HobbyZone Firebird XL Pros: • Comes 99.9% prebuilt • Two-channel radio, motor, propeller, battery, and charger included • Assembles in less than 10 minutes using no tools • Goes from the box to flying in three hours • Stable night performance Cons: • Included charger would benefit from LED (light-emitting diode) to indicate charging • Transmitter batteries are not included in the kit (needs eight AA cells). HOBBYZONE'S FIREBIRD XL is marketed as a kit for beginners and for park flying. It comes mostly prebuilt out of the box. Included is a small pack of hardware (wheels, tail wheel, wing braces, rubber bands, etc.). a preinstalled two-channel radio, a 900 mAh NiMH battery, and a three-hour fast charger. A well-illustrated instruction manual and a 30-minute videotape round out the package. The fuselage is made from thin, blow-molded plastic halves which enclose the radio, the motor, and some Styrofoam™ . The tailboom is plastic and is quite rigid. The wing and tail surfaces are molded from Styrofoam™ and use an undercambered airfoil for maximum lift. Construction: Before I started construction, I took the time to watch the included video. It is a nice tape which shows clips of several Firebirds flying and takes you through the construction. It covers everything in detail, including the correct way to install the eight AA batteries in the transmitter. Since this kit was built in just more than eight minutes, I won't spend much time on construction. It basically involves attaching bracing to the wings, installing the wheels, and rubber-banding the wing on the fuselage: everything else is done for you. The video and the printed instructions mention applying the decals; the Firebird XL reviewed came with all decals applied. Flying: Although the manual discusses how you can trim your model by adjusting the control "wires." adjusting stabilizer incidence by turning thumbscrews, and by using the included wing shim, I decided to try the model as-is. Flying conditions were a very warm 95°; high humidity, at 75%; and light winds, at approximately 5 mph. After a quick check of all control surfaces, I advanced the throttle to 100% and gave the model a quick hand launch into the wind. It flew level for 50 feet or so before climbing out. I was pleasantly surprised by the climbout rate. One minute into the flight. the Firebird was already 400-500 feet in the air. Since there is no elevator, the climb rate can be easily adjusted by the throttle: this simple but effective system works rather well. The only time 1 missed the elevator was on the first landing. After that, I found that I could bring the model down right at my feet by working the throttle a bit. Steering is accomplished utilizing what would traditionally be the elevator. Each half of the "elevator" is individually controlled and works more like a rudder. This control method is effective, and with practice the Firebird can be flown anywhere desired. The two-stick transmitter has a spring-loaded throttle stick that returns the stick to center. An assembly video is included. Included 900 mAh battery pack gives a good 10 minutes of full-throttle flying time. The Firebird XL attained 400-500 feet of altitude in roughly one minute. Another thing that surprised me was the flying time. The 900 mAh battery pack gives a good 10 minutes of flying using full throttle. Using the throttle a bit more judiciously rendered flight times in the 20- to 25-minute range. On a hot day with a great deal of thermal activity, flight times could easily exceed 30 minutes. The videotape shows effortless rise-off-ground (ROG) takeoffs. I attempted several, but the model would spin to the left or right within 10 feet of the start of the takeoff roll. Bending the tail-wheel mount slightly did help a bit, but the Firebird was never able to successfully ROG. I have no doubt that it has the capability, but I was unsuccessful because of the slightly swirling winds. The Firebird is not an aerobatic model. Attempts were made to perform loops and rolls, but the speed built up through diving turns bleeds off too quickly because of the built-in stability. This model is designed to fly straight and level, and it performs well. It's hard to believe, but it takes only eight minutes to get to this point from the time you open the box! This model is handsome. The Firebird XL is almost as complete as a model can get. The design is well thought-out, and although it's destructible it will hold up well. Its gentle flying characteristics can give newcomers to Radio Control flying some much-needed flight time. AM Distributor: Radio: 27 MHz, two-channel—more than 1,500 feet range Specifications: Wingspan: 40 inches Length: 28 inches Weight: 16 ounces Motor: 380 Horizon Hobby Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign IL 61822 (217)352-1913 Fax:(217)352-6799 www .horizonhobby .com The Firebird XL comes out of the box 99% complete! There's not much to do before you head for the field.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/09
Page Numbers: 79, 80
Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/09
Page Numbers: 79, 80
HobbyZone Firebird XL Pros: • Comes 99.9% prebuilt • Two-channel radio, motor, propeller, battery, and charger included • Assembles in less than 10 minutes using no tools • Goes from the box to flying in three hours • Stable night performance Cons: • Included charger would benefit from LED (light-emitting diode) to indicate charging • Transmitter batteries are not included in the kit (needs eight AA cells). HOBBYZONE'S FIREBIRD XL is marketed as a kit for beginners and for park flying. It comes mostly prebuilt out of the box. Included is a small pack of hardware (wheels, tail wheel, wing braces, rubber bands, etc.). a preinstalled two-channel radio, a 900 mAh NiMH battery, and a three-hour fast charger. A well-illustrated instruction manual and a 30-minute videotape round out the package. The fuselage is made from thin, blow-molded plastic halves which enclose the radio, the motor, and some Styrofoam™ . The tailboom is plastic and is quite rigid. The wing and tail surfaces are molded from Styrofoam™ and use an undercambered airfoil for maximum lift. Construction: Before I started construction, I took the time to watch the included video. It is a nice tape which shows clips of several Firebirds flying and takes you through the construction. It covers everything in detail, including the correct way to install the eight AA batteries in the transmitter. Since this kit was built in just more than eight minutes, I won't spend much time on construction. It basically involves attaching bracing to the wings, installing the wheels, and rubber-banding the wing on the fuselage: everything else is done for you. The video and the printed instructions mention applying the decals; the Firebird XL reviewed came with all decals applied. Flying: Although the manual discusses how you can trim your model by adjusting the control "wires." adjusting stabilizer incidence by turning thumbscrews, and by using the included wing shim, I decided to try the model as-is. Flying conditions were a very warm 95°; high humidity, at 75%; and light winds, at approximately 5 mph. After a quick check of all control surfaces, I advanced the throttle to 100% and gave the model a quick hand launch into the wind. It flew level for 50 feet or so before climbing out. I was pleasantly surprised by the climbout rate. One minute into the flight. the Firebird was already 400-500 feet in the air. Since there is no elevator, the climb rate can be easily adjusted by the throttle: this simple but effective system works rather well. The only time 1 missed the elevator was on the first landing. After that, I found that I could bring the model down right at my feet by working the throttle a bit. Steering is accomplished utilizing what would traditionally be the elevator. Each half of the "elevator" is individually controlled and works more like a rudder. This control method is effective, and with practice the Firebird can be flown anywhere desired. The two-stick transmitter has a spring-loaded throttle stick that returns the stick to center. An assembly video is included. Included 900 mAh battery pack gives a good 10 minutes of full-throttle flying time. The Firebird XL attained 400-500 feet of altitude in roughly one minute. Another thing that surprised me was the flying time. The 900 mAh battery pack gives a good 10 minutes of flying using full throttle. Using the throttle a bit more judiciously rendered flight times in the 20- to 25-minute range. On a hot day with a great deal of thermal activity, flight times could easily exceed 30 minutes. The videotape shows effortless rise-off-ground (ROG) takeoffs. I attempted several, but the model would spin to the left or right within 10 feet of the start of the takeoff roll. Bending the tail-wheel mount slightly did help a bit, but the Firebird was never able to successfully ROG. I have no doubt that it has the capability, but I was unsuccessful because of the slightly swirling winds. The Firebird is not an aerobatic model. Attempts were made to perform loops and rolls, but the speed built up through diving turns bleeds off too quickly because of the built-in stability. This model is designed to fly straight and level, and it performs well. It's hard to believe, but it takes only eight minutes to get to this point from the time you open the box! This model is handsome. The Firebird XL is almost as complete as a model can get. The design is well thought-out, and although it's destructible it will hold up well. Its gentle flying characteristics can give newcomers to Radio Control flying some much-needed flight time. AM Distributor: Radio: 27 MHz, two-channel—more than 1,500 feet range Specifications: Wingspan: 40 inches Length: 28 inches Weight: 16 ounces Motor: 380 Horizon Hobby Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign IL 61822 (217)352-1913 Fax:(217)352-6799 www .horizonhobby .com The Firebird XL comes out of the box 99% complete! There's not much to do before you head for the field.
