Product Spotlight
New products that are Worth a Closer Look
AERONAUT BOOKS
Anyone with an interest in World War I aviation and books about the subject is probably aware of Aeronaut Books, which was started in 2010 by Jack Harris, who previously founded and owned Flying Machines Press.
Jack Harris has a long history with aviation. His parents began dating while carpooling to North American Aviation, where they both worked during World War II. Jack’s father built P-51s, including parts for the first P-51 Mustang ever built, and his mother built B-25s.
In 1971, Jack graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics and astronautics. He then served as a naval aviator, flying P-3B Orion aircraft with Patrol Squadron 46. After leaving the Navy, he worked in the laser fusion program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and then worked in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. He holds CFI, CFI-I, CFI-ME, ATP, and Learjet-type ratings.
Jack is a longtime member of the League of WWI Aviation Historians, and before that he was a member of the Cross & Cockade International. He has written more than a dozen articles about World War I aircraft published in the League of WW I Aviation Historians’ quarterly journal, Over the Front, and edited several issues of the publication. He has also written more than 30 magazine articles, bringing insight into these aircraft, both from his aeronautical engineering and military flying experience.
Aeronaut Books works with many WW I aviation authors to share stories of the pilots, aircraft, and units of the Great War. Beyond working with current authors, Aeronaut also looks to republish books that have not been published in the US.
One way this is possible is by using Print on Demand (POD), which allows the company to bring books to market that could not have been published if printed conventionally, because of a relatively small print run. Aeronaut Books works with CreateSpace, a company owned by Amazon, as its POD vendor. The advantage is that books published by Aeronaut Books are automatically listed on Amazon in the US, United Kingdom, and Europe.
Although many of the books printed by Aeronaut are standalone editions, collaboration with author Lance Bronnenkant has brought to fruition an ongoing series of titles: The Blue Max Airmen. Each aviator who was awarded the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) is or will be covered in the order in which the Pour le Mérite was awarded, so the complete story can be told in context. Each biography is related in terms of the man, his aircraft, and his service. To date, eight volumes have been released. The fourth one was reviewed in the July 2014 issue of Model Aviation on page 14.
Grim Reapers: French Escadrille 94 in World War I is a recent release that was available at the Aeronaut Books booth at the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous in Dayton, Ohio. Written by noted aviation historian Jon Guttman, this book describes and illustrates the combat history of French
Escadrille 94 in WW I. The 94-page publication provides an impressive 105 photos (eight in color) and 16 color profiles. The color profiles, while likely provided for plastic model builders, also provide a nice resource for those looking for scale documentation.
For readers unfamiliar with the French Escadrille 94, the author provides the following insight in the book’s forward: “Escadrille 94 was neither the highest nor lowest scoring of France’s fighter squadrons, but it made a significant contribution to the Allied victory and boasted several aces in its ranks, as well as several American volunteers who were farmed out through the Lafayette Flying Corps.”
One thing that makes the book quite interesting is that the author had firsthand contact with one of the famed aces from French Escadrille 94, when he traveled to Paris in the 1970s.
As part of the appendix, the book also includes a list of pilots known to have flown with Escadrille 94, a list of credited victories made by the pilots, and references.
To find out more about Aeronaut Books and its list of titles, visit the company’s website, or Amazon, where the books can be purchased.
Aeronaut Books: Box 610253 San Jose, CA 95161; Tel.: (408) 398-1980; website: www.aeronautbooks.com
RDX1 AC/DC BATTERY CHARGER/DISCHARGER
Hitec is quickly becoming a standard in the world of powerful, yet affordable, battery chargers. The RDX1 is another addition to an already versatile lineup of AC/DC units.
In the box, Hitec provides everything needed to get started right away. You’ll find an AC power cord, a balance board, an XT60 charging cable, and an 18 AWG charging cable to which you can solder any connector of your choice.
The first thing I noticed on the RDX1 itself was its footprint. It uses a tower design to take up as little space on your bench as possible. If you want to pack it away in your flight bag to take to the field, it’s easy to find space to do so. The dimensions listed in its specifications are 159 x 72.5 x 123mm and it weighs 470 grams, making it one of the most portable, full-featured chargers around.
The small size and weight are nice, but only if the charger does the job that you need it to do. For its size, the RDX1 really has some power. It uses 60 watts of power at up to 6 amps, and it can handle eight types of batteries including LiPo, LiFe, NiMH, and NiCd. You’ll find few jobs that can’t be handled by this unit. It even offers a 5-volt/2.1-amp USB port on the front to charge your mobile devices!
One thing missing from the RDX1 that is found on many chargers on the market is a touchscreen. However, at this price, it seems like an easy thing to give up for affordability.
