Extremely simple to assemble and an absolute blast to throw around! Available in a hot red and bright white color scheme, the Hitec HawkEye Hand Launch Glider maintains keen sight over all it surveys. When the price point is this low and the quality is this good, you just can’t go wrong.

Several people have made how-to guides about adding radio control to the Multiplex Fox free flight glider. Since the glider doesn’t come with any radio parts or electronics, it can provide a very cheap and durable airframe for conversion to either a pure or motor powered glider. Some have reported success with adding bigger and faster brushless motors to their Multiplex Fox kits, turning the glider into a mini pylon racer. Here are a few of the different setups reported to be successful, and the parts needed to build them.

Pure Glider Setup

This setup leaves much of the Fox airframe unchanged, and adds aileron, elevator and rudder servos to give you a four channel glider. These gliders can be hand launched off of a hill, bungee launched, or even towed by a powered RC airplane (like the Multiplex Minimag.) The construction of one of these gliders is detailed here. The parts used are:

• Four sub micro servos (BA-36G or similar)
• One small 3.7 volt LiPo battery to power the radio (TP125-1SPL25UM or similar)
• Four channel micro RC receiver

The aileron servos can be omitted to reduce weight and complexity, leaving a two channel glider which is controlled with only the elevator and rudder.

Powered Glider Setup

This setup is similar to that of the pure glider, except that the nose of the airplane is cut to make room for a small brushless motor and a larger LiPo battery. Once successful version can be found here. The parts needed are:

• Four sub micro servos (BA-36G or similar)
• One 2 cell LiPo battery to power the motor and radio (TP325-2SPP65J or similar)
• Small brushless motor (HA-A10-12S or similar)
• Propeller (APC-06-040-E or similar)
• 5 to 10 amp speed controller (CC-TB9 or similar)
• Four channel micro RC receiver

You can check out the Multiplex Fox on our website.

Do you have a need for speed? The Multiplex Funjet is the ultimate electric speed demon, even flown stock without any modifications. Flying at speeds in excess of 100 MPH requires high discharge batteries, and we’ve tested several new Generation 6 Thunder Power Lipo battery packs in the Funjet to determine the best setups for economical flying, mid range speed runs, or all out blazing fast power. Here’s a list of several tried and true setups that you can use with your Multiplex Funjet kit or receiver ready model.

Stock Motor, ESC and a G6 Pro Power 3s 2250 mAh Lipo

The stock 2700 Kv brushless motor and 37 Amp ESC in the Multiplex Funjet (Receiver Ready version) can push it to speeds of over 100 miles per hour with no modifications using a suitably high discharge lipo battery. We recommend a Thunder Power G6 Pro Power 65C 3s 2250 mAh lipo battery for this setup, not only because of the high power provided, but because this battery will fit neatly in the Funjet’s equipment bay. This battery has the capacity to provide flight times up to 10 minutes and has no problem providing the current that the stock setup requires. After soldering on some Deans connectors and plugging in the receiver of your choice, you will be ready to go flying.

Items Required to Complete this Setup (Including Receiver Ready Funjet):

• TP2250-3SPP65 Lipo Battery
• 3 channel (minimum) receiver + transmitter capable of elevon mixing
• Deans Ultra connector pair (for connecting battery to ESC)

Stock Motor, ESC and a Discount G4 Pro Power 30C 2 or 3 cell 2250 Lipo

While supplies last we are selling the last of the Generation 4 batteries by Thunder Power RC. For a relatively minimal decrease in performance, you can use a TP-2250-2SP30 (2 cell setup) or TP-2250-3SP30 (3 cell setup) with the stock equipment that the Multiplex Funjet RR comes with.

Items Required to Complete this Setup (Including Receiver Ready Funjet):

• TP-2250-2SP30 or TP-2250-3SP30 Lipo Battery
• 3 channel (minimum) receiver + transmitter capable of elevon mixing
• Deans Ultra connector pair (for connecting battery to ESC)

Upgraded ESC and 4 Cell 2250 Lipo Battery

This setup will provide you with a very, very fast RC airplane. Use the stock motor and propeller, but upgrade to a 4 cell battery and ESC.

