60 MODEL AVIATION
TWO WONDERFUL THINGS
happened to me recently. The first,
and most important, is that my 12-
year-old son suddenly decided that he
was interested in trying RC
helicopters. Second, soon
thereafter I received an Axe CX
Micro to review. What fantastic
timing!
I have flown RC during my
son, Jack’s, entire lifetime. I
never pushed the hobby on him,
and he never seemed too
interested in it. It was exciting to
hear him express an interest in
flying, so it seemed natural to
solicit his help on the review.
After all, the Axe CX Micro is
designed to be a “no experience
necessary” helicopter.
When I asked Jack to help
with the review, he was thrilled.
He had flown a few airplanes
and helicopters on my simulator,
but he had tried only a couple
other coaxial helicopters.
Our beloved UPS driver
delivered the box, and Jack and I
opened it together (a special
moment for sure). That sensation
of opening the new helicopter’s
box never loses its luster. I
finally had someone with which
to share the sound of squeaking
Styrofoam packaging. The box’s
design was well thought out,
with no signs of damage from
shipping.
When the box was open, the
first thing that struck both of us
was the helicopter’s size. This
thing is tiny; the rotor spans only
10 inches! I wondered how well
it would fly because of the small
size. Typically, the smaller the
aircraft, the less stable it will be.
Besides the helicopter, the package
included a Li-Poly battery/charger,
transmitter, and instruction manual. Since
everything was assembled, we plugged in
the charger and waited for the flight pack
battery to be ready to fly. We did need to
put eight AA batteries in the transmitter.
The helicopter was test-flown at the
factory, so I was curious to see how well it
would be trimmed on its initial flight. Dad
had to be the first one to give it a go.
When the charge indicator turned from
red to green, we knew it was ready. It takes
approximately an hour to charge the flight
battery, so picking up a spare would be a
good idea.
I showed Jack how to slip the battery
into the compartment on the underside of
the machine. I set it down on our family
room floor, turned on the transmitter, and
then plugged in the flight-pack
battery onboard the helicopter.
I gently raised the throttle stick,
and the rotor blades started
turning. The little purple helicopter
lifted off at roughly midstick
on the throttle. Once airborne,
it stayed stationary, hovering
in one spot. Wow, I guess the
factory-flight-tested claim was
right.
Jack had been watching my
checkout procedure.
“Okay, now let me try it,”
he said.
I handed him the
transmitter and he lifted off
and hovered the Axe, tail-in,
with no problem. To my
surprise, he then turned it
around for some nose-in
hovering.
When I think back about
how long it took me to learn
nose-in hovering, it was a
shock to see my son simply
turn the model around the way
he did. He is part of the Xbox
generation, you know.
Then I told Jack to fly the
helicopter around a bit. He
pushed the cyclic stick
forward and started a mediumspeed
forward circuit. He even
gained the altitude necessary
to just miss Mom’s new lamp!
That was close.
After a couple more
minutes of nicely controlled
flight, Jack set the Axe CX
Micro down and said, “Wow,
that is my favorite helicopter.”
He took off once more and
confidently finished the
battery power, for a total of
nine minutes of flight time. I think he
caught the RC bug, because since then he
has been asking to go with me to all the
indoor events.
When Jack had flown the Axe several
more times, I asked him to describe its
flight characteristics in his own words. He
said:
“This heli just turns better and is more
responsive than the others I have tried. It
is pretty fast compared to other small
helis too. You can fly it around more. It
doesn’t have to stay in one spot the whole
time. The tail control was better. It can
stop right where you want it to even when
it is spinning fast. It is easy to land, and
you can fly it in really small rooms.”
Thanks for helping out on the
review, Jack.
Jack Fadely in action. It took his dad a year
before he could do nose-in hovering; this was
Jack’s first time flying the Axe CX Micro at
an indoor event. Jack noted that it felt solid
and can perform forward flight faster than
some other coaxial helicopters.
This small package is big on fun. Whether
you are a beginner or a top 3-D ace, you can
count on having a blast flying this helicopter
around your living room. Pushrods and
settings are properly adjusted at the factory.
An electric-powered
helicopter trainer for
indoors and out
MARK FADELY
Swashplate: Heli-Max Axe CX Micro RTF
08sig2.QXD 6/22/09 12:01 PM Page 60
Tips for Successful Flights:
1. Keep the Axe low (less than a foot in
altitude) for the first flights.
2. Keep its tail pointed toward you.
3. If you feel like you are losing control,
gently lower the throttle stick.
4. Do not fly close to furniture.
5. Make sure there is a level landing zone
under the helicopter at all times.
6. Do not chase pets. Ha! Ha! An
aggressive house cat can ruin a great Axe CX
Micro day!
