Review: Sig Kadet Senior EG
Terry Dunn [email protected]
An iconic Giant Scale trainer for electric or glow power
The Sig Kadet is one of those iconic models that has gracefully withstood the test of time. Like most successful designs, the Kadet became popular because of its great flying qualities. It has remained popular because it has continued to adapt to the demands of our ever-evolving hobby. Look at the lineage of Kadet variations during the past four decades and you'll see what I mean.
Like much of the current Sig lineup, the latest iteration of the Kadet Senior ARF incorporates several features that allow it to accommodate electric or glow power systems. That explains the "EG" tag added to the name.
People have been flying electric-powered Kadet Seniors for years. Now, it's no longer a do-it-yourself conversion. You only have to decide which type of power system you want and bolt it on.
I've owned several other Kadets over the years, but this is my first Senior model. I wasn't quite prepared for how big this airplane is. Its 80.5-inch wingspan makes it an International Miniature Aircraft Association-legal model, and aptly so. The two-piece wing helps with storage and transport. The fuselage, however, does not break down and demands a considerable space commitment.
Assembly
If you've built a Sig kit or ARF before, you are familiar with the company's excellent assembly manuals. The Kadet Senior EG is no exception — the manual walks you through every step to result in an airworthy model.
Experienced builders may find the level of detail excessive in some areas. Keep in mind that the Kadet's target market includes beginning modelers, who benefit from precise directions. No matter your skill level, thoroughly read each step; you may pick up a few pointers.
The first order of business is to tighten the Oracover covering. Although this has a cosmetic benefit, the main goal is to secure any loose edges in the covering to keep the model fuelproof and windproof. Given the size of the aircraft, plan to spend an hour or two with your covering iron. Transparent covering tends to highlight sloppy workmanship in the covering and the balsa beneath. As I tightened the Senior's covering, I was hard-pressed to find errors in either area. All of the visible stick-built structure was clean, with no gaps in the joints. Likewise, every overlapping seam in the covering was straight and well adhered.
Sig includes a full set of metric hardware. Although the overall quality is good, I did run into a few issues. One of my main wheel collars had to be drilled out to fit on the landing-gear wire. I also found that the aileron pushrods were slightly too short; I overcame this by swapping them with the 4-inch pushrods intended for the tail feathers. I had a devil of a time inserting the threaded studs into the inner nylon pushrods used for nose-wheel steering and throttle control—threading the pushrod with a 2mm tap helped tremendously.
It is worth noting that all of the control surfaces use 2mm-diameter pushrods. These are only slightly larger than common 2-56 hardware. If built and flown in a traditional Kadet-like manner, this hardware will hold up fine. However, if you plan to install an obscenely oversized motor and/or fly aggressive high-C aerobatics, upgrade to 4-40-size pushrods.
Lithium or Nitro?
A model’s weight, not physical size, determines the power needed to fly it in a given manner. The Kadet Senior is a bantam-weight aircraft and requires surprisingly little power. A .40 to .46 two-stroke (or .50 to .61 four-stroke) glow engine, or a 500-watt electric motor will haul this behemoth around fine. There was never any question that my Kadet Senior EG would have an electric power system.
Sig recommends a Himax HC3528-1000 outrunner motor with a Maxx Products mount, and the instructions reflect that installation. Using a different power setup may require slight improvisation to get it mounted. I agree with Sig that the Himax—or nearly any electric motor producing at least 500 watts—will be adequate for the Kadet. Because I planned to haul gliders and cameras, I selected a slightly larger E-flite Power 32 motor. It outweighs the Himax by a few grams, but it provides more power and turns a larger propeller to better pull high-drag loads.
Of the countless motor-mount options, I settled on a beefy unit from Maxx Products (part number ACC3650) and shortened the standoffs to achieve the correct spacing to fit the cowl (the cowl comes painted, trimmed, and drilled). A nylon engine mount and fuel tank are included for glow motors.
Electric fliers will appreciate the Kadet Senior EG’s factory-installed battery mount and access hatch. The cavernous battery bay fits my Thunder Power 4S-5000 mAh G6 Pro Lite LiPo with room to spare. The quarter-turn fasteners on the hatch hold well yet are easy to actuate. My only complaint is that Sig doesn’t include Velcro tape or straps to secure the battery.
