by sunny on March 6, 2010
Fast, agile and ruthless - that was Willy Messerschmitt’s BF-109 when it dominated European skies during WWII. You can enjoy those same thrills as the "formidable foe" with the Parkzone BF-109 G6 BNF, a small-scale park flyer with full aerobatic capabilities.
The plane comes with a Luftwaffe-inspired paint scheme, based on the version of the plane flown by pilot Erich Hartmann. To foster the realism, it comes with plenty of scale touches, including the port-side supercharger intake, exhaust stacks, gun ports and molded panel lines. It comes with a choice of pilots too for even more striking visuals. By the way, the box includes a Swastika decal for the tail, which you probably want to pass on just to avoid any issues when you take it for a spin.
Most everything you need is included in the box, save for a Spektrum DSM2 aircraft transmitter. Assembly is surprisingly easy, thanks to the detailed Quick Start guide and 22-page manual, both of which come loaded with clear instructions and plenty of pictures. A number of parts are also pre-assembled (e.g. control horns, servos and pushrod) and wired (e.g. motor and cowl).
Up in the air, the Bf-109 is an impressive park flyer. The agility and power took me quite by surprise, easily handling a variety of maneuvers despite some amount of wind. It's fully aerobatic, with a decent level of accuracy during stunts. With exceptional scale looks and excellent versatility, this definitely offers plenty of satisfying action, especially for more creative pilots.
ParkZone Bf-109 G6 BNF Specifications:
Wingspan: 43.5 in (1105mm)
Overall Length: 39.4 in (1000mm)
Flying Weight: 35.3 oz (1000 g)
Motor Size: 15-size 720Kv brushless
Speed Control : EFL 30A Switch-Mode BEC BL
Recommended Battery: 11.1V 3S 1800mAh 11.1V Lithium Polymer (included)
Scale: Warbird
Charger: DC-powered 2-3 cell variable rate Li-Po balancing
Landing Gear: Fixed main LG with steerable tail wheel
by sunny on March 4, 2010
Van's RV-9 kit plane has gained huge popularity with its easy-to-pilot and relaxed operations. If you're a fan of that "everyday use" capability, you'll probably appreciate the E-Flite RV-9 450, a park flyer reproduction of the acclaimed hobby plane.
The 50-inch wingspan model retains the scale lines of the original, making it a real looker out in the field. Overall performance is excellent - light weight, stable flight and very sporty characteristics.
Assembly should take intermediate (read: some familiarity with plane kits) hobbyists around five hours to complete. Those more experienced with kits should put this together easily. Majority of the hardware comes with the box, although you'll need quite a few additions too, including a 450- to 480-sized brushless motor, a 4- or 5-channel radio, 4 or 5 servos, prop, speed control and battery.
Takeoffs are very easy to do with the RV-9 450. Like its real-life counterpart, it's very maneuverable, able to take on even small spaces. Hovering is very smooth and slow flights take almost no work, with the plane exhibiting admirable stability. Because of its size and general design, it looks gorgeous in the air as well.
Unlike the full-scale version though (as far as I know), this performs stunts very capably - spins, hammerheads and other 3D movements are handled well. In fact, the generous elevator and rudder ensures it can do pretty much any aerobatic maneuver you can imagine throwing it into.
Packed with surprising performance (I really thought this was all about fun, relaxed cruising), the E-Flite RV-9 450 turned out to be an impressive park flyer. Paired with authentic scale looks and relatively accessible assembly, this is an absolute winner in my book.
Specifications
Wingspan:50.0 in (1270mm)
Overall Length:38.0 in (920mm)
Wing Area:385 sq in (24.8 sq dm)
Flying Weight:3640 oz (10201135 g)
Trim Scheme Colors:Hanger 9® UltraCote® Bright Yellow (HANU872); Deep Blue (HANU873); Black (HANU874); True Red (HANU866)
Experience Level:Intermediate
Recommended Environment:Outdoor
by sunny on March 1, 2010
A favorite among airshow fans during the 1960s, the The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 Akrobat resurrects the popular Czech plane in all its flying glory. Like its full-scale inspiration, the single-seater model is designed for one thing: to thrill audiences with its sporty aerobatic prowess.
While putting ARFs together is always daunting, this particular plane was engineered for convenient assembly. Note the difference between "convenient" and "easy." This is, by no means, a breeze, but it could have been harder. For our purposes, we used a 4-stroke .52 engine, although you do get a wide choice for the kit (2-strokes and Outrunner brushless are also accepted).
The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 Akrobat is a roughly 1/7th scale, so it's quite a big plane (58-inch wingspan). That makes it perfect for outdoor aerial shows, since people on the ground can spot its on-air antics easily.
Up in the air, the good looks pave the way for even better flight. The plane is absolutely fast and smooth. Crank the left stick forward and you'll see it streak like a straight-aimed missile. Handling shows a lot of neutral tendencies, so there's plenty of room to innovate for aerobatic flyers. It's not as precise as 3D competitors would probably hope for, though, so keep that in mind.