Items Required to Complete This Setup (Including Receiver Ready Funjet):

• TP2250-4SPP65 Lipo Battery
• CC-PH60 60 amp brushless ESC
• 3 channel (minimum) receiver + transmitter capable of elevon mixing
• Deans Ultra connector pair (for connecting battery to ESC)

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

If you ever crash your 9Eagle Cessna RC plane, it’s a great idea to have some spare parts on hand. Crash kits are bundles of factory parts for RC aircraft that are sold at a discount. With the 9Eagle Crash kit you can restore your 9Eagle Cessna electric RC plane to like new condition. Foam parts and propellers can break easily, so it’s a good idea to get the crash-kit ahead of time so that you have them on hand when you need them. The parts included with this crash-kit are:

A Spare Propeller

The spare propeller is exactly the same as the original. It presses securely onto the motor protector (a small clip on the front of the motor shaft) and is friction fit. Install the new propeller by:

• Remove the broken propeller by gently pulling back on it near the motor shaft. Be careful not to cut yourself on the broken motor, which may be very sharp. Grab it with a paper towel or rag if you can’t handle it safely.
• Slide the new propeller onto the motor protector and press until it clicks.

A Spare Wing

The spare wing is identical to the original, and comes with the same fastening system. Install it by sliding the clear plastic tab (referred to as “pins” in the manual) to the front of the airplane and bolting the end to the fuselage with the included screw.

Spare Vertical and Horizontal Stabilizers

The vertical and horizontal stabilizers go on the tail. Part of the vertical stabilizer is a rudder that moves left and right; and part of the vertical stabilizer is the elevator which moves up and down. The procedures for replacing these parts are:

• Broken Vertical Stabilizer
  1. Take a sharp hobby knife or straight edged razor blade and cut along the root of the vertical stabilizer, about 1/8” into the foam. Don’t cut any deeper than this, or you risk damaging the tail and its internal parts. Be sure to cut completely around the part.
  2. Pull up on the vertical stabilizer, being careful to cleanly separate it from the tail and not cause rips or creases.
  3. Apply foam safe CA glue to the root of the new vertical stabilizer and press it into the track left by the old one. Sight down the front of the airplane and ensure that the new stabilizer is installed straight (not bent to the left or right).

• Broken Horizontal Stabilizer
  1. Follow the same steps above to remove the vertical stabilizer even if only the horizontal stabilizer is damaged. You will need both a vertical and a horizontal stabilizer to replace the horizontal stabilizer, as removing the horizontal stabilizer requires the removal of the vertical stabilizer.
  2. Score around the damaged horizontal stabilizer with your hobby knife or razor blade and remove it. Clean out the slot and the depression in the tail where the new horizontal stabilizer will be seated.
  3. Apply foam safe CA glue to the slot and depression where the new stabilizer will sit and press it into place. Sight down the length of the airplane and ensure that the new horizontal stabilizer is straight. Most CA glues will give you a few seconds to make final adjustments before they begin to cure.
  4. Follow step 3 in the last procedure to replace the vertical stabilizer.

Spare Battery

If the original battery becomes damaged in a crash (very, very unlikely), you should place it on a non-flammable surface and observe it for a few hours. If no visible signs of swelling or deformation occur then it should be safe to use again. If you notice any swelling or puffing then you should immediately place the damaged battery in a bucket of salt water and leave it there for several days. After this time, dispose of the old battery in the household trash (it is now safe to do so, and contains no toxic chemicals). Use the new battery exactly as you used the old one.
——
© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

Have you ever wanted to fly an RC airplane, but couldn’t because of the huge cost, complicated equipment, and steep learning curve? The Brand new 9Eagle Sky Eagle Cessna Electric RC Plane is just what you need. Everything you need to get flying comes in the box, so you can get into the air right away at an affordable price.

The new 9Eagle Sky Eagle electric RC plane is available at an extremely low price, but this doesn’t reflect any of the hardware included. The 9Eagle Sky Eagle comes with a state of the art 2.4 Ghz radio system with full 3 channel control. The plane has a 2.4 Ghz receiver built into the fuselage with 2 proportional servos which follow every movement of the controls exactly. The 9Eagle Sky Eagle electric RC plane also comes standard with a high performance lithium polymer battery, so you can fly for up to 13 minutes on one battery charge. The 9Eagle Sky Eagle also features a built in LVC (low voltage cutoff) feature that protects the lipo battery from over discharge.

