z8rc: LiFe Saver

Sunday, May 29, 2011

LiFe Saver

A flawless GP Yak-55m replacement airframe flew its father's guts today, these GP ARFs are works of art. This one was everybit the vision of perfection, same or better than the last one. I'm still amazed at the value, after the standard email coupons (-$25) and club discounts (on sale for $159), this big 55 oz'er came from Towerhobby for $134 with free shipping. Not as good a deal as the first airframe, but nevertheless encapsulating many man-months of stunning perfection for around a fourth of a second tier business executive's hourly rate.

Perhaps foolishly, I properly soldered the E-flight 60A "Pro" ESC adn reused it. It is solid overkill for a 45A plane, plus, I have a trick up my sleeve to avert Horizon Hobby's next, even more creative lethal defect...

Since I fly primarily park flyers, I hadn't previously used an independent RX battery, as few extra ounces makes a big difference to a 20-30 oz airplane. But with my reborne Yak-55m still carrying a certain-to-fail E-flight ESC, I decided to add a 6.6V LiFe battery to operate the Rx and servos. I still have motor battery SPC and the ESC BEC as Rx and Rx + servo backups, respectively.

I choose a 2.2 oz 1300 6.6V LiFe battery to power the 55 (now 57.2) oz Yak-55m. In addition to relieving the motor battery from having to power the aircraft electronics, increasing flight times and recovering perhaps half the battery weight in the form of extended flight time, aerobatics also benefit from faster servo movement.

Flight tests were flawless. I'm gong to use this method a lot in the future.

NEUTRAL

These products did not score high or low enough to merit a buy or avoid recommendation.

RC Airplanes
3D Hobby Shop Edge 540 (41")
BlitzRCWorks Nano P-51D (21.5")
E-Flite Cap 232 (36")
E-Flite Carbon Z Yak-54
E-Flite Ultimate 20-300 10 ARF
FMS P-47D Thunderbolt (55")
Gemini RC Extra 300 (16")
Hobby King 1.5M Monster Yak-54 (59")
Mini-Air Extra 300 (16")
Parkzone Ultra Micro T-28 (16.5")

RC Helicopters
Ares Ultr-Micro MD-500D CX 100
Blade MSR
Balde MSR X
Blade Scout CX

Electrics
Duratrax Onyx LiPo Charger
E3-S-23 Micro Brushless Outrunner Motor
E-Flight Power 25
E-Flight Power 32
E-Flight Power 46
Turnigy 35-36

Radios
Spektrum Full Range Receivers

Other
AS3X
Banana Hobby 2-Axis Gyro System
Real Flight G5.5 RC Simulator
Turnigy Plush ESCs

Z8RC All Time Favorite

Great Planes Yak-55M (55")

The 51" span GPY55M is so good, it didn't take long to claim the top spot on the Z8RC fav list. The craftsmanship of this plane is a work of art, both inside and out, meaning it doesn't only look perfect, it flies perfect. Take off and accelerate vertically into the blue with an amazing roll rate right off the pavement. Controls are beautifully uncoupled. Tumbles are wild and stay very tight. Slow speed, high-alpha float rivals a dirigible, and sneaking above critical AoA plows straight ahead with a faint, wings-level shudder. High speed tears are rousing with a pronounced Doppler effect. Spin upright or inverted, fast or slow, even isolate the rotation on the lateral axis with a little practice. It's rare to find a single ship that wins in all aerobatic areas. An unnecessary bonus is an amazing price, with typical Tower member email discounts (no affiliation) this 55M can be had for under $150 including shipping. Don't tell GP, but it would win the fav spot even if it cost a lot more money.

Z8RC Best First Airplane

Hobbyzone Champ RTF (22.5")

This faithful little trainer is the only RC plane I've ever flown that I would recommend to a friend who's never flown before to fly without assistance. Easy steps to success: (1) find a soft grass field, (2) wait for a no wind day, (3) place the battery full forward, (4) visually align the flight control surfaces then input 3 clicks of elevator-up trim, (5) set 55% throttle, (6) give the mini Champ a light toss into the wind about 10 degrees nose high. You are on your way to learning RC flying. When ready to land, (7) set 25% throttle and let the Champ find soft grass on its own. No help required. The best thing about the Champ is its excellent slow flight characteristics which are very forgiving but demand new skills to master, so boredom is very far away. Good luck!

