EVERY ONCE IN awhile, I get to review
something that is either unique or the first in a
series. In this case, I am lucky to report on the
first release in the E-flite Platinum Series: the
AT-6 Texan ARF.
According to the company, its Platinum
line delivers superior, enhanced features and
meticulous attention to detail. Let’s find out if
that’s true together.
Construction: The AT-6 25e
comes out of the box with all
kinds of details completed,
including a factory-painted
fiberglass cowl, air scoops,
dummy radial engine, painted
canopy and pilot, and scale
strut covers.
After glancing through the
manual, I was surprised by one
thing: little glue is used in the
Texan’s construction. Almost
everything bolts together,
which is unusual in ARF
assembly these days.
The model comes nicely
packaged with major
assemblies in individual polybags,
all of which are taped to
the cardboard interior to keep
them from shifting and
damaging each other.
However, my box seems to
have been used for football
practice along the way; several
pieces were broken and dented.
But nothing was beyond
fixing. Since I consider myself
at least an average modeler, I
mended the parts without
bothering the nice service
people at Horizon Hobby. Had
a structural issue occurred, they
would have gotten a call and,
A superb scale replica of the
legendary primary trainer
I’m sure, done whatever they could to
make it right.
After spending a bit of time fixing the
small crack in the rudder and flap, I fired up
the heat gun and iron to remove wrinkles in
the covering. The airframe arrives completely
covered in UltraCote and with a variety of
decals (insignia, N number, etc.) in place, so
there’s nothing left to do there.
In assembling the AT-6, everything is
straightforward. Although it’s small, you will
need a lot of radio gear; each control surface
requires its own servo. (Two for ailerons, two
for elevator, one for rudder, two for flaps, and
one for retracts, if you go that route.) A few
of those require extensions and Y harnesses.
All control surfaces come out of the
box hinged, which also cuts down on
February 2010 41
The Texan is fully sheeted with balsa
except for ailerons and tail surfaces, which
have visible ribs through the covering to
mimic a fabric surface.
The bottom of the fiberglass cowling got
the “BB poxy” treatment. Shown is
roughly a 4-ounce ballast puddle that
made it possible for the Texan to balance
on the CG.
+•
Entire airframe is built up from
balsa and plywood.
• Plug-in outboard wing panels make
model easy to transport.
• Comes ready for flaps and optional
retracts.
• Cowl and canopy come painted.
• Firewall will accept a wide variety
of motors and mounts.
• All servos are enclosed, giving a
much more scale look.
• Top battery hatch allows quick
battery changes (magnetic).
• Assembles quickly, because most
parts bolt together (and little glue
is needed).
• Surprisingly great flight
performance using the
recommended power system.
-•
The review model required almost
4.5 ounces of weight in the nose to
balance. A larger-capacity battery
helps with balance.
• Elevator servos require either a
computer radio with mixing
capability or a special reversing Y
harness.
Pluses and Minuses
Five E-flite servos hide inside the wing. The concealed flap servo is a
nice touch. Leaf hinges are used on the flaps; CA hinges are set up
on the rest.
Each elevator half gets its own servo. The author appointed his
Texan with the best in JR digital guidance, as well as 2.4 GHz
Spektrum radio technology.
Robart small mechanical retracts are a perfect fit. Horizon Hobby
offers a package with prebent struts. A JR retract servo is as
reliable as they come.
E-flite’s Power 25 outrunner is surrounded by laser-cut vent holes
in the firewall. The forward hatch is locked in place with strong
magnets and locator pins.
Photos by Mark Lanterman
assembly time. Putting the wing together is
literally as simple as installing the servos,
attaching the pushrods, and bolting the
three wing sections together. The only glue
used in the wing’s construction adheres
hardwood blocks to the servos’ hatches.
The scale split flaps are operational and
hinged when they come out of the box.
They use a simple and unique pin-interlock
system, so they operate together when the
wings are plugged in.
A set of fixed gear is included with the kit.
However, my review Texan included a set of
Robart retracts, so I gladly installed them.
Since the model was designed to go
either way, retract installation was a snap. I
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:03 AM Page 41
Features such as airfoil-shaped tail surfaces set this model apart from others offered in its
size. It has “grunt” for power but needs no cleanup.
42 MODEL AVIATION
Left: Landing should be done with flaps fully deployed (with
landing gear), and roughly 25% throttle is used to carry the
model to the threshold.
Specifications
Below: The Texan is highly maneuverable. Loops and rolls are
smooth and rudder authority is nice, which is good for
coordinating turns and managing torque at full throttle.
Test-Model Details
merely cut away the covering from the
retract and wheel wells, bolted in the gear,
and installed the servo.
