Prior to taking the RC micro Albatross out for a spin, my “micro” flying experience was limited to Airhogs airplanes (which do have their place and are fine products). I am greatly impressed with the Micro Albatross (find it here).

Everything needed is included in the box, even batteries for the transmitter (2.4 GHz and doubles as a charging station). No assembly required unless you want to add the pilot figure and scale machine guns (I opted not to include these initially). I installed the batteries in the radio and plugged in the 3.7v 130 Mah battery and after about 20 minutes I was ready to go.

Bad news. A bit windy when I hit one of my favorite flying fields (a local elementary school). I had always been warned that the micro aircraft needed very light wind conditions to fly so I opted not to fly the micro that day.
The next day was quite windy, and the next after that too. I really wanted to take the Albatross up to see how it would perform but the weather was not cooperating.

I was determined to give it a go. Even though the winds were 5 to 10 I had waited long enough. If I crashed, so be it! I waited for the wind to die down a bit and placed the Albatross facing into the wind and fed it power. After a short (few feet) run I gave it up elevator and took to the sky. Fortunately, the wind stayed light for the first few minutes of flight so I could get a feel for the controls (very responsive – as with most RC airplanes, a light touch on the controls is preferable). The the wind kicked back up a notch.

I flew the Albatross into the wind and played with the throttle setting. There was the Albatross stationary in the air – just enough throttle to offset the wind. Very cool. Lower the throttle setting and turn to fly with the wind – the bird was really moving with the tail wind even at low throttle setting. Start a turn back into the wind and throttle up; this thing can handle some decent wind!

Later flights were in less windy conditions. Flight times are good. Loops are doable, but mostly this is gentle flying just for fun. Several touch and goes which were very easy – this is a very responsive little 3 channel model.

Over all, the cost is good ($80), it flies well and is fairly durable (see below)

On the down side, there are a couple weak points; the landing gear is attached to the fuselage at four points with a little glue (more would be nice) and the upper wing has four points of attachment to the fuselage as well that could be reinforced. The trim settings don’t quite put the Albatross into a neutral flight setting. I found myself applying slight down elevator and right rudder at all times to maintain straight flight even with trim set at maximum to offset the tendency to climb and turn left.

Still, flying the Albatross is quite enjoyable and rivals many of its larger cousins. A big plus is that the Albatross does not require much space to fly, many back/front yards would be enough to enjoy an after work flight.

Original post by Xjet on YouTube.

Be sure to check out their site here

More of the story can be found here The Spitfires are to be dug up (buried 40ft below ground) and returned to England after 67 years!

This is a tremendous find. There are only around 35 Spitfires flying today. If any of those found can be restored to flying condition (given that they were buried in their original shipping containers and never unpacked that could very well be the case), warbird enthusiasts will be truly pleased.

Here is a Spitfire that is availalbe at RTF Skymasters:

RC airplanes that are electrically powered have several advantages over nitro RC planes.. They are clean running, make very little noise and are easier to operate than Nitro RC airplanes. There are some that insist that the sound of a nitro powered airplane add to the experience – and for them that may be true, but the restrictions on where you can fly do exist. Electric aircraft don’t require messy fuel, glow plugs or engine adjustments. Just charge your batteries, connect the wires properly and your electric RC plane will work without hassle.

An argument has been made that flight times for nitro powered aircraft are longer. On a per flight basis, there is truth there, but having an extra battery or two can give an electric powered airplane plenty of flight time and only need to be purchased once where fuel must be purchased on an ongoing basis.

Hobby Zone Super Mini Cub – ~32″ wing span. Find out more here

Hobby Zone Champ – 20″ wing span. Find out more here

Parkzone Micro J3 Cub – 18″ wing span. Find out more here

Parkzone Ultra-micro T28 Trojan – 16.8″ wingspan. Find out more here

PArkzone Ultra-micro F4U Corsair – 15.9″ wing span. Find out more here

Special pricing at RTF Skymasters until April 30, 2012 on this RC airplane – look here

With family and other work considerations, it had been a while since my last flight. Conditions were finally favorable in both weather and the pull of other commitments to get in a flight. This time it was the J3 starter (3 channel, 380 motor, 37” wingspan, 28” length).

Very easy to install the battery. The compartment is just the right size so that battery placement is assured and center of gravity is maintained. The throws were set in the mid-range at both ends of the push rods. Tested the rudder and elevator to make sure there was free movement. Ran up the motor (need to push a button on the side of the fuselage to activate the motor – no accidentally hitting the throttle on the transmitter and getting a wrist full of spinning propeller!). Everything checks out.

