Buzzard Droppings March 2005

It is hard to open a modeling magazine without finding an article about electric flight and numerous ads relating to electric flight accessories.  Some of you might remember the article I wrote about 3 years ago about the electric fly-in I went to up in Chilliwack.  At that time, electric flight appeared poised on the edge of becoming a mainstream area of modeling.  Today, that revolution has just started its arrival and started with a very loud bang.  Two things finally provided electric flight the push over the edge;  reasonably priced brushless motors and the Lithium Polymer battery technology.  There is still a place for the less expensive brushed motor and Nicad/NiMH batteries, but over the next few years they are probably going to fade away as the LP did once CD music technology caught on with the public.  If you want to see some amazing flying of electric models, check out THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION DVD from Radio Carbon Art.  There was even an Electric Tournament of Champions this year, with many recognized world class fliers competing (as well as guys you have never heard of yet...). 

If you are intrigued enough about electric flight that you think you might want to give it a try, the question is, how do I go about doing it?  The KEY is to purchase a proven product that you know just works.  That usually means purchasing a package that has everything except for the radio. These packages come with components that are proven to work with the airframe.  You will also need to invest in a charger.  So the choice comes down to this, do you want something that flies close to the glow models in terms of performance OR do you want something that is slow and relaxing?

 

Aircraft

If you want the glow performance package, the model I recommend to everyone is a Zagi flying wing from Trick RC.  A few years ago that would have been the 400X but Trick has moved on and the current equivalent would be the Zagi XS.  Better crash resistant foam, slicker airfoil and a good flyer.  The package deal includes the plane, motor, prop, speed control, battery pack, covering material and straightforward directions.  The Zagi was the first electric model that I ever owned and I still fly that original plane, but I have hopped up the power train.  The great thing is, not only does it fly great and can take a beating, but it can also glide.  I’ve had it up with no power to the motor for 25 minutes, just picking up thermals and updrafts near the river.

If you want the slow/relaxing options there are several packages.  Two from GWS that I would recommend would be the Slow Stick and the Pico Stick.  The Slow Stick is larger and has a bigger motor while the Pico Stick is smaller and uses their standard GWS IPS motor/gearbox combo (IPS stands for Indoor Power System).  Both are easy to assemble and fly great.  Both packages give you the plane, motor, speed control, battery pack and all hardware to complete the plane.  Both of these planes use a foam wing and tail feathers.  If you just can’t bring yourself to build using foam, there is an alternative I would highly recommend.  That is the DUSK STICK from Mountain Models.  You build a balsa wing and tail feathers.  The body is a carbon fiber rod with a glued on wood pylon.  It uses the standard GWS IPS motor/gearbox combo.  The model is reasonably priced from Mountain Models and you have the choice of building one of 3 different wing combinations when you construct the model.  My favorite is actually the shorter dihedral wing.  If any of you have seen me sitting in my lounge or chair while flying, it is the Dusk Stick that is up there.  For Pico Stick recommendations, talk to Ray Gilkey.  Ray’s told me that he has had more fun with that small plane than just about anything that he has flown.  The total number of hours that he has racked up flying it is just incredible.

One other option to consider would be an all foam electric glider.  The one I would

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RUN SILENT, RUN SILENT.......by Rick Hanners