Here’s the RTF version that arrived for review (above). It includes everything needed to fly the plane, while the BNF version comes without the DX4e transmitter, a battery or the battery charger. There is some minor assembly needed as evidenced by the wing tips and the vertical fin (at right, above). Here are the other airframe parts (at right). The landing gear is optional.
is confident enough, the Intermediate Mode expands the pitch and roll ability but still limits the extremes. Finally, when gradua- tion occurs, the pilot can hot dog to his heart’s content with a switch to the Experi- enced Mode. In any of the three modes, the Panic Button will level the aircraft’s wings and command a slight climb. Releasing the button returns control to the pilot. Besides the airframe, the RTF package FM received also includes the Spektrum DX4e. There are a few other items, like the 2-cell 1300mAh LiPo battery, a charger, and the extra bits and pieces that complete the airframe. But first, a look at the DX4e. It isn’t a transmitter specific to the SAFE tech- nology. That’s all in the receiver specific to the Delta Ray. The DX4e simply uses some of its switches to control those functions. For instance there’s a push button on the top left corner that’s really the trainer but- ton. But on the DX4e it functions as the Pan- ic Button. Even though it’s a 4-channel re- ceiver, there’s a 3-position switch on the top left face of the case that’s labeled CH 5. That will select one of the three modes. Over on the right top face of the case is a 2-position switch that selects a high or low rate.
It won’t take too long to have the Delta
Ray ready to go at the field. Even though the FMreview plane was the RTF version, there was some minor assembly required. That in- cluded adding the wing tips, putting the ver- tical fin on, and plugging in the landing gear. None of this required any glue. Dou- ble-sided adhesive tape was all that was re- quired for the wing tips and the fin. A few screws quickly had the gear in place. By the way, there is the option of leaving the land- ing gear off the plane.
Before getting into a report about flying
each of the three modes, it should be noted that the BNF version of the Delta Ray re- quires a DSM2 or DSMX capable transmit- ter. Some of the Spektrum transmitters that can be used will limit the pilot to only two of the three modes because of the switch availability. But there is always a provision for the Panic Button. Take a look at the chart in this review and see how your Spektrum or JR transmitter can be used with the plane.
The manual is pretty brief but well illus- trated and it is thorough about pre-flighting the Delta Ray to insure correct control throws. The one big question mark here is
that it doesn’t address the CG position. There is room in the battery compartment to slide the battery fore and aft which will af- fect the CG. I moved the battery to its for- ward position which gave the plane a slight nose down attitude when held in the finger wells for hand launch. That’s a nice and nec- essary feature for hand launching a plane with the planform like this.
Subsequently I found that the website for
the Delta Ray specs the CG as 14.4 inches from the tail of the plane, along the center line of the fuselage. That happens to be right at the hand launch finger wells. Do not measure from the nose as this will place the CG 3 inches too far forward.
A subsequent correspondence with Hori- zon Hobby, who distributes the HobbyZone Delta Ray, assured me that battery place- ment isn’t all that critical in the plane. An aft CG supposedly helps make the SAFE and AS3X technology in the plane work better. So, with the polar vortex a not so distant memory and a snow-free landscape, was it now a good time to fly the Delta Ray? Well, the vortex has lately been replaced by rain or wind. The day scheduled for the first flight seemed benign in the morning, but by the
Along with the airframe parts the RTF includes the DX4e transmitter (above left). It’s perfectly set up to fly the Delta Ray without any need for programming. The
FLYING MODELS
supplied balance charger charges the 2S 1300 mAh battery at a 1C rate. For the beginner the brief manual (above right) is very concise and well illustrated.
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