Check out all these great batteries that we now carry below:

http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-power-30c-series-features-and-benefits/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-power-30c-series-features-and-benefits/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:51:47 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=833

• Exclusive Generation 4 (G4) chemistry offers a never before seen revolution and evolution in LiPo cell performance with up to 30% more power, 5-times better cycle life delivery and ultra-fast 5C charge rate capability
• Offers the industry’s highest level of power delivery at the lowest possible weight, delivering up to 30% more power at the same or even lower weight than most other brand 20C to 35C rated batteries
• Industry-leading cycle life and longevity up to 5-times better than other brands offers long lasting value and performance WITH NO DISCERNABLE LOSS OF POWER DELIVERY FOR THE FIRST 100-200+ CYCLES
• Perfectly suited for pylon racer, electric ducted fan (EDF) and other high-power airplane applications and a great choice for excellent power and cycle life delivery for 250 to .90/700-size extreme 3D performance helicopter models
• Capable of continuous discharge rates up to 30C and burst discharge rates up to 60C, delivering higher voltage under typical and heavy loads than most other 25C to even 35C continuous discharge rated batteries
• Capable of being charged safely at rates up to 5C for ultra-fast charge times of 12 minutes or less WITH NO REDUCTION IN CYCLE LIFE DELIVERY! (When charged using approved
  charger/balancer combinations only)
• Cells are built using premium quality Japanese-made materials, including the latest in super-fine substrate (nano) materials and technology to offer vastly superior power,
  capacity and cycle life delivery never before seen
• Cells are matched by true internal resistance, capacity and voltage for maximum power and cycle life delivery with packs PROUDLY ASSEMBLED IN THE USA by Thunder Power
  RC in Las Vegas, NV
• All the most popular capacities from 2250mAh to 5000mAh are available, plus, the addition of 850mAh, 1350mAh and 1800mAh capacities expands the series to offer Pro Power 30C battery solutions for indoor 3D foamie, micro helicopter, park flyer EDF and many other “small-size” highpower applications
• Available in configurations from 1S 3.7V up to 10S 37.0V to fit a wide variety of applications
• The series of choice for top pilots like Alan Szabo, Jason Krause, Bert Kammerer and many others
• Includes 1-year warranty and 1-year 50% off Damage Replacement Program coverage offering the best warranty and support available in the industry today



Specific G4 Pro Power 30C Series Product Highlights

• The 850mAh series batteries are perfect for powering T-REX 250 and outdoor 3D foamie models when maximum power with an excellent blend of weight and duration is desired
• The 1350mAh and 1800mAh series batteries feature all-new shapes that make them the perfect drop-in upgrade for a number of park flyer EDF and 1/18th scale cars and trucks
• The 3S 11.1V 2250mAh battery (TP2250-3SP30) is one of the most powerful batteries ever made available for powering 400/450 class helicopters and park flyer EDF models, offering up to 30% more power and 5-times more cycle life than the 3S 11.1V 2200mah eXtreme V2 battery at a new lower price almost 30% less
• The 6S 22.2V 2700mah battery (TP2700-6SP30) is one of the most powerful batteries ever made available for powering just about any model of 500-class 3D helicopter
• The 3300mAh to 5000mAh series batteries offer the same capacity but upwards of 30% more power and 5-times more cycle life than similar capacity eXtreme V2 series batteries, making them perfect for use in a wide variety of 500 to .90/700 class extreme 3D performance heli and large-scale, extreme speed EDF airplane models
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]]> http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-power-30c-series-features-and-benefits/feed/ 0 http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-lite-v2-20c-series-features-and-benefits/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-lite-v2-20c-series-features-and-benefits/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:32:25 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=824


