Best viewed in Fullscreen and HD! After reviewing the Eflite "Stump Puller" Yak/Pitts 5.75 x 2.5 Prop, I installed the GWS 5043 5 x 4.3 Prop in the search for more speed for the inherently slower airframe of the Sport Cub S. Because the airframe already excels in slow flight, having the Yak/Pitts Prop was overkill in the "slow yet powerful" speed envelope and the top speed suffered, making higher winds difficult to advance through.

By installing the higher-pitched GWS 5043, I widened the speed envelope of the Sport Cub, increasing her top end speed while maintaining her slow flight abilities. Aerial maneuvers (Rolls, Loops, Hammerheads, Inverted, Knife Edge) were easy to perform, even through the high gusting winds. Making headway through the 14-19 mph winds with the GWS 5043 Prop was not a problem at all.

Hobbyzone Sport Cub S (2S Brushless) "Icarus" - GWS 5043 Prop / Wind Test (9 min 29 sec)

Timer on my Spektrum DX6 was set to 6 Minutes using an Eflite 2S 7.4V 200mAh 30C Lipo. I was easily able to fly through the 6 Minutes with no LVC indications (though I wouldn't want to push it any further).

The GWS 5043 is my Prop of choice for the Hobbyzone Sport Cub S airframe.

Note that now you can hear more audible sound as I managed to locate the non-waterproof case backing for my GoPro Hero 3 and installed it for this video, allowing sound to be captured clearer.

Winds were once again mad crazy today as you can see at the start of take-off and through the flight up to the landing. Definitely one wild ride!

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Best viewed in Fullscreen and HD! Upon recommendation, I upgraded my Hobbyzone Sport Cub S "Icarus" that has the 2S Brushless System from the stock Eflite 5 x 2.75 Prop to the 5.75 x 2.5 Yak / Pitts Prop today.

My expectation for the 5.75 x 2.5 Yak / Pitts Prop was "to see a development of more peak thrust, and a shift in the thrust-curve down to a lower speed-range. As a result, you get more thrust, and you get it at considerably lower airspeed - which allows the plane to fly with much greater authority near the lower end of its speed envelope." - Joel, aka Turboparker of RC Groups.

Hobbyzone Sport Cub S Yak / Pitts Prop Upgrade Test Flight (9 min 44 sec)

The UMX Yak / Pitts Prop did meet the expectations that were set and I noticed more power throughout the flight for less throttle. What I didn't expect were the weather conditions to worsen mid-flight, almost killing my plane a few times. I fortunately took Wind Gauge readings Pre and Post Flight, and they offer a good explanation of why you can hear a bit of my nerves through my In-Flight Commentary.

I do understand that you cannot hear the wind very much through the video - My GoPro is using a GoPro black protective casing that is shielding it from sound. I actually had to adjust my sound levels so you could hear my commentary.

The Battery used for this flight was an Eflite 2S 7.4V 200mAh 30C Battery and the Timer set on my DX6 was for 6 Minutes.

With the size of the Prop, I recommend...Continue Reading

Tonight was just the second time I've ever done any type of Night Flight, and with the UMX Carbon Cub Lighting System on my HBZ Sport Cub S Icarus with the 2S Brushless Conversion, I can safely say that I am very comfortable flying her with very low lighting! I managed to snap shots of her during the evening, so you can all see how her lighting becomes more prominent as the evening progresses. In previous discussions, I noted that I had never noticed the lighting system of my UMX Carbon Cub SS until now. What a difference it makes.

As some of you may know, I'm a "Solo-Wing" and almost always fly alone. My videos and photos are all shot by myself, including the photos when my plane is airborne. I took these photos while fenagle-ing the DX6 in one hand and my iPhone 6 in the other. I would highly NOT recommend doing this and would never even think to do this with any of my other planes (except my Super Champ) but even with the brushless system on my Sport Cub S, she remains as docile of a flyer when you want her to be. I was lucky enough to snag a few of these shots of her flying by. You can easily spot the red and white LED's on the left wing and the faint green LED on the right wing.. just enough for orientation. I was even comfortable enough flying her with full maneuvers (hammerheads, inverted, rolls, loops, knife edge, etc) as the lights were bright enough through each flight. Just awesome.

On a personal note, I may not be purchasing anything RC-...Continue Reading

Friday Night Feature!

Best viewed in Fullscreen HD! A music video to my UMX Gee Bee R2. Named Izzy after my 12-week old kitten that always keeps me on my toes, this plane truly lives up to her namesake. A beautiful classic Air Racer now discontinued, this is my commemorative flight video to this immortal classic. Music: Gimme Some Lovin' (Remastered) by Steve Winwood.

