Product Spotlight
New products that are Worth A Closer Look
RC PILOT MAGAZINE APP
The digital era continues to introduce new electronic opportunities. Experts predict that within a few years more people will get information using mobile devices, including tablets, than desktop computers (Morgan Stanley; Mashable, 2011). The Academy of Model Aeronautics is part of a new communication vehicle that capitalizes on this mobile trend: the RC Pilot magazine app.
RC Pilot is a tablet magazine app for Apple and Android devices. It retains the beauty and structure of the printed magazine while incorporating rich media native to mobile devices, including videos and interactive photos. Each issue focuses on people — pilots, industry players, professional pilots, events, and flying clubs — told through text, videos, photos, and multimedia. Subscribers also get an AMA feature that keeps readers informed about important issues concerning model aviation.
- Single issue: $3.99 (iTunes Newsstand or Android Marketplace)
- Annual subscription: $24.99
Website: www.rcpilot.com
HANSEN SCALE AVIATION VIDEOS
Dick Hansen is a lifelong modeler and was inducted into the Academy of Model Aeronautics Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010. Since the early 1990s he has traveled to numerous full-scale and RC modeling events and documented them on video.
Coverage includes IMAA events, USSMA gatherings, QSAA events, FAI championships, IMAC contests, and Top Gun, plus full-scale museum tours. Hansen Scale Aviation has released 117 DVDs with run times of 1.5 to 2 hours each; footage is narrated by Dick.
One highlighted DVD (volume 112) includes the 2010 U.S. Scale Masters Championships, a 2010 visit to the EAA museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the Vintage Aero Flying Museum at Fort Lupton, Colorado. Each DVD costs $9.95 and includes free shipping to the U.S. and Canada.
Although the footage has a “home movie” feel and is less polished than some commercial releases, Dick’s enthusiasm, extensive coverage, and low cost make the series a valuable resource for scale modelers.
Contact: Hansen Scale Aviation Videos, 11232 SE Vernazza Lane, Happy Valley, OR 97086 Website: www.scaleaviationvideos.com
CURTISS-WRIGHT CADETTES — Flying Into Yesterday
Author Jean‑Vi Lenthe, daughter of one of the Curtiss‑Wright Aeronautical Engineering Cadettes, uncovers the story of 918 women trained during World War II to design airplanes. Their work helped the Curtiss‑Wright Airplane Company overcome engineering deficiencies during a national crisis, but the Cadettes have largely gone unrecognized — partly because many records of their participation were mysteriously lost.
Lenthe’s book documents her search for information, including visits to the Curtiss‑Wright plant in Ohio, Purdue University (where several Cadettes trained), archives, museums, and surviving Cadettes. The 208‑page book includes 16 pages of photographs and is recommended for readers interested in aviation history, aeronautical engineering, or women’s studies.
Publisher contact: Wild Hare Press, Box 1546, El Prado, NM 87529 Website: www.wildharepress.com
ARES MD 500D
Coaxial helicopters make a great, forgiving introduction to rotary flight and are ideal for indoor flying. The Ares Ultra‑Micro MD 500D CX 100 is priced at $89.99 and stands out with an attractive fuselage, LED lights, and a hide‑away battery hatch for a more scale appearance.
Performance:
- Smooth throttle response and stable hover
- Higher head speed allows lower throttle settings and reduced stick work
- Gyro provides adequate heading‑hold for minimal tail wandering
- Smooth transition to forward flight; comfortable with basic maneuvers and pirouettes
- Flight time: up to 10 minutes with included 220 mAh battery
Contact: Ares‑RC, Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826; Tel: (800) 637‑7666 Website: www.ares‑rc.com
Aero‑Pac: SNJ‑5B "About Time" (N214MB) CD‑ROM
Airborne Media's Aero‑Pac CD‑ROM for the North American SNJ‑5B "About Time" (N214MB) provides detailed scale documentation for accurate model reproduction — from rivets and panel lines down to screws. Using high‑resolution digital images, the CD supplies close‑ups with nomenclature (N‑numbers, hatch descriptions) to aid scale modeling.
