The Firebird EDF from Hobby Lobby is a hot new "jet" design that includes the brushless outrunner motor, ducted fan unit, and brushless speed control. It is made from sturdy injection molded foam making it durable and fun to fly.

For my full review on the Firebird EDF Jet, go here.

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The Zagi Tazz is the latest model from Trick R/C that continues the tradition of the popular foam wing designs from our friends in Venice Beach. The new high performance Tazz is a hybrid design of EPP foam, carbon spars, lite-plywood bracing, and custom plastics. The package also comes with a brushless motor, ESC, and battery pack that boasts of level speeds up to 85mph!

Designed for advanced flyers, the Tazz utilizes a 5x5 carbon prop that spins at 20,000 RPMs on the powerful brushless motor to achieve a diving speed of 130mph! The Zagi Tazz is sure to get your heart rate pumping!

For my full review on the Trick R/C Zagi Tazz, go here.

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A Great Planes Slinger is an inexpensive 47.4" ARF wing that comes with a Speed 400 motor and two props for astonishing stunts at a wide range of speeds. The only things required to make the Slinger ARF flight-ready are 6-minute epoxy and about an hour of easy assembly. All-foam parts make it a snap to assemble and tough to damage.

The wing comes almost complete with several custom plastic parts like an integrated battery bay, canopy, and metal connecting bars. The model assembles in about an hour and flies very well using the stock power system.

What makes it a "Super" Slinger?

A Super Slinger uses the new Kontronik Brushless 400 Set instead of the stock Speed 400 motor.

For my full review on the Great Planes "Super" Slinger, go here.

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My fleet of Zagi wings include the following models:

The first one here is my stock Zagi 400 flying wing. It was my introduction into aerobatics. It uses a Speed 400 motor, 7-cell 600AE pack, Gunther 5x4 prop, RTF at 19oz. I then converted it to a 400X model that can be seen below standing upright on a trash can with my Super Zagi. The 400X version uses an 8-cell 1400AE or 1700AU packs and an APC 5.5x4.5 prop. The 400X model has fantastic duration up to 15 minutes. After a year of good flying, I replaced the foam wingset and motor to create a fresh new 400X design and a smaller 2/3 scale mini-Zagi. See the "Project Mini-Zagi" link for details.

My original Zagi 400 was "re-cycled" into two new wings.

A new Zagi 400X and

a 2/3 scale mini-Zagi

«Click on the image for a larger view.

Here is my own design; a 6 foot "Super" Zagi next to my stock Zagi 400. Much of my knowledge needed for this project was gained from the E-Zone members. This 6 foot, 4.25 pound ship rules the sky!

My "Super" Zagi uses dual 450 Turbo motors, 8-cell 1900SCR pack, twin Aeronaut 6.5x4 props, RTF at 68oz.

Here is a better perspective of the size difference between the two ships. Go ahead and click on the thumbnail image for a larger view. My 6', 4.25lb Super Zagi owns the sky!

< click here for a finished look.

My latest "Power" Zagi project is called the "Americana" Click on the image above for a look at the finished ship. The Americana is powered by a Permax 450 Turbo motor, Aeronaut 6.5x4 carbon prop, and 8-cells of 800AR. (a.k.a. Willitts 450 in honor of our beloved E-Zone moderator.)

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Tilde from Birdworks:

My smallest wing to date is a 23" EPP foam marvel called the Tilde (~) by Birdworks. It flies great!

< Click image to see my review of the Tilde.

Specifications:

Modifications from Stock:

Direct Drive Tilde:

Inspired by fellow E-Zoner, "boomerace's" testimony of his direct drive conversion of the Birdwork's Tilde, I looked around my R/C hangar and noticed that all my wings were direct drive...and I have plenty of wings. Only my Tilde was geared.

After flying my Pop-Fly all Winter at indoor events, I knew that if the GWS motor could power that larger ship, it should work just fine on the smaller 26" Tilde wing.