The only “problem” was that I couldn’t
use the included E-flite tires; they were too
wide to use with the Robart struts. (I
couldn’t attach a wheel collar because of
the length of the strut axle.) I found a
Motor: Power 25 brushless
outrunner, 60-amp speed control
Battery: Thunder Power RC threecell,
4200 mAh Li-Poly
Propeller: Windsor 12 x 8E
Radio system: Spektrum AR6200
receiver, seven JR DS268BB digital
microservos, two 6-inch servo
extensions (ailerons), 6-inch Y
harness (ailerons)
Ready-to-fly weight: 4.6 pounds
(with battery)
Flight duration: Six to eight
minutes
Model type: Semiscale RC ARF
Skill level: Intermediate builder,
intermediate pilot
Wingspan: 54 inches
Wing area: 455 square inches
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 3.9-4.5 pounds
Wing loading: 19.7-22.8 ounces/
square foot
Power system: 450-500 watts
Radio: Six channels with seven
microservos (not included)
Construction: Mostly balsa,
plywood stress points and hard
mounts, painted plastic and moldedfiberglass
parts
Covering/finish: Light Gray, True
Red, and Cub Yellow UltraCote;
matching paint
Street price: $189.99
similar pair from Du-Bro that works nicely.
With the Robart gear, I recommend
removing the strut and grinding a small flat
area so that the setscrew can get a more
secure grip. With the weight of the AT-6, it
would be far too easy for the strut to slip on
takeoff or landing and cause an abrupt end
to your flying.
Regardless of the gear system you use,
E-flite supplies a pair of gear door covers.
It’s a nice touch, and it gives the airplane
slightly more of a full-scale look.
The fuselage goes together almost as
easily as the wing does. Similar to the
wing, the stabilizer is a plug-in design and
bolts to the rear of the fuselage. All servos
are mounted around the cockpit area. Since
the tubes for the pushrods are already
installed, everything can be put in place in
a short amount of time.
Because of the way the pushrods are
installed, the elevator servos require either
a reversing Y harness or a programmed mix
in your computer radio. I used a reversing
harness, because I didn’t have an extra
channel with the AR6200 receiver.
On the business end of the fuselage,
installing the motor, ESC, and battery is
easy. As I mentioned, I used the
recommended E-flite equipment and it all
fit as the manual indicated. However, the
firewall is made so that a wide variety of
motors can be used, and the space inside
the fuselage will give you many options for
mounting spots.
Getting to the battery and speed control
is a cinch. Lift off the hatch, which adheres
tightly to the fuselage, thanks to a strong,
permanent magnet that won’t fall off
midflight.
Again, little glue is used in the fuselage
assembly; most parts bolt together. You
will have to glue on the dummy rotary
engine, the decorative intake scoops, the
pilot, and the canopy.
Although it wasn’t used in this review,
a detailed cockpit kit is available
separately. It includes an aft instrument
hood, main fuselage rollover structure, two
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:08 AM Page 42
seat backs, and a floor. The pilot you see in
the finished model is included with the kit,
and an additional pilot is available
separately.
All finished, my AT-6 ARF weighed
more than 3 pounds with the battery in
place. However, the CG was off by a bunch
(because of tail-heaviness), so the first
thing I did was substitute a larger battery
pack for extra nose weight.
Still needing more, I removed the cowl
and ended up gluing close to 4.5 ounces of
nose weight to attain the proper balance.
This resulted in a model that was heavier
than the manual specified, but by only a
few ounces.
After adjusting the control throws to
match those recommended in the
instructions, it was time to see how the
Texan would fly.
Flying: I wasn’t sure what to expect. This
was a heavy model for its size, at slightly
more than 4.5 pounds. So I decided to try a
few taxi runs, to see if I had the power.
Was I pleasantly surprised! The Texan
not only handled well on the ground, but it
would also come up on the mains at
approximately half throttle, so there was
plenty of power.
Then it was time for the first flight. Eflite
advises against using flaps, so I lined
up the AT-6 into the wind, throttled it up to
flying speed, and it lifted off as prettily as
could be. The model needed little trim, and
even though it bumped around in the wind
a bit, it had more than enough power.
Once the Texan is in the air, it’s a blast
to fly. This is not a 3-D machine by any
means, but it will easily fly most Scale or
IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic
Club)-type maneuver you’d want to try:
loops, point rolls, hammerheads, inverted
flight, etc.
44 MODEL AVIATION
There’s a bit of coupling in the point
rolls, but that’s to be expected—as with
the full-scale Texan. This model is a great
barnstormer that has the right balance
between scale looks and outstanding
performance.
With flaps on, you’ll need slightly more
power, but you can grease it in on the
landings. Takeoffs are quite a bit shorter
too.
If you’re in the market for a smaller
warbird, I strongly recommend E-flite’s
AT-6 Texan 25. It goes together quickly,
offers a nice amount of scale realism, and
flies great. Although it isn’t a “park flyer,”
it is a nice little electric design that gives a
lot in a little package. MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
E-flite/Horizon Hobby
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Sources:
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Spektrum
(217) 352-1913
www.spektrumrc.com
Windsor Propeller
http://masterairscrew.com
Robart
(630) 584-7616
www.robart.com
Other Published Reviews:
Backyard Flyer: March 2008
Quiet & Electric Flight International:
April 2008
R/C Report: July 2008
RC Sport Flyer: October 2008
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:13 AM Page 44
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/02
Page Numbers: 40,41,42,44
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/02
Page Numbers: 40,41,42,44
EVERY ONCE IN awhile, I get to review
something that is either unique or the first in a
series. In this case, I am lucky to report on the
first release in the E-flite Platinum Series: the
AT-6 Texan ARF.
