Distributed
by:
Great Planes Model Distributors
P.O. Box 9021
Champaign, IL 61826-9021 www.flyzoneplanes.com
The
Calypso is a new powered glider offering from Flyzone that is available
in the ARF, RTF, Rx-R or Tx-R versions. Built with tough AeroCell foam
and offering a 1.85m wingspan, the Calypso is marketed towards a wide
variety of modelers ranging from beginners to advanced glider
pilots. The Calypso is a flap ready model which means that
flaps
can be added by purchasing the optional flap connector kit and servos.
For
this review, I was supplied with the Tx-R version of the Calypso which
arrives with a brushless 28-30-1300kV motor, an 18A ESC, a 1300mAh
11.1V LiPo battery, factory installed servos, a charger and a 2.4GHz
SLT receiver. A Tactic AnyLink adapter was also provided for the review
which allows the use of virtually any popular transmitter in controlling the Calypso.
The
Calypso arrives in a nicely decorated box which highlights the major
features of the aircraft on the box.
The
components are securely tied down and individually wrapped in bubble
wrap to protect against damage.
With
all of the components out of the box, it is evident that the assembly
of the Calypso will not take long. Keep the bubble wrap that the
fuselage and the wings arrive in as they can be later used as a make
shift wing and fuse bags to transport the Calypso in.
Flyzone
Calypso Tx-R
Price: $199.98
Key
Features
Factory
installed brushless power system (excludes ARF version)
ARF
version available
No
glue assembly.
Two
piece wing that assembles quickly and can be removed easily for
transportation..
Large
on-board compartment with magnetic hatch that allows easy access to the
flight battery and electronics.
Bright,
high-contrast trim scheme
Wheel
and skid plates to allow for grass and runway landings
Overview
Smooth
and forgiving, the Calypso excels as a first electric sailplane.
Ailerons are included for enjoying a wide envelope of soaring
performance, and by adding optional flaps experienced glider pilots can
move up to more advanced thermal chasing. Three versions ? RTF, Tx-R
and Rx-R ? come with a factory-installed brushless power system.
There's also an ARF version available for those who want to equip the
Calypso with their choice of radio and motor. All require only a
screwdriver for final assembly ? with no gluing ? and can be
flight-ready in 30 minutes!
Specs
Wingspan:
73
in (1855 mm)
Wing
Area:
526
in2 (33.9 dm2)
Length:
47
in (1195 mm)
RTF
Weight:
29
oz (820 g)
Included
Battery:
11.1V
1300mAh LiPo
One
of the first things that will grab your attention as you remove the
Calypso from the box is the skid plate and landing wheel on
the
bottom of the fuselage. A folding propeller and spinner have been
attached at the factory and taped down for transport. The complete
canopy is easily removed to reveal the pre-installed 2.4GHz receiver,
the 18A ESC and the rudder and elevator servos. The canopy is held in
place by two magnets and there is ample space in the canopy to install
the flight pack along with any optional electronics you may choose like
an altimeter. Cooling holes on either side of the canopy and to the
bottom of the fuselage should help in keeping the battery and ESC cool
during full power climb outs.
The
wing is a two piece design that will allow for easy transportation of
the Calypso. Out of the box, the ailerons are a single piece but there
is a clear marking which indicates where the aileron needs to be cut to
allow the installation of the optional flap system. The ailerons servos
have already been installed and wired and carbon stiffeners are visible
on the underside of the wing.
The
tail is air foiled and looks like it will simply snap together. A stiff
metal rod connects both elevator halves on the bottom of the horizontal
stabilizer. Included with the Tx-R version is the 11.1V 1300mAh LiPo
battery, a charger with DC adapter and a small parts bay that contains
a few screws.
Tactic
AnyLink Adapter
A
transmitter alone can only do so much. But a transmitter with AnyLink?
can do wonders. It's so revolutionary that a patent is already pending,
and so simple to use that it takes only seconds to add. Yet, once it?s
installed, your transmitter will be able to fly:
All
Tx-R? (Transmitter-Ready?) airplanes;
Most
electric aircraft equipped with a 2.4GHz SLT? receiver.
But
that?s not the only amazing thing about AnyLink. Here are three more:
AnyLink
works with virtually any transmitter, regardless of brand, band or
modulation.
AnyLink
enables your transmitter to send out a true, 2.4GHz signal ? and
operate with all of the interference-free dependability of a
frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum system.
AnyLink
offers all of the convenience, versatility and benefits listed above
for far less than the cost of a new 2.4GHz radio system.
The optional flap kit is composed of two servos and
a bag of linkages.
The AnyLink adapter which allows the modeler to
choose their favorite transmitter to control the Tx-R Calypso. Now the
hard part is choosing which transmitter to use...
