News

NEAT Fair 2009 Report

Daniel Switkin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:41:21 -0500

The 10th annual NEAT Fair took place September 18th-20th, 2009 in the Catskill Mountains of New York. More than 300 registered pilots attended this all-electric show from all over.

Updated 9/27/09: Al Ramsdell from Maine Aerial Photography Service was kind enough to let me post these three shots of the Peaceful Valley Campgrounds. The last two are taken from his Swift 16 aerial photography rig, which he had way up there. Nice flying and shooting Al!

The fog burns off on Sunday morning.

An overview of the show.

From left to right: vendor row, pilots' canopies, and the flight line.

As always, the show is run by the Silent Electric Flyers of Long Island, who come up a week in advance to set up. Many thanks for their hard work, and especially to Tom Hunt for putting on the show.

Nice quad sea plane.

An unusual high wing model with working doors.

An assortment of planes including two Ellipsticks.

A dual-body Radian FPV machine.

A close-up of the camera and video transmitter.

Two beautiful Gee Bees.

Towing the NEAT Fair banner.

Not all landings are perfect.

An assortment of smaller models.

Although NEAT is primarily a fixed-wing show, there was a smaller helicopter presence who enjoyed the 2.4 GHz-only heli stations. Most pilots were 3D flyers, but we had a couple of scale models, and even one fixed-pitch Corona. At one point I watched Kyle Stacy do a warm-up flight with his Furion, which was so fast I couldn't photograph it. His reaction time is just amazing.

A scale Eurocopter with T-Rex 600E mechanics.

Another shot in the air.

Several full-scale planes came and went during the weekend.

My friend Gary from Bulgaria with his Logo 400.

Which he knows how to toss around.

Unusual heli angle.

Me and the Swift 16.

A test flight with the stock 520 mm woodies.

Much better with the 550 mm fiberglass blades.

The noon demos pack a lot into an hour and a half, showing off many styles of flying and a wide range of models. Unlike other shows, most pilots do not fly to music at NEAT, which allows the crowd to hear the planes in action.

Dan Landis and his Extreme Flight Yak.

Sitting pretty in a hover.

Showing off for the crowd.

A nice pattern plane from the noon demos.

An ME-163 Komet with fall-away landing gear.

The Komet in the air.

Are you man enough to fly a pink airplane?

Part of the crowd at the noon demos.

One of a pair of night fighters.

Gary Graf had an impressive first-person-video rig of his own design. He used a 72 MHz transmitter with a 900 MHz video downlink. His on-screen display provided heading, altitude, pack voltage, and more. I ran his video recorder as his flying buddy helped with navigation and held a second transmitter connected by a buddy box cord, as required by the AMA. Gary won best technical achievement at the show for his efforts.

Gary's home-made FPV setup.

Launching the FPV Maxi Swift.

Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Updated: Check out a video from Gary's Maxi Swift:

The NEAT Fair is also a great place to see some upcoming products up close, and in the air. There were more than 30 vendors present at the show, and many pilots had items to sell in their tents as well. There's nothing like getting face-to-face time with the designer of your plane, and NEAT brings out a number of smaller kit and ARF manufacturers.

The Hobby Lobby 12 foot Telemaster ARF (yes, it's an ARF).

Kids running out for the candy drop.

The Xero Gear booth (it was packed at night).

Shawn and the surprisingly fast Merlin.

The new folding Xeno wing.

The Funcopter, which didn't get to fly this time.

A new LiPo charger from Dualsky.

The Hobby Lobby F-35 jet.

The new Hobby Lobby A-10 with oversized fans.

Wow.

Even more wow.

The upcoming high voltage versions of the Castle Creations ICE ESCs.

A great collection of auto-gyros.

What a streamlined pusher jet.

A Gee Bee and a Carden Yak.

The NEAT Fair is a Northeast U.S. tradition, and I'm glad to see it still going strong in its tenth year.

For even more coverage of the event, check out Paul's photos for RCGroups, and the rest of the NEAT Fair 2009 forum.
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Helis Over Delaware 2009 Report

Daniel Switkin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:12:48 -0500

Helis Over Delaware is an annual, three day event put on by the Delaware RC Club. It features all sizes of machine from micro (T-Rex 250) up to enormous (turbine-powered).

Check out our exclusive, HD highlight footage of the flying on Saturday (make sure to watch it fullscreen):

Here are a few photos on the ground:

One view of the flightline.

The other end, taken from the same spot.

Attaching the ball-drop mechanism to a large gasser.

The ball-drop mechanism, activated by a second transmitter.

A Logo 400.

A flybarless Logo 500.

An upgraded tail on the Logo 500.

A Logo 600.