According to the company, its Platinum
line delivers superior, enhanced features and
meticulous attention to detail. Let’s find out if
that’s true together.
Construction: The AT-6 25e
comes out of the box with all
kinds of details completed,
including a factory-painted
fiberglass cowl, air scoops,
dummy radial engine, painted
canopy and pilot, and scale
strut covers.
After glancing through the
manual, I was surprised by one
thing: little glue is used in the
Texan’s construction. Almost
everything bolts together,
which is unusual in ARF
assembly these days.
The model comes nicely
packaged with major
assemblies in individual polybags,
all of which are taped to
the cardboard interior to keep
them from shifting and
damaging each other.
However, my box seems to
have been used for football
practice along the way; several
pieces were broken and dented.
But nothing was beyond
fixing. Since I consider myself
at least an average modeler, I
mended the parts without
bothering the nice service
people at Horizon Hobby. Had
a structural issue occurred, they
would have gotten a call and,
A superb scale replica of the
legendary primary trainer
I’m sure, done whatever they could to
make it right.
After spending a bit of time fixing the
small crack in the rudder and flap, I fired up
the heat gun and iron to remove wrinkles in
the covering. The airframe arrives completely
covered in UltraCote and with a variety of
decals (insignia, N number, etc.) in place, so
there’s nothing left to do there.
In assembling the AT-6, everything is
straightforward. Although it’s small, you will
need a lot of radio gear; each control surface
requires its own servo. (Two for ailerons, two
for elevator, one for rudder, two for flaps, and
one for retracts, if you go that route.) A few
of those require extensions and Y harnesses.
All control surfaces come out of the
box hinged, which also cuts down on
February 2010 41
The Texan is fully sheeted with balsa
except for ailerons and tail surfaces, which
have visible ribs through the covering to
mimic a fabric surface.
The bottom of the fiberglass cowling got
the “BB poxy” treatment. Shown is
roughly a 4-ounce ballast puddle that
made it possible for the Texan to balance
on the CG.
+•
Entire airframe is built up from
balsa and plywood.
• Plug-in outboard wing panels make
model easy to transport.
• Comes ready for flaps and optional
retracts.
• Cowl and canopy come painted.
• Firewall will accept a wide variety
of motors and mounts.
• All servos are enclosed, giving a
much more scale look.
• Top battery hatch allows quick
battery changes (magnetic).
• Assembles quickly, because most
parts bolt together (and little glue
is needed).
• Surprisingly great flight
performance using the
recommended power system.
-•
The review model required almost
4.5 ounces of weight in the nose to
balance. A larger-capacity battery
helps with balance.
• Elevator servos require either a
computer radio with mixing
capability or a special reversing Y
harness.
Pluses and Minuses
Five E-flite servos hide inside the wing. The concealed flap servo is a
nice touch. Leaf hinges are used on the flaps; CA hinges are set up
on the rest.
Each elevator half gets its own servo. The author appointed his
Texan with the best in JR digital guidance, as well as 2.4 GHz
Spektrum radio technology.
Robart small mechanical retracts are a perfect fit. Horizon Hobby
offers a package with prebent struts. A JR retract servo is as
reliable as they come.
E-flite’s Power 25 outrunner is surrounded by laser-cut vent holes
in the firewall. The forward hatch is locked in place with strong
magnets and locator pins.
Photos by Mark Lanterman
assembly time. Putting the wing together is
literally as simple as installing the servos,
attaching the pushrods, and bolting the
three wing sections together. The only glue
used in the wing’s construction adheres
hardwood blocks to the servos’ hatches.
The scale split flaps are operational and
hinged when they come out of the box.
They use a simple and unique pin-interlock
system, so they operate together when the
wings are plugged in.
A set of fixed gear is included with the kit.
However, my review Texan included a set of
Robart retracts, so I gladly installed them.
Since the model was designed to go
either way, retract installation was a snap. I
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:03 AM Page 41
Features such as airfoil-shaped tail surfaces set this model apart from others offered in its
size. It has “grunt” for power but needs no cleanup.
42 MODEL AVIATION
Left: Landing should be done with flaps fully deployed (with
landing gear), and roughly 25% throttle is used to carry the
model to the threshold.
Specifications
Below: The Texan is highly maneuverable. Loops and rolls are
smooth and rudder authority is nice, which is good for
coordinating turns and managing torque at full throttle.
Test-Model Details
merely cut away the covering from the
retract and wheel wells, bolted in the gear,
and installed the servo.
