Product Spotlight
New products that are Worth a Closer Look
SKS VIDEO: FLORIDA JETS
The roaring sound of jet engines once again filled the air at Lakeland Linder Airport in Lakeland, Florida, and SKS Productions takes you there with Florida Jets.
This DVD features flying from some of the fastest, most exciting, unique jets from all over the world, and gives you a look at the people who pilot them.
Among others, you’ll get to see a twin-turbine F-14 Tomcat flown by Bob Fiorenze and an A-4 Blue Angel flown by Timothy Len. Bob Pannell shows you around his scratch-built twin electric ducted-fan-powered DC-10 painted to match the UPS fleet.
It wasn’t all military and scale aircraft in Lakeland this year. You’ll get to see some experimental designs such as David Shulman’s Diamond jet. Its T-tail design and angular construction will make you wonder if you’re seeing something from the future.
Throughout the 93-minute presentation, you’ll also get to see onboard footage from a handful of aircraft. This perspective gives you an up-close and personal view of the talent that is on display at this event. You won’t want to miss this exciting look at the 2015 RC jet aircraft event of the year. The title is available in DVD and Blu-ray formats and is available at www.sksvideo.com and other online retailers.
SAE AERO DESIGN EAST COLLEGIATE DESIGN COMPETITION 2015
SKS Productions has also brought us a wonderful look at the 2015 SAE Aero Design East competition. For the first time, this event was held in Lakeland, Florida, at the Sun ’n Fun facility at the Lakeland Linder Airport. This collegiate design competition brought more than 70 teams from 58 universities and seven countries. You’ll get to hear the stories behind the team designs and what struggles they encountered, along with detailed specifications of many of the aircraft in the competition. Flight footage from each of the entries is also included—and in some instances, crash footage as well.
With three categories in the competition, you’ll get to see a wide range of aircraft, including everything from high-wing monoplanes to balsa micro gliders and even an all-carbon-fiber high-wing model that was brought from Poland.
The production’s runtime is 105 minutes, and every minute of it is full of interest as students show off their ingenuity and design skills to try to take home the top awards. The title is available in DVD and Blu-ray formats and is available at www.sksvideo.com and other online retailers.
SKS Video: 85 Pine Rd., Abbottstown PA 17301; Tel. (800) 988-6488; website: www.sksvideo.com
WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO COMPUTER BATTERY ANALYZER IV WITH AMPLIFIER
Greg Gimlick reviewed the West Mountain Radio Computer Battery Analyzer (CBA) IV with Amplifier for us. Here is what he had to say:
If you fly electrics, you already know that you have a lot of money tied up in batteries of various sizes and chemistries. I’ll admit that I’m a focused on keeping track of my packs and how they perform over time. I updated to the latest version of the CBA IV and added the extended software package to include the extra features.
The optional extended software license provides all of the features of the standard version, but adds four different types of tests: duty cycle, constant power, multiple discharge, and constant resistance. The results can be graphed as voltage versus amp hours, watt hours, minutes, or Ragone depending on the type of test. I also needed it to use the 500-watt amplifier.
I’ve lusted for this combo since I first saw it and I’m not disappointed in the decision to get one. This device allows me to accurately replicate the real-life applications where my batteries are used. That stated, testing at maximum ratings isn’t necessary to tell if a battery is good or bad.
A 1C discharge will tell you if the battery is meeting capacity specifications. That should be all you need to determine if you can continue to use a battery. Testing at maximum discharge ratings is only necessary to tell whether a battery is safe at those ratings, how much the cycle life is shortened, or if it will overheat and sustain damage or ignite. Caution is advised if using the amplifier and higher-than-recommended discharge levels.
All of this connects to my shop computer to track the packs, and even prints labels for each pack if desired. One of the beauties of this package is its ability to overlay new tests on old ones to get a perfect picture of how well they’ve stood up over time. It also allows me to have a constant current discharge unit that will ensure accurate and repeatable tests every time. This is the first discharge device I’ve seen that guarantees accuracy and log data for future reference.
As always, you should never leave a battery pack unattended while it is being tested. The CBA IV and its software have many built-in safety features, but caution is key. If your computer is set to go to sleep, or for some reason it crashes, the CBA IV will automatically terminate the test and shut down to avoid any errors.
I highly recommend the CBA IV for anyone remotely interested in how their usage affects their battery packs. It has allowed me to identify packs more suited for less-strenuous applications and continue using them rather than lose an airplane or helicopter because I didn’t notice the gradual decline in one cell. Think of the CBA IV as good insurance for your aircraft.
