ATIS
01-01-2010, 09:58 AM
PARKZONE RADAIN RTF
BUILD AND REVIEW
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=473http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=472
Purchased From:
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/banners/GBIhobbies2.gif (http://www.gbihobbies.com)
The PZ Radain RTF BNF comes neatly and securely packaged. The interlocking foam cross members keep everything in place during shipping so you shouldnt have any damage upon arrival. This box is bigger then other PZ planes and I had to drop the backseat of the Mustang and slide the passanger seat forward to get her home.
Whats in the Box:
(1) Radain
(1) Park 480 BL motor (installed)
(1) 30 amp BL ESC (installed)
(1) AR500 DSM2 RX (installed)
(2) servos pre-installed (1 elevator, 1 rudder)
(1) PZ 3s 1300 lipo (same as the PZ P-51 lipo)
(1) car charger
(1) Bind plug
(1) DX5 TX
(4) AA batteries for the TX
Whats not in the Box:
CA (optional for securing the elevator instead of using the included tape)
The Build:
Wing:
The first step is attaching the main wing to the fuse...slide the CF rod into one wing half, slide that into the opening inthe fuse and then slide the other wing half on...main wings are done.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=394
Elevator:
Slide the elevator into the opening and center it. Now secure it with the included tape. I used CA on the joint on both the top and bottom of the elevator. To me its just a safer and more secure way of attaching it. Now attach the pushrod. I put a slight bend in mine to straighten it out a little and improve the angle of attachement. Your done building!!
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=392
Binding:
Bind the RX to the TX. Once your done binding leave the TX on and just remove the Bind plug. Its now time to check and make sure all the control surfaces are level and the servo arms are centered. If the servo arms are centered, just use the quick connects to adjust the control surfaces flush. Below is a pict of the lipo area, canopy is held on by magnets.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=393
PREFLIGHT:
Double check your control surfaces. She's a glider so I went by the book for throws.
Build Time:
Per instructions: 10 minutes
Report Card:
Good:
Everything is installed
Quality foam
Fast build
Included charger charges through the balancing tap
Bad:
-Nothing
FLIGHT REPORT:
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=467http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=469
Weather Conditions:
Early morning, foggy
calm
Maiden:
I am not a glider pilot by any stretch of the word. I like power and I like to fly fast but I have to admit that this powered glider is fun. Hand Launch is done at 1/2 throttle and a firm level throw. If you HL at WOT she will go nose up. Once on step you can apply throttle and she will climb out nice and easy. Get her up to 200 feet and kill the motor and sail around, slowly trading altitude for speed and distance only to apply power again at 30 feet off the deck and climb to gliding altitude to repeat. With a nice 5-10mph wind you can hold altitude and glide around for fair amount of time. You can easily stretch out your flight time to 20-30 minutes on the stock lipo if you soar. Landings require a dead stick and are slow with a gentle glide rate.
Report Card:
HL: Easy, WOT and a nice firm throw at 15* up
ROG: NA, no LG
Glide: Nearly level, makes for nice gliding and thermal hunting
Rolls: NA
Loops: Big
Inverted: N/A at this time
Speed: 20mph
Landing: just glider her in and let her toch down, big descending circles work well.
Beginner: Not a true beginner plane but a nice second plane or a relaxing flyer.
Summary:
The Radain is a very nice flyer. Power to weight ratio is more than enough to quickly climb to soaring height. The plane is very predictable and with a slight breeze you can really stretch the flight times. However, she is a glider and as such has a wing that is designed to generate lift so I can only recommend that experienced pilots flyer her in winds greater then 15 mph. She can handle 15 mph winds but you will have to work her hard against the wind to bring her back, and that means WOT and some diving to cut your way home. Landing are a breeze, all thats required is to kill the throttle and start a nice wide sprial slowly dropping your altitude. She will set right down where you want her.
I know my recommendation as a second plane and not for a beginner will draw some fire. I have reasons to not like the Radain as a first plane and it really comes down to two things....no landing gear and wing loading. HL a plane means you only have one hand on the TX, not the most comfortable feeling for a beginner. The wing loading on this plane is very low. She's a glider its suppose to be that way. However I feel that the lower wing loading will be a disservice to beginners as they wont learn to fly the plane but rather let it float around and with its slow landing speed moving up to another plane (lets say a Super Cub) would require a beginner to learn to land again.