The 9Eagle Sky Eagle ships ready to fly; just follow the included instructions and you’ll be doing loops around the park or gym in no time. Are you new to RC planes? The 9Eagle Sky Eagle RTF RC plane was designed to be very beginner friendly. The Sky Eagle is so light and durable that most crashes result in no damage. If you hit the ground (or a wall) and break a foam part, they can be glued back together using ordinary CA glue or epoxy. We also carry a full selection of low cost replacement parts on our website including:

• Replacement Wings – These are useful if your original foam wing becomes damaged in a hard crash or collision.
• Replacement Stabilizer Sets – The replacement stabilizer sets are great for fixing the tail if it gets broken or bent in a crash.
• Replacement Propellers – Sometimes propellers can break if the 9Eagle Sky Eagle runs into a hard object (like a wall).
• Replacement Landing Gear – The landing gear can be lost in a crash.

We also have all of the less frequently needed replacement parts, including batteries, motors, and the screws and pushrods.

If you’ve been waiting to get into RC, the 9Eagle Sky Eagle is the perfect first plane. It’s got very forgiving flight characteristics, and can be flown both indoors and outdoors. You can get the new 9Eagle Sky Eagle electric RC airplane on our website, and replacement parts are also available.
——
© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

We’ve reduced the price on the Southern SX3 3D Indoor Electric RC plane by $30.00 for the pre built aircraft only version, and $50.00 for the kit version. If you want the ultimate 3D foamie RC airplane, this is the perfect time to get one at an unbelievably low price.

The Southern SX3 3D RC airplane is extremely maneuverable and can do almost any move you tell it to. The SX3 has been specifically designed to give outstanding flight performance; it’s stable in forward flight and won’t readily fall into steep alpha flight like most flat foam RC airplanes. Extreme rudder and fuselage area make the SX3 handle exceptionally well in knife edge flight, and over-sized ailerons and elevators allow you to maneuver quickly and cleanly.

The kit version includes a pre-built SX3 foamie and all the following high quality hardware:

• Three installed 6 gram Servos (linkages complete)
• Hacker A20-34S brushless electric motor
• 2 Thunder Power Pro Lite 2s730 Lipo Batteries
• Castle Creations Phoenix 10 ESC
• Berg 4L receiver

Check out the following cool video showing some of the SX3’s amazing flight abilities:

Want the ultimate 3D foamie aircraft for your RC fleet? You can get both the kit version (which includes the aircraft and additional hardware) and the ARF version on our website.

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

Everyone loves the RTF Multiplex Easystar electric RC glider; its great performance and affordability make it a favorite park flyer for both new and experienced modelers alike.

Multiplex has recently released a brand new kit version, that allows you to choose exactly which power system, battery type, and modifications you want during construction.

The new Multiplex Easystar Kit includes all the usual Easystar parts:

• High quality Elapor™ molded wings, fuselage, and tail section
• Custom propeller
• Removable canopy with a secure attachment clip
• Pre-cut bays for servos, batteries, and other components
• Pre-cut decorative decal set
• Thorough and easy to understand assembly instructions

A speed 400 type motor is included for those that choose to use it, but the main point of choosing the Easystar kit is to use a brushless motor and lipo battery. Brushless motors and lithium polymer batteries give you improved flight performance, much longer flight times, and reduce weight. You can also easily include ailerons, landing gear, and other custom parts.

If you want to build your Easystar with brushless hardware and a lithium polymer battery, we recommend the following parts:

• A Himax 2815 2000 brushless inrunner electric motor
• A 35 amp Castle Creations Thunderbird ESC
• A 6 x 4 APC composite propeller
• A Thunder Power G6 2100mAh 3 cell lithium polymer battery
• A Lithium polymer battery charger. We recommend either a Thunderpower 535C or a 610C. Both of these chargers can use a 12 volt battery, or a 12 volt AC adapter. Suitable AC adapters are available on our website.