The only “problem” was that I couldn’t
use the included E-flite tires; they were too
wide to use with the Robart struts. (I
couldn’t attach a wheel collar because of
the length of the strut axle.) I found a
Motor: Power 25 brushless
outrunner, 60-amp speed control
Battery: Thunder Power RC threecell,
4200 mAh Li-Poly
Propeller: Windsor 12 x 8E
Radio system: Spektrum AR6200
receiver, seven JR DS268BB digital
microservos, two 6-inch servo
extensions (ailerons), 6-inch Y
harness (ailerons)
Ready-to-fly weight: 4.6 pounds
(with battery)
Flight duration: Six to eight
minutes
Model type: Semiscale RC ARF
Skill level: Intermediate builder,
intermediate pilot
Wingspan: 54 inches
Wing area: 455 square inches
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 3.9-4.5 pounds
Wing loading: 19.7-22.8 ounces/
square foot
Power system: 450-500 watts
Radio: Six channels with seven
microservos (not included)
Construction: Mostly balsa,
plywood stress points and hard
mounts, painted plastic and moldedfiberglass
parts
Covering/finish: Light Gray, True
Red, and Cub Yellow UltraCote;
matching paint
Street price: $189.99
similar pair from Du-Bro that works nicely.
With the Robart gear, I recommend
removing the strut and grinding a small flat
area so that the setscrew can get a more
secure grip. With the weight of the AT-6, it
would be far too easy for the strut to slip on
takeoff or landing and cause an abrupt end
to your flying.
Regardless of the gear system you use,
E-flite supplies a pair of gear door covers.
It’s a nice touch, and it gives the airplane
slightly more of a full-scale look.
The fuselage goes together almost as
easily as the wing does. Similar to the
wing, the stabilizer is a plug-in design and
bolts to the rear of the fuselage. All servos
are mounted around the cockpit area. Since
the tubes for the pushrods are already
installed, everything can be put in place in
a short amount of time.
Because of the way the pushrods are
installed, the elevator servos require either
a reversing Y harness or a programmed mix
in your computer radio. I used a reversing
harness, because I didn’t have an extra
channel with the AR6200 receiver.
On the business end of the fuselage,
installing the motor, ESC, and battery is
easy. As I mentioned, I used the
recommended E-flite equipment and it all
fit as the manual indicated. However, the
firewall is made so that a wide variety of
motors can be used, and the space inside
the fuselage will give you many options for
mounting spots.
Getting to the battery and speed control
is a cinch. Lift off the hatch, which adheres
tightly to the fuselage, thanks to a strong,
permanent magnet that won’t fall off
midflight.
Again, little glue is used in the fuselage
assembly; most parts bolt together. You
will have to glue on the dummy rotary
engine, the decorative intake scoops, the
pilot, and the canopy.
Although it wasn’t used in this review,
a detailed cockpit kit is available
separately. It includes an aft instrument
hood, main fuselage rollover structure, two
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:08 AM Page 42
seat backs, and a floor. The pilot you see in
the finished model is included with the kit,
and an additional pilot is available
separately.
All finished, my AT-6 ARF weighed
more than 3 pounds with the battery in
place. However, the CG was off by a bunch
(because of tail-heaviness), so the first
thing I did was substitute a larger battery
pack for extra nose weight.
Still needing more, I removed the cowl
and ended up gluing close to 4.5 ounces of
nose weight to attain the proper balance.
This resulted in a model that was heavier
than the manual specified, but by only a
few ounces.
After adjusting the control throws to
match those recommended in the
instructions, it was time to see how the
Texan would fly.
Flying: I wasn’t sure what to expect. This
was a heavy model for its size, at slightly
more than 4.5 pounds. So I decided to try a
few taxi runs, to see if I had the power.
Was I pleasantly surprised! The Texan
not only handled well on the ground, but it
would also come up on the mains at
approximately half throttle, so there was
plenty of power.
Then it was time for the first flight. Eflite
advises against using flaps, so I lined
up the AT-6 into the wind, throttled it up to
flying speed, and it lifted off as prettily as
could be. The model needed little trim, and
even though it bumped around in the wind
a bit, it had more than enough power.
Once the Texan is in the air, it’s a blast
to fly. This is not a 3-D machine by any
means, but it will easily fly most Scale or
IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic
Club)-type maneuver you’d want to try:
loops, point rolls, hammerheads, inverted
flight, etc.
44 MODEL AVIATION
There’s a bit of coupling in the point
rolls, but that’s to be expected—as with
the full-scale Texan. This model is a great
barnstormer that has the right balance
between scale looks and outstanding
performance.
With flaps on, you’ll need slightly more
power, but you can grease it in on the
landings. Takeoffs are quite a bit shorter
too.
If you’re in the market for a smaller
warbird, I strongly recommend E-flite’s
AT-6 Texan 25. It goes together quickly,
offers a nice amount of scale realism, and
flies great. Although it isn’t a “park flyer,”
it is a nice little electric design that gives a
lot in a little package. MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
E-flite/Horizon Hobby
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Sources:
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Spektrum
(217) 352-1913
www.spektrumrc.com
Windsor Propeller
http://masterairscrew.com
Robart
(630) 584-7616
www.robart.com
Other Published Reviews:
Backyard Flyer: March 2008
Quiet & Electric Flight International:
April 2008
R/C Report: July 2008
RC Sport Flyer: October 2008
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:13 AM Page 44
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/02
Page Numbers: 40,41,42,44
EVERY ONCE IN awhile, I get to review
something that is either unique or the first in a
series. In this case, I am lucky to report on the
first release in the E-flite Platinum Series: the
AT-6 Texan ARF.
