Finally, an R/C Airplane you can fly indoors

[Kaido]

via Engadget (with photo & video)

Press Release (text only)

Advertisement (1-page PDF showing off plane & transmitter)

-7.5" wingspan
-8.75" length
-8.4 grams
-from Megatech International
-3-foot turning radius
-fly indoors or outdoors
-100% ready-to-fly
-uses "Spectrum-Link Optic-Control" (i.e. infrared)
-Lipo battery (charges from transmitter, requires 4 "AA" batteries)
-10 minute flight time, 20 minute recharge

Looks sweet! I'm not sure how they control the turning; there's only one motor on there instead of two like the Aero Ace. There seems to be a little teeny module on the tail that could be some sort of servo. I've never heard of the Spectrum control system before. They said it's a twin-source transmission "very similar to the human eyes whereby stereoscopic range finding is used for extremely accurate model positioning." Based on the picture of the transmitter in the PDF, that woulds like a fancy name for infrared lol.

Update: Yes, the control system is Infrared. Also, it appears that the tail server is a self-centering magnetic actuator like the one used on the Carbon Butterfly.

 

[Kaido]

Looks like it's already available, but it's not cheap!

$89.99 @ Amazon.com

$99.95 @ RC Hobby Explosion

A couple YouTube videos:

Video from the Engadget article

Outdoor flight (same kid flying)

Indoor flight (Megatech employee)

There's a closeup of the tail at the beginning...it looks like a stripped servo! Awesome

 

[NissanGurl]

You keep posting these threads with RC stuff. If you keep on doing it I may have to pick one up . But, the dog and cat would probably make one of these a "one-time use" toy.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: NissanGurl
You keep posting these threads with RC stuff. If you keep on doing it I may have to pick one up . But, the dog and cat would probably make one of these a "one-time use" toy.

Yeah, get an outdoor model if you have pets. The only electronics I've seen stand up to pets are Roomba robot vacuum lol. Also stay tuned for my next review - the best micro heli I've flown to date!

 

[mugs]

Eh, at that price I'd rather go outside than fly around in circles inside.

They have a R/C blimp at Target. You could fly that inside.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: mugs
Eh, at that price I'd rather go outside than fly around in circles inside.

They have a R/C blimp at Target. You could fly that inside.

Do you have to get it pumped up with helium every time you fly it?

 

[Kaido]

Another indoor plane:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/eye...ng-bi+plane-279900.php

$40, 3 frequencies, flies indoors. Video here, including of 3 of them flying at the same time:

http://www.firebox.com/product...ideo_id=997#yourvideos

 

[antillean]

Originally posted by: NissanGurl
You keep posting these threads with RC stuff. If you keep on doing it I may have to pick one up . But, the dog and cat would probably make one of these a "one-time use" toy.

You need this http://www.rc-tanky.com/jine/kracik/kracik1.jpg

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: NissanGurl
You keep posting these threads with RC stuff. If you keep on doing it I may have to pick one up . But, the dog and cat would probably make one of these a "one-time use" toy.

Heh, there was a series of pics posted over on rcgroups of a dog snatching a PicooZ out of midair and crunching it.

 

[pradeep1]

I have one of these Aeroaces. They are nice and small. A little tight to fly indoors, but can be done. Very fun and cheap. About $30 at Target, ToyRUs, or Walmart.

Edit: Oops...I have the larger dual engine ones. This one is single engine and smaller. Definitely indoors flyer.