• Exclusive Generation 4 (G4) chemistry offers a never before seen revolution and evolution in LiPo cell performance with up to 20% more power, 4-times better cycle life delivery and ultra-fast 4C charge rate capability!
• Replaces the ever-popular, industry-standard and industry-leading Pro Lite series of batteries at new lower prices up to 25% less while also delivering upwards of 20% more power and increased cycle life
• Capable of being charged safely at rates up to 4C for ultra-fast charge times of 15 minutes or less WITH NO REDUCTION IN CYCLE LIFE DELIVERY! (When charged using approved
  charger/balancer combinations only)
• Cells are built using premium quality Japanese-made materials, including the latest in super-fine substrate (nano) materials and technology to offer vastly superior power, capacity and cycle life delivery never before seen
• Excellent choice for sport and 3D micro and mini helicopters when maximum flight time and great power at minimum possible weight is desired
• Capable of continuous discharge rates up to 20C and burst discharge rates up to 40C, delivering higher voltage under typical and heavy loads and offering up to 20% more power than Pro Lite series batteries
• 20-30% more useable capacity and similar or even more power than other 20C to even 30C continuous discharge rated batteries
• Cells are matched by true internal resistance, capacity and voltage for maximum power and cycle life delivery with packs PROUDLY ASSEMBLED IN THE USA by Thunder Power RC in Las Vegas, NV
• All the most popular capacities from 250mAh to 2100mAh are available, plus, the addition of 2600mAh, 3300mAh, 3900mAh, 4350mAh and 5000mAh capacities expands the series to offer Pro Lite V2 battery solutions for .15-size and larger models too
• Available in configurations from 1S 3.7V up to 10S 37.0V to fit a wide variety of applications
• The series of choice for top airplane pilots like Andrew Jesky, Jason Shulman, Quique Somenzini, Scott Stoops and more
• Includes 1-year warranty and 1-year 50% off Damage Replacement Program coverage offering the best warranty and support available in the industry today!



Specific G4 Pro Lite V2 20C Series Product Highlights

• The 250mAh and 350mAh series batteries are available in 1S 3.7V to 3S 11.1V configurations for use in indoor micro flyer, slow flyer, 3D and F3P models
• The 2S 7.4V 910mAh battery (TP910-2SJPL2) features an all-new shape that allows it to be a drop-in fit upgrade for E-flite® Blade CX, CX2 and CX3 helicopters, offering the most power and capacity available, all at a price lower than the stock battery
• The always popular 480mAh, 730mAh, 1350mAh and 2100mAh series batteries are still the lightest and longest lasting, and now also the most powerful batteries in their class
• The 2600mAh series batteries offer 15-20% more useable capacity and power than most 2200mAh 25C to 30C continuous discharge rate capable batteries at the same or even lower weight and price
• The 3300mAh to 5000mAh series batteries offer the same capacity and more power than similar capacity eXtreme V2 series batteries, but at lower prices, lower weight and with 4-times more cycle life
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]]> http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/thunder-power-rc-all-new-lipo-g4-pro-lite-v2-20c-series-features-and-benefits/feed/ 0 http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/faa-approves-use-of-draganflyer-x6-rc-uav-for-use-by-mesa-county-sheriff-under-certificate-of-authority-coa/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/faa-approves-use-of-draganflyer-x6-rc-uav-for-use-by-mesa-county-sheriff-under-certificate-of-authority-coa/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:57:03 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=811 Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Draganfly Innovations have been working together to test the Draganflyer X6 for policing operations. The Colorado Grand Junction Free Press reports that the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Draganflyer X6 have meet the strict requirements of the FAA in order for the Draganflyer X6 to be operated for police requirements.


The FAA controls what can be operated in United States airspace. Most of the requirements of the FAA have to do with ensuring public safety, and the Draganflyer X6 has met these requirements. This allows the Mesa County Sheriffs office to operate the Draganflyer X6 for various police operations. Using the Draganflyer X6 aircraft provides a substantial cost savings over hiring out full size aircraft for police operations.

Read more about how the Mesa Countys Sheriffs office is employing the Draganflyer X6 in this article by the Colorado Grand Junction Free Press.

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]]> http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/10/23/faa-approves-use-of-draganflyer-x6-rc-uav-for-use-by-mesa-county-sheriff-under-certificate-of-authority-coa/feed/ 0 http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/28/announcing-5-new-thunder-power-batteries-for-your-rc-planes-cars-and-helicopters/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/28/announcing-5-new-thunder-power-batteries-for-your-rc-planes-cars-and-helicopters/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:43:47 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=787

We’re pleased to announce the release of 4 brand new Thunder Power Lipo batteries. We pride ourselves on carrying every Thunder Power battery manufactured. These recent additions represent some of



Thunder Power’s coolest new developments.

New Thunder Power 7.4V 2S 5400 Saddle Pack

This new battery from Thunder Power RC features a saddle shaped design, with two individual battery packs wired in series. This allows for greater flexibility and increased capacity. ROARR approved, this saddle pack lipo battery is perfect for all your RC cars and trucks.