According to the company, its Platinum
line delivers superior, enhanced features and
meticulous attention to detail. Let’s find out if
that’s true together.
Construction: The AT-6 25e
comes out of the box with all
kinds of details completed,
including a factory-painted
fiberglass cowl, air scoops,
dummy radial engine, painted
canopy and pilot, and scale
strut covers.
After glancing through the
manual, I was surprised by one
thing: little glue is used in the
Texan’s construction. Almost
everything bolts together,
which is unusual in ARF
assembly these days.
The model comes nicely
packaged with major
assemblies in individual polybags,
all of which are taped to
the cardboard interior to keep
them from shifting and
damaging each other.
However, my box seems to
have been used for football
practice along the way; several
pieces were broken and dented.
But nothing was beyond
fixing. Since I consider myself
at least an average modeler, I
mended the parts without
bothering the nice service
people at Horizon Hobby. Had
a structural issue occurred, they
would have gotten a call and,
A superb scale replica of the
legendary primary trainer
I’m sure, done whatever they could to
make it right.
After spending a bit of time fixing the
small crack in the rudder and flap, I fired up
the heat gun and iron to remove wrinkles in
the covering. The airframe arrives completely
covered in UltraCote and with a variety of
decals (insignia, N number, etc.) in place, so
there’s nothing left to do there.
In assembling the AT-6, everything is
straightforward. Although it’s small, you will
need a lot of radio gear; each control surface
requires its own servo. (Two for ailerons, two
for elevator, one for rudder, two for flaps, and
one for retracts, if you go that route.) A few
of those require extensions and Y harnesses.
All control surfaces come out of the
box hinged, which also cuts down on
February 2010 41
The Texan is fully sheeted with balsa
except for ailerons and tail surfaces, which
have visible ribs through the covering to
mimic a fabric surface.
The bottom of the fiberglass cowling got
the “BB poxy” treatment. Shown is
roughly a 4-ounce ballast puddle that
made it possible for the Texan to balance
on the CG.
+•
Entire airframe is built up from
balsa and plywood.
• Plug-in outboard wing panels make
model easy to transport.
• Comes ready for flaps and optional
retracts.
• Cowl and canopy come painted.
• Firewall will accept a wide variety
of motors and mounts.
• All servos are enclosed, giving a
much more scale look.
• Top battery hatch allows quick
battery changes (magnetic).
• Assembles quickly, because most
parts bolt together (and little glue
is needed).
• Surprisingly great flight
performance using the
recommended power system.
-•
The review model required almost
4.5 ounces of weight in the nose to
balance. A larger-capacity battery
helps with balance.
• Elevator servos require either a
computer radio with mixing
capability or a special reversing Y
harness.
Pluses and Minuses
Five E-flite servos hide inside the wing. The concealed flap servo is a
nice touch. Leaf hinges are used on the flaps; CA hinges are set up
on the rest.
Each elevator half gets its own servo. The author appointed his
Texan with the best in JR digital guidance, as well as 2.4 GHz
Spektrum radio technology.
Robart small mechanical retracts are a perfect fit. Horizon Hobby
offers a package with prebent struts. A JR retract servo is as
reliable as they come.
E-flite’s Power 25 outrunner is surrounded by laser-cut vent holes
in the firewall. The forward hatch is locked in place with strong
magnets and locator pins.
Photos by Mark Lanterman
assembly time. Putting the wing together is
literally as simple as installing the servos,
attaching the pushrods, and bolting the
three wing sections together. The only glue
used in the wing’s construction adheres
hardwood blocks to the servos’ hatches.
The scale split flaps are operational and
hinged when they come out of the box.
They use a simple and unique pin-interlock
system, so they operate together when the
wings are plugged in.
A set of fixed gear is included with the kit.
However, my review Texan included a set of
Robart retracts, so I gladly installed them.
Since the model was designed to go
either way, retract installation was a snap. I
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:03 AM Page 41
Features such as airfoil-shaped tail surfaces set this model apart from others offered in its
size. It has “grunt” for power but needs no cleanup.
42 MODEL AVIATION
Left: Landing should be done with flaps fully deployed (with
landing gear), and roughly 25% throttle is used to carry the
model to the threshold.
Specifications
Below: The Texan is highly maneuverable. Loops and rolls are
smooth and rudder authority is nice, which is good for
coordinating turns and managing torque at full throttle.
Test-Model Details
merely cut away the covering from the
retract and wheel wells, bolted in the gear,
and installed the servo.