I want to thank Earl H as all the inflight photos are of his Radian.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=471http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=468
http://www.vimeo.com/7881779 (http://www.vimeo.com/7881779)
"Click Here for the Review Discussion"
BUILD AND REVIEW
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=473http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=472
Purchased From:
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/banners/GBIhobbies2.gif (http://www.gbihobbies.com)
The PZ Radain RTF BNF comes neatly and securely packaged. The interlocking foam cross members keep everything in place during shipping so you shouldnt have any damage upon arrival. This box is bigger then other PZ planes and I had to drop the backseat of the Mustang and slide the passanger seat forward to get her home.
Whats in the Box:
(1) Radain
(1) Park 480 BL motor (installed)
(1) 30 amp BL ESC (installed)
(1) AR500 DSM2 RX (installed)
(2) servos pre-installed (1 elevator, 1 rudder)
(1) PZ 3s 1300 lipo (same as the PZ P-51 lipo)
(1) car charger
(1) Bind plug
(1) DX5 TX
(4) AA batteries for the TX
Whats not in the Box:
CA (optional for securing the elevator instead of using the included tape)
The Build:
Wing:
The first step is attaching the main wing to the fuse...slide the CF rod into one wing half, slide that into the opening inthe fuse and then slide the other wing half on...main wings are done.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=394
Elevator:
Slide the elevator into the opening and center it. Now secure it with the included tape. I used CA on the joint on both the top and bottom of the elevator. To me its just a safer and more secure way of attaching it. Now attach the pushrod. I put a slight bend in mine to straighten it out a little and improve the angle of attachement. Your done building!!
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=392
Binding:
Bind the RX to the TX. Once your done binding leave the TX on and just remove the Bind plug. Its now time to check and make sure all the control surfaces are level and the servo arms are centered. If the servo arms are centered, just use the quick connects to adjust the control surfaces flush. Below is a pict of the lipo area, canopy is held on by magnets.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=393
PREFLIGHT:
Double check your control surfaces. She's a glider so I went by the book for throws.
Build Time:
Per instructions: 10 minutes
Report Card:
Good:
Everything is installed
Quality foam
Fast build
Included charger charges through the balancing tap
Bad:
-Nothing
FLIGHT REPORT:
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=467http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=469
Weather Conditions:
Early morning, foggy
calm
Maiden:
I am not a glider pilot by any stretch of the word. I like power and I like to fly fast but I have to admit that this powered glider is fun. Hand Launch is done at 1/2 throttle and a firm level throw. If you HL at WOT she will go nose up. Once on step you can apply throttle and she will climb out nice and easy. Get her up to 200 feet and kill the motor and sail around, slowly trading altitude for speed and distance only to apply power again at 30 feet off the deck and climb to gliding altitude to repeat. With a nice 5-10mph wind you can hold altitude and glide around for fair amount of time. You can easily stretch out your flight time to 20-30 minutes on the stock lipo if you soar. Landings require a dead stick and are slow with a gentle glide rate.
Report Card:
HL: Easy, WOT and a nice firm throw at 15* up
ROG: NA, no LG
Glide: Nearly level, makes for nice gliding and thermal hunting
Rolls: NA
Loops: Big
Inverted: N/A at this time
Speed: 20mph
Landing: just glider her in and let her toch down, big descending circles work well.
Beginner: Not a true beginner plane but a nice second plane or a relaxing flyer.
Summary:
The Radain is a very nice flyer. Power to weight ratio is more than enough to quickly climb to soaring height. The plane is very predictable and with a slight breeze you can really stretch the flight times. However, she is a glider and as such has a wing that is designed to generate lift so I can only recommend that experienced pilots flyer her in winds greater then 15 mph. She can handle 15 mph winds but you will have to work her hard against the wind to bring her back, and that means WOT and some diving to cut your way home. Landing are a breeze, all thats required is to kill the throttle and start a nice wide sprial slowly dropping your altitude. She will set right down where you want her.
I know my recommendation as a second plane and not for a beginner will draw some fire. I have reasons to not like the Radain as a first plane and it really comes down to two things....no landing gear and wing loading. HL a plane means you only have one hand on the TX, not the most comfortable feeling for a beginner. The wing loading on this plane is very low. She's a glider its suppose to be that way. However I feel that the lower wing loading will be a disservice to beginners as they wont learn to fly the plane but rather let it float around and with its slow landing speed moving up to another plane (lets say a Super Cub) would require a beginner to learn to land again.
I want to thank Earl H as all the inflight photos are of his Radian.
http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=471http://www.horizonrcflyers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=10&pictureid=468
http://www.vimeo.com/7881779 (http://www.vimeo.com/7881779)
"Click Here for the Review Discussion"