Specifications for the Thunder Power TP-5400-2SPRSD Lipo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 2-Cell (2s)
• Capacity: 5400 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 25C
• Max Burst Discharge: 50C
• Max Continuous Current: 135A
• Max Burst Current: 270A
• Weight: 331g
• Dimensions: 28 x 46.5 x 69 mm Saddle Pack
• Series: Pro Race Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: Standard


New Thunder Power Sport Race 3s 8000 Lipo

Expanding the Sport Race Series is the new 8000 mAh 3 cell 11.1 V pack. Capable of providing 22C continuous and 45C burst current, this battery is perfect for larger RC model airplanes. As with all our thunder power batteries, the 3s 8000 is fully compatible with our Lipo battery chargers. New to electric RC? We’ve got a great selection of Thunder Power compatible balancers and chargers available. This battery pack also features standard Deans connectors, so you can use it easily with your other standard RC equipment and ground vehicles.

Specifications for the Thunder Power RC TP-8000-3SSRD LiPo:

• Voltage: 11.1V
• Cells: 3-Cell
• Capacity: 8000mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 22C
• Max Burst Discharge: 45C
• Max Continuous Current: 176A
• Max Burst Current: 360A
• Weight: 530g
• Dimensions: 139 x 41 x 39mm



New Thunder Power Sport Race 2s 8000 Lipo

Designed specifically for ground vehicles, this battery pack is ROAR approved and fully compatible with all our Thunder Power chargers. Standard Deans connectors allow you to use this pack with all your RC ground vehicles.

Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-8000-3SSRD LiPo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 2-Cell (2s)
• Capacity: 8000 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 22C
• Max Burst Discharge: 45C
• Max Continuous Current: 176A
• Max Burst Current: 360A
• Weight: 382g
• Dimensions: 30 x 46.5 x 138 mm
• Series: Sport Race Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: Medium

New Thunder Power Pro Race 4s 5000






This brand new Thunder Power battery adds to the large Pro Race Series. Pro Race series batteries are specifically engineered for optimal racing performance. Capable of providing a maximum burst discharge of 80C, this battery adds incredible performance to your RC cars, trucks, and other electric surface vehicles.
<h2>Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-5000-4SPR LiPo</h2>

• Voltage: 14.8 V
• Cells: 4-Cell (4s)
• Capacity: 5000 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 40C
• Max Burst Discharge: 80C
• Max Continuous Current: 200A
• Max Burst Current: 400A
• Weight: 564g
• Dimensions: 46 x 46.5 x 138 mm
• Series: Pro Race 40C Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: XX-Large






New Thunder Power RC TP-5000-1SPRD Lipo

Featuring an extra large 5000 mAh capacity, this new Lipo battery is perfect for smaller RC cars, trucks, and other ground vehicles. This one cell battery provides 3.7 volts at a maximum burst current of 80C. Tested and approved at the ROAR lab this battery is officially approved for usage at ROAR sanctioned events. The TP-500-1SPRD Lipo battery also features standard Deans connectors, allowing you to use it with all your standard RC equipment and surface vehicles.

Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-5000-1SPRD LiPo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 1-Cell
• Capacity: 5000mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 40C
• Max Burst Discharge: 80C
• Max Continuous Current: 200A
• Max Burst Current: 400A
• Weight: 145g
• Dimensions: 135 x 45 x 17mm
• ROAR Approved

Do you need chargers, balancers, connectors and other accessories for your lithium polymer rechargeable RC batteries? We carry a huge selection available for purchase online or over the phone.

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]]> http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/28/announcing-5-new-thunder-power-batteries-for-your-rc-planes-cars-and-helicopters/feed/ 0 http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/11/announcing-the-draganflyer-x4-helicopter-a-brand-new-ultra-portable-vtol-uav/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/11/announcing-the-draganflyer-x4-helicopter-a-brand-new-ultra-portable-vtol-uav/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:19:31 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=779


We are pleased to announce the release of our latest UAV helicopter, the Draganflyer X4. Several hundred hours of research and development went into its design, bringing about a sleek, sophisticated UAV. The Draganflyer X4 features much of the same technology as the Draganflyer X6, but is available at a much lower cost. Designed for commercial, government, and military applications, the Draganflyer X4 provides affordable aerial photography and videography.

Diverging from our larger 6 rotor design, the Draganflyer X4 features the same quad rotor design used by our older helicopters. Four brushless motors independently drive four carbon fiber rotor blades, all controlled and monitored  by an advanced flight computer.

The flight computer uses SteadyFlight technology to process the inputs of seven individual sensors, including:

• A barometric pressure sensor
• Three accelerometers
• Three gyroscopes


The flight computer reads sensor outputs and precisely determines the motor outputs required to keep the helicopter flying straight and level. If selected by the pilot, the barometric pressure sensor is used by the helicopter to maintain altitude. Properly trimmed and balanced, the helicopter will hold its position in the air allowing you to get excellent aerial photographs and video.