The only “problem” was that I couldn’t
use the included E-flite tires; they were too
wide to use with the Robart struts. (I
couldn’t attach a wheel collar because of
the length of the strut axle.) I found a
Motor: Power 25 brushless
outrunner, 60-amp speed control
Battery: Thunder Power RC threecell,
4200 mAh Li-Poly
Propeller: Windsor 12 x 8E
Radio system: Spektrum AR6200
receiver, seven JR DS268BB digital
microservos, two 6-inch servo
extensions (ailerons), 6-inch Y
harness (ailerons)
Ready-to-fly weight: 4.6 pounds
(with battery)
Flight duration: Six to eight
minutes
Model type: Semiscale RC ARF
Skill level: Intermediate builder,
intermediate pilot
Wingspan: 54 inches
Wing area: 455 square inches
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 3.9-4.5 pounds
Wing loading: 19.7-22.8 ounces/
square foot
Power system: 450-500 watts
Radio: Six channels with seven
microservos (not included)
Construction: Mostly balsa,
plywood stress points and hard
mounts, painted plastic and moldedfiberglass
parts
Covering/finish: Light Gray, True
Red, and Cub Yellow UltraCote;
matching paint
Street price: $189.99
similar pair from Du-Bro that works nicely.
With the Robart gear, I recommend
removing the strut and grinding a small flat
area so that the setscrew can get a more
secure grip. With the weight of the AT-6, it
would be far too easy for the strut to slip on
takeoff or landing and cause an abrupt end
to your flying.
Regardless of the gear system you use,
E-flite supplies a pair of gear door covers.
It’s a nice touch, and it gives the airplane
slightly more of a full-scale look.
The fuselage goes together almost as
easily as the wing does. Similar to the
wing, the stabilizer is a plug-in design and
bolts to the rear of the fuselage. All servos
are mounted around the cockpit area. Since
the tubes for the pushrods are already
installed, everything can be put in place in
a short amount of time.
Because of the way the pushrods are
installed, the elevator servos require either
a reversing Y harness or a programmed mix
in your computer radio. I used a reversing
harness, because I didn’t have an extra
channel with the AR6200 receiver.
On the business end of the fuselage,
installing the motor, ESC, and battery is
easy. As I mentioned, I used the
recommended E-flite equipment and it all
fit as the manual indicated. However, the
firewall is made so that a wide variety of
motors can be used, and the space inside
the fuselage will give you many options for
mounting spots.
Getting to the battery and speed control
is a cinch. Lift off the hatch, which adheres
tightly to the fuselage, thanks to a strong,
permanent magnet that won’t fall off
midflight.
Again, little glue is used in the fuselage
assembly; most parts bolt together. You
will have to glue on the dummy rotary
engine, the decorative intake scoops, the
pilot, and the canopy.
Although it wasn’t used in this review,
a detailed cockpit kit is available
separately. It includes an aft instrument
hood, main fuselage rollover structure, two
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:08 AM Page 42
seat backs, and a floor. The pilot you see in
the finished model is included with the kit,
and an additional pilot is available
separately.
All finished, my AT-6 ARF weighed
more than 3 pounds with the battery in
place. However, the CG was off by a bunch
(because of tail-heaviness), so the first
thing I did was substitute a larger battery
pack for extra nose weight.
Still needing more, I removed the cowl
and ended up gluing close to 4.5 ounces of
nose weight to attain the proper balance.
This resulted in a model that was heavier
than the manual specified, but by only a
few ounces.
After adjusting the control throws to
match those recommended in the
instructions, it was time to see how the
Texan would fly.
Flying: I wasn’t sure what to expect. This
was a heavy model for its size, at slightly
more than 4.5 pounds. So I decided to try a
few taxi runs, to see if I had the power.
Was I pleasantly surprised! The Texan
not only handled well on the ground, but it
would also come up on the mains at
approximately half throttle, so there was
plenty of power.
Then it was time for the first flight. Eflite
advises against using flaps, so I lined
up the AT-6 into the wind, throttled it up to
flying speed, and it lifted off as prettily as
could be. The model needed little trim, and
even though it bumped around in the wind
a bit, it had more than enough power.
Once the Texan is in the air, it’s a blast
to fly. This is not a 3-D machine by any
means, but it will easily fly most Scale or
IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic
Club)-type maneuver you’d want to try:
loops, point rolls, hammerheads, inverted
flight, etc.
44 MODEL AVIATION
There’s a bit of coupling in the point
rolls, but that’s to be expected—as with
the full-scale Texan. This model is a great
barnstormer that has the right balance
between scale looks and outstanding
performance.
With flaps on, you’ll need slightly more
power, but you can grease it in on the
landings. Takeoffs are quite a bit shorter
too.
If you’re in the market for a smaller
warbird, I strongly recommend E-flite’s
AT-6 Texan 25. It goes together quickly,
offers a nice amount of scale realism, and
flies great. Although it isn’t a “park flyer,”
it is a nice little electric design that gives a
lot in a little package. MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
E-flite/Horizon Hobby
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Sources:
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Spektrum
(217) 352-1913
www.spektrumrc.com
Windsor Propeller
http://masterairscrew.com
Robart
(630) 584-7616
www.robart.com
Other Published Reviews:
Backyard Flyer: March 2008
Quiet & Electric Flight International:
April 2008
R/C Report: July 2008
RC Sport Flyer: October 2008
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:13 AM Page 44
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/02
Page Numbers: 40,41,42,44
EVERY ONCE IN awhile, I get to review
something that is either unique or the first in a
series. In this case, I am lucky to report on the
first release in the E-flite Platinum Series: the
AT-6 Texan ARF.
