Product Spotlight
New products that are Worth a Closer Look
CHAIR-PAK
A comfortable chair is normally one of the items that we take with us for a day of flying. Whether we use it to relax between flights or actually fly while seated, it’s often a part of our gear that receives little thought or attention. The Chair-Pak, brought to you by Chair-Pak Company, LLC, is likely to change that, especially if you are looking for the convenience of a backpack and chair combined.
Chair-Pak began with an idea that creator Les Ammann had when he witnessed a bicycle crash. The accident was caused by the riders trying to carry bags and folding chairs to the beach. Les began creating what would become the Chair-Pak.
It features four zippered pockets, padded shoulder straps, an adjustable/removable sternum cross strap, built in carabiners, side cinch straps, water bottle holders, and a soft, removable cooler. It’s constructed from top-quality, water-resistant canvas featuring high-grade, lightweight aircraft aluminum.
One of the nicest features of the Chair-Pak is how quickly it goes from a backpack to a chair and back again. Simply move the two shoulder straps out of the way and lift up on the elastic leg band and the chair folds out. It can be folded and ready for transport just as quickly. After you have done it a couple of times, you will be able to unfold and fold it in a few seconds.
Your back relaxes against the backpack—much as it does when you’re wearing it—and the Chair-Pak’s contents are all easily accessible. The chair is
REVIEW
reasonably comfortable and sturdy, and the height of the seat can be easily adjusted.
The Chair-Pak can effortlessly carry your lunch in the included cooler, a couple of drinks in the outside pockets, as well as some gear within the backpack. It has proven popular with anyone looking for a versatile outdoor chair/backpack solution. Photos on the company’s website show it being used for many diverse purposes and events. Beyond the flying field, mine is proving useful for outdoor concerts.
The Chair-Pak weighs 7 pounds and the chair is built to support up to 230 pounds. It is available in Granite Black, Midnight Blue, and All-Purpose Camo. The Chair-Pak retails for $99 and can be purchased from the company’s website.
Chair-Pak is also looking at additional ways to make the backpack/chair provide even more benefit to its users by sharing add-on ideas via its website. As soon as 50 or more followers (via emails) per add-on idea are received, the company will move with that feature and get that Chair-Pak add-on to you and on the market.
Currently there are three available add-on options: Solar Charger, FPV Drone Pak, and Sun Shade. The FPV Drone Pak will be available by the end of the year and is an insert that will allow you to pack, carry, protect, and even repair your expensive gear wherever you are. It is a carefully thought-out felt/Velcro insert system that slips into Chair-Pak’s main compartment. It has hard outer walls with cushioned adjustable inner walls, allowing for various configurations. The foam dividers hug the goggles, batteries, antennas, and other necessary gear for the journey.
Two centered, rigid, stiff support walls surround the drone and keep both it and your gear protected from getting crushed. The FPV Drone Pak also comes with a foam radio wrap to protect your radio and its sticks, which fits into Chair-Pak’s designated outer zipper pocket.
For additional carrying capacity, the add-on even comes with a cross-strapping system to easily mount a second backup drone externally to the outside of the Chair-Pak.
Chair-Pak Company, LLC.: 215 Burlwood Dr., Scotts Valley CA 95066; website: www.chairpak.com
Blade Trio 360 CFX BNF Basic @ $599.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby, 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.bladehelis.com
The three-blade cousin to the popular Blade 360 CFX helicopter, the Trio 360 CFX heli provides exceptional out-of-the-box responsiveness and unmatched power. Fully assembled, the Trio 360 has optimized servo geometry and a lightweight design, allowing the power system to provide excellent performance with precise control.
Constructed with CNC aluminum and carbon-fiber parts, the Trio 360 CFX features an oversize, hardened main shaft with triple ball-bearing support, a durable belt-driven tail design, a powerful 6S LiPo battery motor drive with silent helical gears, and all-metal mechanics with rigid dampening. A Castle Creations Talon 35 high-voltage ESC, Spektrum AR7210BX flybarless controller with BEASTX technology, and carbon-fiber blades are included. A six-channel programmable transmitter with Spektrum DSMX/DSM2 technology, 1,300 mAh 6S 22.2-volt LiPo battery, and battery charger are required to complete the Trio 360 CFX.
AXI 3D Extreme Outrunner Brushless Motors with Integrated Telemetry @ $225-$265 + S&H from Esprit Tech, Box 360815, Melbourne FL 32936; Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website: www.espritmodel.com
Esprit Tech is excited to announce the addition of 3D Extreme Outrunner Brushless Motors with Telemetry to the AXI lineup of motors. AXI engineers developed this new line with hardened steel shafts, built-in propeller adapters, integrated cooling fans, and preinstalled Jeti telemetry sensors to represent the highest level of quality. Three versions are available: the 90 5320-370 is for Sport .60-size, Pattern .60 to .090-size and Aerobatic/3-D .90-size aircraft; the 5330-197 is for Aerobatics/3-D and Aerobatics 120 to 150 size; and the 5330-235 is for F3A Pattern, Scale/Aerobatics 180, and Aerobatics/3-D 180 to 240-size airplanes.
Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye EP 71-Inch ARF @ $309.99 + S&H from Maxford USA, 15939 Illinois Ave., #B-C, Paramount, CA 90723; Tel.: (562) 529-3988; website: www.maxfordusa.com
An all-weather, carrier-capable, tactical airborne early-warning aircraft, the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye was designed and developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the U.S. Navy. It was later upgraded to the E-2B and E-2C, with changes made to the radar and radio communications. Maxford USA’s 71-inch wingspan version of the E-2C is based on the full-scale VAW-125 Tigertail that was aboard the USS John F. Kennedy.
The Maxford E-2C’s wing can be folded back and locked onto the horizontal stabilizer for easy transportation. The aircraft features a true-to-scale antenna disk and comes with fixed landing gear; optional electric retract landing gear is available.
Designed for electric power, the E-2C can be converted to glow power. A minimum four-channel radio system and six servos are required.
Two brushless motors at a minimum of 400 watts, two 60-amp ESCs, and two LiPo batteries are recommended for the power system, as well as two 12 x 6 two-blade or 11 x 7 four-blade propellers. An instructional video is available on Maxford USA’s YouTube channel.
RDX1 AC/DC Battery Charger/Discharger @ $59.99 + S&H from Hitec RCD, 12115 Paine St., Poway CA 92064; Tel.: (858) 748-6948; website: www.hitecrcd.com
Hitec’s RDX1 is an AC/DC ultra-performance, microprocessor-controlled battery charger and discharger with management features that are suitable for all popular chemistries. The sleek tower design has balancing and temperature sensor ports on the front for plug-in convenience, as well as a USB link, USB 5VDC 2.1-amp port, and 4mm battery sockets.
The 60-watt RDX1 features a 10-battery memory, a 3.2-inch easy-to-read LCD screen, and uses Hitec’s Charge Master software, allowing the unparalleled ability to operate the charger through a computer.
Tactic DroneView 1080p High-Definition Wi-Fi Camera @ $139.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Ste. #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 637-7660; website: www.tacticrc.com
Tactic’s new DroneView 1080p HD Wi-Fi camera makes it easy to shoot FPV video in high definition! Ideal for use with RC aircraft, this affordably priced, small, lightweight FPV camera shoots 1080p high-definition video and still photos. Downloading the free DroneView app enables you to link your mobile device to the camera and instantly view a live feed, record video, and shoot still photos in real time. Important camera features can be adjusted from the app as well. A receiver extension for remote function is included; a receiver and memory card are required.
Opale Hybrid 3.0 Wing Paraglider @ $489 + S&H from Esprit Tech, Box 360815, Melbourne FL 32936; Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website: www.espritmodel.com
Following in the footsteps of the successful Hybrid 1.8 paraglider wing, the new Hybrid 3.0, available from Esprit Tech, is sure to be a favorite.
It features hybrid construction with single and double skin, and at slightly more than 4 feet across, the RC Hybrid 3.0 is easy to inflate and launch. It easily flies in strong turbulence or high wind conditions and offers high flying speed. The aspect ratio has been increased to give a better penetrating wing, but it retains the stability that the Hybrid series is known for. Actively controlled by the pilot, the Hybrid 3.0 does not require years of experience to enjoy; it’s stable enough for a beginner to fly, but will also keep an expert pilot thrilled.
Flyzone Rapide Brushless Glider Rx-R @ $219.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Ste. #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 637-7660; website: www.flyzoneplanes.com
If you’ve mastered glider basics as an intermediate pilot and you’re ready for new excitement, look no further than the Flyzone Rapide Brushless Glider Rx-R. Gentle and predictable, it’s ready for a relaxing day of Soaring or pushing the limits of performance and flying skill.
Durable and lightweight, the Rapide has a molded AeroCell airframe with carbon-fiber and fiberglass reinforcements, and a full-flying stabilizer to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics. A 35-41-950 Kv brushless motor, 40-amp brushless ESC, four micro servos, and a 13.5 x 7 folding propeller are all included.
The Rapide requires a four-plus channel radio, 3S 2,200 mAh LiPo battery, and a balancing charger.
FPV Manta BNF Basic Wing @ $419.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby, 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.bladehelis.com
Blade’s FPV Manta aircraft combines tailless aircraft performance with FPV excitement, connecting the immersive action of FPV with an easy-to-fly, high-performance aircraft. Immersion RC initiated bringing the race wing to the Blade development experts to deliver user-friendly performance. The result is an airplane that can soar with the birds for sport, or race through gates at 90 mph.
Made from Z-Foam and carbon-fiber reinforcement, the Manta has fully-integrated FPV electronics, including digital servos, AS3X stabilization, and a Castle Creations Talon 35 ESC, as well as a brushless Blade 1,800 Kv outrunner power system. BNF technology means it has the convenience of an RTF airplane but without the extra transmitter, while SAFE Select offers optional flight envelope protection.
The Manta also includes a high-resolution 700TVL CMOS camera with a wide-angle lens, and an FPV-ready system that is Fat Shark 5.8 GHz headset compatible (headset and/or FPV monitor sold separately). A full-range, five-plus-channel, multifunction transmitter with Spektrum 2.4 GHz DSM2/DSMX technology, and a 3S or 4S 1,300-2,200 mAh LiPo battery with XT60 connector are required to make the Manta a winning experience.