My conversion took only an hour and by removing the S1 gearbox, switching to a smaller 3x2 prop, and dropping to 7 cells, I ended up reducing a full ounce from my stock 7.2oz wing.

My new direct drive Tilde was RTF at 6.2oz.

The motor was simply mounted to the spar with a rubberband. The up thrust is already designed into the spar. The Tilde balanced perfectly with a 7-cell 300mAh NiMH pack up front.

I asked myself, "why did this plane fly better?".

I decided that the reduced weight helped to lower the stall speed and the faster speed allowed me to go further above the stall speed than the geared DX-A or S1 would allow. This tiny 26" wingspan needs a minimum speed to stay in the air. The faster speed provided better control and aerobatics.

Specifications for Direct Drive Tilde:

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Pop-Fly from EAM

Pop-Fly from EAM Specifications:

This light wing surprised me how well it flew on a direct drive GWS motor. It is my slowest flying wing and is very stabile. A fun flyer for small fields or even indoors!

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< Click image to see my review of the PROJETI on the E-Zone.

Stock Specifications:

The PROJETI is truly a high performance flying wing. Although it is easy to build, and comes complete with a motor and prop, I would not recommend it for beginner pilots for their first wing. It is simply too fast! I would, however, recommend it to anyone looking to advance from the usual EPS or EPP constructed wings.

The stock Speed 400 power system is very exciting. I was amazed by the incredible performance and flying in 10-15mph winds was not a problem. The thin airfoil and solid one-piece high-density foam body produce incredible speed and stability using low cost Speed 400 (included) and Speed 480 power systems.

The 10-cell, Speed 480 power upgrade option provides additional speed for unbelievable fly-byes! I drew everyone's attention at the flying field during my test flights.

For extreme speeds up to 100mph, I used a new Mega brushless motor. This Speed 400 size brushless motor gives you between 22,000 and 23,000 RPMs on a Graupner 5.5x4.5 CAM Speed prop. The PROJETI is a great design and the fastest wing I own.

100MPH Version Specifications:

For a little extra speed rush, use a ZAPPED 8-cell, CP1300 NiCd pack from Diversity Model Aircraft.

After the demise of my original ProJeti, I decided that since I retrieved all the parts except half of the battery pack, I would re-build a new one. The original ProJeti served me well and is still the fastest wing I have seen. It was pilot error that drove my first one into a tree.

I am changing a few things on my Mega 16/15/3 powered ProJeti re-build.

Here is a close up of the M5 receiver. With some slight squaring of the round well sides, it fits down in with all the extra servo and ESC leads. The M5 is a "full strength" dual conversion receiver.

Here are some performance charts (below) courtesy of Diversity Model Aircraft.

For a 30amp draw on the Mega 16/15/3 motor, the unzapped CP1300 cells reach the 1v mark at about 0.45 amp hours. The ZAPed pack shows a clear improvement at 0.60 amp hours.
 

The FAUP1950 NiMH cell outperforms the CP1300 NiCd cell

The 4/5FAUP 1950mAh cell doesn't drop to 1v until 1.3 amp hours. That almost twice the duration for flying at 100mph! The additional weight of an 8-cell pack is 1.4oz.

I was very happy with my new 8-cell, 1950FAUP NiMH pack!

Not only did my ProJeti balance perfectly when the pack was inserted all the way back, but it also drew about 4amps more than my CP1300SCR pack. This agreed with the charts shown earlier. At around a 30amp level draw, the 1950mAh FAUP cells were superior!

The barrel-style pack fits perfectly in the ProJeti. I added the usual Velcro "seat belt" for added security.

 

I bought my cells from eDogFight.com along with some Dean's power bars and some really nice 12 gauge wire!

The biggest difference is that the voltage doesn't sag on the 1950FAUP cells like it does after the first minute or two on the CP1300 cells. My 8-cell pack balanced all the way back.

My ProJeti easily pulled away from my friend's ProJeti using the same power system...except for the cells.

After landed, I showed him that my 1950FAUP cells held their voltage under a 30amp load better than his CP1300 cells.