Set the cub up facing the wind at my second favorite elementary school airfield (just because it is closer to home) and begin taxiing. Hmmm. Small problem. It appears that one of the wheels is not moving as freely as the other, so the cub taxis in a circle. Clean that up (dirt from having set the cub down on my lawn for some pictures). OK – ready to go again!

Throttle up – the cub needs very little “runway” (parking lot) to get airborne. The elevator was trimmed for take off and quickly reaches 40ft altitude. Back off on the elevator for neutral flight and start some gentle turns. The 380 motor is working well and not much stick is needed to change the flight path. Flew some circles to the left and right and did some climbs and dives – very responsive to the inputs.

The cub is handling the wind well (up to around 10mph this day) and flying at half throttle is quite relaxing. After flying for about 12 minutes this battery is about done. The motor turns off (rudder & elevator control does function) when the cub is about 30ft up. Wow, this thing has great glide characteristics. It barely descends even going with the wind setting up for a landing into the wind. Do the last left turn to line up with the parking lot and set it down nice and easy.

Unfortunately, forgot to bring along the other batteries that had been charged up that morning, so the flying was over. It was quite enjoyable – too bad the weather is supposed to be very windy and rainy for the next several days. Can’t wait to take it up again, this time with the extra batteries along.

The J3 starter is highly recommended as an airplane to learn RC flying with.

Happy Flying!

Check the following for sWARm Spring 2012: click here

There are many true “beginner” airplanes out on the market today. They are usually electric power gliders, slowflyers, or parkflyers. These beginner airplanes are such good models that most of them are not even bought by first-time flyers but by long-time expert flyers! By following these simple instructions, you will learn to fly a RC airplane in no time!

* Understand how a plane flies. By understanding how a plane flies you will have greater control over your plane. When the wing moves forward the air lifts it up. If it moves too slowly, it won’t lift and it will fall right out of the air. It therefore needs speed, which will come from either a motor and propeller, or by descending and gliding. All the time that the wing is moving forward it is lifting, no matter what position it is in. It can be upside down, in a turn, inverted, or doing acrobatics, and there is always a lift from the wing even though the lift might not be straight up as it is when the plane is in flight. The airplane is able to make a turn by tilting in the direction of the turn, so that some of the wing lift is angled either partly to the left or partly to the right depending on the direction of the turn. To turn the plane, you tilt the wings with the ailerons or with the rudder, in the direction that you want the airplane to turn. To make the airplane will go up, you give the up command to the elevator. The elevator surface angles up, and the air that’s hitting it blows the tail down and the nose up. As the airplane goes up it slows down. If it goes too slow then the lift stops and the airplane falls-it will stall.

* Turning a RC airplane is very different than turning a RC car or a RC boat. When you tilt the airplane’s wing in the direction that you want it to go, the airplane will continue to tilt as long as the wing is still angled in that direction.. To stop the airplane from turning, you move the control stick in the opposite direction from the turn so that the wings will level out. If you let go of the control stick, the airplane should automatically come back to a level flight. * * Make sure to check the following things before each flight.

* Choose a large flying field for your flight. Don’t try to fly in your street or in another small enclosed area, even if your airplane is capable of flying in such a restricted place. You will need a large open, airy place for your first flights.

* Hand launching your airplane. If you hand launch your airplane, make sure to throw it straight ahead not up, and throw it hard. In to the wind is best.

* Taking off from a ground roll. If you take off from a ground roll, the airplane needs to build up speed before you signal “up” elevator, in order that you know that the airplane has enough speed to fly. When it actually takes off and leaves the ground try to climb at a very small angle, not abruptly, because that may cause a loss of airspeed and a stalled plane.

* Don’t climb too steeply. Give very little “up” elevator as you begin takeoff. Many beginners try to climb too steeply which makes the plane slow down and crash (stall).

* Turns. Don’t try any turns until the plane is very high up. Just climb straight ahead with very gentle turns. Also make sure to practice gentle turns in the air before trying to land. Practice false landings while still high in the air in order to get a good idea of the plane’s stalling speed. If the airplane stalls, just give it a bit of the down elevator and the airplane will start flying again. When the airplane flies towards you, turn your body a little, so that you can imagine right and left from the airplanes point of view. This will prevent you from getting confused about which way to turn your airplane.

* Landing. Avoid turns when the airplane is low. Don’t try to land your plane in a specific place. Instead just let your plane glide slowly onto the ground ahead. The bigger the field when you fly for the first time, the greater are your chances for success.