The Multiplex Easystar Kit is perfect for first time modelers. It’s extremely forgiving flight characteristics and fast build time mean that you can get in the air in only a few hours. All the foam parts are pre colored, so you don’t have to worry about painting or other complicated and delicate finishing techniques. The Easystar also uses genuine Elapor™ foam that can “heal” broken parts from crashes with the application of heat. An electric power system allows anyone to fly safely in large parks, and the Easystar’s light weight reduces the danger of crashes.

If you’re a more experienced RC pilot, you will appreciate the flexibility that the Easystar Kit allows during construction. With this kit, you aren’t locked in to one proprietary radio system. You can easily choose what radio you want to use, and even use the Easystar with your existing transmitter. Because the Easystar Kit was designed to accept modern brushless and Lipo equipment, it can be used with all your existing chargers, power supplies and batteries.

If you want to modify your aircraft even further you can add our Eagletree flight logging systems, which fit perfectly in the Easystar’s oversized electronics bay. You can even add a wireless video camera and transform your Easystar into the ultimate FPV (first person view) aerial UAV wireless video system.

Learn more about the new Multiplex Easystar electric RC glider kit on our website. We also have an article outlining how to successfully convert your Easystar to a brushless motor and lipo battery power system.

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

So you’ve crashed your new Multiplex Easystar or Minimag. Now what? Don’t throw your model out, it’s extremely likely that it can be repaired to like-new condition. It turns out that the Elapor™ foam Multiplex planes are built out of is extremely crash resistant, and can even be re molded with heat. Elapor™ is also CA glue safe, making repairs simple and economical.

Gather Parts and Assess the Damage

After a crash occurs be sure to retrieve all the parts, no matter how small. Foam can be fitted back together like a jigsaw puzzle and glued in to place. So you want to make sure that no parts are left at the crash site. Put all the parts you retrieve in a bin and store them in a safe place until you’re ready to begin repairs. It’s generally a good idea to wait for a few hours or days before repairing damaged models. This gives you time to think about exactly what needs to be replaced, and how you would like to proceed.

Repairing Cracked and Broken Foam Parts

Repairing broken foam is very simple. Done correctly, you can hide the cracks and make your model look just like new. Here are the supplies that you will need:

1. Thick CA Glue
2. Clear Tape
3. Popsicle Sticks

Apply a generous amount of CA glue to the broken parts, then use the Popsicle sticks to smear the glue around and cover the entire broken surface. Hold the parts together under pressure and then wrap the clear tape around them so that they stick together firmly. Let the glue cure for at least one hour and then remove the tape. Repeat for all your broken foam parts.

Fixing Bent, Compressed, and Distorted Foam

Unlike Styrofoam, Elapor™ can be heated and re-molded to its original shape. There are two ways to do this, both are outlined below:

1. Hot water method – Boil a large pot of water, and then dip the distorted part for approximately 10 seconds. You will notice all of the foam cells enlarge and expand. This is what needs to occur for the remolding to take place. Using gloves or other thermal protection, bend the heated parts back to their original shape. Smooth out any bumps or surface defects using a metal spoon.
2. Blow Dryer Method – This method works well for smaller dents and bends. Simply take an electric hair dryer (not a heat gun), and gently heat the damaged area for a few seconds. After you see the foam cells start to expand, bend and smooth out the damaged area back to its original shape.

Replacing Electronic Components

Both the Multiplex Easystar and Minimag are compatible with Hitec’s radio components.

Need More Help?

Although we can’t exchange aircraft that have been damaged in a crash, we’re still here for you and can talk you through most repairs. Feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to help you.

Have you ever wanted to mod your RC airplanes, perhaps to carry an explosive payload? Too bad – it’s illegal. Don’t worry though, here at Draganfly Innovations, we’ve found the next best thing: you can mod inexpensive RC planes to carry containers of inert powder, which will shatter and make a super nifty effect on the ground. All you need are 5 minutes and some common household materials:

What You Need

• Toothpick – We’ll use this to make a mount for the payload, and a mechanism that lets us deploy it remotely.
• Plastic Easter Egg (or similar container) – Plastic Easter eggs work best, because they split in two easily. You can find them at almost every craft store. Improvising here is fine, just make sure that your container is a reasonable size, and will open up with minimal force.
• Cellophane Tape – This mod isn’t permanent, just peel off the tape when your done with it.
• Plastic Drinking Straw
  
• Vortex Extreme RC Airplane – You can get one on our website. Similar models will also work, but if they’re of a different design, you’ll have to adapt these instructions accordingly.
• Talcum Powder, Flour, or any (safe) Powdery Substance – Basically, anything that spreads out in the air and makes a big cloud will do.

