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E-flite has announced the Blade Micro-CX helicopter, an indoor coaxial model with a main rotor diameter of only 7.5 inches. The MCX features two coreless motors which are powered by a single cell, 110 mAh LiPo battery. It operates using Spektrum's 2.4 GHz spread spectrum technology, and will be available ready-to-fly with a transmitter for $129, or in a bind-and-fly configuration, with everything except the transmitter for $99. Both versions offer proportional, four channel control and should be capable of all the same maneuvers as the larger Blade CX2. Horizon Hobby's web site indicates late September availability for both.

The FMA Direct Cellpro 10s is a balancing lithium battery charger, capable of charging a single battery up to 10 cells, or two batteries simultaneously up to 5 cells, with power up to 10 amps. It can handle lithium polymer, lithium ion, and the M1 lithium cells from A123 Systems. Let's dig in and put it through its paces.

The Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark (SCCMAS) airshow was held July 12th and 13th in Morgan Hill, California. This free annual show spans a wide range of radio control flight, from gliders to gas powered acrobats, and helicopters to turbine powered jets. It's a great chance for existing pilots and those new to the hobby to see a little of everything that RC has to offer in the air. Keep reading to see these planes and helis in action.

One way to get into night flying is to fill a plane with LEDs. You can do that by connecting them directly to the motor battery, or to a dedicated second pack, but neither approach gives you any control. Here's how to reuse an old servo to drive your LEDs, with either on/off or variable brightness from the transmitter.

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.

Lazy boy chairs now have an official buddy: the RC drinks cooler. An invention that would make Al Bundy proud takes a very simple idea and makes it extremely fun. It is a cooler on wheels, and even the bottle top shaped remote doesn't hide the fact that it is a very quirky product. It operates from up to 30 ft. away, and the four sure grip wheels can cover most areas.

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.