The charger utilizes a four-button interface that took little time to become accustomed to. The menu system offers 10 presets ready to go for your various charging needs. Each type of battery offers a number of different charging modes. For example, lithium-based batteries are offered five modes: standard charge, discharge, storage, fast charge, and balance charge.
I stuck with balance charging my LiPo batteries. The charging process was easy and familiar. The RDX1 offers a cell count check before you’re allowed to begin charging. For example, if your charge setup is set for three cells, but you’ve plugged in a four-cell battery, you will be presented with a screen before charging begins that shows you that these settings do not match. It’s an easy way to prevent a potential problem.
After you’ve begun charging, you are
presented with the standard information you need to make sure your battery is charging correctly. It was readily apparent from the onscreen menus, but you do have the ability to monitor each individual cell during charging by pressing the Start button during the charge. This will present you with a screen displaying each cell’s voltage. After the battery is fully charged, a chime notifies you that the job is complete.
Another feature that Hitec has included in this charger is the ability to plug into the company’s Charge Master software. For those unfamiliar, it offers the ability to operate, modify, and monitor your charger through your PC. This is truly a data cruncher’s dream, because you can see real-time data of your charge and intimately know the health of your battery packs each time you plug in.
You can also update the firmware via this software. A micro USB to standard USB cable is needed and not provided with the package, and the software is only available for Windows users.
Overall, the Hitec RDX1 is a reliable, compact, and full-featured charger that retails for $59.99.
Hitec RCD: 12115 Paine St., Poway CA 92064; Tel.: (858) 748-6948; website: www.hitecrcd.com
Factor 3D 30cc/EP ARF @ $349.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Ste. #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 637-7660; website: www.greatplanes.com
The original Great Planes Factor 3D that was released in 2013 had a 38-inch wingspan and quickly gained popularity as an affordable park flyer with an unlimited performance envelope. The new Factor 3D 30cc EP/Sport airplane offers that same performance, but with the added stability and visibility of a 70-inch wingspan.
Whether powered by a 30cc to 35cc gas engine or a 63-62-250 Kv brushless outrunner motor, 80-amp ESC, and two 5S 18.5-volt 5,000 mAh LiPo batteries, the Factor 3D 30cc is prebuilt using traditional and cutting-edge construction materials. The two-piece wing slides onto a lightweight carbon-fiber wing tube for easy installation, removal, and storage, while the large, removable hatch gives easy access to radio gear and batteries. The pull-pull rudder setup offers lighter weight and better geometry and performance, while separate aileron and elevator servos allow for more custom-mix options and fine-tuning.
The included aluminum spinner, fiberglass wheel pants, and cowl are color matched to the MonoKote covering. A four- to seven-channel radio with a minimum of five high-torque servos is required. Two additional standard servos are needed when using gas power.
Blade Conspiracy 220 BNF Basic FPV Racing Quadcopter @ $349.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby, 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.bladehelis.com
If you’re looking for an expertly tuned, pro-class FPV racer with out-of-the-box performance, look no further than the Blade Conspiracy 220 BNF Basic FPV Racer.
The Conspiracy has a 4mm-thick carbon-fiber main frame that delivers lightweight durability and helps take the stress out of crashing. The Spektrum FC32 Rev 6 flight controller is preflashed with Cleanflight and professionally tuned, allowing a pilot to change flight characteristics, LED sequences, and more.
The Blade Conspiracy includes an onboard, race-ready 650 TVL FPV camera with an adjustable 0 to 45° tilt and powerful, low-latency 200-milliwatt Spektrum VTX video with an Omni antenna that is perfect for freestyle or racing. A GoPro mount is included for use with Hero3 or Hero4 video cameras.
Designed to use 1,300 mAh 4S LiPo racing batteries, the Conspiracy also requires a six-plus-channel Spektrum DSMX radio and compatible Fat Shark goggles.
Front Yard Fighter Cherokee 24 Kit @ $35-$60 + S&H from Sawn Craft, Tel.: (860) 712-1075; website: www.sawn-craft.com
Sawn Craft’s newest addition to its Front Yard Fighter lineup takes on general aviation! The Cherokee 24 combines the easy building qualities of an EPP foam kit with the profile of an infrequently modeled, but widely adored, private aircraft.
The Cherokee 24 kit contains all of the CNC and laser-cut parts, as well as name-brand hardware and carbon-fiber reinforcement. Tab-and-slot parts ensure perfect alignment for a straight-and-true build, while the scale profile and generous flight surfaces offer a wide flight envelope and the ability to enjoy gentle, slow passes or high-energy 3-D aerobatics.
A full electronics completion kit is sold separately. Kits are available unpainted or in a wide choice of colors.