How to Mod Your RC Airplanes

1. Start by taking the wing off your RC airplane. You need it out of the way, because your going to be building the drop mechanism on the bottom of the plane. Besides, breaking foam wings is no fun – store it in a safe place until your finished these steps.
2. Cut about a 1 inch length of straw, and tape it to the tail boom, 2 inches back. You want to get the straw aligned parallel to the tail boom, and hanging right on the bottom. What we’re trying to do won’t work if the payload rubs against the tail and gets stuck. You might want to click this picture, to get a closer view.
3. 

   Tape the toothpick to the round end of the plastic egg. The aim is to give the toothpick an upward slant, so that the egg hangs on to your RC airplane under gravity.Try to leave as much of the toothpick as possible free – this gives you a more secure mount. It’s very important not to tape the Easter egg shut, because the whole point is to get it to split open on ground impact.

4. Fill the Easter egg with powder, and then snap it shut.
5. Slide the “bomb” onto your drinking straw launcher apparatus (see the picture on the right), and get the plane ready for flight.

Dropping the Bomb

The Easter egg you mounted is held on the airplane by gravity and wind resistance. To drop it, simply take off as usual, fly to a safe area (free of people, pets, and vehicles), and put your RC airplane in a nose dive. The “bomb” should slide off the mount, hit the ground, and produce a nice puff of smoke. Watch Out: many RC planes have crashed because the pilot was looking at the payload being dropped, and not paying attention to flying. Let spectators enjoy the bomb, and concentrate on landing your plane safely.

Here’s what the result of a properly detonated “bomb” looks like (the best explosion occurs at about 1:12 into the video):

Need RC airplanes for this project? Get a Vortex Extreme online. Perfect for beginners to learn how to fly, and affordable, it makes the ideal first RC airplane.

• Clean Your Transmitter - Everyone loves the way brand new transmitters and other RC equipment looks, but after a few trips to the flying field it can accumulate dust, grass, and other debris, You can make your transmitter look like new by brushing it off with some stiff paintbrushes. Get the dirt trapped in hard to reach places using compressed air, available from most computer stores in canned form. A soft cloth and some glass cleaner solution can be used to wipe off any displays.
• Secure an Antenna – Many RC model airplanes have long wire antennas, which need to be fixed to the fuselage to prevent them from dangling in the wind. Make a secure and adjustable attachment by taking a short (~1 inch) length of fuel tubing, and passing the wire through. Then push a small pinhead into the fuel tubing so that the wire can’t fall out easily. You can then glue the fuel tubing onto your airplanes fuselage wherever it’s convenient. Tighten the antenna by gently pullign on the end.
• Safe Storage for Wings and Fuselages – Keeping RC model airplane wings and fuselages out of harms way can be a hassle. Many hardware stores sell portable shelving units, which you can use to safely store your RC model airplanes. Install the shelves on a wall, but leave off the solid wood planks that create a surface. What you will be left with is a series of protruding beams, that you can set RC model airplane wings and fuselages on. The shelves let you stack several aircraft on top of each other for efficient storage.
• Securing Screws with Silicon – Ordinary silicon gel can be used to prevent screws from vibrating loose. As an added bonus, you can peel the silicon off easily when you need to undo the screw.
• Prevent Parts from Rolling Away  – You can prevent small screws and other metal parts from rolling off your workbench by taking any large, flat container and gluing some magnetic strip material to the bottom. Metal parts will stick to the magnet and will not be able to roll away.
• Remove Thread Lock Compound – Thread locking compounds are great for preventing parts from vibrating loose in flight, but removing screws secured with thread lock compound  can be a pain. Avoid stripping screw heads by first touching a hot soldering iron to the screw for a few moments. The heat will melt the thread lock compound, allowing the screw to come loose easily.
• Cheap Wingtip Protectors – Model airplane wingtips can get scuffed on grass and pavement runways. Prevent this by adding small strips of plastic, obtained from soda bottles. The plastic can be attached using glue or small wood screws.
• Secure Servo Leads – Having a servo lead come off in flight can be disasterous. Prevent this by tying the servo cable in a loose knot after you plug in the leads. This will prevent the cable from coming loose in flight, and removing them is a snap.
• Avoid Pulling The Connectors Off Servos – Pulling the wire off a servo connector is annoying. Prevent this by bending in the ends of ordinary tweezers, to make a tool that can grab on and pull of a servo lead. The bent ends can grab right on to a stubborn connector.