Rating: On our scale, 1 is the lowest and
10 is the highest.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Aeromodeller Dec 1952
Used with permission
Subscribe to our magazine and receive full size plans in every issue
FULL SIZE PLANS - 1640C Kellogg Street - Galesburg, Illinois 61401
Do you like to look at model airplane plans and dream
about those you’d like to build?
Are you tired of ARFs and would you like to build
something yourself?
Would you like to build a model with a grandkid or
with your own children?
Do you remember when model magazines actually
printed plans in each issue?
Do you have a list of old classic RC, FF, RUBBER or UC
models you would like to build?
Do you have fond memories of that one special model
you first built as a kid?
Well, help is on the way. Our magazine specializes
in bringing back those fondly remembered oldies and
classics for you.
Send $4.00 now for a sample issue and full information
We find and restore the plans from old kits and magazines,
have them reprinted on high speed presses, and send them out to our
subscribers 6 times each year for their enjoyment, all at prices much less than
buying plans any other way.
Ease of use: 10
Flight performance: 9
Flight duration: 9
Instructions: 9
Durability: 8
Parts support: 10
I like the fact that the Axe CX Micro RTF
is test-flown and adjusted at the factory.
New pilots need something that they can
take out of the box and be successful with
right away. Having to make adjustments
and/or tweak a lot of components is not
user-friendly for the novice.
Hobbico scored a bull’s-eye when it
targeted this model at the raw beginner
pilot. However, its easy handling and
superb flight characteristics make this
little helicopter fun for pilots of any skill
level. MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Heli-Max/Great Planes
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 637-7660
www.helimax-rc.com
Other Published Reviews:
Hobby Merchandiser: February 2009
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/08
Page Numbers: 60,61,62
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/08
Page Numbers: 60,61,62
60 MODEL AVIATION
TWO WONDERFUL THINGS
happened to me recently. The first,
and most important, is that my 12-
year-old son suddenly decided that he
was interested in trying RC
helicopters. Second, soon
thereafter I received an Axe CX
Micro to review. What fantastic
timing!
I have flown RC during my
son, Jack’s, entire lifetime. I
never pushed the hobby on him,
and he never seemed too
interested in it. It was exciting to
hear him express an interest in
flying, so it seemed natural to
solicit his help on the review.
After all, the Axe CX Micro is
designed to be a “no experience
necessary” helicopter.
When I asked Jack to help
with the review, he was thrilled.
He had flown a few airplanes
and helicopters on my simulator,
but he had tried only a couple
other coaxial helicopters.
Our beloved UPS driver
delivered the box, and Jack and I
opened it together (a special
moment for sure). That sensation
of opening the new helicopter’s
box never loses its luster. I
finally had someone with which
to share the sound of squeaking
Styrofoam packaging. The box’s
design was well thought out,
with no signs of damage from
shipping.
When the box was open, the
first thing that struck both of us
was the helicopter’s size. This
thing is tiny; the rotor spans only
10 inches! I wondered how well
it would fly because of the small
size. Typically, the smaller the
aircraft, the less stable it will be.
Besides the helicopter, the package
included a Li-Poly battery/charger,
transmitter, and instruction manual. Since
everything was assembled, we plugged in
the charger and waited for the flight pack
battery to be ready to fly. We did need to
put eight AA batteries in the transmitter.
The helicopter was test-flown at the
factory, so I was curious to see how well it
would be trimmed on its initial flight. Dad
had to be the first one to give it a go.
When the charge indicator turned from
red to green, we knew it was ready. It takes
approximately an hour to charge the flight
battery, so picking up a spare would be a
good idea.
I showed Jack how to slip the battery
into the compartment on the underside of
the machine. I set it down on our family
room floor, turned on the transmitter, and
then plugged in the flight-pack
battery onboard the helicopter.
I gently raised the throttle stick,
and the rotor blades started
turning. The little purple helicopter
lifted off at roughly midstick
on the throttle. Once airborne,
it stayed stationary, hovering
in one spot. Wow, I guess the
factory-flight-tested claim was
right.
Jack had been watching my
checkout procedure.
“Okay, now let me try it,”
he said.
I handed him the
transmitter and he lifted off
and hovered the Axe, tail-in,
with no problem. To my
surprise, he then turned it
around for some nose-in
hovering.
When I think back about
how long it took me to learn
nose-in hovering, it was a
shock to see my son simply
turn the model around the way
he did. He is part of the Xbox
generation, you know.
Then I told Jack to fly the
helicopter around a bit. He
pushed the cyclic stick
forward and started a mediumspeed
forward circuit. He even
gained the altitude necessary
to just miss Mom’s new lamp!
That was close.
After a couple more
minutes of nicely controlled
flight, Jack set the Axe CX
Micro down and said, “Wow,
that is my favorite helicopter.”
He took off once more and
confidently finished the
battery power, for a total of
nine minutes of flight time. I think he
caught the RC bug, because since then he
has been asking to go with me to all the
indoor events.
