PSA: Go buy an Aero Ace

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Skiguy411

Platinum Member
Dec 4, 2002
2,093
0
0
Originally posted by: Kaido
Originally posted by: Skiguy411
Originally posted by: Kaido
Originally posted by: Skiguy411
http://stormlauncher.com/

Have you guys seen this? It looks pretty awesome

Yeah, it's supposed to be out in the next month or so. I've seen other designs go for as much as $200, but this one is going to be like $80 complete with transmitter. The only thing it really looks good at is being a water-boat, but just to have something that can go on land and fly around a bit would be cool too :)

I just preordered mine through walmart. I just read though you have to get a battery....which is $30. :(

Weird, all of the release dates are different...some are as early as July 26th, some aren't until October. Hrm...

Yeah I read somewhere that all stores should be shipping them late July, early august if you preordered them. Hopefully walmart will change their ship date!
 

arcas

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2001
2,155
2
0
I bought one a few days ago on a whim. It's not the same model you have. It's the "Backyard Flyer" model. I think this is the "Jet" that earlier posters are referring to. It's a little larger than the biplane in the original post.

Its turning radius is too large to use indoors but for $30 it's a decent flyer if there's no wind. The swallows in the area absolutely hate it. They tried to attack the plane. Maybe it got too close to their nest.

I don't think I'll be moving up to larger airplanes but for $30 it's a neat little toy.
 
Jan 3, 2006
119
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Originally posted by: Kaido
Ahh I got nailed in a thermal this afternoon. My AA pulled a Superman - up, up, and away! :D I managed to find the plane after hitting a tall tree, but the tail is nowhere to be found. Guess I'm ordering spares today lol. I wasn't even flying high either - a big gust of wind came in and pushed it up, then it got suck into a thermal and disappeared into some trees. I gave it a good fight though, so I don't feel too bad ;)

LOL, yeah I've caught those too where the plane goes from like 20 feet in the air to 200 in a matter of seconds, usually as it's being carried a football field length away. I've almost lost one twice from that but remarkably I was able to bring it back once, and hunt it down the other time. I pretty much don't risk it when there's a little wind now because of the chance I'll lose it but also because it's like flying a kite in slow steady wind. You'll be fighting to fly it into the wind for 2 minutes only to turn it around and have it cover 100 feet in 5 seconds.

I keep catching myself looking out the window constantly to check the wind for an opportunity to run out and fly them.

Kaido, where can you buy spares? I also need a tail section after our dog mangled one of mine?

 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
the dog got hold of mine by the top wing and punctured it, but its not too noticeable and it still flies like nothing's wrong.

 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: Kaido
Ahh I got nailed in a thermal this afternoon. My AA pulled a Superman - up, up, and away! :D I managed to find the plane after hitting a tall tree, but the tail is nowhere to be found. Guess I'm ordering spares today lol. I wasn't even flying high either - a big gust of wind came in and pushed it up, then it got suck into a thermal and disappeared into some trees. I gave it a good fight though, so I don't feel too bad ;)

LOL, yeah I've caught those too where the plane goes from like 20 feet in the air to 200 in a matter of seconds, usually as it's being carried a football field length away. I've almost lost one twice from that but remarkably I was able to bring it back once, and hunt it down the other time. I pretty much don't risk it when there's a little wind now because of the chance I'll lose it but also because it's like flying a kite in slow steady wind. You'll be fighting to fly it into the wind for 2 minutes only to turn it around and have it cover 100 feet in 5 seconds.

I keep catching myself looking out the window constantly to check the wind for an opportunity to run out and fly them.

Kaido, where can you buy spares? I also need a tail section after our dog mangled one of mine?

When I was a kid they made these parachute toys that had a plastic parachute attached to a plastic army guy about 6 inches tall. You folded the chute into a little opening in the back and tossed as high in the air as you could and he would parachute down. My bother and I were out in the country one day tossing them and when I threw mine up in the air it kept going up instead of coming down. I guess it got caught in some kind thermal because we chased it for a while until it disappeared out of sight.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,298
7,592
136
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: Kaido
Ahh I got nailed in a thermal this afternoon. My AA pulled a Superman - up, up, and away! :D I managed to find the plane after hitting a tall tree, but the tail is nowhere to be found. Guess I'm ordering spares today lol. I wasn't even flying high either - a big gust of wind came in and pushed it up, then it got suck into a thermal and disappeared into some trees. I gave it a good fight though, so I don't feel too bad ;)

LOL, yeah I've caught those too where the plane goes from like 20 feet in the air to 200 in a matter of seconds, usually as it's being carried a football field length away. I've almost lost one twice from that but remarkably I was able to bring it back once, and hunt it down the other time. I pretty much don't risk it when there's a little wind now because of the chance I'll lose it but also because it's like flying a kite in slow steady wind. You'll be fighting to fly it into the wind for 2 minutes only to turn it around and have it cover 100 feet in 5 seconds.

