- 6 June, 2006 -

-Flite Blade CP RTF I was recently tasked with the job of reviewing the new E-Flite Blade CP electric heli. Without hesitation, I jumped at the invitation. E-Flite is known for high quality electric aircraft, and I was excited to check out their first entry into electric helicopters. Some manufacturers have released products too quickly, having bad experiences with rushed production. E-Flite worked out the bugs on this gem before releasing the heli for public scrutiny. Ready to get started? Read the manual first! I don't mean to yell, but the manual contains important information that any new helicopter pilot should learn. Helicopters are a fun, educational hobby. But, due to their design, are inherently dangerous. The wood blades can cause injury, so be sure to fly in a clear, open space and that no children or animals are nearby. There is also important information regarding the use of Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) batteries in the Blade CP. Li-Po batteries will increase performance and extend flight times, but their use carries additional safety concerns that cannot be ignored! Safety Note: Only use chargers specifically made for Li-Po batteries. Using others is extremely dangerous and will result in fire or explosion. The included battery charger is the basic two-hour-wall-charger type. For a beginner, this will work fine. If you want to fly more than charge batteries, I'd recommend purchasing a peak charger for Ni-CD, Ni-MH, and Li-Po batteries. A peak charger recognizes when the battery is fully charged and shuts off, eliminating a chance of over or under-charging your battery. I recommend the Dynamite Vision Peak Ultra AC/DC charger. It charges any 1-8 cell Ni-CD, Ni-MH and Li-Po battery. If you want a charger just for Li-Po batteries, check out Thunder Power's DC 1-4 cell Li-Po charger TP-425. It's cased in an aluminum housing to protect it from bumps and bruises while traveling in your flight box. The E-Flite Blade CP comes with a six-channel transmitter that works extremely well. When you consider the Blade costs just over $200, it stands out as quite an impressive deal. The Blade construction is straightforward and remarkably strong. The main frame is molded of high-strength plastic and the tail boom is made of carbon fiber rod. The wooden main blades have a flat bottom to assist in training. After you become proficient, you can step up and install the Aerobatic Enhancement kit. The kit includes the symmetrical blades, heat sinks for the main and tail motor, and a 370 motor with a nine tooth pinion gear to help get the torque up for those flipping and inverted flights. Flying the Blade CP An experienced heli pilot will notice the hover point on the collective/ throttle stick. The one on the left is a bit higher than you may be used to. It's a little above the ? point. While the pitch curve is not adjustable, the throttle curve can be played with a little bit by way of the motor pinion gears. The CP (collective pitch) control helps transition from forward flight to hovering, offers smoother flight movement, and gives you the ability to progress into an all-out 3D flying machine. Plus, with the Blade's CCPM controls, all your servos are doing the work for pitch and cyclic control. More power for better control is always a plus. Another nice touch is that the Blade has an idle-up switch. This provides a transition between negative and positive pitch for 3D maneuvers. The Blade's first flight was a little intimidating. I wasn't sure where the hover point on the collective control would be. However, I was relieved to have a smooth, almost uneventful flight. The gyro held very well and the response was smooth and crisp. One advantage for any new pilot ? each Blade is flown at the factory before delivery. E-Flite can almost guarantee every heli is in perfect working order. If for some reason it doesn't work perfectly, Horizon Hobby has an awesome product support unit to quickly help with any concern . I look forward to many afternoons of flying and training others on the Blade CP. It can be used as a docile trainer or punched-up a notch to perform as a dynamic electric 3D stunt machine. However you use it, the E-Flite Blade CP will definitely fit into any pilot's fleet. - Ken Kitchens Long-time Hobby Outlook? contributor Ken Kitchens has many hobby interests, but helis are his personal favorite. The new Blade ranks right up there on his personal picks. Li-Po Battery Guidelines from Horizon Hobby 1. Use specific Lithium Polymer charger only. Do not use a NiCd or NiMh charger. Failure to do so may cause a fire, which may result in personal injury and property damage. 2. Never charge batteries unattended. When charging Li-Po batteries, remain in constant observation to monitor the charging process and react to potential problems that may occur. 3. Some Li-Po chargers may have technical deficiencies that cause it to charge Li-Po batteries incorrectly or at an improper rate. It ‘s your responsibility to assure your charger works properly. Always monitor the charging process. Failure to do so may result in fire. 4. If you witness a battery starting to balloon or swell up, discontinue charging process immediately. Disconnect the battery and observe it in a safe place for approximately 15 minutes. Continuing to charge a battery that has begun to swell will result in fire. Never use a battery if you find it swollen or ballooned upon purchase. 5. Since delayed chemical reaction can occur, observe the battery as a safety precaution. Do this in a safe area outside of any building or vehicle and away from combustible material. 6. Wire lead shorts can cause fire! If you accidentally short the wires, the battery must be placed in a safe area for observation for approximately 15 minutes. Additionally, if a short occurs and contact is made with metal (such as rings on your hand), severe injuries may occur due to the conductibility of electric current. 7. A battery can still ignite even after 10 minutes. 8. In the event of a crash, remove battery for observation and place in a safe open area away from combustible material for 15 minutes. 9. If you need to cut the terminal wires, it will be necessary to cut each wire separately, ensuring the wires do not touch each other or a short may occur, potentially causing a fire. 10. To solder a connector: Remove insulating tape of Red wire and solder to positive terminal of a connector. Then observe the battery for approximately 15 minutes. A battery may swell or even possibly catch fire after a short time. 11. Never store or charge a battery pack inside your car in extreme temperatures. Extreme temperature could cause fire. HobbyTown USA

This article has been read 989 times .