RC Planes

If you've never been to a radio control show, you're missing out. There are a number of annual shows like the NEAT Fair in New York and SEFF in Georgia which have an enormous variety of models, vendors, and activities, and give any AMA-registered pilot the opportunity to fly too. You can buy DVDs of last year's NEAT FAir or SEFF 2008 from SKS Video Productions to get a taste of what it's like to go. There are also conventions to attend like the WRAM Show, which is all about shopping instead of flying.

In July Zero RC will be attending the SCCMAS Airshow in Santa Clara, California. If you live in the area, come check it out!

Eagle Tree Systems has announced two new sensors in their line of data logger products. What makes these unusual is that they can be used either with a logger like the eLogger V3 or stand-alone, using the built-in LED display. For convenience the sensors can be powered by a spare receiver channel or a second battery.

I'll never admit to being lazy, so my reasoning for steering clear of most ARF models is due to taste. One look at the B-25J Mitchell ARF from Top Flite, however, makes me into a stressed riddled perfectionist. There are certain things in life that when you have them, you become the center of attention, the big shot. Like getting a 60 inch HD T.V. with over 3,000 worldwide channels.

I was thinking that maybe I should bring my nephew over to the dark side with me, and teach him about this wonderful hobby. Giving him an RC car from RadioShack wouldn't exactly be bringing him over, so the only other thing that came to mind was FlyZone's SkyFly RTF. The assembly would turn him off, even though it can be done in minutes. But the actual time using the plane would be a completely different story.

I feel really old when I see products like this, because it is easy for me to dismiss it as ridiculous. The same thing challenged my youth when the Sims came out, and I laughed at the idea of a game that simulates your life. RealFlight simulator is a flight simulator for RC planes and helicopters. I can barely control my laughter at this point, but despite my bias it is actually a very necessary tool for the beginning hobbyist.

Earlier I reviewed the R/C Aerial Reconnaissance from the Intel ISEF. A lot of people may wonder what my fascination was with such an amateur product in comparison to the Pilot View FPV 2400, and a look at the price tag of $549.00 may pretty much sum it up. But for the dent it makes in your pocket, it makes up for in fun. The Pilot View lets you turn any mobile* product into a FPV experience.

I don't attend the Intel ISEF, mostly for the same reasons I don't go to Star Wars conventions (despite being a huge fan) however they always have a few standouts, and it is the main reason why the Intel Science and Engineering Fair is an important part of the year. The gem in today's article is none other than the project named "RC Reconnaissance: A Birds Eye View".

ParkZone has introduced two new indoor electric planes, operated by Spektrum-compatible 2.4 GHz radios. At left is the Ember RTF, which has a wingspan of 16 inches and a flying weight of 0.6 ounces. We saw this plane fly at the WRAM Show and were impressed with its agility. It's a three channel model with throttle, elevator, and rudder control.

At right is the Vapor RTF, which will be available in June and has a 14.75 inch wingspan and weighs even less at 0.4 ounces. It will also come in a Bind-N-Fly configuration, meaning you supply a DSM2 radio such as a Spektrum DX7 or DX6i. Owners of the E-flite Blade CX2 can also reuse that spread spectrum radio with this model, which is appealing. Both planes operate on a single cell LiPo battery and charger, both of which are included.

The eLogger V3 from Eagle Tree Systems is an in-flight data logger which continuously records volts, amps, watts, and milliamp-hours to enable pilots to analyze the performance of their electric power systems. In addition, it supports a wide variety of optional sensors to record altitude, airspeed, component temperatures, RPM, and more.

Three interesting flying wings have caught my attention recently. The first is the VecJet from New Directions RC. This traditional wing with pusher prop has a very untraditional feature - vectored thrust. That means the motor is mounted on a shaft attached to the rudder, and turns left and right with it. This setup enables the VecJet's signature move, the "spin cycle", where it spins madly like a boomerang. Check out a video of the plane in action.