Author: Mark Fadely
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/03
Page Numbers: 135,136,137
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Radio Control Helicopters

Mark Fadely

[[email protected]]

Why not try an RC helicopter before time goes by even faster?

Hi, friends! I was talking with Michael Ramsey, MA's editor, a couple months ago, and he told me I had just completed my first year as the magazine's helicopter columnist. Wow! Life keeps going by faster and faster, as my grandma told me it would.

I was in my 20s when she explained how fast times go as you get older, but I did not think she knew what she was talking about. After all, she would get my name wrong a couple times before she got it right, and sometimes she even called me the dog's name, so it made me wonder. But all you over-40 types know exactly what she meant.

As the actor in the TV commercial says, "Life comes at you fast." Maybe this is the right time to quit procrastinating. This year may be a good one for you to give RC helicopters a go—or a whirl, maybe.

Also included in this column

  • Fun Tech 600mm 50-size blades
  • Align announces the T-Rex 500
  • Miniature Aircraft's hot, hot Bandit

Grandma surely had it right: life goes by fast. I think she was trying to impress on me the notion of not letting time slip away without going after what you want. That is even more reason to get some kind of helicopter this year if you have wanted one.

In the olden days (as my kids say), you had to have a degree from MIT and more than a few loose screws to jump into the helicopter side of the hobby. Things have changed in a big way. It has never been easier or more affordable to own a little helicopter.

For $200 you can find out if rotors run in your veins. There are several complete RTF models for roughly that price. This may be the year in which you cross over to the "dark side."

Let's get right to it. Following is a look at some new rotor blades for 50-size glow and 600-class electric models, and I will highlight a couple new products from two of the top helicopter manufacturers.

Fun Tech 600mm 50-size blades — field test by Andy Panoncillo

Andy Panoncillo agreed to test the new 50/600 blades and report on how they compared with other popular blades. He wrote:

In recent years there has been an emergence of many gadgets for our helis. Many cool new items such as regulators, stronger servos, pre-painted canopies, and a hoard of other made-for-heli inventions are sprouting up everywhere.

These new upgrades promise to either improve the performance, or just enhance the appearance of your helicopter. Many of these items are just to satisfy your urge for bling.

Main blades are a different story though. This is one area where you could make a real difference in how your heli flies. It used to be a challenge just getting a good flying set of blades. That really makes you appreciate the wide variety of blades that are now on the market, and the price is more affordable today too.

I got a call recently from my friend Mark Fadely wondering if I could help him review a set of 50/600 size blades. The blades he sent are manufactured by Fun Tech and distributed in the US by HotHeli.

Currently I have an Align 600 and a Knight 50 3D. These are both 50/600-size helis. These two machines will be the test bed for the Fun Tech blades. This way we can see how the blades perform on both an electric and nitro heli. The helis' set-ups are as follows:

  • Knight 50 carbon version: YS 50, Align 50 pipe, Futaba 611 gyro with 9256 servo, JR 8311 servos for the swashplate, V-Blade paddles.
  • Align 600: 600L motor, JR 8311 servos for the swashplate, Futaba 611 gyro with 9256 servo, Thunder Power 5000 series.

The blades felt rigid longitudinally and torsionally when I flexed them by hand. I am not saying they are as stiff as V-blades but they do feel more rigid than most other blades. The white gel coat on the leading edge creates a white disc making it very visible in flight. The review set weighed in at 128 grams.

I flew them on both machines (600 and Knight 50) and they felt good. The wider chord and thicker airfoil translates into plenty of lift for fast climb-out maneuvers and hang time for those who like to do aerobatic autorotations.

The overall flights were very predictable. They are not quite as aggressive as my Vs, but they will perform any maneuver and they cut through the air very smoothly.

I believe that the FUN TECH blades can compete in terms of quality and flight characteristics. We will have to see what the price point is in comparison to the other main blades on the market. Happy flying and keep it safe.

#### Fun Tech carbon-fiber blades — specifications

  • Chord width: 57.5 mm
  • Root thickness: 12 mm
  • Bolt size: 4 mm
  • Weight: 127 grams
  • Length: 600 mm

Thanks for the detailed report on those new blades, Andy. I appreciate your help in checking these out. I am glad you agreed to do the testing and unbiased review.

Align announces the T-Rex 500

I spoke with Kyna Veatch of Align USA a couple months ago, and I asked her what new things were coming to market from the company.

"Funny you should ask," she said. "We are just announcing a new 500-size helicopter right now!"

This new T-Rex will be midsize—between the 450 and 600. The rotor diameter will be 425 mm. Early reports are that this helicopter is much more stable and capable than the 450 but not as big and intimidating as the 600. This looks like the ticket for pilots who want the next logical step up from a 450.

Miniature Aircraft Bandit (450-size)

Miniature Aircraft is making a new 450-size helicopter called the Bandit. It is a well-built little monster that is bringing the company's legendary quality to the 450-size market. When I use the words "well built," I mean it is strong enough to handle a 4,000-plus-rpm head speed. Bandits took first and second place at the iHobby Expo indoor 3-D helicopter competition in October.

With that insane head speed, this small machine can overcome many of the aerodynamic inefficiencies that are related to its size. I look forward to getting my hands on one of these models soon.

Closing

That is it for this month. I am always accepting information from manufacturers for release in this column. Contact me by e-mail and I can include selected material. Thanks for reading. MA

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.