I used four JR Sport ST47 standard servos for the control surfaces and they fit perfectly. The speed control is an E-flite 60-Amp Pro ESC, which also siphons voltage from the flight battery to power the radio gear. I attached all of these components to a Spektrum AR7000 receiver, which talks to my Spektrum DX8 transmitter. The fuselage swallows all of the onboard equipment and provides plenty of room to work.
After three evenings, my Kadet Senior EG was ready to fly. No ballast weight was required to achieve the correct CG. At slightly more than 7 pounds, it’s heavier than advertised, yet still well below most other models this size. A smaller motor and battery may get it within Sig’s specifications. Despite the extra ounces, the Kadet’s paltry wing loading and glider-like cube loading would make many park fliers jealous.
AT A GLANCE ...
SPECIFICATIONS
- Model type: Electric/glow ARF trainer
- Skill level: Intermediate builder / beginner pilot
- Wingspan: 80.5 inches
- Wing area: 1,180 square inches
- Length: 64.75 inches
- Weight: 6 to 6.5 pounds (advertised)
- Power system: 500-watt (3528-1000 Kv) electric motor / .40 to .46 two-stroke; .50 to .61 four-stroke glow
- Radio: Four-channel with four standard servos (electric); five servos for glow
- Construction: Balsa and plywood
- Covering/finish: Iron-on covering
- Street price: $300
TEST-MODEL DETAILS
- Power system: E-flite Power 32 outrunner brushless motor; E-flite 60-Amp Pro ESC
- Battery: Thunder Power G6 Pro Lite 4S 5000 mAh LiPo
- Propeller: APC 12 x 8E
- Radio system: Spektrum DX8 transmitter; Spektrum AR7000 receiver; four JR Sport ST47 standard servos
- Ready-to-fly weight: 7.07 pounds
- Flight duration: 10-plus minutes
- Wing loading: 13.8 ounces per square foot
- Full-throttle power: 62.8 amps, 968 watts, 9,570 rpm
PLUSES
- Lightweight for its size
- Well built
- Broad flight performance
MINUSES
- Minor hardware issues
Flying
As I write this, I’ve logged roughly two dozen flights in conditions ranging from calm to blustery. As you would expect from a trainer, the airplane was easy to fly in all of these environments. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Senior would not be easy to fly.
The recommended control throws are good for an experienced pilot flying the Kadet as a sport model. They provide enough authority for basic aerobatics such as rolls, loops, and inverted flight. If you plan to put a beginner on the sticks, set low rates to about half of what's suggested in the manual.
Coupled with an APC 12 x 8E propeller, the Power 32 has plenty of pull. In fact, unless I'm hauling a glider, I rarely use full throttle because it is unnecessary. When I do use maximum power, the Kadet displays an impressive vertical climb and a surprising burst of speed. Typical mixed flying with occasional aerobatics and numerous touch-and-gos gives me 10-minute flights with reserve capacity.
Thanks to its low wing loading, the Senior is capable of casual, slow flight. With a moderate headwind, you can practically park it in the sky. Combine slow speed with sedate controls, and a student pilot has time to think before reacting — a coveted trait for a trainer aircraft.
What is it about some airplanes that makes them easy to land? Whatever it is, the Kadet had a double dose. All you have to do is point it at the runway, reduce power, and flare at a reasonable time before the wheels touch. That must be why I do so many touch-and-gos. One of my favorite variations involves touchdown, a long slow rollout, and takeoff, all while keeping the nose wheel pried off the ground.
Conclusion
Although much has changed about Sig's Kadets throughout the years, much has stayed the same. The lightweight, stable platform flies as well as it ever has. The Senior EG version provides the time-saving features of a complete ARF while also making it a snap to use electric or glow power. If this trend of selective modernization continues, I think Kadets will be around for a long time to come.
—Terry Dunn [email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor
Sig Manufacturing Company P.O. Box 520 401-7 South Front Street Montezuma, IA 50171 (641) 623-5154 www.sigmfg.com
Sources
- Spektrum
(800) 338-4639 www.spektrumrc.com
- E-flite
(800) 338-4639 www.e-flite.com
- APC Propellers
(530) 661-0399 www.apcprop.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
