RC combat for the 21st century

Model Airplane News, Oct 2002 by Boyd, Matt

BACKYARD FLYER

RC air-to-air combat is not a new idea; guys have been dogfighting with glow-powered planes towing ribbon tails at organized events for years. It is exciting to compete and to watch, but the planes themselves are fairly conventional, and the skill level required to fly them is beyond many modelers' capabilities. But thanks to the people at Horizon, the technology of RC combat just got a healthy shove into the modern age of high-tech backyard electrics. This modern equipment brings with it a new level of convenience and accessibility for novices. The HobbyZone Fighterbird is the plane that makes this possible, and we had a blast wringing out a couple of them at our local ball field.

The Fighterbird's basic platform should be familiar to you if you're at all interested in backyard electrics (and if you're reading this column, you'd better be!). The Fighterbird is essentially a Firebird XL-the biggest of Horizon's 2-channel V-tails-with a few aerodynamic updates to the wing and tail (similar to the modifications that turned the original Firebird into the Firebird II). But the thing that really transforms the Fighterbird into an air-to-air brawler is the addition of an underbellymounted combat module that sends and receives "hits" from an identical unit on your opponent's aircraft.

THE BASICS

Two-channel V-tails such as the Fighterbird are pretty simple; there's a stick for rudder and a stick for throttle. More throttle makes the plane climb, so this doubles as your elevator control. The Fighterbird sports a more aggressive wing profile (similar to the Speed Wing that's available for the Firebird II), so it's slightly more demanding than previous versions. You'll want to have some stick time on a 2-channel V-tail before you take on the Fighter.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Fighterbird flies much like its predecessors, only more so. What I mean is that the 2-channel V-tail characteristics are slightly amplified. The wing makes it marginally more maneuverable, and the climb angle is a bit steeper. This new wing is sleeker, and my impression is that it produces slightly less lift. The only place it is noticeable is in the glide angle; off-throttle, the Fighterbird loses altitude faster than its stablemates.

For your first sortie, I suggest removing the landing gear and combat module so you'll get a better feel for the plane in the air. The smooth, tough plastic fuselage material will handle slide-in landings on grass all day, but the wire gear and smallish wheels (they're maybe 1 inch in diameter) can be tripped up by uneven surfaces.

Another worthwhile precaution is to put a couple of pieces of packing tape (or similar material) on the top and bottom of the wing's trailing edge for the first 3 or 4 inches on both sides of the prop. The Fighterbird is a tough little airframe, but the prop has a tendency to strike the trailing edge as the wing shifts in a crash. Tape should prevent the prop from chewing up the foam wing quite so badly. You can also use this tape as patching material after the fact, but I prefer to take preventive measures. I also suggest strapping down the wing with as many rubber bands as you can stand; the more firmly the wing is secured, the less likely it is to shift into the path of the prop.

LOCK AND LOAD!

An RC airplane with a weapons pod-how cool is that!? RC combat guys have been practicing a low-tech version of the idea for years using ribbons, and many have rigged bomb-drops from their planes. But until now, there has been no way to simulate one plane's firing a projectile at another. The system is pretty simple: the pod clips onto the bottom of the fuselage, and a 4-pin connector plugs into a port in the plane's side. At the front is a sonic pulse emitter (think of a tiny, high-frequency speaker); at the rear is a sonic pulse receiver (basically a high-frequency microphone); and on the bottom is a speaker that lets the pilot know what's going on by sounding two tones. A short, stuttering beep indicates that you are firing your "gun"; a long, high-pitched squeal indicates that you've been hit.

The connector provides power to the module from the Fighterbird's 6-cell, 900mAh NiMH, but it also provides feedback to the plane's ESC. This last detail is what makes the combat module much more realistic and really raises the stakes for the pilot. You see, not only does the unit sound when hit, but it also cuts power to your motor for several seconds. As a nod to safety, you retain rudder control while the tone sounds and your throttle is cut, but don't underestimate the effect of suddenly being deprived of thrust! These planes rely on throttle both for airspeed and elevator control; if you take a hit, you will have your hands full until your throttle comes back. My informal tests showed the average cut time to be around 8 seconds; but when you're in a pitched battle, it feels like 8 minutes.

POST-MISSION REPORT

The Fighterbird is a truly innovative approach to RC combat, and it opens up that aspect of the hobby to a whole new audience. Novices will really benefit from the predictable handling, but they should have at least a little experience with 2-channel V-tails before taking on the Fighterbird. The new wing definitely produces sharper response, though experienced pilots might wish for a bit more maneuverability. The combat pod system works well, and the combination of range and angle required for a hit ensures that pilots won't give up because it's too easy. So grab a couple of Fighterbirds, and go see who wins air superiority in your neighborhood.