I keep catching myself looking out the window constantly to check the wind for an opportunity to run out and fly them.

Kaido, where can you buy spares? I also need a tail section after our dog mangled one of mine?

Yeah, no kidding, it's amazing how fast these things can disappear. The air is like an ocean of air currents but you can't see anything. As far as spares go, here's a good site:

http://www.aeroacemods.com/aam/parts/

$6 will get you a new tail :) I'm going to get a couple spares so I have a backup in the future lol.
 
Jan 3, 2006
119
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Originally posted by: Kaido


$6 will get you a new tail :) I'm going to get a couple spares so I have a backup in the future lol.

Awesome...Thanks!

If I don't get a spare tail, I might rip the guts out of it and try to build my own contraption :p

I do have two more AAs and one jet afterall :D
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,298
7,592
136
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: Kaido


$6 will get you a new tail :) I'm going to get a couple spares so I have a backup in the future lol.

Awesome...Thanks!

If I don't get a spare tail, I might rip the guts out of it and try to build my own contraption :p

I do have two more AAs and one jet afterall :D

text :D
 

Hammerhead

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2001
2,297
0
0
Originally posted by: Kaido
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: Kaido


$6 will get you a new tail :) I'm going to get a couple spares so I have a backup in the future lol.

Awesome...Thanks!

If I don't get a spare tail, I might rip the guts out of it and try to build my own contraption :p

I do have two more AAs and one jet afterall :D

text :D

Here are more plans I found that work with the AA guts. I haven't tried them personally, but they look cool.
Plans
 

tk149

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2002
7,253
1
0
I bought one, it doesn't work right.

1. Is the throttle supposed to be variable? On my controller, I have to jiggle the throttle to get it to start. I have to move the stick back and forth to get it to stop. It also seems to be an all-or-nothing kind of thing. I CAN hear a difference in propeller speed when I push the left/right stick.

2. The plane goes in a clockwise circle, and invariably crashes within 5 seconds after I throw it. That's one reason I can't figure out if the throttle is variable. I have tried changing the trim, and even pushing the left/right stick all the way to the right, which helps a bit.

3. If I turn off the controller, the propellers keep spinning.

Should I just return this thing? I'm really disappointed after all the rave reviews I've seen.
 

AdamSnow

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2002
5,736
0
76
2. The plane goes in a clockwise circle, and invariably crashes within 5 seconds after I throw it. That's one reason I can't figure out if the throttle is variable. I have tried changing the trim, and even pushing the left/right stick all the way to the right, which helps a bit.

Try adjusting the Trim on the top of the controller. It should be in the middle, or it will turn to one side. Also make sure the engines aren't leaning towards one side. That will obviously make it fly in a circle.

3. If I turn off the controller, the propellers keep spinning.

They will, for two full seconds... Then it will die.

Should I just return this thing? I'm really disappointed after all the rave reviews I've seen.

Mine had problems when I picked it up, but a little playing and it's fine now... Try what I've posted, and if that doesn't help, post the new symptoms and hopefully we can figure it out for you!
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,198
126
I seem to have problems with all the blue (channel A) aero aces I bought at ToysRUS. First one wasn't steering well, and ended up stuck in a tree. Second one didn't have lift and couldn't stay up (needed some viagra maybe :D) So now I returned that one. I also got the JET one, and that one sucked too, didn't fly well at all. Maybe I should get the green one in Target. The thing is I want a channel A, since I still have a remote from the first one that got stuck in the tree.
 

tk149

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2002
7,253
1
0
Originally posted by: AdamSnow
2. The plane goes in a clockwise circle, and invariably crashes within 5 seconds after I throw it. That's one reason I can't figure out if the throttle is variable. I have tried changing the trim, and even pushing the left/right stick all the way to the right, which helps a bit.

Try adjusting the Trim on the top of the controller. It should be in the middle, or it will turn to one side. Also make sure the engines aren't leaning towards one side. That will obviously make it fly in a circle.

I did try the trim on the controller. I also tried to straighten one of the engines (it came broken off to begin with) and taped it on.

3. If I turn off the controller, the propellers keep spinning.

They will, for two full seconds... Then it will die.

