Hobby Zone RC AirplanesHobby Zone RC airplanes were designed with the beginner pilot in mind. Many of pilots have learned to fly with Hobby Zone's V-tail series of airplanes. The V-tail airplanes below all look very similar. Don’t let that fool you! On the surface they all appear the same, but they all have distinct differences. Common Hobby Zone RC FeaturesBefore we go ever the differences between the V-tail series airplanes, lets take a look at some of the features that these planes have in common. The Firebird series are equipped with anti-crash technology(ACT). Both the Firebird and Aerobird series are equipped with X-ports, with the exception of the Firebird Phantom.Anti-Crash Technology (ACT)So what exactly is ACT? Will it really keep you from crashing? Unfortunately there is no such thing as an uncrashable airplane. However, the ACT system will definitely help you avoid many crashes when your're learning to fly. Beginners most often crash when their airplane enters a spiral dive. The "dive of death"! A beginner will panic and quickly try to correct the airplane only to make the situation worse by over-controlling. I learned the hard way that when you get into that situation the best thing to do is to cut the throttle and concentration on getting the wings level. Once the wings are level your bird will begin to fly again!The ACT system consists of a sensors on both the top and bottom over the airplane. The sensors determine the attitude of the airplane by monitoring the ground and sky. The system senses when the airplane is in a dive. It quickly kills the throttle and moves the control surfaces in the opposite direction of the dive. The ACT system will transform and a spiraling out of control airplane into a graceful glider in a matter of seconds! Once your bird is flying again the system will hand the controls back over to you. When you are confident with your flying abilities you can turn the ACT system off with a flip of a switch. X-Ports for Hobby Zone RC PlanesAll of the below V-tail Hobby Zone RC planes,with the exception of the Firebird Phantom, are equipped with X-Ports. X-Ports are receptacles for one of the three X-port accessories, which include the Sonic Combat Module, the Aerial Drop Module, and the Night-Flight module. With these X-port accessories you can have a dogfight with your buddy, fly in the dark, or release a parachuter from hundreds of feet in the air!Hobby Zone Firebird Commander 2 RTFThis Hobby Zone RC airplane is the second version of the Firebird Commander, so that's why you see the "2" after its name. This is a 2-channel airplane which means you have control over the rudder and throttle, but not the elevator. These planes don't actually have a "rudder". The integrated circuit board mixed the signals to allow the “elevons” to be used as a rudder. What distinguishes this airplane from the other Hobby Zone RC V-tail airplanes is that there is no elevator control. The throttle is used to control the attitude (up/down) of the airplane. This airplane has a 380 motor, 41" wingspan, includes the ACT system, and has an X-port.Hobby Zone Firebird Freedom RTFThe Firebird Freedom RTF is a 3-channel airplane which enables you to use the elevator to control attitude instead of relying on the throttle. This means you can do loops! The wing is positioned mid way down the fuselage as opposed to the high wing of the Commander. This makes the Firebird Freedom a little more maneuverable and helps with battling the wind. This Firebird Freedom is a little larger than the Commander with a 480 motor, and 50” wingspan. The Firebird Freedom also includes the ACT system, and has an X-port. Hobby Zone Firebird Phantom RTFHobby Zone’s RC Firebird Phantom RTF is basically a miniature version of the Commander except it has 3-channels as opposed to the Commander’s 2-channels. In other words, this little guy has elevator control and also can perform loops. The Phantom comes with a 180 motor and 29.75” wingspan . This is the only Hobby Zone RC V-tail series airplane that does not come with an X-port. But for the price, you can’t beat it!If you are on a tight budget, this would be a perfect airplane for learning to fly. Personally, I’d rather have the Phantom over the Commander any day. Having elevator control is more important than size in my opinion. The Phantom is also significantly cheaper! Hobby Zone Aerobird 3 RTFThe Aerobird is nearly identical to the Phantom with the exception of size. The Aerobird 3 RTF is the third version of the Aerobird series with a 380 motor and 48” wingspan. One huge upgrade from earlier versions is that the receivers and servos can removed and used in other 3-channel aircraft. This is not the case with the Firebird series of Hobby Zone RC Airplanes. Both the Aerobird 3 and Aerobird Swift come with X-ports, but neither are equipped with ACT.Hobby Zone Aerobird Swift RTFThe newest addition to the Hobby Zone RC V-tail series is the Aerobird Swift RTF . This is the only V-tail series airplane in the with ailerons. Ailerons are used for turning where as the rudder is used for turning the Aerobird 3. Ailerons make the airplane much more maneuverable and make it possible to do barrel rolls. With a wingspan of 42”, the body of the Aerobird Swift is very similar to the Firebird Freedom with the mid level wing and 480 motor. As with the Aerobird 3, the servos and receiver can also be used in other 3-channel aircraft. What really stands out about the Aerobird Swift’s radio is that it is equipped with high and low rates. That means by flipping a switch on the transmitter you can make this airplane very aggressive or very calm. Hobby Zone Super Cub RTFThe V-tail series doesn’t appeal to you? With a 480 motor and 47.75’”, the Hobby Zone RC Super Cub RTF is an excellent choice for a beginner pilot. There are very few RTF beginner airplanes that sport such incredible scale looks! As a general rule of thumb, Cubs aren’t exactly the best airplanes to learn with. With its stable flight characteristics armed with ACT, this is definitely an exception to the rule. Also note that if you have any of the V-tail series airplanes, the batteries are compatible! Don’t forget that this airplane has an x-port. Ever seen two Cubs dog fighting? What a sight...Summary of FeaturesI have summarized the specifications for each of the featured Hobby Zone RC airplanes in the table below. Hopefully this will save you some time and help you make the best choice.
Learning to Fly - Choosing First Plane - Flight Sims - Field Equipment
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