Z8RC Best 4-Channel Trainer

Art-Tech Pitts S2B Special (33.5")

Once you've mastered the Hobbyzone Champ, it's time for a great 4-channel aileron trainer. This park-size Pitts S2B establishes an amazingly solid platform for a bipe or high wing trainer, and yes, it even has a high wing. Flight balance with a 1300-1600 mAh 3S is perfect for carving slow lines, floating, gliding, or all out aerobatic fun. The plane is better mannered across the entire airspeed envelope than any dedicated aileron trainer I've flown, forcing me to knock the excellent little Cessna 150 Aerobat to a close second place finish. The fact that it sells under $120 as an 2.4GHz RTF is icing on the cake. It used to be the Z8RC all time fav, but the GP Yak-55M is in another class altogether. Still, the Pitts is a value dream come true which makes it perfect for knock around early aerobatics. Outfit it with Z83X gyros for easy hovering and tenacious wind resistance. Drawback: It's made of cheap "beer cooler" Styrofoam. Art-Tech makes some fantastic flyers, and this compact little Pitts is a grand slam.

Z8RC Best Foam Warbird Parkflyer

J-Power P-38 Lightning (55")

This big feature packed twin is a fantastic flier, and could easily have been the Z8RC pick for best four channel aileron trainer. It runs as little as $140, including U.S. shipping, as a tough EPO foam Receiver Ready ARF. It even comes with cheap landing gear retracts (best glued down). Follow the Z8RC servoless retractable landing gear upgrade and counter rotating prop threads for major improvements, totaling under $200. The Lightning's copious 55" wing and light wing loading make the twin-boom "Forked Devil" fly easier and track better than some high wing trainers. No torque makes the 38 surprisingly pure through the aerobatic paces at any airspeed. Less expensive, substantially larger, torque free, faster with the pedal down and the gear up, slower landing, more aerobatic and also more stable than a Parkzone T-28 Trojan (44"), the J-Power P-38 makes an ideal first warbird or aileron trainer. As a bonus, its commanding presence and striking silhouette turns heads like few other airplanes.

Z8RC Most Fun Under $100

BlitzRCWorks Mini F-22 Raptor

At $78 including a 1000 mAh 4S battery, the fully EPO mini Raptor is one heckuva value. The F-22's big diamond wing make it very agile with good float, while the vertical fins' dihedral keep the jet stable for a small EDF jet. On 4S, the stock motor pumps better than 1:1 Thrust:Weight ratio, with 6 minute flight times when radio-limited to the stock 4S ESC's 20 Amp peak current. This tough little 20" x 30" jet looks absolutely terrific on the ground and in the air. Better still, box to airworthy time is under 10 minutes.

Doing 70+ mph or crawling around at high alpha, the Mini F-22 is a rare combination of cheap and sexy. It all adds up to the best anti-depressant drug on the market today.

Z8RC Best Overall Ultra Micro

Parkzone UM Mosquito Mk VI (20.5")

The UM "Mossie" isn't the smallest micro to grace our planet, nor is it the prettiest, nor is it the most conventional with twin, counter-rotating motors. What makes the Mosquito special is that, in spite of a few oddities, it all works beautifully. The MkVI has impeccable slow flight manners, aided by copious wing area and symmetrical, cancelling P-factor and torque effects. Because the airplane slows down so comfortably, it can be flown in constrained spaces like a cul-de-sac, with a little skill. Powerful climbs, spirited warbird aerobatics, graceful glides and dancing touchdowns adorn the Mossie's resume. Battery life becomes exceptional by increasing the Fighter-Bomber's LiPo payload. Up to 10 mph winds are in-bounds. Lastly, frumpy pays; the price is lower than most single motor Ultra Micros.

Searching Z8RC.com for the best match.........

Sunday, May 29, 2011

LiFe Saver

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