When Jack had flown the Axe several
more times, I asked him to describe its
flight characteristics in his own words. He
said:
“This heli just turns better and is more
responsive than the others I have tried. It
is pretty fast compared to other small
helis too. You can fly it around more. It
doesn’t have to stay in one spot the whole
time. The tail control was better. It can
stop right where you want it to even when
it is spinning fast. It is easy to land, and
you can fly it in really small rooms.”
Thanks for helping out on the
review, Jack.
Jack Fadely in action. It took his dad a year
before he could do nose-in hovering; this was
Jack’s first time flying the Axe CX Micro at
an indoor event. Jack noted that it felt solid
and can perform forward flight faster than
some other coaxial helicopters.
This small package is big on fun. Whether
you are a beginner or a top 3-D ace, you can
count on having a blast flying this helicopter
around your living room. Pushrods and
settings are properly adjusted at the factory.
An electric-powered
helicopter trainer for
indoors and out
MARK FADELY
Swashplate: Heli-Max Axe CX Micro RTF
08sig2.QXD 6/22/09 12:01 PM Page 60
Tips for Successful Flights:
1. Keep the Axe low (less than a foot in
altitude) for the first flights.
2. Keep its tail pointed toward you.
3. If you feel like you are losing control,
gently lower the throttle stick.
4. Do not fly close to furniture.
5. Make sure there is a level landing zone
under the helicopter at all times.
6. Do not chase pets. Ha! Ha! An
aggressive house cat can ruin a great Axe CX
Micro day!
Rating: On our scale, 1 is the lowest and
10 is the highest.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Aeromodeller Dec 1952
Used with permission
Subscribe to our magazine and receive full size plans in every issue
FULL SIZE PLANS - 1640C Kellogg Street - Galesburg, Illinois 61401
Do you like to look at model airplane plans and dream
about those you’d like to build?
Are you tired of ARFs and would you like to build
something yourself?
Would you like to build a model with a grandkid or
with your own children?
Do you remember when model magazines actually
printed plans in each issue?
Do you have a list of old classic RC, FF, RUBBER or UC
models you would like to build?
Do you have fond memories of that one special model
you first built as a kid?
Well, help is on the way. Our magazine specializes
in bringing back those fondly remembered oldies and
classics for you.
Send $4.00 now for a sample issue and full information
We find and restore the plans from old kits and magazines,
have them reprinted on high speed presses, and send them out to our
subscribers 6 times each year for their enjoyment, all at prices much less than
buying plans any other way.
Ease of use: 10
Flight performance: 9
Flight duration: 9
Instructions: 9
Durability: 8
Parts support: 10
I like the fact that the Axe CX Micro RTF
is test-flown and adjusted at the factory.
New pilots need something that they can
take out of the box and be successful with
right away. Having to make adjustments
and/or tweak a lot of components is not
user-friendly for the novice.
Hobbico scored a bull’s-eye when it
targeted this model at the raw beginner
pilot. However, its easy handling and
superb flight characteristics make this
little helicopter fun for pilots of any skill
level. MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Heli-Max/Great Planes
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 637-7660
www.helimax-rc.com
Other Published Reviews:
Hobby Merchandiser: February 2009
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/08
Page Numbers: 60,61,62
60 MODEL AVIATION
TWO WONDERFUL THINGS
happened to me recently. The first,
and most important, is that my 12-
year-old son suddenly decided that he
was interested in trying RC
helicopters. Second, soon
thereafter I received an Axe CX
Micro to review. What fantastic
timing!
I have flown RC during my
son, Jack’s, entire lifetime. I
never pushed the hobby on him,
and he never seemed too
interested in it. It was exciting to
hear him express an interest in
flying, so it seemed natural to
solicit his help on the review.
After all, the Axe CX Micro is
designed to be a “no experience
necessary” helicopter.
When I asked Jack to help
with the review, he was thrilled.
He had flown a few airplanes
and helicopters on my simulator,
but he had tried only a couple
other coaxial helicopters.
Our beloved UPS driver
delivered the box, and Jack and I
opened it together (a special
moment for sure). That sensation
of opening the new helicopter’s
box never loses its luster. I
finally had someone with which
to share the sound of squeaking
Styrofoam packaging. The box’s
design was well thought out,
with no signs of damage from
shipping.
When the box was open, the
first thing that struck both of us
was the helicopter’s size. This
thing is tiny; the rotor spans only
10 inches! I wondered how well
it would fly because of the small
size. Typically, the smaller the
aircraft, the less stable it will be.
Besides the helicopter, the package
included a Li-Poly battery/charger,
transmitter, and instruction manual. Since
everything was assembled, we plugged in
the charger and waited for the flight pack
battery to be ready to fly. We did need to
put eight AA batteries in the transmitter.