According to the company, its Platinum
line delivers superior, enhanced features and
meticulous attention to detail. Let’s find out if
that’s true together.
Construction: The AT-6 25e
comes out of the box with all
kinds of details completed,
including a factory-painted
fiberglass cowl, air scoops,
dummy radial engine, painted
canopy and pilot, and scale
strut covers.
After glancing through the
manual, I was surprised by one
thing: little glue is used in the
Texan’s construction. Almost
everything bolts together,
which is unusual in ARF
assembly these days.
The model comes nicely
packaged with major
assemblies in individual polybags,
all of which are taped to
the cardboard interior to keep
them from shifting and
damaging each other.
However, my box seems to
have been used for football
practice along the way; several
pieces were broken and dented.
But nothing was beyond
fixing. Since I consider myself
at least an average modeler, I
mended the parts without
bothering the nice service
people at Horizon Hobby. Had
a structural issue occurred, they
would have gotten a call and,
A superb scale replica of the
legendary primary trainer
I’m sure, done whatever they could to
make it right.
After spending a bit of time fixing the
small crack in the rudder and flap, I fired up
the heat gun and iron to remove wrinkles in
the covering. The airframe arrives completely
covered in UltraCote and with a variety of
decals (insignia, N number, etc.) in place, so
there’s nothing left to do there.
In assembling the AT-6, everything is
straightforward. Although it’s small, you will
need a lot of radio gear; each control surface
requires its own servo. (Two for ailerons, two
for elevator, one for rudder, two for flaps, and
one for retracts, if you go that route.) A few
of those require extensions and Y harnesses.
All control surfaces come out of the
box hinged, which also cuts down on
February 2010 41
The Texan is fully sheeted with balsa
except for ailerons and tail surfaces, which
have visible ribs through the covering to
mimic a fabric surface.
The bottom of the fiberglass cowling got
the “BB poxy” treatment. Shown is
roughly a 4-ounce ballast puddle that
made it possible for the Texan to balance
on the CG.
+•
Entire airframe is built up from
balsa and plywood.
• Plug-in outboard wing panels make
model easy to transport.
• Comes ready for flaps and optional
retracts.
• Cowl and canopy come painted.
• Firewall will accept a wide variety
of motors and mounts.
• All servos are enclosed, giving a
much more scale look.
• Top battery hatch allows quick
battery changes (magnetic).
• Assembles quickly, because most
parts bolt together (and little glue
is needed).
• Surprisingly great flight
performance using the
recommended power system.
-•
The review model required almost
4.5 ounces of weight in the nose to
balance. A larger-capacity battery
helps with balance.
• Elevator servos require either a
computer radio with mixing
capability or a special reversing Y
harness.
Pluses and Minuses
Five E-flite servos hide inside the wing. The concealed flap servo is a
nice touch. Leaf hinges are used on the flaps; CA hinges are set up
on the rest.
Each elevator half gets its own servo. The author appointed his
Texan with the best in JR digital guidance, as well as 2.4 GHz
Spektrum radio technology.
Robart small mechanical retracts are a perfect fit. Horizon Hobby
offers a package with prebent struts. A JR retract servo is as
reliable as they come.
E-flite’s Power 25 outrunner is surrounded by laser-cut vent holes
in the firewall. The forward hatch is locked in place with strong
magnets and locator pins.
Photos by Mark Lanterman
assembly time. Putting the wing together is
literally as simple as installing the servos,
attaching the pushrods, and bolting the
three wing sections together. The only glue
used in the wing’s construction adheres
hardwood blocks to the servos’ hatches.
The scale split flaps are operational and
hinged when they come out of the box.
They use a simple and unique pin-interlock
system, so they operate together when the
wings are plugged in.
A set of fixed gear is included with the kit.
However, my review Texan included a set of
Robart retracts, so I gladly installed them.
Since the model was designed to go
either way, retract installation was a snap. I
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:03 AM Page 41
Features such as airfoil-shaped tail surfaces set this model apart from others offered in its
size. It has “grunt” for power but needs no cleanup.
42 MODEL AVIATION
Left: Landing should be done with flaps fully deployed (with
landing gear), and roughly 25% throttle is used to carry the
model to the threshold.
Specifications
Below: The Texan is highly maneuverable. Loops and rolls are
smooth and rudder authority is nice, which is good for
coordinating turns and managing torque at full throttle.
Test-Model Details
merely cut away the covering from the
retract and wheel wells, bolted in the gear,
and installed the servo.