Four different cameras have been customized to work with our UAV, including:

• A 12.1 MP digital still and video camera
• A micro color video camera
• low-light black and white video camera
• A FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) video camera


All of these cameras transmit wireless video via a 5.8 GHz transmitter built into the mount. Wireless video can be received using either the handheld controller (which includes its own flat patch video antenna) or the optional base station. Video glasses plug directly into the handheld transmitter, allowing you to see what the helicopter is seeing and get perfectly aimed aerial photographs and video. The optional base station is compatible with any modern PC running Windows and features three standard RCA output jacks. This allows you to use your own recording equipment with the cameras or even re-transmit the video stream if needed.



Because all wireless communication is subject to interference, all of our cameras now feature a built-in DVR that records a pristine, interference-free copy of your aerial video to an SD memory card. After you finish flying, plug the SD memory card into your computer and edit the video using the software of your choice. Each camera also features a custom designed mount with a remote tilt feature (adjustable via the handheld controller). Designed to give you the best quality video possible, each camera mount features balanced, oil-filled shock absorbers. The shock absorbers keep the recorded video free from vibration, guaranteeing that you get the best possible results.

The Draganflyer X4 UAV features an innovative case system that makes transporting the helicopter easier than ever. The entire Draganflyer X4 helicopter presses neatly into its pre-cut slot in the case. Each part and accessory fits into molded high-density foam inserts for safekeeping during transport. The transport case features a dual layer design with flight accessories in the top layer and the base station in the bottom layer. A patented, load-bearing system clips on to the transport case allowing it to be worn like a backpack, and transported just as easily. Built from flexible Cordura™ nylon, the load-bearing system is securely attached using Fastex™ hardware and adjustable carry straps.



The entire transport case fits neatly into a rugged ATA (Airline Transport Association) certified hard case, rated to last over 100 flights as airline baggage. The padlockable, all-metal, carpet-lined ATA case allows you to safely transport the helicopter anywhere in the world without worrying about damage caused by the rigors of travel as airline baggage.

Designed for small enterprises and projects on a budget, the Draganflyer X4 is our most affordable unmanned aerial vehicle ever. Use the power of a full featured VTOL UAV  for your project – the Draganflyer X4 makes professional quality aerial photographs and video easier to obtain than ever before.

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]]> http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/08/11/announcing-the-draganflyer-x4-helicopter-a-brand-new-ultra-portable-vtol-uav/feed/ 0 http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/06/29/roar-remotely-operated-auto-racers-sanctioned-thunder-power-battery-packs-for-your-rc-cars-and-trucks/ http://www.rctoys.com/pr/2009/06/29/roar-remotely-operated-auto-racers-sanctioned-thunder-power-battery-packs-for-your-rc-cars-and-trucks/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:38:10 +0000 Draganfly Innovations http://www.rctoys.com/pr/?p=724

ROAR (Remotely Operated Auto Racers) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting rc cars and trucks. ROAR also provides liability and bodily injury insurance for it’s members who race at ROAR sanctioned events and keeps a database of approved lithium polymer batteries. Tested at ROAR’s laboratory, approved lithium polymer batteries need to meet criteria including safety and performance. If you’re racing your electric car or truck at a ROAR sanctioned event, you should use approved batteries. We carry all of ROAR’s approved Thunder Power RC batteries, listed below:

You can browse through our huge selection of Thunder Power RC lipo batteries on our site. We pride ourselves on carrying every battery that Thunder Power RC manufactures, so if you see one that we’ve missed, feel free to contact us.

What You Need

To do this project, you’re going to need a few materials:

• An RC helicopter, or RC airplane with 3 channel control or better – You’re going to need a stable platform to take pictures from. Helicopters are useful because you can hover in one position, but airplanes are cheaper. You might already have an airplane or helicopter around, but if you don’t, the Multiplex Easystar works well for this project. Note that to make a remote shutter function, more than 3 channels are needed.
• A lightweight camera, with remote shutter operation – You need to be able to remotely trigger the camera. This can be done a number of ways, but the simplest and most economical is to attach a servo to the top of your camera with rubber bands. Make it so that when you throw a spare channel switch on your transmitter, the servo arm will move and press down the shutter switch. As with any mod, feel free to create your own solution.
• A large protractor
• Some string and a weight – Clay works well as a weight, I’ll explain why you need it shortly.
• A drinking straw – You’re going to need this to build a sight for the protractor.
• Measuring Tape – You need to know the altitude of your aircraft, and to do this, you need to measure it’s distance from you. Landmarks with a known distance can also be used – consult any street map with a scale for these.
• A notebook / paper / pencil
• A friend to help – You can’t fly your aircraft and make measurements at the same time. Take a friend along to help you, and ask them to record the measurements.