The helicopter was test-flown at the
factory, so I was curious to see how well it
would be trimmed on its initial flight. Dad
had to be the first one to give it a go.
When the charge indicator turned from
red to green, we knew it was ready. It takes
approximately an hour to charge the flight
battery, so picking up a spare would be a
good idea.
I showed Jack how to slip the battery
into the compartment on the underside of
the machine. I set it down on our family
room floor, turned on the transmitter, and
then plugged in the flight-pack
battery onboard the helicopter.
I gently raised the throttle stick,
and the rotor blades started
turning. The little purple helicopter
lifted off at roughly midstick
on the throttle. Once airborne,
it stayed stationary, hovering
in one spot. Wow, I guess the
factory-flight-tested claim was
right.
Jack had been watching my
checkout procedure.
“Okay, now let me try it,”
he said.
I handed him the
transmitter and he lifted off
and hovered the Axe, tail-in,
with no problem. To my
surprise, he then turned it
around for some nose-in
hovering.
When I think back about
how long it took me to learn
nose-in hovering, it was a
shock to see my son simply
turn the model around the way
he did. He is part of the Xbox
generation, you know.
Then I told Jack to fly the
helicopter around a bit. He
pushed the cyclic stick
forward and started a mediumspeed
forward circuit. He even
gained the altitude necessary
to just miss Mom’s new lamp!
That was close.
After a couple more
minutes of nicely controlled
flight, Jack set the Axe CX
Micro down and said, “Wow,
that is my favorite helicopter.”
He took off once more and
confidently finished the
battery power, for a total of
nine minutes of flight time. I think he
caught the RC bug, because since then he
has been asking to go with me to all the
indoor events.
When Jack had flown the Axe several
more times, I asked him to describe its
flight characteristics in his own words. He
said:
“This heli just turns better and is more
responsive than the others I have tried. It
is pretty fast compared to other small
helis too. You can fly it around more. It
doesn’t have to stay in one spot the whole
time. The tail control was better. It can
stop right where you want it to even when
it is spinning fast. It is easy to land, and
you can fly it in really small rooms.”
Thanks for helping out on the
review, Jack.
Jack Fadely in action. It took his dad a year
before he could do nose-in hovering; this was
Jack’s first time flying the Axe CX Micro at
an indoor event. Jack noted that it felt solid
and can perform forward flight faster than
some other coaxial helicopters.
This small package is big on fun. Whether
you are a beginner or a top 3-D ace, you can
count on having a blast flying this helicopter
around your living room. Pushrods and
settings are properly adjusted at the factory.
An electric-powered
helicopter trainer for
indoors and out
MARK FADELY
Swashplate: Heli-Max Axe CX Micro RTF
08sig2.QXD 6/22/09 12:01 PM Page 60
Tips for Successful Flights:
1. Keep the Axe low (less than a foot in
altitude) for the first flights.
2. Keep its tail pointed toward you.
3. If you feel like you are losing control,
gently lower the throttle stick.
4. Do not fly close to furniture.
5. Make sure there is a level landing zone
under the helicopter at all times.
6. Do not chase pets. Ha! Ha! An
aggressive house cat can ruin a great Axe CX
Micro day!
Rating: On our scale, 1 is the lowest and
10 is the highest.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Aeromodeller Dec 1952
Used with permission
Subscribe to our magazine and receive full size plans in every issue
FULL SIZE PLANS - 1640C Kellogg Street - Galesburg, Illinois 61401
Do you like to look at model airplane plans and dream
about those you’d like to build?
Are you tired of ARFs and would you like to build
something yourself?
Would you like to build a model with a grandkid or
with your own children?
Do you remember when model magazines actually
printed plans in each issue?
Do you have a list of old classic RC, FF, RUBBER or UC
models you would like to build?
Do you have fond memories of that one special model
you first built as a kid?
Well, help is on the way. Our magazine specializes
in bringing back those fondly remembered oldies and
classics for you.
Send $4.00 now for a sample issue and full information
We find and restore the plans from old kits and magazines,
have them reprinted on high speed presses, and send them out to our
subscribers 6 times each year for their enjoyment, all at prices much less than
buying plans any other way.
Ease of use: 10
Flight performance: 9
Flight duration: 9
Instructions: 9
Durability: 8
Parts support: 10
I like the fact that the Axe CX Micro RTF
is test-flown and adjusted at the factory.
New pilots need something that they can
take out of the box and be successful with
right away. Having to make adjustments
and/or tweak a lot of components is not
user-friendly for the novice.
Hobbico scored a bull’s-eye when it
targeted this model at the raw beginner
pilot. However, its easy handling and
superb flight characteristics make this
little helicopter fun for pilots of any skill
level. MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Heli-Max/Great Planes
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 637-7660
www.helimax-rc.com
Other Published Reviews:
Hobby Merchandiser: February 2009
