station will have the
battery ready in less than 20 minutes. It
runs on four AA alkaline batteries.
ParkZone Cessna 210
Centurion RTF
+
• All-in-one package is perfect for any
indoor environment
• Scale appearance
• Ease of use
• Excellent micro-flight performance -•
Limited range
• Can get swamped in active 2.4 GHz
radio environment
Cessna 210 Specifications
Wingspan: 15 inches
Length: 12.8125 inches
Flying weight: 0.6 ounce (18 grams)
Radio: Three-channel 2.4 GHz
(included)
Recommended battery: 3.7-volt, 70
mAh Li-Poly (included)
Gear Ratio: 5.28:1
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
indoor site
Assembly time: Less than 15 minutes
Flight duration: Exceeds 10 minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $149.99
Pluses and Minuses
flights. When the radio range became
questionable and the charge times took
much longer, we knew it was time to put in
good alkaline batteries.
The ParkZone Cessna 210 is designed
for the absolute beginner, so after
unpacking and preflight of the models we
let the boys go out and test-fly. They had a
great deal of RC simulator experience and
varying skills as real-time RC pilots. All
three executed the maiden flights without
incident. In fact, they got brave with the
models very quickly.
The sign I use to judge a pilot’s
confidence with a model is the number of
touch-n-gos he or she does with it. All three
boys performed them during the first flight.
The Cessna will ROG (rise off ground)
or hand launch and needs only
approximately half power to cruise. The
model’s range was found to be somewhat
short—especially at the JR Indoor Electric
Festival’s heavily used 2.4 GHz radio
02sig2.QXD 12/20/07 9:50 AM Page 64February 2008 65
Aerobird Swift Specifications
Wingspan: 46.5 inches
Length: 33 inches
Flying weight: 22 ounces
Motor: Speed 480
Radio: Three-channel proportional FM
Recommended battery: Seven-cell,
8.4-volt, 1000 mAh NiMH (included)
Recommended environment: AMArecommended
park field
Assembly time: Less than 30 minutes
Flight duration: 10-12 minutes
Required to complete: Nothing
Price: $149.99
+
• Stable like a trainer but terrific at basic
aerobatics
• Complete ready-to-fly package
• Powerful brushed-motor combination -•
No ground steering
Pluses and Minuses
HobbyZone Aerobird
Swift RTF
Above: Frank loads
the close-fitting
8 . 4 - v o l t NiMH
battery into the
nose compartment.
Left: The directdrive
Speed 480
motor can deplete
the fully charged
pack in six to seven
minutes.
The HobbyZone Aerobird is a great basic aerobatic trainer. It is
capable of performing rolls and inverted flight.
During the two-day event the boys got
daring with their models, which was allowed;
we wanted to see how they would take abuse.
After 10 or so flights, the nose-gear mounts
started weakening. A flexible adhesive, such
as UHU or aliphatic white glue, worked best
for that repair.
All three pilots managed to tear the left
stabilizer almost completely off, which was
quick to fix with foam-safe cyanoacrylate.
One of the models was involved in a midair
with a larger foamie, which tore the left wing
diagonally across its span. That Cessna was
mended on the spot with cyanoacrylate, and it
flew again a few minutes later. None of the
models seemed to experience depleted
performance because of the repairs.
Although the nose wheel is fixed, the
Cessna can be steered on the ground. It can
turn tightly in the air and shows no sign of tipstalling.
When the controls are relaxed, the
model returns to level flight. After a shallow
dive the Cessna will loop, and with a skilled
pilot at the controls it will fly out inverted at
the top of a half loop.
Ventilation systems cause considerable
turbulence indoors, so if outdoor flying is
attempted the conditions better be dead calm.
The Cessna slows quickly, and to flare the
landing smoothly it’s best to leave in just a
touch of power so the elevator control remains
effective.
As a father with boys who are excited
about the RC hobby, I can attest to the fact
that the ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurion has
seemed to increase these young fliers’
confidence. At a big event such as the JR
gathering the boys were able to participate on
a level that was appreciated not only by other
pilots, but by the spectators. I was extremely
proud to see them participate in a constructive
and sportsmanlike manner.
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
Fly RC, November 2007
Backyard Flyer, January 2008
Hobby Merchandiser, November 2007
environment. If it took a second for the
Cessna to respond to a command, we knew to
turn it back toward us.
Since the Cessna trimmed hands off, there
was little worry of losing the aircraft. And at
just 18 grams in weight, risk of property
damage was minimal. Instead of glitching,
the out-of-range model would center its
controls and go to low power, as if it had a
programmed fail-safe.
02sig3.QXD 12/20/07 12:16 PM Page 6566 MODEL AVIATION
Millennium PTU Specifications
Length: 8 inches
Flying weight: 12 grams (0.4 ounce)
Radio: 2.4 GHz two-channel with digital
trims
Recommended environment:
Indoors
Assembly time: Five minutes
Flight duration: Three to five minutes
Needed to complete: Nothing
Price: $49.99
+•
Ready to go as soon as the box is opened
• 2.4 GHz radio
• Anyone can fly it. -• Foam body breaks
• Included AA batteries lasted only a few
flights.