No, the engines keep going

Should I just return this thing? I'm really disappointed after all the rave reviews I've seen.

Mine had problems when I picked it up, but a little playing and it's fine now... Try what I've posted, and if that doesn't help, post the new symptoms and hopefully we can figure it out for you!
Thanks for the help, but I ended up returning the plane, because I think there's a problem with the controller, in addition to the plane. The Wal-Mart I went to did not have a replacement, so I just took the refund. If I get time next week, I'll go see if Target has one.
 

AdamSnow

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2002
5,736
0
76
The first one I bought had the engine off of it when I bought it... and that plane ended up being crap from the beginning... I was like "Wow... what's the big deal about these things?" so I took it back, got a replacement... now - I see what all the fuss was about... This thing is awesome!!!!

Just don't give up on it, at least try and get a replacement and you'll love it.
 

Lifted

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2004
5,748
2
0
I went to Target on the way to the beach today in order to pick up the storm whatever flying boat thing, but they didn't have it. Instead, they had two aero aces with the bonus charger plane, so I grabbed both. They rang up for $6.24 each at the counter. I wish they had more, I would have ran back and bought their entire stock. I'll probably ask my friend to stop by Target tomorrow to see if they have any more near him. This little thing is great fun for ~ $6.
 

Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
Originally posted by: Lifted
I went to Target on the way to the beach today in order to pick up the storm whatever flying boat thing, but they didn't have it. Instead, they had two aero aces with the bonus charger plane, so I grabbed both. They rang up for $6.24 each at the counter. I wish they had more, I would have ran back and bought their entire stock. I'll probably ask my friend to stop by Target tomorrow to see if they have any more near him. This little thing is great fun for ~ $6.

same. i went after a friend's dinner party and i instantly went to the toy section. initially, i only saw the 30USD planes and was ready to checkout. But my friend comes around the corner with 2 packages with a plane and extra remoteless flyer. The ticket said 18 bucks but when i did a price check, it came to 6.24. Great Deal.

i only had a chance to toss around the remoteless plane, it was midnight when i got home. Hopefully tomorrow, ill have the big one going.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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Originally posted by: Sid59
Originally posted by: Lifted
I went to Target on the way to the beach today in order to pick up the storm whatever flying boat thing, but they didn't have it. Instead, they had two aero aces with the bonus charger plane, so I grabbed both. They rang up for $6.24 each at the counter. I wish they had more, I would have ran back and bought their entire stock. I'll probably ask my friend to stop by Target tomorrow to see if they have any more near him. This little thing is great fun for ~ $6.

same. i went after a friend's dinner party and i instantly went to the toy section. initially, i only saw the 30USD planes and was ready to checkout. But my friend comes around the corner with 2 packages with a plane and extra remoteless flyer. The ticket said 18 bucks but when i did a price check, it came to 6.24. Great Deal.

i only had a chance to toss around the remoteless plane, it was midnight when i got home. Hopefully tomorrow, ill have the big one going.

IS this a HOT DEAL? I'm going tomorrow then. I don't freaking care. $6.24 RC planes? I'm down.
 

Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
Originally posted by: DLeRium


IS this a HOT DEAL? I'm going tomorrow then. I don't freaking care. $6.24 RC planes? I'm down.

Scorching Hot. For 6.24, everyone should be getting this. YMMV.
 

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
A dime works for weight for me and a friend, just put it back from the nose a bit. This keeps it flying fllat and FAST with no bottom wing.

you can also take off the bottom wings and tape them to the top wings, making it into more of a glider, does some fun aerobatics this way.

 

Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
ooh nice tips. Ill give it a try when i recover my plane.

I was eager to see it fly, so i rev'd up the engine and threw it in the air. By some built in radar / tracking system in plane, it went directly to the roof of my house. I was a good 10 yards away from the house. =

lol
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,198
126
Great news. The plane that my friend got stuck in a tree last week finally fell out and it was in the bushes under the tree :D
And it works great, no damage.
 

Armitage

Banned
Feb 23, 2001
8,086
0
0
Got one of the $30 biplane units at Walmart tonight. Works great! My 4 year old (almost 5) and 7 year old had a blast flying it as well! Having a bit of trouble with porpoising - tried adjusting the elevator which helped a little. Will try a bit of weight on the nose next time as well. I figure a small finishing nail stuck into the nose ought to work well - fine tune the CG by pulling it out or pushing it in.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
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Hey, I went to Target and Icouldn't find them =(. Browsed up and down the toy section and couldn't find it *sniff*.

Any suggestions?

I really want it for $6.24 =P