West Mountain Radio: 1020 Spring City Dr., Waukesha WI 53186; Tel.: (262) 522-6503; website: www.westmountainradio.com
CBA IV SPECIFICATIONS:
Computerized Battery Analyzer
One model for all testing ranges
Maximum continuous discharge rate: 100 watts
Maximum limited term discharge rate with more than 3,500 mAh battery: 125 watts
Maximum limited term discharge rate with more than 1,000 mAh battery: 150 watts
0- to 3-amp accuracy: typically better than +/-10 mA
3- to 40-amp accuracy: typically better than +/-45 mA
0- to 5-volt accuracy: typically better than +/- .005 volt
5- to 15-volt accuracy: typically better than +/- .01 volt
10- to 60-volt accuracy: typically better than +/- .05 volt
Maximum operating voltage: 55 volts (48-volt lead-acid telecom supported)
Maximum discharge rate: 40 amps (battery dependent, 100-watt continuous)
Minimum discharge voltage to maintain 30 amps: .9 volt (battery dependent)
Minimum voltage for a 40-amp discharge: 2 volts at completion of test (battery dependent)
Minimum discharge rate: 0.01 amps
Residual current drain, battery connected while not in use: More than .003 amps at 12 volts
High-performance micro controller with built-in USB interface and 12-bit A/D conversion
USB powered; the CBA does not use the battery being tested to run the CBA or the fan
System ready and test in progress LED indicators, viewable from across a room
CBA internal over-temperature sensing and protection
Graph printing on any standard color or black and white printer
Battery test label printing on standard 05160 stick-on labels
Dimensions in inches: 3.5 high x 2.8 wide x 3.6 deep
Weight: 16 ounces
CBA A2 500W Amplifier
Maximum continuous discharge rate: 500 watts
Discharge rate amplification typically: 10X +/-1%
Absolute maximum operating voltage: 55 volts
Maximum discharge rate: 160 amps (3.12 volts at test start; battery dependent)
Minimum voltage for a 160-amp discharge: .9 volt at completion of test (battery dependent)
Supplied with copper bus 5/16 bronze-bolt battery connections and plug-in Powerpole CBA connector
On/off/bypass switch, on, and over-temperature LED indicators viewable from across a room
Automatic fan operation senses 1 amp or more current from the CBA. Stays on approximately 5 minutes after test completion
Dimensions in inches: 5.5 high x 6.25 wide x 13.75 deep
Weight: 134 ounces
Device Manager Adapter for XF UAS ESC Series @ $17.95 + S&H from KDE Direct, email: sales@kdedirect.com; website: www.kdedirect.com
The new KDE Direct Device Manager Adapter makes it easy to update all KDE Direct XF UAS ESCs to the latest production firmware releases and to customize advanced options for multiple applications.
Using the adapter and included mini-USB-to-USB connection cable, a wide range of new control algorithm technologies can be programmed, such as brushless motor startup power, drive frequency, synchronous rectification, regenerative braking, temperature control, voltage cutoffs, and other features. After firmware updates, optimized settings will automatically be applied to the ESCs, with no additional changes needed for correct operation with the KDE Direct XF Brushless Motors for UAS and multirotor applications.
The adapter is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1. For use with Apple, an emulation system such as Boot Camp, or Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is required. Instruction manual, software download, and firmware download links are available on the KDE Direct website.
Booma RC Pin Flag with Hidden Dual Battery Redundancy Switch @ $41.45 + S&H from RedwingRC, Tel.: (636) 675-0047; website: www.redwingrc.com
RedwingRC is now offering one cool switch in the form of the Booma RC Pin Flag with Hidden Dual Battery Redundancy Switch. Complete dual-battery balancing and redundancy with a small footprint is featured, as well as safety, preventing connected components from receiving power until the pin flag is removed. If one battery fails, the other battery takes full control.
The switch works with any single- or dual-battery system and is compatible with battery voltage ranges of 2.5 to 28 volts as well all battery chemistries. The bright blue LED can be discretely mounted on your model, while the included Pin Flag controls the internally mounted switch and battery redundancy circuit. All you’ll see on the outside of your model is the 3mm Pin Flag socket and the LED, if required.
Available as standard with JR in/out, Futaba in/out, Ultra in/out, and Ultra in/JR out combinations, the Pin Flag package includes the Pin Flag switch with mounting hardware, the bright blue LED with mounting hardware, a dual battery balancing power switch, circuit, and two sets of input and output connectors of your choice.
Emcotec PowerSmoke 740 HV Smoke Pump @ $189 + S&H from Esprit Model, 1240 Clearmont St. NE #12, Palm Bay FL 32905; Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website: www.espritmodel.com
The new Emcotec PowerSmoke 740 Head Valve (HV) Smoke Pump is designed to streamline and simplify the process of pumping the smoke liquid in your aircraft, taking advantage of a fully enclosed design and metal gear durability.