The Math Involved

Now we come to the hard part – a little bit of math. You don’t really need to understand all these derivations, feel free to simply use the formula that I’ll give you. The problem is this: given an aerial picture, how can we figure out the scale?

We need the altitude of the airplane to figure out the image scale. This can’t be done directly, so we measure the angle (a), the distance (d), and use them to compute the height (h). This is a right triangle, and there are some handy trig functions that apply. In this case, we use the tangent function, which gives the ratio of the opposite and adjacent sides.  This is expressed as follows:

By taking the tangent of the angle a, and multiplying by the distance (d), we get the height (h). Here’s the formula that you would use:

So how do you get the angle? It’s simple: take the protractor and tape a piece of drinking straw to the flat bottom. Then attach a piece of sting to the bottom center of the protractor, so that it dangles straight down the 90 degree mark. Use the ball of clay to make a weight at the bottom of the string. Now, when you tilt the  protractor, the string will measure the angle. Be careful though: the angle with respect to the ground is not what’s read directly off the protractor scale. Reading the difference between the indicated angle and 90 degrees will give you the angle you need.

So why do we care about the altitude? Well, it turns out that the ratio of the altitude and the focal length of the camera is the image scale! You can find out the focal length of your camera by reading it’s manual. This is usually expressed in millimetres, so convert it to whatever  unit you have used to measured the distance, and thus the altitude in. Let’s put that all in a convenient formula:

And that’s the only formula you need. Just measure the distance, and the angle, know the focal length, and you’re done.

How to Do the Measurements

All that math was fun, but how do you actually measure distances using this method? I’ll illustrate with an example:

Suppose that you’ve just gone out to a field, and want to measure the distance between a tree and a building. The first step is to find a landmark you can fly over with a known distance. Using a measuring tape or map, you find that a nearby hill is 50 feet from where you’re standing. With a friend ready to measure and write down the angle, you launch your airplane and fly over the nearby hill, taking several pictures. Your friend sights the model aircraft through the protractor – straw device built earlier, and finds the angle to be 75 degrees.

Using a calculator, you find the altitude to be:

After landing, you download the pictures and print them full size, with no scaling. Your camera’s user manual reports that the focal length is 152 mm (millimeters). Converting this to feet is easy, just type it in Google or multiply by the number of feet per millimetre. 152 mm is 0.48 feet, so you plug that into the formula we derived earlier and obtain the following:

This means that distance measured on the picture is 0.000257 times as big as the real distance. You’re almost done: using a ruler, you measure the distance between the tree and building on the image to be 1 inch. Converting this to feet (because we want the distance between the building and tree in feet), gives a distance of 0.0833 feet. Now, multiplying this by 1 divided by the picture scale gives a final answer of 324 feet.

And that’s it – you’ve just measured the distance between two objects using nothing more than a RC aircraft, camera, and a little trigonometry. Just keep in mind that you have to know the distance between the airplane and you accurately for this to work – always take pictures right on top of the marker with a known distance.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

1. Build An Awesome Airframe – Several users of rcgroups.com have reported that replacing a micro heli’s styrofoam airframe with cable ties works wonders for flight performance. I think the key’s in the reduced weight, letting the RC helicopter fly faster and higher. Some might prefer the original fuselages looks, others may like this minimal appearence. Make the new airframe using plastic cable ties available almost everywhere, and thick CA glue. Remove the old styrofoam fuselage with a sharp hobby knife, being careful not to damage the internal components, and then build up a new airframe with the cable ties. Here’s a picture showing one such airframe, click the image for a larger version.
2. Print a Landing Pad – This isn’t really a micro RC helicopter mod, but printing off this RC helicopter landing pad gives you a landing practice area. Landing RC on a small target can be challenging, so this makes for a great RC helicopter game.
3. Color Your RC Helicopter With Spray Paint – In most cases, micro RC helicopters are made of foam with a base color of white. You can use foam safe spray paint to give your RC helicopter a unique look. You can also use clear plastic to add a canopy.
4. Build Your Own Fuselage – Most people have a few foam dinner plates laying around, which provide the perfect material for building micro RC helicopter fuselages. Remove the original fuselage with a sharp hobby knife, and build up a new one using material from the foam plates and a foam safe CA glue. This has been done many times, with some remarkable results. Here’s one of the coolest. You can find inspiration by looking at the many mod threads on rcgroups.com and similar sites.

We hope you enjoy doing these mods. Have fun with your mini and micro RC Helicopters!