Eflite UMX Gee Bee R2 Flight - Immortal Classic (3 min 17 sec)

Now on Vimeo as well:

Eflite UMX Gee Bee R2 - Immortal Classic (3 min 16 sec)

...Continue Reading

Best viewed in Fullscreen HD! A music video to my UMX Habu S. Hand launched in 9mph winds with gusts averaging 13mph, the weather yesterday was quite unique as the sun was shining, yet the random rain clouds above were sprinkling slightly with a faint yet full rainbow in the distance. I couldn't pass up a chance to get some ducted fan flight in the surreal weather. The UMX Habu S had no issues cutting through any turbulence with the AS3X and performed with excellence.

Eflite UMX Habu S DF 180 - Tattered Skies (4 min 7 sec)

Battery: Eflite 2S 7.4V 200mAh 30C

Song: Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick

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Thanks for watching.

Here is the Uncut Maiden Flight of my Hobbyzone Sport Cub S that has been converted to a 2S Brushless System from the parts of a UMX Carbon Cub SS. This is the same footage that was used for her music video, Sundown Showdown. The 2S Brushless Conversion has turned her into a aerobatic and combative wind fighter as I put her through the ringer with almost all of the aerobatics that I can perform cleanly. The video may be long, but it will give you a good idea of how she performs now with a UMX Carbon Cub SS Receiver Module, 2500KV Brushless Motor, and Pre-Programmed AS3X that was initially intended for the UMX Carbon Cub.

At 7:06s the Outtakes, Landing Practice and Bloopers start, so you can see how she performs just putting around and coming in for Landings. At this point, I was just goofing off and trying to work with the wind for that "Greased" Landing.

Hobbyzone Sport Cub S (2S Brushless Conversion) - Uncut Maiden Flight (17 min 2 sec)

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Thank you for watching!

Best viewed in Fullscreen and HD! Here is the In-Flight Review of my Hobbyzone Sport Cub S Brushless Conversion Upgrade. With the success of the UMX Corsair Brushless Conversion, I decided to proceed with this Conversion using the spare parts of a UMX Carbon Cub SS.

Hobbyzone Sport Cub S (2S Brushless Conversion) In-Flight Review (10 min 49 sec)

The following parts were used:

UMX Carbon Cub SS Receiver Module
UMX Carbon Cub SS Motor Mount
Eflite 2500 KV Motor
Eflite 5" x 2.75" Propeller
UMX Carbon Cub SS Long Prop Adapter
UMX Carbon Cub SS Prop Spinner
UMX Carbon Cub SS Lighting System
Eflite 2S 7.4 200mAh 30C Lipo Battery

This following conversion created a "sleeper" powerhouse Hobbyzone Sport Cub S, retaining her docile flight characteristics and adding increased power and air authority. I will emphasize that she does not fly like a UMX Carbon Cub SS, as this plane is much more stable and forgiving in the air. Furthermore, Flaps are not needed with this airframe as she has the capability to slow down dramatically. I also opted not to install the heavy wing struts of the UMX Carbon Cub SS, as it would have involved extensive cutting into the fuselage to install the plastic frame that the struts connect to. It would have also increased the overall weight of the frame. Instead, the HBZ Sport Cub S wing has already been reinforced with a factory carbon fiber spar, allowing generous flex without breaking under heavy aerial...Continue Reading

Best viewed in HD and Fullscreen! I finally took the plunge with my Stock HBZ Sport Cub S and performed the 2S Brushless Conversion. Using a spare UMX Carbon Cub SS Receiver Module, Eflite 2500KV Motor, Eflite 5x2.75" Prop, UMX Carbon Cub Long Prop Adapter, and UMX Carbon Cub Lights, I completed the procedure in about 6 hours.

Carefully removing the stock HBZ Receiver and Motor Mount, I took note of the indentations of where they were situated in the fuselage. I re-mounted the UMX Carbon Cub SS Motor Mount, being careful to line up the Mount to the Stock Motor Mount Location for a slight 1-2 degree angle to the right as well as down. I also replaced the Stock Receiver with the UMX Carbon Cub SS Receiver in the same location. Both were Foam-Safe CA'ed initially to the fuselage, and then finished with a perimeter coating of white silicone sealant type II.

I had to re-size the Rudder and Aileron Push Rods as the stock length was too long. I reattached the Z-Bends with CA Glue and then sealed the connections with Shrink Tubing and then with CA glued to both ends of the Shrink Tubing, and then re-attaching the Push Rods back on to the Module.