Contents include seven‑point walkarounds, 59 exterior close‑ups, cockpit and instrument photos, and three bonuses: AT‑6/SNJ three‑views, factory cockpit drawings, and in‑flight photos. Files can be enlarged or printed; the interface works in modern Mac and Windows browsers and high‑res files open in photo editors. A 4‑minute preview video is available on the Airborne Media website.
Price: $15.95 + S&H
Contact: Airborne Media, 7414 Burton Dr., Liberty Township, OH 45014; Tel: (888) 829‑4060 Website: www.airbornemedia.com
ARES Nano‑Micro Stick 75 RTF
The Ares Nano‑Micro Stick 75 RTF weighs only 9 grams — about a quarter of typical ultramicro models — enabling slow, easy flight in small indoor spaces. Durable, lightweight construction reduces concerns over imperfect landings.
Features:
- Classic stick‑style design in two WWI‑era trim styles
- 12.4‑inch wingspan
- 100% factory assembled; ready to fly
- Proportional throttle and rudder controls
- Includes three‑channel 2.4 GHz transmitter with built‑in charger, 30 mAh 1S LiPo battery with magnetic attachment, and a two‑in‑one receiver/ESC with magnetic actuator
Price: $59.99 + S&H
Seller: HobbyTown USA, 1233 Libra Dr., Lincoln, NE 68512; Tel: (402) 434‑5050 Website: www.hobbytown.com
aerofly5 Version 5.7 Upgrade
Ikarus released a free Version 5.7 upgrade for current aerofly5 owners. The upgrade adds substantial content:
- 33 new models (total now ~150), including 20 powered airplanes, 8 gliders, 3 helicopters, and 2 jets; many models include special functions
- 5 new photo‑realistic, high‑resolution sceneries (total now >50), including Torrey Pines, CA; Venice, FL; and Hahnsiede, Salzburg
- Multipano function for pilot position changes on select sceneries
- An interactive head‑tracker system incorporated into the upgrade
Contact: Ikarus‑USA; Tel: (239) 540‑0067 Website: www.ikarus‑usa.com
H5020G Digital Servo
The H5020G digital servo offers digital precision and dual ball‑bearing support in a specially designed case with an aluminum center section to dissipate heat, helping the motor and electronics run cooler and last longer.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.86 ounces
- Torque: 20–39 oz‑in (at 4.8 V)
- Speed: 0.05–0.09 seconds (at 4.8 V)
Next Level Multi‑Rotor Quad‑Copter Kits
The Next Level Multi‑Rotor Quad‑Copter kits from Innov8tive Designs (priced $129.99–$149.99 + S&H) are built for multiple applications with rugged, reconfigurable frames.
Features:
- CNC‑cut, fiberglass‑reinforced FR4 center body, motor mounts, and legs
- High‑strength aluminum alloy tube frame arms; threaded aluminum stand‑offs; stainless‑steel hardware
- Interchangeable frames (convert 500mm to 650mm by changing arms)
- Upgradeable motor mounts to accept larger motors (20mm → 28/30/35mm)
- Optional parts: shock‑absorbing landing gear kits, large motor mounts, camera mounts, battery plates, cover plates
- Includes frame arms, plates, motor mounts, landing gear legs, bumpers, complete hardware kit, and illustrated 28‑page assembly manual
Contact: Innov8tive Designs, 1495 Poinsettia Ave., Suite #144, Vista, CA 92081; Tel: (760) 468‑8838 Website: www.innov8tivedesigns.com
Venom Glitch Buster
The Venom Glitch Buster is a capacitor module designed for high‑power brushless systems to smooth voltage dropouts in the BEC, preventing motor cutouts and providing consistent power to steering servos.
- Prewired with a universal servo connector; plugs into any unused receiver port
- Recommended for use with all 2.4 GHz radio systems to prevent receiver brown‑outs caused by voltage dropouts
- 30‑day warranty against material and workmanship defects
Price: $5.99 + S&H
Contact: Venom Group International, 14028 N. Ohio St., Rathdrum, ID 83858; Tel: (800) 705‑0620 Website: www.venom‑group.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
