One of the great advantages offered by all the new micro models coming out is the ability to fly just about anywhere at any time. Whether your preference is for a classic WWI or WWII fighter, a civilian runabout or a homebuilt scale or freelance sport model designed to use the equipment from a worn out RTF airframe, these little models are just the ticket for a romp around the cul-de-sac on a calm evening while the grill is warming up, or any other time you need a quick fix of RC.

I can remember my first experience with an Addiction a few years ago. My buddy Jim Champion brought his out to the field to wring it out. Truthfully, when he told me he was bringing an Addiction for us to fly, I wasn’t very excited. I had only seen the Addiction in the magazine and thought it resembled a “pregnant profile.” Seeing it first hand and getting my hands on the transmitter taught me real quick that the Addiction was no porker! The original Addiction looks fierce and flies awesomely. I came away that day thinking that the only thing better than the Addiction would be a bigger one! Enter the Addiction X! The Addition X, like all other Precision Aerobatics products, is performance- tested and ready to rock!

I was excited about the chance to review the Great Planes Yak-55M. The market seems saturated with “popular aerobatic planes” so it’s nice to see a new kid on the block! This is one IMAA and IMAC legal aerobat that I knew would stand out at the field. The Yak-55M has great lines, with a large cowl and long sleek fuselage to keep proportions balanced. The huge rounded rudder looks right at home on the cylindrical fuselage. The real Yak-55M was designed with a relatively short wing span to better rolling maneuvers. This plane begs to be 3D! After reviewing the Great Planes Pitts Model 12 for Fly RC magazine last year, I knew I was in for a real treat and my hunch was correct!

For the weekend of March 3-6, 2011, Florida Jets, an event for RC jet aircraft of all types and sizes, was held at "Paradise Field" located at the Lakeland Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The field features an 800 x 70 foot runway of Bermuda Sod that is fairly well manicured.

Designed in 1934 by Larry Brown and christened Miss Los Angeles, the Brown B-2 was designed around the 300hp, supercharged, 544-cubicinch Menasco Super Buccaneer engine and was the second in a series of three similar racers. The B-2 had a top speed of 270 mph and landed at 60 mph. Miss Los Angeles was a small airplane, with a wingspan of 19 feet, 3/4 inch and an overall length of 19 feet 10 inches. Gross weight was 1,299 lb. with a fuel capacity of 30 gallons. The fuselage was designed as a tight wrap-around fit for the engine and pilot, and featured a quick release upper cockpit section to aid the pilot in the event of bail out.

ParkZone has created several foamie warbirds in ultra micro sizes, and its latest is a BNF (bind and fly) 1/32 scale de Havilland Mosquito Mk VI. This neat little warbird is ParkZone's first twin-engine venture, and it works very well. The counterrotating 3-blade propellers are driven by 8.5mm coreless brushless motors, and the 1S 250mAh 3.7V 20C LiPo battery provides plenty of power to fly the model around for 12 minutes with throttle management.

Once upon a time, in a land across the sea, there lived a little foam ice chest. Deep in its heart, the ice chest dreamed of flying like the birds. Lo and behold the wizard of ARFs visited the ice chest’s village. The foam ice chest begged the wizard to let it fly. With a whoosh, a boom and a blinding flash of light, the ice chest was transformed into an electric 40-inch Tiger Moth model airplane that did indeed fly with the birds. However, the Tiger Moth’s skin still looked like the skin of an ice chest. It was soft, easily damaged and not very pretty. It could fly, but it was definitely an ugly duckling. Enter Tony Albence, an artist from the land of Delaware, here in the US of A. Tony has been using a process with only common modeling supplies that transforms such foam models. Here is how he helped the pitted, ugly duckling become a durable, smooth-surfaced swan.

Just a few years ago, LiPo cells and packs without balancing connectors were available. If you own any of these early birds and want to bring them into long-term service by adding a balancing connector, this article is for you. Although most of today's packs typically have balancing connectors (admittedly, with different form factors), a number of companies still offer individual cells without such connectors.

Why not fly radio control planes when you are away for work? If you enjoy model planes and occasionally have to travel for work, keep reading.

RTF planes are great for introducing new folks to the hobby, but as a former hobby shop employee, I’ve heard several folks comment on how if they somehow crashed a plane like Hangar 9’s P.T.S. P-51 Mustang, they’d have to throw it away and get a new plane. In hopes of combating the thought that an easy-flying plane like the Hangar 9 P.T.S. Mustang would be destined for the trash bin after a crash, I decided to show the rebuild ofmy own crashed Mustang from a first-timer’s perspective.

FlyRC Issue 78 May 2010 $6.99 FLY RC PRODUCT REVIEW by Thayer Syme RELATED REVIEW: JR X9303 Radio System JR’s NEW X9503 Updating An Old Favorite THE OLD GAURD The JR 9303 line has been a cornerstone of …

Many people often think of one word when they talk about racing: expensive. It’s a common misconception that one should overcome, because when you think of racing, it should be FUN!

To run properly, 2-stroke engines rely on perfect sealing in critical areas. In an ideal world, gaskets would not be needed. With two perfectly machined mating surfaces—much like the old Dick McCoy engines of the ’50s—a gasket isn’t even necessary. But most manufacturers use gaskets to guarantee a leak-free, airtight seal.