Worth a Closer Look - 2009/08

14 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Evans of
Precision Aerobatics
North America is
shown with the new
Extra MX: the
company’s largest
electric-powered
model to date. It
utilizes FiberFusion
construction, which
bonds carbon fiber to
the airframe for
strength and durability.
Pilots will appreciate the
MX’s fully airfoiled control
surfaces and a unique aileron
design that allows the ailerons
to fit into the wings’ TE
tunnels, sealing the hinge gap.
Designed around a power
system that runs from two 3S
2200 mAh battery packs in
parallel, the Extra MX has a
wingspan of 58 inches, a wing area of 721 square inches, a flying
weight of 3.85 pounds, and a wing loading of approximately 12
ounces per square foot.
Precision Aerobatics North America: 6625 Hwy. 53 E. Suite
410-PMB-101, Dawsonville GA 30534; Tel.: (770) 292-9122; Web
site: www.precisionaerobatics.com
Worth a Closer Look
We like to feature products that make our hobby safer. The
new Mega Lipo Safe
from Common Sense
RC does that by giving
us another option for
charging, transporting,
and storing our Li-Poly
batteries.
Larger than
traditional sack-type
holders, the Mega Lipo
Safe is reported to hold
as many as 16 three-cell,
2100 mAh batteries or a
smaller amount of
batteries and a charger.
We used it to hold some six-cell packs for a Giant Scale project
and had no problem fitting them into the (7 x 9 x 3-inch)
compartment. The snap-on cover allows for charge leads to enter
the safe between snaps.
The carry handle makes
transporting easy, even
when you have other
things to lug with you
to the field. Common
Sense even offers a free
replacement guarantee,
in case your Mega Lipo
Safe is ever involved in
a battery failure.
Common Sense RC:
9725 Owensmouth Ave., Chatsworth CA 91311; Tel.: (866) 405-
8811; Web site: www.commonsenserc.com
The Phase 3 Mini
Spitfire is the answer for
pilots who are looking for
a nimble WW II fighter in
a small package. Assembly
is a breeze, requiring only
the tail to be mounted, the
landing gear to be installed
if desired, and your flight receiver to be added. Included with the
model is a 3.7-volt, 1300 mAh Li-Poly battery and charger, as well
as an extra propeller and spinner.
We used the gear, to allow for takeoffs and landings on a paved
runway. Since there is no rudder, we found that it is best to take off at
full throttle, to get the Spitfire airborne quickly.
Two things amazed us on the first flight: the model’s speed on its
brushed motor and single-cell battery and the feeling that you are
flying a larger aircraft. This Battle of Britain thoroughbred was at
home flying outdoors in the wind and handled like a fighter twice its
size. It is capable of basic
aerobatics, with loops requiring
a dive before entering and rolls
that look typical of a fighter of
this era.
The Spitfire is controlled
with aileron, elevator, and
throttle. It has a wingspan of
21.25 inches and a flying
weight of 6.5 ounces. The
Phase 3 Spitfire will get you
into the battle quickly and keep
you there for approximately eight minutes with the included battery.
Hobby People: 18480 Bandilier Cir., Fountain Valley CA 92708;
Tel.: (714) 963-9881; Web site: www.hobbypeople.net
If you are looking for a pilot
figure that’s not afraid to show its
face, look no further than Red
Aero RC. We were amazed by the
realism packed into this line. Each
pilot is handcrafted from durable
epoxy fiberglass and then handpainted
with red, blue, or silver for
the helmet.
We received the “visor-up”
33% IMAC-style figure, which is
shown, for an upcoming review.
Our pilot even came in under the advertised weight, at only 3.2
ounces. Also available are “visordown”
and “full-helmet” versions
in 33% and 40% sizes.
Also shown is the new Classic
Aviator, which comes fully
painted and assembled using the
same process as is used for the
IMAC-style line. The goggles
even have clear lenses, to add a
further touch of realism to your
scale project.
