Electric Powered Paper Aeroplane Kit

...turbocharge your paper plane

The Electric Power Paper Aeroplane Kit is a neat little package that gives your paper planes a power boost.

The Kit comprises a powered "spine" that clips onto your floater paper plane, packing a little battery up front with integrated charging dock, and a tiny motor with a prop at the back end.

There's also a charger-cum-stand, requiring three AA batteries, on which you can leave your plane and, when you're out flying, allows the battery to be recharged in a lightening-quick ten seconds max!

The Kit also includes a spare prop, doubtless necessary sooner or later with uncontrolled flights, and a detailed instruction sheet on how to fold a floater-type paper plane and tips of how to fly them. And, finally, they also provide a printed pre-folded paper plane to get you going...

Free Flight

...of the powered variety

As an intriguing addition to my collection, I've bought an Electric Power Paper Aeroplane Kit to try. This is a miniature battery-powered skeleton which clips onto a paper plane to extend its range and make it a bit more fun, hopefully.

The Eagle paper aeroplane seems a good choice as it's stable and glides very well.

As regards the paper, I've heard that waterproof paper is good, being more durable than the regular variety. For now, however, I've made up a test Eagle and can confirm it flies as well as I remember, and I'm looking forward to trying it out at the field when the weather calms down...

Canadair Power Climb

...impressive for a flying boat

The Canadair had a power-plant upgrade some time ago to the high-power higher-speed Turnigy bell motors. The Canadair also inherited a very nice Zippy Compact 2700mAh battery bought for the Trainstar floatplane.

The combination, in conjunction with smallish 7x4.5 props, means that the Canadair packs a potent wallop and is capable of indecently fast speeds. Also, with the fat power pack, it can sustain high rates of climb with no problem at all.

On a very nice cool morning I enjoyed sweeping the Canadair in low over the field and then climb it steeply in a full-throttle climb until it threatened to disappear from sight. Then, and just as enjoyable, I'd let it float down in a serene glide...

Canadair Takeoff Technique

...a few issues to address

I decided to get the Canadair as a companion for the Trainstar floatplane, a well-recommended twin-engined flying boat, high-powered unlike the marginally-powered Trainstar in floatplane guise, which should be easy to launch and relaxing to fly.

Well, after several visits to the lake I can attest to the former not being the case, certainly for the uninitiated, and that I have therefore, unfortunately, not been in a position to enjoy the latter.

There are a few tricks, it seems, that one needs to know. I haven't yet been able to test or master these, however I have an inkling on what needs to be done to get this boat flying.

Wing Floats
Problem - the wings floats leave a gap to the water and, therefore, the wings are initially tipped to one side. Unfortunately getting the wings level involves a conundrum; the ailerons are ineffective at low speeds and, if you attempt to speed up to remedy this, the wing floats end up submarining and causing the Canadair to execute a handbrake turn. 
Solution - trim a 5mm wedge off the wing float mounts to increase the angle of incidence of the float. This makes the float less likely to plough under the water during takeoff.

Take-off Run
Problem - as above, so many of the successful launches I've seen are executed with a very short takeoff run. Those that have a longer run are either done in absolutely calm water conditions or are marginal/unsuccessful.
Solution - get the Canadair moving and then quickly increase the power. The effect of this is to cause sudden downforce on the elevator before the Canadair speeds up much, effectively pushing the back into the water and getting it onto the plane almost immediately. Additionally this same effect means the front of the wing floats is rotated up by the same effect, supplementing the incidence modification as described above.

I think there is a knack to the latter solution; I have managed to get it planing in this manner but have aborted the launch due to concerns of the wing floats digging in and causing a crash (splash). I am hopeful, however, that with the wing float modification and a bit of practice, that my next attempt will be more successful...

Radjet on 4S Battery

...giving the Radjet a bit of zing

I took the Radjet out this afternoon, having fun surfing a strong northerly breeze. Having depleted both batteries, and thinking the conditions a little extreme for the Phoenix, I pondered what i could do. Mentally reviewing my other spare batteries, one possibility presented itself.

The Radjet has been getting a bit slow lately; I'm not sure why but not being able to access the ESC or motor, I haven't been able to do any checks. My thought now was to try it out with one of the Rarebear's batteries; although diminutive they are four cell, which would give the Radjet a bit of a kick. Or make the ESC explode. Or melt the motor.

The 4S batteries are quite chubby, not unlike the Rarebear itself, so this was the first test. Amazingly enough, the battery fitted in the Radjet's fuselage, just. The next test would be when the power was connected. Actually, plugging in the battery had the ESC giving an extra beep, encouragingly recognising the extra cell in the battery.

Having given the controls a quick check, I flipped on the power somewhat hesitantly, not really knowing what to expect. The motor spun up, a little more energetically, then I cranked it up to two thirds and heaved the little plane skywards.

Hitting full power about halfway through launch, the faster prop speed was immediately obvious, as was the energy with which the Radjet was carving up the skies. While not massively fast, it was still considerably faster, and the return of its crackling propellor note was most welcome.

I think the 4S will be a regular occurrence with the Radjet from now on, turning the radjet back into the hooligan it always was...