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Top 10 Definitions You Should Know…
Check out this post for today's top 10 Radio Control Definitions
Read More »Venom Micro Jets – Hot little ARF Scale Jets
Just got a set of Venom Micro Jets in for review. These things are very cool. They have a ton of scale details and come with the servos, EDF and ESC already installed. They require a RX and about 15 minutes of assembly. They even come with the 3-cell LiPo flight pack.
Read More »Video of Kiewit P17 Stearman maiden flight – One Massive Airplane!
There are tons of model airplane videos on the net, but it there are some that really stand out! Check out this PT-17. While I do not have a lot of details on the model, this is one impressive model.
Read More »Top Gun 2011
Top Gun is the event of events when it comes to building and flying scale RC aircraft. This invitation- only contest is designed to find the best RC scale builder/flier in the world. For the first time, the event was held at the new Paradise Field located at the Lakeland Airport in Lakeland, Florida. In October 2010, Paradise Field opened for Monster Planes, and it appears the runway keeps getting better and better. Top Gun started on Wednesday, April 27, and ended Sunday, May 1. Other than some crosswind conditions the first two days, the weather cooperated for the entire event. Top Gun pilots did a fantastic job handling the conditions, but then, you might expect they would!
Read More »Sebart MiG-29 3D EDF
Since its debut in 1983, the full-scale MiG-29 has turned heads at air shows, world-wide. Maneuvers such as the famous “Cobra†instantly became textbook terms for a new generation of flight. With thrust vectoring and fly-by-wire technology, the Russians took an early role in demonstrating the amazing potential of coupling vectored thrust with modern-jet technology for the future. For our modeling, this level of performance was at first, just a dream. Look at how far we have come! Modern ducted fan designs now exceed 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratios, and most importantly, these are jets that a sport flyer can afford.
Read More »Flying In The Wind
Let's see a show of hands here. How many of you have become amateur meteorologists since you learned to fly model airplanes? Yeah; me too.
Read More »Control Horn Basics
This month's 'Primary Training' is in response to an email sent to our Editors' Inbox (editors@flyrc.com) from Rick Breckwoldt. Rick writes: I was hoping that you would include an article about the best way to install the aileron, rudder, or elevator control horns that come with most kits.
Read More »Propeller Safety: Safety Tips For Everyone
The traditional safety structure of AMA clubs has done a lot to reinforce good safety habits over the years. Unfortunately, with the advances made in electric flight and its often less organized and more isolated nature, we have many up-and-coming pilots who have little, if any, way to learn good safety practices
Read More »Bending Perfect Pushrods
If you have ever tried to set up solid aileron pushrods with Z-bend linkages, you know the frustration of trying to get the second bend in just the right place, or adjusting a V-bend in the middle of your pushrod. It turns out that there is an easier way. Here is how I bend aileron pushrods for most models with wing-mounted aileron servos. In this case, I was setting up the new Small Stik from Aero Craft Ltd. The same technique can be used on models up to 60 size and beyond, depending on the pushrod wire size.
Read More »Power Loading
Why does it have to be this complicated? If I had a dollar for every time Ive heard that question asked by fliers who are trying to match electric power systems with airframes, Id be a rich man. In the glow and gas world, the process is pretty simple: just pick an engine at or around the top end of the recommended range and one of the few props listed on its data sheet, and youre good to go.
Read More »Making Hatches
I've been a sport modeler for 30 years. Along the way, I have discovered some simple techniques for making hatches. Here are a few that I've relied on. Given the expansion of onboard widgets of all kinds, you just may find yourself wanting some hatches to better access electrical connections and components on any brand of ARF. First, let's look at how the designers at Goldberg and Great Planes paved the way, and then we'll look at a very simple magnetic hatch you can build in 20 minutes.
Read More »Glow Engine Maintenance
This month I will discuss how I overhaul a basic two-stroke glow engine. I will be disassembling an O.S. .46 SF, cleaning the various parts, doing an inspection and replacing the bearings before reassembling and test running the engine. The techniques shown are applicable to any brand of engine.
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