You can pick up parts and helicopters for these projects on our website.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

The Havoc Stinger is a new mini RC helicopter, based on the successful Havoc / PicooZ design. Features include:

• Available in three different colors, green/purple, yellow/orange, and blue/orange
• Powerful 50mAh 3.7V Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
• Charge time: 15-20 minutes
• Flight time: 5-9 minutes
• Battery charger is built into the transmitter
• Compatible with all of our mini helicopter parts

The coolest new feature is the glowing eyes and cool insect design, which are included in all three colour schemes. The mini helicopter parts are available in different colors, so you can add matching rotor blades and tail props to the Havoc Stinger.
The Havoc Stinger is for indoor flight only. You can add small amounts of weight to the nose or tail to make the Havoc Stinger move forwards or backwards more quickly.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

We are pleased to announce that we will be adding the amazing Blade MCX indoor micro RC helicopter to our inventory. The Blade MCX is the next step in the world of indoor RC helicopters, and has several amazing
features that set it apart from the crowd.

Blade MCX Main Features: What you Get In The Box

The Blade MCX includes everything you need to fly, right out of the box. Here’s what’s included:

• Blade MCX RTF Micro RC Helicopter
• 2.4 Ghz, DSM-2, Spread Spectrum Transmitter (Includes 4 AA Batteries)
• Portable Lipo Battery Charger (Includes 4 AA Batteries)
• 1 cell, 3.7 volt, 110 mAh lipo battery
• Small Screwdriver for Assembly
• Extra Canopy Securing Rings

Because you don’t have to purchase additional parts to fly the Blade MCX, it’s perfect for beginning pilots who are new to the hobby. The
Blade MCX is also well suited to pilots with previous RC helicopter experience, for flying indoors and during the winter months.

Helicopter Features

The most innovative feature of the Blade MCX is it’s fully proportional, four channel radio. Having four channel control means that pilots can fly the helicopter with four dimensions of freedom. Just like a large, expensive RC helicopter, the Blade MCX can fly up/down, rotate left/right, pitch forwards/backwards, and bank left/right. Having a four channel radio system lets you precisely control the Blade MCX’s movement through all three dimensions. Four channel control is nothing new to RC Helicopters, but what makes the Blade MCX special is it’s size. With a rotor diameter of 7.5 inches, and a length of 7.9 inches, it can easily fit into the palm of your hand. It is very uncommon to find RC helicopters of this size and price range with four channel control.

The Blade MCX features a coaxial rotor design. This coaxial design gives the helicopter great flight stability, and removes the need for a separate tail rotor to control yaw (rotation about the main rotor
axis). The main rotors spin in opposite directions, cancelling out any yaw caused by their rotation. Coaxial helicopters are great for flying indoors, because they are inherently stable and so can be controlled very precisely.

The Blade MCX uses a tiny 1 cell lithium polymer battery for power. Unlike most micro RC helicopters, the battery is removable and interchangeable. Each cell provides 3.7 volts of power with a capacity of 110 mAh (Milli ampere hours). You charge the battery using the included base station, which runs off four “AA” alkaline batteries. A typical charge takes about 30 minutes and provides an average flight time of 6 to 8 minutes. Because the battery is interchangeable, we recommend that you purchase an extra so that you can use one while the other is charging.

The Blade MCX uses a genuine Spektrum DS-2 type radio system. The helicopter radio is fully compatible with many other DS-2 transmitters, including the:

• Spektrum DX5e
• Spektrum DX6i
• Spektrum DX7
• JR X9303
• JR 12X

Modular radios which have Spectrum modules installed will also work with the Blade MCX. Please note that the Spektrum DX6 is not compatible.

Spread Spectrum technology greatly reduces the chance of any radio interference from other aircraft of sources. It also uses a short transmitter antenna, allowing the transmitter to fit in a small and sleek case.

Blade MCX Transmitters are all mode 2, meaning that throttle and rudder are controlled with the left stick and pitch and roll with the right. The transmitter throttle stick is not spring loaded, so it remains at the position that it was last set to. Most RC helicopter pilots prefer this, as it allows you to remove pressure on the throttle stick while hovering. The radio has a dual rate feature, which allows you to choose how fast the helicopter responds to your commands. Beginners should start with mode 1, which can be set by pressing down on the right control stick and holding until the red light starts blinking. Setting the transmitter to mode 2 is done the same way.

Weighing only 1 ounce, the blade MCX is virtually crash proof. A sudden drop from a few feet above the ground won’t damage it, and in most cases minor collisions with walls are not a problem. In the event of a crash where damage does occur, we carry a selection of the most commonly needed replacement parts. Although it is not indestructible, the Blade MCX’s durability makes it an ideal gift for anyone over 12 years of age.