The Mikado twins (Logo 500 and 600).

The two extremes of the Align product lineup.

Not exactly a park flyer.

The JetCat-powered turbine heli.

My Swift 16 looks tiny next to it.

A Thunder Power MD530.

An MD500 scale heli.

In addition to lots of open flying, there was also a golf ball drop contest, an autorotation contest, and a balloon popping contest. Finally, there was a smackdown session on Saturday evening featuring the best pilots competing to wow the crowd.

My friend Yohann Coppel has also posted this huge gallery of flying shots from Saturday.

Overall the large helis dominated, with a mix of 50 and 90 size nitros, and a surprising number of gassers. There were roughly 115 registered pilots by the time of the raffle on Saturday evening. Prizes included a Solid G gyro, a Furion 450, and a grand prize of a T-Rex 700.

The field was great and the whole event was well run. I'd recommend anyone in the area to make the drive next year.

Flying An RC Helicopter With An iPhone

Daniel Switkin — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:22:39 -0500

Of all the unusual ways to control an RC helicopter, this has got to take the cake. A guy named Josh has figured out how to use his iPhone as an RC transmitter and has successfully hovered his T-Rex 450 using it. Check out the video here, and his site for the details:

As a fellow software engineer, I have to say that using SSH over WiFi to pull this off is really cool. Now he just needs to find a smaller router. Very clever and original!

Multiplex Funcopter Announced

Daniel Switkin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:52:05 -0600

Multiplex has released a PDF file of their 2009 product lineup. Perhaps the most interesting new model is the Funcopter, a durable, fixed-pitch helicopter with an EPP foam body. This new heli appears to be based on the Lite Machines Corona, which was famous for its resilient design, including hinged main blades that bend instead of break in a crash.

The Funcopter goes beyond the Corona by being designed for a direct-drive, brushless Himax motor. It also features a scale fuselage (approximately 34 inches long) which will appear larger in the sky, helping with orientation. The Funcopter is designed for 3S LiPo batteries in the 2100-3000 mAh range. It has a rotor diameter of 770 mm and an all-up-weight of approximately 1250 grams (44 ounces).

Two configurations with be available: the Assembled Kit (AK), with just the helicopter and motor, and the Ready for Radio (RR), with all of the on-board electronics. No pricing or availability has been announced yet, but a short movie has been posted.

Our take: This is a very interesting new product, and could easily become the standard beginner fixed pitch helicopter. It's both larger, heavier, and more visible than the current champ, the Esky Honey Bee Fixed Pitch, but being in a larger class, will obviously cost more. Besides being easier to see in the air, which means less chance of losing orientation, the Funcopter should also be more stable. I learned on the Honey Bee, and while it's quite durable, it's also the twitchiest heli I've flown.

Overall the Funcopter design looks quite good. This is the first single rotor helicopter I recall seeing without a main gear, so I'm curious to know how well the power system performs. In theory it means one less part to break and replace. I'm also curious whether the tail is powered from the main motor or has its own motor. The frame looks simple and should provide some protection for the battery in a crash.

My experience with Multiplex products is that they are extremely well engineered. Just the packaging on my AcroMaster had more thought put into it than models from other companies. This tends to come at a premium price, but in my opinion is worth it. We'll try to get a review sample of the Funcopter in the coming months to help you learn more about this unique helicopter.

Update (April, 2009): Check out our hands-on coverage of the Funcopter from the 2009 Toledo Show (scroll down to the Multiplex section).

Arizona Electric Festival 2009 Roundup

Daniel Switkin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:14:45 -0600

The Arizona Electric Festival is held every January in Mesa, Arizona. While it's too cold to fly in many parts of the country, this show brings electric pilots out in force. We're not able to attend this year, but wanted to share some links featuring the best coverage from around the web.

Micheal Heer from RCGroups has put together some great video coverage of the 2009 event, with dozens of in-flight clips. The T-Rex 700 canopy strike is particularly impressive.

Jacob Niehus has also posted an HD video with an overview of the flight demos he saw, and there are a few good clips on YouTube. Also, check out photos from the Multiplex team, including some action shots of the new ParkMaster 3D.

To learn more about this year's show and chat about it, have a look at the RCGroups Mesa 2009 Forum.

Century Swift NX Preview

Daniel Switkin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:14:52 -0600

I was recently in the San Francisco Bay Area for business and had a chance to stop by the Century Heli headquarters in San Jose, California. This building contains the warehouse as well as product development and support staff, in addition to a small showroom in the front. The employees had just returned from the AMA Expo, where they had debuted a number of new products.

The Century Heli building in San Jose.

One side of the showroom with spare parts.

A few scale helis on display on the other side of the showroom.