The Lighting System was the most intricate part of the work as I carefully had to remove the Lighting off the UMX Carbon Cub Wing with an Xacto Knife, and then follow the trail of "spaghetti" to the connection that led to the Board. After careful observation, I re-installed the Lighting System onto the HBZ Sport Cub...Continue Reading

Best viewed in Fullscreen and HD!

Here is my In-Flight Review of my Eflite UMX Corsair with the UMX Beast 3D Brushless Conversion Upgrade. I don't normally do In-Flight Reviews.. but with this plane I just couldn't resist. The conversion from the stock Eflite UMX Corsair Internals with the UMX Beast 3D Internals resulted in such a well-flying machine! Aerial maneuvers were very predictable and Flight Handling was with great authority. The wind had picked up from the start of the video to the end of the video and I took the readings with my anemometer post-flight. The AS3X settings that were programmed for the UMX Beast 3D worked flawlessly with the airframe of the UMX Corsair.

UMX Super Corsair (2S Brushless Conversion) In-Flight Review (10 min 4 sec)

Parts used for the Conversion were as follows:

UMX Beast 3D Board
UMX Beast 3D 2500kv Motor
UMX Beast 3D Motor Mount
Eflite 5x2.75 Propeller
Eflite UMX Carbon Cub SS Long Prop Adapter
Eflite UMX Carbon Cub SS Rubber Spinner

If you have the parts, keep them! You never know when you may decide on using them for your own creation.

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Best viewed in Fullscreen and in HD!

Flight Footage of my UMX Super Corsair 2S Brushless! Here is the Highlight Video. Music is from one of my favorite old tv shows, The Black Sheep Squadron.

UMX Super Corsair (Brushless Conversion) - Black Sheep (1 min 38 sec)

Here is the Uncut Flight Footage:

Eflite UMX F4-U Super Corsair (Brushless Conversion) - Uncut Flight (8 min 16 sec)

...Continue Reading

Today I decided to give my 1-year old UMX Corsair a new lease on life. Taking the internals of a junked Beast 3D I took apart the UMX Corsair that had been sitting in my office collecting dust and removed the stock board, motor mount, motor, and propeller. I used the following for the conversion:

CONVERSION PARTS

UMX Beast 3D ESC / Receiver Board (EFLU 4864)
Eflite BL 180 2500kv Motor
UMX Beast 3D Motor Mount
Eflite 5x2.75 Propeller
Eflite UMX Carbon Cub SS Long Prop Adapter
Eflite UMX Carbon Cub SS Rubber Spinner

Carefully uninstalling the stock UMX Corsair Board and Motor Mount, I was able to reinstall the UMX Beast 3D Board and Motor Mount in the same areas (being mindful of the thrust angle with regards to the Motor Mount), securing initially with foam safe ca and then finishing with white silicone sealant.

I had to re-cut the control rods of the stock UMX Corsair and re-apply the Z-Bend Rods with ca and shrink tubing to line up correctly with the board, but it was actually easier than I had originally thought.

Re-attaching the fuselage together using the Tape Tab Method (allowing for easy future openings), all that was left was to re-size the battery tray. Careful cutting of the sides of the tray for the battery application using a very sharp Xacto Knife, light sanding of the cut surface, and then re-applying industrial Velcro over the area was also very easy. I was able to balance the CG perfectly aft-most using Eflite 180mAh 2s batteries (...Continue Reading

Alright, at lunch I took up the UMX Habu S at Dove Valley Park and flew her without the gears. What a difference it makes without them on.. I almost forgot the performance increase when I did that with the yellow/black Habu. Doppler passes were fast, sharp, and precise, Figure 8s, Immelmans, Cuban 8's.. all very easy. Even got the attention of the Park Maintenance who stopped to watch the small airshow performance. The undercarriage and wings have been reinforced with packing/scotch tape very cleanly. Tested out the Eflite 200mAh 30c batts and were actually impressed by the performance. Granted they only allow me about 4 minutes of flight time, I think its just about enough flight time before I land her for a break in-between batteries. I also tried the Hyperion 240 mAh 25C batts and they worked fine as well, adding another minute to the flight time at the cost of some nose-weight (yes, both batts were all the way back for CG). I had a bunch of the 200mAh 30C's laying around from other planes that I had never used, so it was a serendipitous coincidence (now I can finally use them on a plane). Great hour lunch excursion!

Despite some Canadian Forest Fire Winds traveling down to Colorado and blanketing the sky with ash, it was a great EDF Day flying the UMX Habu S. Although she sounds like a wailing banshee or vacuum cleaner on takeoff, she cuts through the gust and wind at the flying field like a fine scalpel. Very predictable pattern flying and smooth as butter into-the-wind scale 3-point landings. Used the throttle to control the rate of descent and elevator for flight speed much like my UMX Gee Bee. She is a character in the sky, catching the attention of other people at the park. What a fun little jet!