Red Aero RC: www.redaerorc
.com
Handcrafted Pilots
Mega Lipo Safe
Extra MX
Radio Ready Mini Spitfire
08sig1.QXD 6/23/09 10:59 AM Page 14
August 2009 15
Are you looking for updated information about the why and
how of micro and indoor models? Bob Aberle, editor-at-large for
RC Micro World Online Magazine and technical editor of MA, has
you covered with his new book on CD.
The World of Indoor/Micro Radio Controlled Model Aircraft
covers everything from submicro to backyard flying. It offers a
wealth of information, not
only about receivers, servos,
motors, and batteries, but also
about some of the top products
that are available today.
Containing 118 pages of
text and 138 color photos, this
resource provides all the
information that is needed to
help you along as you venture
into this segment of the hobby.
RC Micro World: www.
cloud9rc.com
Battery Buddies are soft vinyl caps that were designed to cover
male and female Deans-style connectors. Available in packages of
six, these covers
are available in two
colors—red and
black—so you can
use them to help
you keep track of
which batteries are
ready to use and
which need a
charge.
Battery Buddies
can also be used in
other RC
applications, such
as for carburetor plugs, glow igniter caps, and exhaust plugs. Look
for additional colors to be available in the future.
Colorado Radio Control Products: (303) 507-8427; Web site:
www.batterybuddies.com
Worth a Closer Look
Battery Buddies
We first saw Jie
Zhao’s vision of
“modularized”
aircraft at last year’s
iHobby Expo. He
showed us how one
power module
could easily be
transplanted among
any of the three
included airframes,
with a snap of the
magnets and a minor
adjustment on the
transmitter for mixing.
Three distinctly
different aircraft in one
RTF package, controlled
by a 900 MHz transmitter,
is a micro-flier’s dream.
Impressed with the forward-thinking approach and potential of the
“Snap&Fly” concept, we eagerly awaited its release.
It was worth the wait; the Snap&Fly models performed exactly
as Jie and his company, ItCanFly, promised. Each airplane flies
completely different from the next. The “hot rod” of the bunch is
the canard, which flies faster and in a more agile manner, with its
aileron-type controls. As expected, the biplane with rudder and
elevator control is capable of the slowest flight, and the midwing
V-tail model fits in between the two.
These models can be flown indoors or outdoors in calm
conditions, and their light weight has allowed them to survive
minor mishaps without damage.
The RTF package includes the transmitter, with built-in charger
for two flight batteries, the power module, three airframes, three
batteries, and a spare motor, mount, and propeller.
Snap&Fly provides triple the fun in one RTF package.
ItCanFly: 14241 Midlothian Tpke. #148, Midlothian VA 23113;
Tel.: (804) 591-9838; Web site: www.itcanfly.com
World of Indoor/Micro Radio Controlled
Models
With the help of Quique Somenzini, Kevin Kimball, and Bryan
Jensen, Horizon Hobby surprised those who attended this year’s
Joe Nall Fly-In. The company’s new model Pitts received a lot of
attention, especially when Quique put it through its paces down on
the deck with smoke
on.
The even bigger
surprise immediately
followed, when
Bryan Jensen made a
smoke-on pass with
the full-scale Beast,
in formation with
Matt Chapman and
his Eagle 580. The
model and full-scale
Beast, in matching
colors, were then
displayed at the event.
One of the most
exciting things about
this partnership is that
the airplane design has
been a collaboration
between full-scale
builder/designer Kevin Kimball and Quique Somenzini. The fullscale
Beast will make limited air show appearances this year, and
Horizon Hobby will soon release its smaller counterpart.
Although not all of the model’s specifications have been
released, we do know it has a wingspan of 89 inches and a flying
weight of approximately 26 pounds. Engine recommendations are
for either an 80cc or 100cc gas engine.
Horizon Hobby: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822;
Tel.: (217) 352-1913; Web site: www.hangar-9.com MA
Pitts Model 12R “The Beast”
See page 175 for submission guidelines
Flying Different Airplanes is a Snap
08sig1.QXD 6/22/09 1:03 PM Page 15