The Swift NX prototype.

Another angle of the Swift NX frames.

It turns out my timing was perfect as I got a chance to see the prototype of the Swift 16 replacement, which will be called the Swift NX. There are numerous changes to the kit:

The NX uses a double-stacked main gear, which means the tail is now driven during autorotations.
The battery pack now sits on an angled tray underneath the canopy, rather than being hung from below. The prototype still had the aluminum battery tray below but it may be removed before going into production.
The canopy has a completely new styling and is only attached at two points, rather than four. It is somewhat larger and more angular, and the trademark "crater" in the windshield is gone.
The elevator servo arrangement has changed completely. The servo is now mounted in between the frames, and connects to an internal bellcrank which moves a 90 degree elbow to the swashplate. A separate anti-rotation bracket is no longer needed.
Above and behind the new elevator mounting points are built-in plates for mounting the gyro and receiver. Previously, an optional gyro plate was available for screwing into the top of the tail boom mount, and receiver placement was an afterthought.
The landing gear struts are thicker and more sturdy than the previous ones.

The old yellow canopy from the Swift 16 next to the new white canopy from the Swift NX.

Our take: These are all welcome improvements to the Swift 16, especially the battery placement and built-in gyro and receiver mounting points. Hopefully the new canopy will be easier to install and remove than the current one, otherwise changing batteries will be tedious.

I'm a bit ambivalent about the new elevator setup, as I have not had a problem with the older, simpler design. That's not to say there's anything wrong with it - this design is shared by some of the Century nitro helicopters. However it does contain more moving parts and more opportunities for friction.

Other than the items described above, the NX appears very similar to the 16. I did not notice any changes to the head other than the new bearings for the main gear. The prototype had heavier, solid paddles on it which would be a welcome change, but they may have been temporary. This particular heli also had a longer tail boom and upgraded tail boom supports, but I was told they were not going to be used.

No word yet on release date or pricing, or whether some of the problems with the Swift 16 kit have been addressed. Look for an article in the next month describing those issues and how they could be resolved. The Swift 16 remains one of the best values in a 500-550mm electric helicopter, and although I bought the existing model recently, I'm excited to see a new revision on the horizon.

Updated February 28th, 2009: Our new Swift 16 Improvements article is now posted.
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Futaba R6004FF FASST Receiver Released

Daniel Switkin — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:20:24 -0600

The Futaba R6004FF micro 2.4 GHz receiver

Futaba has released the R6004FF FASST receiver, a micro four channel receiver running on the 2.4 GHz spectrum. Weighing only 3.8 grams, this unit is perfect for indoor foamies and smaller park planes. Featuring one external antenna and one internal antenna, the range is reported at 600-1000 feet. The R6004FF is compatible with the entire line of Futaba 2.4 GHz transmitters and modules. The receiver has standard servo connectors are is available now for a street price of $50 USD.

Our take: It's about time! Futaba has fallen behind in the 2.4 GHz market due to its lack of competitively priced receivers. Up to this point, the cheapest and lightest Futaba receiver was the R616FFM, which is only 4 grams but has micro connectors on 5 out of 6 channels, making it useless for most of us.

That meant modelers either had to modify the R616FFM to have standard connectors, or shell out $100 for the full range, seven channel R617FS. In comparison, the Spektrum lineup has been much more complete and affordable for some time. The DX7 transmitter also came to market before the Futaba 7C, which meant locking the early adopters into Spektrum gear.

This is a good first step towards getting Futaba back in the game. The R6004FF is a lighter weight 2.4 GHz equivalent of the Futaba FM R114F, which is also around $50 (with a crystal), and is in the same ballpark as the popular Berg 4 and 4L receivers, which are about $40 with a crystal.

Still, the Futaba full range receivers continue to start at $100, which can make the cost of converting a PPM or PCM fleet to spread spectrum daunting. We'll be watching and hoping that these prices fall over time.

HPI Racing Brama 10B RTR 4WD Overview

Zero — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0600

All components of the RTR kit

One of the latest releases from HPI Racing is the Brama 10B RTR 4WD buggy. This 1/10th scale is designed for low maintenance and has a good price for a 1/10th-scale 4WD. Unlike Hot Bodies, which is the racing division for HPI Racing, this car is more for the novice or sportsman as an entry-level 4WD RC car. It claims good durability, but has extensive use of mostly nylon/composite plastic components. Some seem very durable, but this car probably would need some upgrades for serious off-road competitive racing. For fun in the neighborhood and just getting started, it looks like a great choice and has some great features.