If you want to get into the exciting world of RC helicopters, the Blade MXC makes a great starting place. It will teach you all the basics of RC helicopter flight, and can be used as a stepping stone to more advanced models. If you’re already an experienced RC helicopter pilot, you’ll be impressed with the Blade MCX’s control and stability. Watch our site for tutorials on the Blade MCX, including a how to for installing replacement parts.

You can check out the blade MCX on our website.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
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Lithium polymer batteries are one of the best things that ever happened to electric RC flight.

Batteries In General – How They Work

Before taking a look at what makes lithium polymer batteries special, we need an understanding of how batteries work in general. So, whats a battery? A battery is an array of electrochemical cells, wired together in series or in parallel. Each electrochemical cell can be thought of as a device which can “pump” charge. By wiring the individual cells together, we obtain an efficient device which can move electrical current in the way we need it to. Each electrochemical cell actually consists of 2 “half-cells”. The half cells are connected by what is called a “salt-bridge”, an electrolyte which allows ions to travel through it. The cell is constructed out of materials such that electrons want to travel from one half cell to another. Eelectrons flow into the cell at the cathode (positive electrode) and flow out at the anode (negative electrode). The electrolyte permits this travel, and the net result is whats called a potential difference between the cell terminals.

Electric potential is really just a fancy word for a simple concept: the amount of energy that a certain amount of charge contains. Think of it like this: if the wires to each cell were water pipes, and the cell was a pump, the potential would be the pressure in the pipes. Potential is usually measured in a unit called the volt. One volt corresponds to one joule of energy (about the energy needed to lift an apple 3.2 feet), per 1 coulomb of charge. A coulomb is simply a number of electrons (6.241506 × 10^18), the negatively charged particles which carry current.

It’s here that we see the first important advantage that lithium polymer batteries have over other types. Each lithium polymer cell can produce up to 4.2 volts. Other battery designs, like nickle metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel cadmium (NiCd) only give a maximum of 1.2 volts. From this we can see that you need fewer lithium polymer cells than NiCd or NiMh cells to produce the same voltage.

Besides maintaining a potential difference between the positive and negative terminals, a battery also
has to be able to maintain that potential difference for a set amount of time. The reason that we have to charge batteries is that over time, each chemical cell reaches equilibrium. At equilibrium, no ions want to travel between the half cells, and so no potential difference is created. With rechargeable batteries, sending a current through the cell reverses this process, so it can be used again.

Every battery has a capacity associated with it. Capacity measures the amount of charge that the battery can provide, usually given in milliamp hours. Think of amps as measuring the rate that charge travels at. 1 Amp corrosponds to 1 coulomb of charge moving per second. Because a coulomb is such a large measure of current (comparable to that found in lightening strikes), RC aircraft batteries use milliamps (thousandths of an amp) to measure current. Because amps measure the rate of charge, multiplying the current in amps by the time the battery operates gives us the total charge that the battery can move. This is expressed as follows:

If the capacity is known, we can find the time the battery can operate by dividing by the current. From the above equation:

In summary, batteries have two primary, defining quantities. The voltage, or potential difference, measures how much energy per unit charge the battery provides. The capacity measures how much current the battery can provide, or the time that the battery can operate while a given current is being drawn.

Lithium Polymer Batteries – Some Terms Explained

There are a few naming conventions and terms that the RC community has adopted, which express the number of cells in a pack, how they are wired, and how fast the pack can be discharged. The “C” is a common unit, which tells how long it takes to discharge the battery in fractions of an hour. For example, discharging a pack at 1 C would take 1 hour, at 2 C it would take a half and hour, and so on. If we take a 3000 mAh battery and discharge it at a rate of 3000 mA, it will take 1 hour and the battery will be discharging at a rate of 1 C. You get the charge / discharge rate in C by dividing the capacity by the current.

Every lithium polymer battery consists of cells wired in series and parallel, and the number of each is specified on the pack. The naming convention looks like “XSYP” where X is the number of cells in the pack, and Y is the number wired in parallel. As an example, a 4S3P battery would have 4 cells in series, and 3 in parallel, giving 12 total.

RCToys.com has a huge selection of lithium polymer batteries, and the chargers, balancers, and power supplies needed to use them.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (PRWEB) March 26, 2009 — From the pages of Popular Science Magazine’s “Top 100 Innovations of the Year“, Draganfly Innovations’ Draganflyer X6 UAV RC Helicopter has made the significant leap to commercial utilization.