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

Like all new aerobatic maneuvers, perform the rolling loop at a high altitude when you first learn it. This ensures that you have sufficient altitude to recover from most mistakes. Try the rolling loop in the direction that you’re most comfortable rolling. After you become more familiar with it, you can roll in any direction you want.

Follow this procedure to perform a rolling loop:

1. As with almost every aerobatic maneuver, begin by climbing to sufficient altitude and facing into the wind.
2. The objective of this maneuver is to execute a round loop and a 360 degree roll at the same time, so increase throttle to full and begin climbing.
3. As you’re RC model airplane climbs, use a small amount of rudder to hold it in a vertical position.
4. Continue to use up elevator and aileron to roll and climb. Control the roll rate so that the RC model airplane’s wings are level at the top of the loop.
5. Decrease the amount of rudder input so that the RC model airplane “falls” over the top of the loop.
6. Decrease throttle, and continue using aileron and rudder to maintain a constant roll rate.
7. Aim to have the wings level again at the cardinal point (the point at which you first started the maneuver.)

Congratulations! You now know how to successfully perform the rolling loop!

1. Download and print one of the free patterns available on the internet. The one that you choose largely depends on your personal building experience, the supplies you have, and the amount of time that you are willing to put into the project. Some plans need to be scaled up or down. If you don’t want to do this yourself most print shops will reproduce and scale images for you.
2. Transfer the paper pattern to the foam core you obtained earlier. There are several ways to do this, but if you want to preserve the plan you can lightly score over the outline with a ball point pen. This indents the foam below and creates a pattern for cutting.
3. Cut out the pattern that you made with a sharp hobby knife, being careful to follow the lines accurately. If you make a mistake round it out using medium grit sand paper and a sanding block.
4. Round out the leading edge of the wind a fuselage by first using medium, and then fine grit sandpaper.
5. Give the wind an airfoil by making three bends along it’s length. Some patterns include the desired airfoil section – so if yours does use it as a reference.
6. Sand some dihedral into the wing and glue the wing halves together using either foam safe cyanoacrylate or hot glue (available in most craft stores.)
7. Assemble the model using your adhesive of choice.
8. Unless your model’s pattern was meant to be glued to the foam – you will probably want to add some color. Spray paint is a great way to decorate your finished model, but be sure to use satan paint – not enamel. Most enamel paints react badly with foam.
9. Mount your servos by cutting rectangular holes in the wings and fuselage, and pressing them in.
10. The brushless motor is usually mounted by on a wooden dowel glued to the fuselage, and the radio and batteries can be secured to one side of the fuselage with velcro.
11. As a last step add the control surfaces and hinge them with clear packing tape.

If you want some free patterns and instructions, check out this RCGroups.com thread. Many foamie fans have contributed great models and posted them for everyone to use. Have fun with your foamie RC model airplanes!

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

Choosing a Flying Slope

As it’s name implies, slope flying involves launching an RC model airplane from the top of a slope. Slopes are great flying locations, because wind blowing up the slope causes updrafts which RC model airplanes can use to fly.

If you’re interested in slope flying, the first thing to do is to find a suitable place to fly. An ideal slope has an elevation of at least 100 feet, a gradient of 30 degrees, and is relatively free of trees and other obstacles. Most nearby slopes are unlikely to be perfect, but any slope that is relatively high and steep should do. Almost any RC model airplane with a large wing area will glide well enough for slope flying. Both the Multiplex EasyStar and the Vortex Extreme are well suited to slope flying, and can glide for large distances with their motors turned off.

Launching and Flying the RC Model Airplane

After you’ve found a suitable flying location you can begin slope flying. Most RC model airplanes are hand launched for slope flying, so you may want to read our other article: Hand Launching An RC Model Airplane for some pointers. When hand launching your RC model airplane face into the wind and apply full throttle (if the RC model airplane has an engine). Toss the RC model airplane overhand, and use up elevator to enter flight.

