R/C aircraft cheap and fun! Air Hogs Aero Ace

[streakeagle]

If you haven't ever flown R/C aircraft because they were too expensive or you didn't have a place you could fly, you really need to try out the Air Hogs Aero Ace: http://www.airhogs.com/aeroace.html

I have flown full size gas powered R/C aircraft and don't really want to mess with all the hassles or expenses, but I have been keeping my eye on the under $40 foam flyers in the Walmart/Target toy departments. Finally, I stumbled onto one that flies exceptionally well both inside larger rooms (double car garage or larger) and outside on relatively calm days. There are many similar competing models, some of them are scale WW2 aircraft, but none of the other models have 2-channel proportional controls: that is fully variable throttle (for pitch control) and yaw (via left/right engine speed differences). I bought the Air Hogs F-16 from Target first... only to discover that it had only high/medium/low throttle or left/right controls (not proportional). It flies okay, but is fast enough to need a large area, the battery dies quickly, and you can't control very well. I was looking up the F-16 when I stumbled onto AeroAce topics in web forums, so I went back to Target and upgraded to this awesome tiny biplane for only $25 plus 6 AA batteries.

One little tip: don't apply the decals! The extra weight destroys the climbing ability of the aircraft. I had flown for a day and a half and decided to apply the decals. It wouldn't climb any more. I had to peel mine off to be able to climb again, which messed up the smoothness of the foam wing.

The Aero Ace is so easy to fly that anyone (even small children) can do it even if they have never flown an airplane before. However, it is capable enough to entertain skilled fliers. It is so light that you can't really damage it by crashing, but that means it does not fly very with any significant level of wind. There are entire webpages dedicated to this model airplane, including some that offer mods and spare parts: http://www.aeroacemods.com/aam/default.asp

I can't say enough about how fun this plane is! Everyone at work is going to get one. They come in three different channels, too. Hopefully, someone will have bought one over the weekend so that we can try dogfighting

[Kaw1000]

Just bought one of these and they are too cool!!! U all need to get one!!
  Get the Bi-plane type!!...I tryed the Helecoptor it did'nt make it out of the box only stays up for 30 seconds to a min....and the bigger on that does stunts..needs a big field...and its hard to control...also I bought the stealth fighter jet.....it also needs alot of room to fly....and on all these planes there
has to be very low winds!
  I cliped the bottom wings off and put a weight on front and it flys alot better!!
   My first areo ace is in the top of my neighbors tree..bout...50 feet up!! Wind will blow it wherever its wants!!
    Thanks for post im having a blast with this toy!!!

[BlueJ1]

I have 2 different kinds. Both are alot of fun. I practiced on them before upgrading.

[Slash27]

Originally posted by Kaw1000
  My first areo ace is in the top of my neighbors tree..bout...50 feet up!!  

[deSelys]

I am soooo going to buy one of those for the summer

[Goomba]

On a similar note:

I tripped over a great little r/c helicopter called a BladeCX by eFlight.

I know helicopters are traditionally scary...way expensive, costly to repair and a spanking b**ch to fly, BUT...

This is a well-built, super-stable, fixed-pitch coaxial design.  Comes everything complete in the box (which is designed to double as your flight box, too)...transmitter, Li-Po battery, charger, copter...even had all the batteries!...for $189.  The coax design means two rotors, two motors, counterrotating.  Counterrotating rotors means no tail rotor, and no tail rotor control.  Yaw is controlled by differential rotor speed.

This little bird is only about 8oz all-up-weight, about 10" rotor diameter, and is designed to fly indoors!  Any weather, day or night, you can have a quick flying fix.  Hell, I've learned to take off and land in the palm of my hand!  On a dead-calm day, you can fly outside.  I've sailed mine right over my house, as well as out a third story window...and back.

Replacement parts are very affordable; new rotor blade = $1, new main frame = $9, new main shaft = $6  (yea..guess how I know:D ).

This is not a toy fan...it's the real deal in miniature, and I love it.

It's very popular, well regarded, and a hit with the modifications crowd.  I've started working mine over already with performance improvements, and my new USAF UAV paint scheme will be done soon.

Check out the forums at rcgroups.com  This little chopper is way too much fun!

[Neubob]

Now all I have to do is figure a way to rig my Air Hog to explode in mid air.

[Airscrew]

I should get one to fly at the Con, buzz the tables.  

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Airscrew
I should get one to fly at the Con, buzz the tables.  

1st paint it to look like a La5.
2nd wait till Doobs gets good and drunk.

Then just buzz him a few times. He should get a FSO flashback and put him in the fetal position. We will need pics of this.



Bronk

[Edbert1]

We should stop at a WalMart on the way up there. Georgetown/Temple/Killeen/Waco all have at least one we should be good.

[Flatbar]

A friend bought me the Stealth AirHog after I fixed his laptop for him. I've had it for 3 month and still havent taken it out of the box.

If the winds are calm this weekend I'll fly it, I just hope my dawgs don't get hold of it at the park when it runs outa juice.

[Airscrew]

Originally posted by Edbert1
We should stop at a WalMart on the way up there. Georgetown/Temple/Killeen/Waco all have at least one we should be good.

Oh yea, and then we can fly them along side the van and buzz traffic and the DPS cars on the way to Dallas,  

[streakeagle]

Some of the other people at my jobsite are starting to buy them... I can see a dogfight coming soon

I went to the Hobby Town to get the BladeCX or whatever... but my wife go me to get the Blade CP since she thought I would get bored with the easy no tail rotor version. The CP is pretty hard to stabilize and I have crashed it a bunch trying to get used to it. It is pretty cool, but I think I would have been better off with the begginer version with contra-rotating rotors.

[ujustdied]

ohh man thoughs air hogs are great i had one when they first came out i was like 12 they rullllllllleeeedddd. one of the best non R/C planes iever had. but now on the R/C side these plaines are awsome my very first 1 was a astrohog best plane i have ever flown. the sad part is you'll probably never find one. this is a really fun hobby and i would suggest every 1 to try. these planes are really easy to get frustrated with so find a trianer that really know what he is doing as these can be really expensive.

whats your guys favorite plane to fly???


catfish6

[SOB]

http://h1071118.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=EFLH1200

Oh man, that looks like well over 200 bucks worth of fun.  Thanks for the tip Goomba!  Cats AKA Stupid Cat AKA handsomehunk, prepare to be terrorized!