The six-rotor, one kilogram, electric, VTOL, UAV helicopter designed for aerial photography and videography was used by the Forensic Identification Unit of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on February 21, 2009 to collect evidence in a homicide investigation in a remote area outside of Kenora, Ontario, Canada. This represented the first operational mission of a federally approved, commercially produced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by an emergency service in North America.

Then, in March, 2009, the Saskatoon Police Service announced that it will follow suit, becoming the first urban police service in North America to utilize the Draganflyer X6 Police UAV for aerial forensic purposes within city limits.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles such as Draganfly’s Draganflyer X6 helicopter are subject to Transport Canada aviation regulations. Prior to the Saskatoon Police Service being able to test the Draganflyer X6, Transport Canada officials were in Saskatoon for a flight demonstration, to undertake their standard risk assessment testing, and discuss technical issues with Draganfly Innovations.

Under the Special Flight Operations Certificate granted by Transport Canada, Draganfly Innovations personnel will operate the Draganflyer X6 Police UAV Helicopter while Saskatoon Police Service personnel will operate the cameras used for forensic support.

The use of UAVs goes back to the 1950’s with the military, but only recently has it evolved into police applications. One of the innovators was Identification Constable Marc Sharpe of the Kenora Identification Services unit of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The Ontario Provincial Police's Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter captures high resolution aerial photographs of major case scenes. The Draganflyer X6's onboard camera has remote controlled zoom, tilt and shutter. Typically, one police officer controls the UAV and another operates the camera controls.

“Having used a fixed wing UAV since 2007, I could see the potential for great benefits to our forensic support operations. It gave us the ability to collect aerial evidence quickly and at minimum cost,” states Sharpe. “However, it also became apparent that in order to improve and expand operational effectiveness, an optimal UAV would need certain attributes. It would need to be small and light, have Vertical Take Off and Landing VTOL capabilities, have a GPS hold system while hovering, be constructed of exceptionally strong materials and be completely transportable.”

The Draganflyer X6 met all Sharpe’s requirements for a Police VTOL UAV. Sharpe continued, “The Draganflyer X6 enables us to economically obtain high quality aerial photos of major case scenes in a timely fashion.”

About Draganfly Innovations Inc.:
Draganfly Innovations Inc. has been manufacturing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles including radio controlled helicopters, airplanes, and airships for the past eleven years. From toys to industrial tools for police and military, Draganfly Innovations Inc. strives for optimum performance and ease of use. Draganfly’s innovative products have been featured on CNN Headline News, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, and in magazines and newspapers such as Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Gizmodo.com, WIRED, GQ, Stuff, Maxim, The New York Times, and The London Times. All Draganflyer helicopters, including the new Draganflyer X6 are exclusively available from Draganfly Innovations Inc.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

» See the Draganflyer X6 at the Wired Home.

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry exhibit Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd allows guests to tour a functioning three-story, modular and sustainable “green” home that highlights unique eco-friendly technologies and products for the 21st century.

The freshly updated exhibit home will be open from March 19, 2009 through Jan. 3, 2010 and is proudly sponsored by ComEd, Dominick’s and the Motorola Foundation.

“Smart” technologies like the Draganflyer X6 are incorporated throughout the WIRED home, including a full-home automation system that allows homeowners to control heat, lighting, window coverings, security sensors, and video cameras. A touch-screen tracks electricity consumption in the WIRED LivingHome on a real-time basis and compares it with the energy production from wind and solar power. The technologies will demonstrate how a home can inspire lifestyle choices and be equipped to save resources while residents are away, as well as keep a home and its occupants protected.

The Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter is a “Smart” and green technology because it is safe, very quiet, a zero emissions vehicle, electric powered, small & compact, and lightweight. The Draganflyer X6 is a revolutionary GPS guided, hi-definition, aerial video and digital photography platform used by photographers, the movie industry, police, and other professionals.

Visit the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s Web site to purchase tickets.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

Gizmodo Gallery runs December 4th to 7th, 2008 in New York, NY. See the Draganflyer X6 Gizmodo Gallery Feature.

Thursday, Dec 4, 2008
noon – 8:00pm

Friday, Dec 5, 2008
noon – 8:00pm

Saturday, Dec 6, 2008
11:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday, Dec 7, 2008
11:00am – 4:00pm

Gizmodo Gallery
Reed Annex
151 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002

Attend via Webcam
See what’s going on from the comfort of your chair by logging into the Gizmodo Gallery Live Streaming Webcam.

What else is at Gizmodo Gallery?
A ton of cool stuff! See the complete list of Gizmodo gallery items.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed