Sbach 342 3D
Additional items required to fly this model (above left). Since it is BNF (Bind and Fly) you will need at least a 4-channel transmitter with dual rates like a minimum DX4e (DX6i used here), a 180 mAh 2-cell 20C battery pack (EFLB1802S20). Also required is a method of charging the battery. Either a
nologies are just now being adopted for use in the industry. The program was called AGATE for Advanced General Aviation Technology Experiments.
As for the AS3X system, this will indeed
change the way and even what you can fly in the realm of model aircraft. Remember that Gee Bee R-2 that E-flite UMX introduced last year? It was among the early aircraft to incorporate this technology and reaped great benefits from it as a result. When they say that “AS3X will change the way you think about flying” they mean it. It basically makes any airplane easier to fly. Upon opening the box (which should not be thrown away as it will serve as your stor- age hangar) you will find a very beautiful lit- tle blue, black and white aircraft. This is the first obvious difference from the earlier re- lease Sbach 342 which was red, black and white with no AS3X system.
Carefully remove the shaped foam blocks that hold it in place, remove and inspect the aircraft for general condition (the test article weighed 57.1 grams w/o flight battery right out of the box) and make sure the is no ship- ping damage.
charger adapter like the EFLA700UM shown that will fit a system you may already have or a complete charger like the Celectra 2S Li-Po charger (EFLUC1007) called for on the box. Comparison of the Sbach battery pack (above right) with two other common battery packs in Daniel’s inventory.
Although the box is sturdy, the materials that the airframe is made of can be delicate if not handled correctly and the tail surfaces are especially vulnerable to damage if ex- posed to ham fisted handling. This is not one of those indestructible EPP 3D models that can be stepped on like some child’s Nerf toy or flown about with reckless abandon. The materials that the model is constructed of are more brittle. It is a precision piece of equipment that requires it be handled with some care if you want to maintain it in good flying trim.
Also locate the instruction manual taped to the bottom of the foam cradle. Start by reading this material very carefully. This airplane, in spite of its very toylike appear- ance, is not a toy. (It even says so on page 2 of the owners manual.) This is another rea- son not to throw away the box as you will need to stow the model well away from any children or grandchildren as this is easily mistaken for something that could be theirs. Also in the box are two pairs of side force generators that can be installed for im- proved knife edges and and other more ad- vanced maneuvers for the more experienced
flyer. Installation instructions are on page 8 of the instruction manual and it suggests that you fly the aircraft without the side force generators at first to gain a baseline of how the stock aircraft can fly. It also should be noted that the installation of these units requires adhesive and so the process is not easily reversible.
My preference tends to be scale model air- craft and enjoy a realistic looking and flying model like the Beech Staggerwing Peanut scale model shown in one of the pictures (FLYING MODELS centerfold plan August 1980) so the side force generators, although easily installed, will probably not be in- stalled in the near future.
You will need to set up your transmitter
with an appropriate program for the model that includes the recommended settings per the instructions. Unlike the Sukhoi, there is no exponential. This was left as inhibited on the DX6i that was used for this model. Once you have set up the model in the transmitter you can now bind the model to it, but you will also need to buy a battery and some method of charging it as thess do not come with this more sophisticated model offering.
Close up of EFLUM180BL2 brushless motor installation (above left) with cowl removed. The cowl is held in place with small rare earth magnets on either side that are very strong. Close up of one of the heavy duty linear servos (above
52
right) used with the AS3X system. Earlier servos like the AS2000L will not hold up to the system’s constant correcting for gusts and other disturbances that the active flight control system is correcting for.
MARCH 2013
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