quote:

ORIGINAL: mikek0416

The manufacturer's market name is Heli Pro. We have a solid, open and honest relationship with them. After long term testing of the 450SE helicopter, we have made substantial progress improving a couple of the key components and in being able to provide our customers with a solid dependable electric line of RC helicopters. We are in the business of customer satisfaction. These are now sold at www.ka-planes.com


The following are the results of the review we went through to determine if we would sell these helicopters as your potential better Kopter.

VISUAL

The first thing I notice is silver/gray tail boom (450SE Pro). It has the visual look of being very thick and sturdy and the effect of the silver coloring on all of the metal parts and screws is really quite appealing.

The second area that I spot, is the head. It looks very thick and sturdy and the design is quite
solid. Bearings are added to crucial points in the linkage system to add more responsiveness
and smooth movements of the mechanisms.


WEIGHT

The weight of the 450SE is 675g including the canopy and battery
(weighed it with a 11.1v 2200mAh battery 161g)
- excludes 34g for stock 310 mm blades


DIMENSIONS

Though the dimensions are listed by my manufacturer, I always like to measure a heli
myself and these are reflective of my measurements.

Length: ~550 mm
with canopy 650 mm = 25.5"
Width: 112 mm = 4.5"
Height: 240 mm = 9.4"
Main Rotor 675 mm = 26.5"
Main rotor blade length: 310 mm ea. = 12.2"
Tail rotor blade length: 55 mm ea.


ELECTRONICS

3200kv outrunner brushless motor,
Powertech 35A ESC
HobbyPro head lock gyro
11.1v 2200mah Lipo battery and charger. (charger has the charge-finished light and we add a lipo balancer/charger)
6 channel receiver WFly ( seems like a manufacturer for some big brand labels)
Tower Pro 9g servos

TRANSMITTER

The RTF includes a 6 channel FT06C WFLY helicopter transmitter also has features for an airplane. The feel as with most radios is good and suitable from an ergonomics perspective. The Tx has a pitch dial on the face, idle up (3D), throttle hold and dual rate toggles. This is a very nice radio receiver system and the more I use it the more I like it..


QUALITY CHECK

Ka-Planes accomplishes prior to selling

1 visual, nothing bent or broken
2 screws randomly checked for tightness and head looked at for adjustment
3 wires neatly tucked and connected properly
4 fly into a hover and adjust Rx, gyro or Heli as appropriate
5 forward flight and figure 8 to check for adjustment
We use our batteries in the radio and heli



OPERATING MANUAL

The manual is certainly a weakness and I plan to rewrite it or at least tweak it. The photos help clarify different things but the words are not always clear as they could and should be.


OTHER OBSERVATIONS

The Black Hawk is easy to work on and it seems to be a heli that not only has a great appearance, but it is also very sturdy with reliable electronics. The initial helicopter we tested starting in the March 2007 timeframe has withstood numerous tests.The electronics, now that the gyro has been upgraded, have all been very reliable. No complaints or failures.



The Black Hawk releases in November 2007 are assembled with hex head screws other than the head and tail that use phillps head screws. Threadlock is recommened especially in the head and tail.


FLYING CHARACTERISTICS


The Black Hawk revs up smoothly and efficiently. The power combo (battery, ESC and motor) are powerful and the heli went into a hover with no trouble whatsoever. She is rock solid out of ground effect. Forward flight and rolls is smooth and effortless. Around the back yard and in the field the hawk is easy to navigate and is easy to see. The system is very responsive but not at all sloppy.


Upon landing, even a little hard, the heli seems very solid when hitting the ground, pavement and the garage floor.
Overall, this heli is a flyer!


SIDE-BY SIDES - not a debate, just my opinion

Black Hawk 450 and the Falcon 3D
Price - both list for $299.99
BH is longer, wider, taller and more stable (BH is the same size as a Trex and the Falcon is more petite)
BH motor and ESC are more powerful, durable and dependable
BH gyro is more reliable
BH quality is slightly better
Falcon Canopy is more appealing though paint jobs quality suffers. Hot Pink has come out of the factory,
BH canopy is much thicker and sturdier.
Falcon cardboard box is better, has a handle and can be used as a case. The outer box of the BH is thin and does not have a handle.
Parts availability is better on the BH. Not restricted like with the Falcon's. Trex compatible in lots of areas. However, Zoom 400 parts common to the Falcon are being discovered and is taking some pressure off of the buyers.
More online support for the Falcon, as far as owners
Falcon tail boom and tail mechanism is inferior
Falcon head and linkages is flimsy
BH transmitter is superior


OVERALL - BLACK HAWK SAME PRICE, BETTER APPEARANCE,

BETTER QUALITY, BETTER SUPPORT, BEST INCOMING INSPECTION




Black Hawk 450 SE and the Trex

The price of a Trex RTF (SE) varies, depending on installed options, from about $699 to over $1,000.
The Black Hawk SE , nicely equipped, ranges from about $400 for the 450SE to $699 for a Thunderbolt 450Z
Black Hawk is less expensive in all models
BH and Trex sizes very similar
BH motor and ESC are not known names (HobbyPro) vs Align
BH gyro name not internationally recognized as with Align
BH and Trex quality, no apparent difference
BH canopy is longer but Trex canopies fit the BH nicely
BH box includes styro inside but box is not a case with a handle
BH parts available and Rex 450 compatible is some areas. Trex parts availability superior.
More online support for the Trex, as far as owners
Trex head is similar
Transmitters vary depending on options selected
some parts thickness measurement comparisons (metal version)

carbon frame - same

metal head - B Hawk thicker

tail - B Hawk thicker but has a plastic slider


OVERALL - BLACK HAWK QUALITY SEEMS THE SAME OR SIMILAR AS TREX's AND IN SOME AREAS BETTER

VIDEOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpAiCmuLAzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOmbOYlxvw

WILL UPDATE, AS APPROPRIATE