Seldom do you find a Zlin plane modeled. It's especially rare to see one with full aerobatic qualities as Great Planes has done with Zlin Z-526 Akrobat. Throw in the not-so-difficult assembly plus excellent flight speed, and it's an easy call if you're ever considering getting one. Yep, get it now.
Specifications
Wingspan: 58 in (1470 mm)
Wing Area: 633 in² (40.9 dm²)
Weight: 6-6.75 lb (2695-3005 g)
Wing Loading: 22-24 oz/ft² (66-74 g/dm²)
Length: 52 in (1320 mm)
Requires: 4-5 channel radio w/4-5 servos; 2-stroke .46-.55 cu in (7.5-9.0 cc) or 4-stroke .52-.70 cu in (8.5-11.5 cc) engine; OR RimFire? 42-60-480kV outrunner brushless motor, 60A brushless ESC & (2) 11.1V 3200mAh 20C LiPo batteries
by sunny on February 27, 2010
Just released early this year, the Hobby Lobby Super Scale F-16 looks like one mean RC plane. Massive and detailed, it's a gorgeous rendition of the legendary jet fighter currently serving in the military of over 25 countries.
It's an ARF, so it comes with most the parts you will need to take your plane to the skies and begin shooting down enemies. Okay, the latter will require plenty of imagination, but the flying part sounds like an absolute thrill. You'll need to add radio, servos and battery to get it up.
How big is the thing? If you have a kid in grade school, the Super Scale F-16 is probably bigger. With a flying weight of 35 oz, it has a 28.33-inch wingspan, 43.5-inch length and a total 160.75 square inches of wing area. Yep, it's huge.
The set comes with mostly injection-molded plastic parts (such as the inlet scoop, scale landing gear legs and wheels), some hard plastic components (fins and missiles) and plenty of articulated detail. Based on the photos, assembly may prove harder than Hobby Lobby makes it out to be. It looks worth it, though. Hardware details include pin-type hinges, engineered nose wheel steering and carbon rod reinforced wings.
Top features include a 2600 Kv Outrunner brushless motor, an 80mm-diameter ducted fan, 45-amp speed control and an eight-blade impeller. The canopy and the base form the battery hatch, which are held steadfastly in place by earth magnets, making access to the battery easy. For realistic enjoyment, the jet comes armed to the brim, with AGM missiles, AIM missiles and reserve drop fuel tanks.
While there's no mention of how it performs on the official site, the Hobby Lobby Super Scale F-16 looks way badass. Recommended for intermediate model pilots, price is an affordable $260.
Specifications:
Length: 43-1/2"
Wingspan: 28-1/3"
Flying Weight: 35 oz.
Motor: Outrunner Brushless (2600 Kv) Included in Kit
Ducted Fan: 80mm Ducted Fan with 8-blade impeller (Dynamically Balanced) Included in Kit
Speed Controller: 45A Programmable ESC pre-connected with Genuine Deans Ultra Conns
Type of Build: ARF - Almost Ready to Fly
Skill Level: Intermediate
by sunny on February 26, 2010
When it comes to indoor R/C helis, the E-Flite Blade series should be a familiar name. The latest to carry the line (their eight) is the Blade mSR, a single-rotor chopper that seeks to fill the gap between co-axial models and collective pitch machines.
Factory-assembled, it comes ready to fly, complete with a 2.4GHz radio and all the batteries you will need to quickly get in the air. While not the most spectacular-looking, it does have some nice lines. With options for appearance and performance enhancers, such as glow-in-the-dark blades and a tailfin, it should bring enough satisfying visuals.
The tiny E-Flite Blade mSR is actually quite the capable helicopter. Hovering is very stable, requiring just slightly more control than a co-axial machine. Beginner pilots shouldn't have a hard time working through this RC, especially after a few practice take-offs.
Despite weighing a mere ounce, it can do a lot. Forward flight is easy to handle, with speedy acceleration and an even faster quick stop at just the flick of a button. It's a fixed pitch heli, so don't expect much acrobatics - it's good enough for a trick or two, though.
Trawling the air around your house, you'll likely find it to be a very responsive and durable chopper. Sure, it's probably going to break if you step on it, but normal falls and running into obstacles should result in zero damage. Hard to believe with its flimsy-looking frame, but true.
New helicopter pilots looking for a fun, affordable machine should definitely consider the E-Flite Blade mSR RTF. It's a tiny bundle of fun with enough toughness to last you a long time.
Specifications
Rotor Diameter: 180mm (7.0in)
Length: 200mm (7.9in)
Height: 90mm (3.5in)
Weight: with battery 28g (1.0oz)
Motors: Main motor brushed coreless (1 installed)
Tail Motor Brushed micro coreless (1 installed)
US $8.49