Battery: Eflite 2S 200 mAh 30C
Rates: 100% w/10% Expo on all Surfaces
Flying Time Average: 5 Mins per Battery with :30s for Landings

Greetings! I'm now the owner of a new UMX Habu S DF 180. I originally had the yellow/black edition in 2014 until a flock of geese "happened" at the park. I did manage to trim out my new UMX Habu S at the park today until low hanging mist and clouds severely limited visibility, but I realized as I was flying her how much easier it was to fly this time around than when I first had the yellow/black edition, even at Full 100% Rates and only 10% Expo on all surfaces. Back then, I was only comfortable flying the UMX Habu at 70% Low Rates. It's amazing what a year of flying experience will do, flying similar classed planes like the UMX Beast 3D, UMX Sbach 342, UMX Pitts S-1S, UMX Carbon Cub SS, and the UMX Gee Bee R2. Each one had a distinct character in the air, a story to tell, and lesson to teach. Flying the UMX Habu again after a long break from the model only reaffirms the lessons I've learned flying. Anyways, thought I would share the insight I learned.

Wheels up at 05:30.

What do you do when you have 1-2 mph winds and the flying field / park all to yourself? You have a great flying day with 2 AS3X Originals! Took out the UMX Beast 3D and UMX Gee Bee and worked on some pattern flying. Transitioning from the 2 flying partners definitely posed some challenges, especially when it came to landing styles, but we're solid performers in the air. Couldn't have asked for a better way to end the weekend.

If I could find another new in box/old stock UMX Gee Bee, I would pick her up in a heartbeat. By any chance has anyone here also tried the Great Planes Gee Bee R1 and compared the two models? Since that model is still available I was thinking of picking up a TX/R version and using the AnyLink on my DX6.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/product/...basic-eflu2850

Key Features

Ultra-lightweight, fully assembled airframe
Advanced AS3X® technology delivers rock-solid handling
Officially licensed Lockheed Martin F-16 body design
Operational full-flying horizontal stabilizers
Proportional four-channel control
Removable landing gear and steerable nose wheel
Brushless Delta-V® 180m EDF (installed)
High-speed, 13500Kv brushless motor (installed)
Industry-leading Spektrum™ DSMX® 2.4GHz technology
3 × Performance linear long-throw servos (installed)
Fits a 280mAh 2S 7.4V 30C Li-Po battery (required, EFLB2802S30)
Engineered inlet and exhaust ducting
Accurate 1/32-size outline

Overview
The Officially Licensed Ultra Micro Thunderbird

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team has been inspiring aviation fans since the very start of the jet age. Going into a 33 year run, the incredible Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role jet platform has been an exemplary part of the precision and dedication for which the team is known. The E-flite® UMX™ F-16 EDF jet is inspired by the engineering and world-renowned service record of the original by offering the excitement of a great flying RC jet you can enjoy just about anywhere.

You’ll enjoy four-channel precision with an operational rudder and full-flying horizontal stabilizers that provide both pitch and roll control. A steerable nose wheel helps...Continue Reading

Maiden complete!

Prop: GWS 5030
Battery: 2 Thunder Power 325mAh 70C Lipos.
Anemometer: 6.7mph with 8.6-9.7mph gusts.

100% Full Rates
20% Aileron Expo
25% Elevator Expo

4 Perfect Roll Landings
3 Touchdowns and Go-Arounds
1 2-Point Landing stopping just to the "Chin"
2 Light Nose-Overs to "Show Me Your Belly"

The UMX Gee Bee is a very unique pattern flyer with distinct and attractive presence in the air, unlike my other planes in my fleet. It's kind of difficult in describing how she flies.. It's something you have to experience, or see in person. It's in the landings where your skills are really put to the test. It didn't help that the winds were gusting a bit at the baseball park. Just glad I have an AstroTurf location to fly her. Tested the OCP prior to every takeoff and the GWS 5030 Prop performed perfectly for the application; No ESC Cutout was present at any time. Even managed to get some sweet photos as well of the occasion and venue. I love this plane. She really tests your abilities and keeps you on your toes. Horizon Hobby should never have discontinued this plane.. At least bring out another version. A rare gem.

I'll name her "Izzy", after my 10 week old sweet yet neurotic and mischievous kitten that also keeps me on my toes.

PS - Joel, aka Turboparker.. the last pic is for you. Thanks man! And thanks to everyone else here who gave me tips. ...Continue Reading