The smoke pump easily installs inside the fuselage or engine cowl and is leakproof. It also comes with an integrated back pressure valve.
With programmable control management, the PowerSmoke 740 HV is capable of handling 7.4-volt 2S or 11.1-volt 3S LiPo battery packs and includes retaining clamps, a T-adapter, and installation hardware. Esprit recommends adding an electromagnetic cutoff valve for clean and safe installation. Turning on the PowerSmoke pump opens the cutoff valve, and turning off the pump closes it. An instruction manual in PDF format is available on the Esprit Model website.
Miss America 1/2 @ $86 + S&H from BMJR Models, Box 1210, Sharpes FL 32959; Tel.: (321) 537-1159; website: www.bjmrmodels.com
In the late 1950s, after John Pond and Joe Wagner discussed a new event for scaled-down versions of “antique” gas models powered by Cox .020 engines, the 020 Replica event was born. Joe designed a 42-inch wingspan Miss America for the event, and the design was later published in a 1960 Model Airplane News.
BMJR’s laser-cut Miss America 1/2 kit was developed from 1959 original hand-drawn plans provided by Joe. True to the original model, it features subtle changes to the rudder, elevator, structure for RC control, and a simplified landing gear mounting.
Miss America 1/2 can be powered with a Texaco .049 engine or as an electric with a 100-watt motor, and is perfect for the Texaco Speed 400 event.
Hitec Flash 8 Eight-Channel 2.4 GHz Aircraft Computer Radio @ $259.99-$299.99 + S&H from Hitec RCD, 12115 Paine St., Poway CA 92064; Tel.: (858) 748-6948; website: www.hitecrcd.com
Hitec’s radio line continues to impress with the introduction of the Flash 8 eight-channel 2.4 GHz aircraft computer radio! Delivering commanding reliability through expanded performance features and outstanding quick response, the Flash 8 uses built-in AFHSS technology to provide latency, precise resolution, and Secure Link compatibility.
The Flash 8 has a 30-model memory, 10-character model naming, and acro/glider/helicopter programming. Other features include a digital push-button power switch, a push-button and jog-dial programming interface, and telemetry capabilities.
With an easy-to-read graphic backlit LCD screen and easy-to-change stick modes, the Flash 8 is available in three ways: with a Maxima 9 receiver, with an Optima 9 receiver, or as the transmitter only. All three options include a 1,400 mAh LiFe transmitter battery and charger.
O.S. Engines GGT10 Gasoline Engine @ $319.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Ste. #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (217) 398-8970; website: www.osengines.com
If you want the convenience of gasoline power for your .40-size airplane, look no further than the new O.S. Engines GGT10. A glow plug ignition makes this engine easy to start and reduces the overall weight by eliminating the ignition module. Using unleaded gas in a 50:1 gasoline/oil blend makes this a welcome and affordable addition to your fleet of aircraft.
With a PD-08 pump regulating fuel flow for consistent delivery throughout the flight, and a tough Tygon fuel line in between the pump and the carburetor using an inline filter to remove impurities, the GGT10 can be retrofitted in the same space with the same mount size as the 46AX and 55AX glow engines. The PowerBoost pipe improves performance at idle, full-throttle, and all points in between.
With a forged steel conrod featuring needle bearings at the bottom, the GGT10 gasoline engine includes the muffler-mounting hardware, drive hub, and propeller nut and washer.
Seagull Models Van’s RV-8 Diamond Di ARF @ $291.50 + S&H from Sig Manufacturing Co., Inc., 401 S. Front St., Box 520, Montezuma IA 50171; Tel.: (641) 623-5154; website: www.sig mfg.com
Airplane designer Richard VanGrunsven has dominated the homebuilt aircraft industry with his all-aluminum, low-wing RV airplanes for more than 40 years. The RV-8 is his latest design. It climbs well, lands slowly, and flies fast.
Seagull Models introduces a 20cc-size RV-8 that inherits all of the flying qualities of the full-scale airplane. Responsive, agile, and capable of basic aerobatic maneuvers, the RV-8 model is conventionally built using balsa and plywood. All major components are factory built and finished. Its modern construction uses CAD design and laser-cut parts.
The RV-8 is covered with UltraCote, has a painted fiberglass cowling and wheel pants, detailed cockpit with a hand-painted pilot, and bears the color scheme of N9699D Diamond Di. It features operational flaps, a two-piece plug-in wing, a strong aluminum wing joiner tube, and dual elevator servos.
The Seagull Models RV-8 is ready for gas, glow, or electric power, and requires a six-channel radio with eight standard servos.