Pluses and Minuses
HobbyZone Millennium PTU RTF
Above left: The Millennium PTU can hover steadily with little or
no input from the pilot.
Above: The PTU body is bead foam, and the supports and
tailboom are carbon fiber. The PTU’s low head speed makes it
safe to fly almost anywhere.
Left: The 2.4 GHz transmitter features digital trims and a
pocket door that hides the PTU charge plug.
HobbyZone Aerobird Swift RTF
HobbyZone’s Aerobird Swift is probably
the ultimate development of the all-foam,
electric-powered pusher RTFs that have
become popular recently. Unlike basic
airplanes in this class, the Swift features
ailerons for roll control and enough power to
perform most maneuvers including level
inverted flight. This model is lightweight,
thanks to its composite components, durable
foam construction, and three 9-gram servos.
The Swift features the three-channel
ZX10 radio system that uses a dual rate, 10-
bit, 1,024-step (extraordinarily responsive)
transmitter and a six-channel receiver. Six 27
MHz channels are available for this FM
system. Separate aileron servos provide
precise roll control.
The seven-cell, 1,000 mAh NiMH battery
keeps the 480-size brushed motor powered
for approximately 12 minutes. The battery
gets its energy from the 1.2-amp, variablerate,
peak-detecting, 12-volt charger. The
airplane also has X-Port if you want to fly
combat or drop things.
Assembling the Swift requires roughly 20
minutes and a screwdriver. Flying it is
surprising. Aircraft in this class are not
supposed to climb this fast, roll this well, fly
level while inverted, perform round loops,
snap roll, or slow roll as well as it does.
Maybe it is time to redefine this category to
include basic aerobatic performance.
Ground takeoffs are quick, but there is no
ground steering. Hand launches are best
since the landing gear and the model’s extra
drag/weight can be left in the box. Flying
“shoeless” means the Swift climbs a bit
faster with slightly more maneuvering
authority.
For just $150 this airplane provides highquality
components, flying excitement, and
pilot growth, while remaining easy to fly.
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator online
magazine features an in-depth article about
the Swift. Learn about building it, flying it,
and what it can do, in the Ultra-Lites section.
Frank Granelli
[email protected]
02sig3.QXD 12/20/07 12:16 PM Page 66Sources:
Sport Aviator
www.masportaviator.com
Other Review Sources:
Backyard Flyer, July 2007
Quiet and Electric Flight, July 2007
Sport Aviator, December 2007
HobbyZone Millennium PTU RTF
The HobbyZone Millennium PTU (Personal
Transport Unit) is much like the Pico Z indoor
helicopters my brother and I got last
Christmas. They were a lot of fun, but it
wasn’t long before the Li-Poly battery inside
wouldn’t charge. Also, if one of our friends
wanted to fly his helicopter with us, he
couldn’t because there were only a couple
infrared channels available.
The PTU uses the 2.4 GHz frequency
system, so no matter how many of us want to
fly, there’s never a problem. Because the main
rotor and tail are black, the spaceman is all
that’s visible, so it really looks like a rocket
man flying through the air. The transmitter
controls the power and the rudder control;
there’s no roll or up-elevator control.
Everything that is needed to fly is found in
the box. The transmitter is also the charger for
the PTU, and it needs only four AA batteries.
The transmitter and PTU have to be off for the
charger to work, and the plug connects easily
to the outlet on the PTU. The outlet on my old
Pico pushed in after awhile.
When the red light is on, the transmitter
goes out, and the PTU is ready to fly. Most
flights last 10 minutes or so. I found that the
PTU tipped over easily if I tried to take off
slowly. If I gave the transmitter full power,
the PTU lifted off without a problem and was
steady in the air.
It pretty much hovers in one place, but if I
blew on it the PTU would easily fly away and
then settle into a hover again. When full
power is added the PTU flies just a little
forward and up, and when power is reduced it
comes straight down and rotates to the left
depending on how quickly the power is
changed.
The steering trim on the transmitter is
digital and beeps when it’s used. You can
press either side of the trim five or six times
before the trim adjustment runs out. On mine
we had to bend more pitch into the tail-rotor
propeller so the trim could be recentered, and
then I had equal right and left control.
I let all my friends fly the PTU. If the
Millennium Man bumps into stuff or lands
hard it seems to come out unbroken for the
most part. But we’ve had to glue his feet,
arms, and hands back on. We used the UHU
and GWS glue to fix those parts.
The PTU is different, but I like it. When
I’m stuck in my room doing homework, I can
fly anytime I need a break. MA
William Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Review Sources:
None at time of publication
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Horizon Hobby Inc.
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com