Jeti SBEC 30 D EX with Telemetry and Integrated Telemetry Expander @ $89 + S&H from Esprit Tech/Model, Box 360815, Melbourne FL 32936; Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website: www.espritmodel.com
Modelers who use different radio systems can directly benefit from the Jeti SBEC 30 D EX switching regulator, which uses standalone telemetry with a JetiBox Profi and an R4US, R5US, R6US, R7-9-11US, or R14-18US receiver for current and capacity telemetry data.
The Jeti SBEC 30 D EX gives you exact data about servos regarding onboard radio system current and power consumption, helping to indirectly identify possible servo problems and giving you the opportunity to resolve issues before a catastrophic failure occurs. Live, onboard telemetry also has the advantage of allowing you to fine-tune the setup of multiple servo surfaces—out-of-sync servos fight each other and increase current consumption. It allows connections of one or two additional servos, then acts as an expander, sending its own telemetry to the receiver with the telemetry of the connected sensors.
The SBEC 30 D EX can also be configured as a sensor of logic levels; simply connect the limit switch between the signal wire and the ground and you can immediately know whether the switch is on or off.
DX6E 2.4 GHz Advanced Aircraft Radio System @ $179.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby, 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.spektrumrc.com
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. With the unbeatable response of DSMX technology and the simplicity of AirWare programming software, the Spektrum DX6e 2.4 GHz radio system is equipped with many features you won’t find on other budget radios.
Equipped with airplane, helicopter, sailplane, and multirotor programming, the DX6e has a 250-model memory, built-in telemetry, and cross-platform model sharing with other Spektrum transmitters. The wireless trainer link gives instructors the option to wirelessly buddy box with another DSMX/DSM2 transmitter, while ModelMatch technology allows the DX6e to relink without having to repeat the bind process.
The DX6e also features a patent-pending gimbal design with a spring configuration switch, allowing the user to change configurations simply by moving a slider switch on the back of the transmitter—no tools required.
The radio system includes an AR610 DSMX receiver and four AA batteries, and is EN328 compatible.
X-Con FPV Racing Frame @ $125 + S&H from Detroit Multirotor Company, Tel.: (313) 641-0117; website: www.detroitmultirotor.com
The Detroit Multirotor Company is pleased to introduce the new X-Con FPV racing frame—the first and only frame designed specifically for the new CONNEX ProSight FPV System.
The top plate of the X-Con frame is predrilled to allow the transmitter to be securely fastened to the underside. Ventilation slots at the mounting point offer added cooling. The top plate is also extra wide in the center for additional protection of components.
The square cutout at the front is designed to wrap around the CONNEX HD camera for an unobstructed view and added protection, while the extra-long camera mounts keep the camera within the confines of the frame.
The bottom plate is predrilled with mounting holes for the CONNEX ProSight transmitter antenna, and can accommodate other top-name brands of antennas.
Constructed from top-grade, hand-laid carbon fiber that is sourced and built in the US, the X-Con includes 4mm arms, 2mm top and bottom plates, low-profile 32mm metal standoffs, and accepts 5-inch propellers. The 3mm motor holes support 22XX motors.
Voyager RTF Electric-Powered Airplane @ $74.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Ste. #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 637-7660; website: www.dromida.com
Choosing the right airplane for your first step into the exciting world of RC is important. Dromida has it—the Voyager RTF Electric-Powered Airplane.
Ideal for beginners, the Voyager exhibits slow, docile flight characteristics and comes preassembled. Everything needed to get into the air is included. The Voyager’s four-channel 2.4 GHz radio delivers positive rudder, elevator, and throttle control and has digital trims for fine-tuning performance. A built-in charger is convenient for charging LiPo batteries. Details such as wheel pants, panel lines, and wing rib detail add scalelike realism.
Learn to fly the Voyager outdoors in calm conditions then take advantage of its compact size to fly indoors in an area such as a large gymnasium.
MG1 Multi-purpose Glider Kit and ARF @ $99.99-$144.99 + S&H from The World Models Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; website: www.theworldmodels.com
Are you looking for one airplane for all occasions? The World Models has it! The MG1 Multi-purpose Glider is available as a kit or an ARF, and comes with short wings with ailerons for Slope Soaring, and long wingtips to change it to a thermal glider. You can also add an electric power system to perform aerobatics with the short wings, or stable, thermal-seeking flight with the long wings.
If you’re looking to perform high-speed maneuvers, put a ducted-fan system onto the MG1 and push the limit. The long wingtips make the MG1 perfect for a stable aerial FPV platform with an unobstructed view.
A three-channel radio with two micro servos for long wings or a four-channel radio with four micro servos for short wings is required. A propeller power package, ducted-fan power package, and FPV starter kit are all available separately.