Tough Nylon Front Bumper

HPI Racing Brama 10B RTR 4WD 1/10th scale buggy is a sharp looking RC vehicle. It has some nice features for an entry level 4WD buggy. Based on the E10 chassis, this vehicle should have great handling characteristics. The video on the HPI Racing website shows the vehicle handling nicely and taking curbs and jumps with ease. Being a RTR, you just need to install the AA batteries in the transmitter, charge the vehicle's battery and your ready to run. One feature I really like, is the enclosed 4WD drive shaft, as they claim it helps protect from rocks and loose dirt getting into the drive train and slowing you down. This will keep your car running great in the harshest conditions. It has oil-filled shocks, ball bearings in the drivetrain, a nice tub chassis, a double wishbone suspension, good shock adjust abilities and much more. With a low street price, this should be a great buggy to get started in 1/10th scale 4WD.

Shaft Driven 4WD

For more information, check out the HPI website.

Great Planes Cherokee Sport-Scale ARF Airplane Overview

Zero — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0600

Great Planes Cherokee Sport-Scale ARF is a 60 in model which could be rigged with either glow or electric power. This scale model is ideally suited to those interested in a scale-looking low wing model and is a great step-up after your first trainer. Being an ARF, they claim 4-6 hours of assembly and your off to the field. This model will perform the basic aerobatic maneuvers and should be an ideal first low wing airplane for the serious RCer.

The cockpit area lifts off providing access to the electrics

Construction features and details on this model are no in short supply. Great Planes has a real winner on their hands with both a great looking scale plan in the Cherokee ARF as well as what should be a good performer when using electric or nitro propulsion. Great Planes explains all the great features on their website, but some of the highlights include: a bolt-on wing and tail for easy assembly and transport, tricycle landing gear, fiberglass wheel pants look great while providing low drag, and with a 5 channel radio you can even operate the included flaps. You will need at least a 4 channel radio (5 channel for the flaps), servos, and electric or nitro power to complete this model.

Specifications

Can be fitted with Electric or Glow power

Wingspan: 60 in (1520 mm)
Wing Area: 606 in² (39 dm²)
Weight: 6.75-7.25 lb (3.1-3.3 kg)
Wing Loading: 26-28 oz/ft² (79-85 g/dm²)
Length: 46 in (1170 mm)
Requires: 4+ channel radio system (5-channel required for operational flaps) w/4-7 standard servos
Electric Power Requirements:
- ElectriFly™ RimFire™ 42-50-800 Out-runner Brushless Motor (GPMG4700);
- ElectriFly Silver Series SS-60 Brushless Electronic Speed Control (GPMM1850);
- 18.5V 3200mAh LiPo battery (GPMP0622 or GPMP0623);
- propeller (10x5E or 11x5E)
Glow Power Requirements:
- 2-stroke .40-.46 cu (7-7.5cc) or 4-stroke .52-.56 cu in (8.5-9.2cc) engine

All the components of this ARF

For more information, check out the Great Planes website.

Century Swift 3D 6-Channel 2.4Ghz RTF Overview

Zero — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0600

The complete package

Swift has produced an excellent 30 size electric ready to fly helicopter. This is a fine model and has been test flown and ready for the experienced 3D flyer or with training gear would be an excellent choice for the first single blade helicopter. Similar to other 30 size models on the market, but it also includes a 2.4Ghz 6-channel radio which will provide awesome Spread Spectrum technology so you don't need to worry about someone on the same frequency taking out your heli. With a length of 105 cm, this is a good size to get started and Century Helicopters produces some nice quality models so you are backed by a company with good access to parts for repair. This is critical for any helicopter flyer.

Century Swift 3D 6-Channel 2.4Ghz RTF

As far as the details and construction, this isn't an all graphite model; but being a ready-to-fly helicopter it has good quality. Also, for a beginner composite plastic parts are much more forgiving in a crash and many new pilots make the mistake by trying to learn on a fancy graphite model that is much more expensive to repair.

Features

Powerful 550 sized outrunner motor
High speed tail mounted servo
heading lock gyro
nicely integrated tail system
eCCPM control geometry
Thrust bearing supported blade grips
2.4 GHz control radio
1700-1800 rpm for blades - easy for beginners to control

Specifications

Century Swift 3D 6-Channel 2.4Ghz RTF

Main Rotor Blades: 520mm
Tail Rotor Diameter: 21cm
Length: 105cm
Height: 34.4cm
Weight: 1.56kg
Speed Control: 75/95 Amp
Motor: 1440kV
Battery: 4S Li-Po 20C/30C
Pinion: 10 tooth
Head Speed: 1600 - 2100 RPM
Radio System: Elite 2.4GHz 6 Channel
Flight Time: 12-15mins
Charger: Standard AC Wall Charger

For more information, check out the Century website.