The
detailed manual
starts you off in the assembly process by assembling
the tail section of the Calypso. Notice the skid plate on the bottom of
the fuselage which should help in reducing damage to the airframe when
landing on paved surfaces. The horizontal stabilizer is mated to the
vertical and bolted down to the fuselage with a single bolt.
The
connections to the elevator and rudder control arms are made by
attaching the pre-installed push rods to the horns using two small
screws.
The
flaps are prepared by cutting the ailerons at the marked spot and
opening the holes for the flap servos.
The
flap control arms are glued in place and the servo wire is routed
through the wing. You will have to use a string as a guide as the
channel is pretty tight and there is already the aileron lead routed
through the wing that could
block the way. The completed assembly is elegantly simple and slop free.
The
wing halves mate perfectly with the opening in the fuselage. A small
channel is provided to route the flap and aileron leads through the
fuselage in to the canopy compartment. Y-connections are
utilized
to connect the flaps and the ailerons. The wings are then bolted in
place by tightening the pre-installed screws on the bottom of the wing.
I
took the Calypso out to Scobee field in Houston for its maiden flight.
As luck would have it, it was a rainy day but we waited it out and when
the rain finally cleared, it was calm skies which made the maiden all
the more enjoyable. The Calypso balanced out near perfect
with
the 11.1V 1300mAh battery placed about mid position in the canopy
compartment.
For
the first flight, I opted to use the Tactic TTX600 transmitter that I
already had. With a charged battery and no wind, I hand tossed the
Calypso in the air and applied power and watched as the Calypso gently
floated away in a nice and stable manner. I had to apply a good amount
of up elevator trim to get the Calypso to fly level under power. The
manual states that the amount of trim may differ while flying under
power and gliding but I did not see any major difference between the
two. After trimming out the Calypso, I really started to enjoy its
docile powered flight envelope as I slowly floated around the field
making long and gentle turns and low altitude passes for the
camera.
To
tests its climbing ability, I pointed the nose upwards and applied full
power and the Calypso did not hesitate in responding with a strong
climb out. I would rate the climb capability of the Calypso as very
good. On later dates, I installed a telemetry system with an altimeter
and noticed that I could reach a 1000ft within approximately 1 minute
and 10 seconds. With no lift conditions, the glide ratio of the Calypso
allowed me to gently glide down from a 1000ft in about 4.5 minutes.
With
no lift and only 4 - 5 climb outs, that is a good 20 minutes of flying
right there.
When
it comes to aerobatics, the Calypso can perform loops and maintain
inverted flight but its roll rate is fairly slow to really consider
doing anything beyond that. The optional flaps help in increasing the
available lift and can allow for some really slow approaches to perform
spot landings. Even without flaps, the Calypso can approach in a slow
and controlled manner for a wheel first landing on finished surfaces. I
was originally worried about landing on the wheel as I did not want to
scuff up the bottom of the wing tips but I noticed that aileron control
is available even after the wheel touches down which actually made it
enjoyable to see how far I could roll on the ground without touching
the wings.
We
enjoyed flying the Calypso so much that we hung out at the field much
later than we usually do until the light had started to fade to get in
a few more flights. It was a real pleasure to watch the Calypso become
a silhouette against the fading light from the setting sun as we tried
to make one more pass over the runway before we had to pack up and
leave for the day.
Check
out the video to
see it in action!
Flyzone
Calypso Tx-R
The
Flyzone Calypso is a great little powered glider that performs equally
well as a gentle powered airplane or glider. The two piece wing
construction allows easy and quick transportation and assembly of the
airframe and the bubble wrap that the airframe is shipped in can be
used as wing bags as well.
The
Tx-R version of the Calypso assembles in no time and can provide long
relaxed flight times with the supplied 1300mAh battery. I also tried
a 2200mAh and did not notice a major difference in the
handling
of the Calypso. The Tx-R version of the Calypso arrives with a
pre-installed 2.4GHz receiver and can be mated to a Tactic TTX400 or
TTX600. Using an AnyLink adapter, virtually any popular transmitter can
be used to
control the Tx-R version.
I
think Flyzone hit it out of the park with the Calypso. Available as an
ARF, RTF, Rx-R or Tx-R there is surely a flavor to match your needs. If
you are looking for a 2m powered glider, I would recommend that you
place this one on your list and take a closer look.
Distributed
by:
Great Planes Model Distributors
P.O. Box 9021
Champaign, IL 61826-9021 www.flyzoneplanes.com
The comments, observations and conclusions made in this review are solely with respect to the particular item the editor reviewed and may not apply generally to similar products by the manufacturer. We cannot be responsible for any manufacturer defects in workmanship or other deficiencies in products like the one featured in the review.
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