Immediately after takeoff, turn the RC model airplane so that it flies parallel to the slope. This puts the RC model airplane in a position where it can catch the maximum amount of upward airflow. If sufficient wind is present, the RC model airplane should begin to climb gradually. After the RC model airplane has gained sufficient altitude, begin a gradual turn away from the slope. Continue the turn until the RC model airplane is parallel to the slope, and continue climbing. This circuit can be repeated as long as the wind remains constant, and the batteries powering the radio components are charged.

Landing the RC Model Airplane

Landing after you’ve finished flying is challenging due to the sloping ground, so follow this procedure when landing your slope flying RC model airplanes:

1. Approach the top of the hill at an altitude of about 10 feet.
2. Make one wide turn into the wind, and begin your descent so that the plane will land near the center of the hilltop.
3. Continue flying into the wind, and gently let the plane settle on to the ground. Have fun slope flying with your RC model airplanes.

——
© 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. Plan the Takeoff – All takeoffs are performed into the wind. Most flying fields have a windsock near the runway so that pilots can accurately judge the direction and intensity of the wind. Be sure to check the windsock before flying and position your RC model airplane accordingly. You should also look for a landmark (a bush, tree, or other object) over which to complete the initial turn after climb out.
2. Position the Aircraft – Position the RC model airplane on the centerline of the runway so that it’s nose faces into the wind
3. Choose a Pilot Station – Some RC model airplane flying fields have marked positions for RC model airplane pilots to stand on when flying. If this is the case at your location, choose one close to your RC model airplane.
4. Advance the Throttle – Smoothly and rapidly advance the throttle to full. Advancing the throttle quickly gives you better control during the takeoff, because it moves air over the control surfaces faster.
5. Accelerate – As the RC model airplane accelerates down the runway keep it aligned with small taps of rudder. If you are flying a tail dragger, then hold a small amount of up elevator during your initial takeoff roll. This can prevent the RC model airplane from nosing over into the ground.
6. Climb – After your RC model airplane gains sufficient speed pull back gently and begin climbing. Do not climb too steeply, or you risk inducing a low altitude stall. Just hold the RC model airplane in a straight and gradual climb. Correct any bank by tapping the aileron (or rudder) stick briefly. Plan your climb so that you have sufficient altitude to make a turn over the landmark chosen earlier
7. Begin the Initial Turn - After your RC model airplane arrives at the target location, level off and reduce throttle to ½. Turn in the desired direction by banking the aircraft and letting it turn while maintaining altitude.

Take a look at this video, which shows a takeoff done by the above procedure.

We hope that this procedure helps you perform great takeoffs, every time.

——
© 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 best way to balance your RC model airplane propellers is to use one of the many prebuilt balancers available. Blade balancers usually come in two varieties:

1. finger prop balancers – sufficient for most modelers, you can get good results using a simple blade balancer for 5 to 10 dollars depending on the supplier. Great Hobbies has a balancer which works sufficiently well to balance most model airplane props.
2. magnetic prop balancers – produce highly accurate results and are usually more expensive than finger balances.

Use the blade balancer by unscrewing the two metal rings and then placing your propeller in between them. Tighten the metal rings so that the prop doesn’t move and support the entire apparatus with one finger tip on each hand. The prop is balanced if it remains motionless. If it tips forward or backward then you will have to adjust it according to the following procedure:

1. Mark the heavy side (which tips downwards) with a felt tip pen.
2. Sand one side of the propellers heavy end with medium to fine grit sandpaper. Do not sand the propeller tip – this will cause a dynamic imbalance when the engine is running.
3. After removing a very small amount of material from the heavy side of the propeller, test it again using your blade balancer.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the propeller remains motionless while held in the blade balancer.

This procedure will balance your propeller accurately enough to eliminate the most severe vibration during flight. 3D aerobatics, racing, or other demanding flying requires propellers to be balanced more precisely. You can get a higher end magnetic balancer for 20 to 30 dollars. It’s usage is about the same as the finger balancer except that the propeller is held between two magnets.

Check your propeller’s balance using the above method and be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions when putting the propeller in the balancer.

——
© 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