The only “problem” was that I couldn’t
use the included E-flite tires; they were too
wide to use with the Robart struts. (I
couldn’t attach a wheel collar because of
the length of the strut axle.) I found a
Motor: Power 25 brushless
outrunner, 60-amp speed control
Battery: Thunder Power RC threecell,
4200 mAh Li-Poly
Propeller: Windsor 12 x 8E
Radio system: Spektrum AR6200
receiver, seven JR DS268BB digital
microservos, two 6-inch servo
extensions (ailerons), 6-inch Y
harness (ailerons)
Ready-to-fly weight: 4.6 pounds
(with battery)
Flight duration: Six to eight
minutes
Model type: Semiscale RC ARF
Skill level: Intermediate builder,
intermediate pilot
Wingspan: 54 inches
Wing area: 455 square inches
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 3.9-4.5 pounds
Wing loading: 19.7-22.8 ounces/
square foot
Power system: 450-500 watts
Radio: Six channels with seven
microservos (not included)
Construction: Mostly balsa,
plywood stress points and hard
mounts, painted plastic and moldedfiberglass
parts
Covering/finish: Light Gray, True
Red, and Cub Yellow UltraCote;
matching paint
Street price: $189.99
similar pair from Du-Bro that works nicely.
With the Robart gear, I recommend
removing the strut and grinding a small flat
area so that the setscrew can get a more
secure grip. With the weight of the AT-6, it
would be far too easy for the strut to slip on
takeoff or landing and cause an abrupt end
to your flying.
Regardless of the gear system you use,
E-flite supplies a pair of gear door covers.
It’s a nice touch, and it gives the airplane
slightly more of a full-scale look.
The fuselage goes together almost as
easily as the wing does. Similar to the
wing, the stabilizer is a plug-in design and
bolts to the rear of the fuselage. All servos
are mounted around the cockpit area. Since
the tubes for the pushrods are already
installed, everything can be put in place in
a short amount of time.
Because of the way the pushrods are
installed, the elevator servos require either
a reversing Y harness or a programmed mix
in your computer radio. I used a reversing
harness, because I didn’t have an extra
channel with the AR6200 receiver.
On the business end of the fuselage,
installing the motor, ESC, and battery is
easy. As I mentioned, I used the
recommended E-flite equipment and it all
fit as the manual indicated. However, the
firewall is made so that a wide variety of
motors can be used, and the space inside
the fuselage will give you many options for
mounting spots.
Getting to the battery and speed control
is a cinch. Lift off the hatch, which adheres
tightly to the fuselage, thanks to a strong,
permanent magnet that won’t fall off
midflight.
Again, little glue is used in the fuselage
assembly; most parts bolt together. You
will have to glue on the dummy rotary
engine, the decorative intake scoops, the
pilot, and the canopy.
Although it wasn’t used in this review,
a detailed cockpit kit is available
separately. It includes an aft instrument
hood, main fuselage rollover structure, two
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:08 AM Page 42
seat backs, and a floor. The pilot you see in
the finished model is included with the kit,
and an additional pilot is available
separately.
All finished, my AT-6 ARF weighed
more than 3 pounds with the battery in
place. However, the CG was off by a bunch
(because of tail-heaviness), so the first
thing I did was substitute a larger battery
pack for extra nose weight.
Still needing more, I removed the cowl
and ended up gluing close to 4.5 ounces of
nose weight to attain the proper balance.
This resulted in a model that was heavier
than the manual specified, but by only a
few ounces.
After adjusting the control throws to
match those recommended in the
instructions, it was time to see how the
Texan would fly.
Flying: I wasn’t sure what to expect. This
was a heavy model for its size, at slightly
more than 4.5 pounds. So I decided to try a
few taxi runs, to see if I had the power.
Was I pleasantly surprised! The Texan
not only handled well on the ground, but it
would also come up on the mains at
approximately half throttle, so there was
plenty of power.
Then it was time for the first flight. Eflite
advises against using flaps, so I lined
up the AT-6 into the wind, throttled it up to
flying speed, and it lifted off as prettily as
could be. The model needed little trim, and
even though it bumped around in the wind
a bit, it had more than enough power.
Once the Texan is in the air, it’s a blast
to fly. This is not a 3-D machine by any
means, but it will easily fly most Scale or
IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic
Club)-type maneuver you’d want to try:
loops, point rolls, hammerheads, inverted
flight, etc.
44 MODEL AVIATION
There’s a bit of coupling in the point
rolls, but that’s to be expected—as with
the full-scale Texan. This model is a great
barnstormer that has the right balance
between scale looks and outstanding
performance.
With flaps on, you’ll need slightly more
power, but you can grease it in on the
landings. Takeoffs are quite a bit shorter
too.
If you’re in the market for a smaller
warbird, I strongly recommend E-flite’s
AT-6 Texan 25. It goes together quickly,
offers a nice amount of scale realism, and
flies great. Although it isn’t a “park flyer,”
it is a nice little electric design that gives a
lot in a little package. MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
E-flite/Horizon Hobby
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Sources:
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Spektrum
(217) 352-1913
www.spektrumrc.com
Windsor Propeller
http://masterairscrew.com
Robart
(630) 584-7616
www.robart.com
Other Published Reviews:
Backyard Flyer: March 2008
Quiet & Electric Flight International:
April 2008
R/C Report: July 2008
RC Sport Flyer: October 2008
02sig2_00MSTRPG.QXD 12/21/09 10:13 AM Page 44
