My Red Hawk experience
01-11-2007, 10:58 PM
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My Red Hawk experience
I bought my first R/C plane over X-mas, an Aerobird Challenger. Good plane, took a real beating before it finally died. I've since replaced the parts and figured out how to fly it well.
My daughter wanted one too, and I found the Red Hawk for about $30 cheaper than the Aerobird. This plane is virtually identical in size/shape to the Aerobird.
First day, I get the plane up for a good 10-minute flight. Next day, I plug in the battery and the motor starts spinning at about 75% throttle with no controller input. It spins with the controller OFF or ON, regardless of throttle position on the controller. I tell the LHS about it and they take it back and hand me another new Red Hawk.
I get the new Red Hawk ready for flight the next day, throw it into the wind and it flies like a dream---only for ~5 minutes. Then the motor starts to buck and hesitate. I bring it in and check it out. At first I thought it was me, because I forgot to let out the antenna and thought it just wasn't getting a good signal from my controller. Then I throw the plane back into the air. Immediately the motor starts to buck and hesitate again. I land the plane and run the motor while holding it. Below 1/2 throttle the motor spins fine, anything beyond that it hesitates horribly. So I packed the plane up.
Today, I hooked the battery up again to see what it would do. Elevons work fine, but motor will not spin at all.
I think I'm done with Red Hawks. This plane was intended for my 12-year old daughter but doesn't do much good hung up in the garage! I'm going to call my LHS tomorrow and request a refund.
On another note, a coworker wanted a plane this week and he also bought a Red Hawk. He also has had nothing but problems with it. I think we'll stick to the Aerobirds for trainers. Personally, I plan on getting the Aerobird Swift next, as it has ailerons and I'd like to learn how to do barrel rolls and more with it. These things are a blast! Can't wait to transition into gas.
My daughter wanted one too, and I found the Red Hawk for about $30 cheaper than the Aerobird. This plane is virtually identical in size/shape to the Aerobird.
First day, I get the plane up for a good 10-minute flight. Next day, I plug in the battery and the motor starts spinning at about 75% throttle with no controller input. It spins with the controller OFF or ON, regardless of throttle position on the controller. I tell the LHS about it and they take it back and hand me another new Red Hawk.
I get the new Red Hawk ready for flight the next day, throw it into the wind and it flies like a dream---only for ~5 minutes. Then the motor starts to buck and hesitate. I bring it in and check it out. At first I thought it was me, because I forgot to let out the antenna and thought it just wasn't getting a good signal from my controller. Then I throw the plane back into the air. Immediately the motor starts to buck and hesitate again. I land the plane and run the motor while holding it. Below 1/2 throttle the motor spins fine, anything beyond that it hesitates horribly. So I packed the plane up.
Today, I hooked the battery up again to see what it would do. Elevons work fine, but motor will not spin at all.
I think I'm done with Red Hawks. This plane was intended for my 12-year old daughter but doesn't do much good hung up in the garage! I'm going to call my LHS tomorrow and request a refund.
On another note, a coworker wanted a plane this week and he also bought a Red Hawk. He also has had nothing but problems with it. I think we'll stick to the Aerobirds for trainers. Personally, I plan on getting the Aerobird Swift next, as it has ailerons and I'd like to learn how to do barrel rolls and more with it. These things are a blast! Can't wait to transition into gas.
01-12-2007, 02:13 AM
#2
RE: My Red Hawk experience
ORIGINAL: Compstall
I bought my first R/C plane over X-mas, an Aerobird Challenger. Good plane, took a real beating before it finally died. I've since replaced the parts and figured out how to fly it well.
My daughter wanted one too, and I found the Red Hawk for about $30 cheaper than the Aerobird. This plane is virtually identical in size/shape to the Aerobird.
First day, I get the plane up for a good 10-minute flight. Next day, I plug in the battery and the motor starts spinning at about 75% throttle with no controller input. It spins with the controller OFF or ON, regardless of throttle position on the controller. I tell the LHS about it and they take it back and hand me another new Red Hawk.
I get the new Red Hawk ready for flight the next day, throw it into the wind and it flies like a dream---only for ~5 minutes. Then the motor starts to buck and hesitate. I bring it in and check it out. At first I thought it was me, because I forgot to let out the antenna and thought it just wasn't getting a good signal from my controller. Then I throw the plane back into the air. Immediately the motor starts to buck and hesitate again. I land the plane and run the motor while holding it. Below 1/2 throttle the motor spins fine, anything beyond that it hesitates horribly. So I packed the plane up.
Today, I hooked the battery up again to see what it would do. Elevons work fine, but motor will not spin at all.
I think I'm done with Red Hawks. This plane was intended for my 12-year old daughter but doesn't do much good hung up in the garage! I'm going to call my LHS tomorrow and request a refund.
On another note, a coworker wanted a plane this week and he also bought a Red Hawk. He also has had nothing but problems with it. I think we'll stick to the Aerobirds for trainers. Personally, I plan on getting the Aerobird Swift next, as it has ailerons and I'd like to learn how to do barrel rolls and more with it. These things are a blast! Can't wait to transition into gas.
I bought my first R/C plane over X-mas, an Aerobird Challenger. Good plane, took a real beating before it finally died. I've since replaced the parts and figured out how to fly it well.
My daughter wanted one too, and I found the Red Hawk for about $30 cheaper than the Aerobird. This plane is virtually identical in size/shape to the Aerobird.
First day, I get the plane up for a good 10-minute flight. Next day, I plug in the battery and the motor starts spinning at about 75% throttle with no controller input. It spins with the controller OFF or ON, regardless of throttle position on the controller. I tell the LHS about it and they take it back and hand me another new Red Hawk.
I get the new Red Hawk ready for flight the next day, throw it into the wind and it flies like a dream---only for ~5 minutes. Then the motor starts to buck and hesitate. I bring it in and check it out. At first I thought it was me, because I forgot to let out the antenna and thought it just wasn't getting a good signal from my controller. Then I throw the plane back into the air. Immediately the motor starts to buck and hesitate again. I land the plane and run the motor while holding it. Below 1/2 throttle the motor spins fine, anything beyond that it hesitates horribly. So I packed the plane up.
Today, I hooked the battery up again to see what it would do. Elevons work fine, but motor will not spin at all.
I think I'm done with Red Hawks. This plane was intended for my 12-year old daughter but doesn't do much good hung up in the garage! I'm going to call my LHS tomorrow and request a refund.
On another note, a coworker wanted a plane this week and he also bought a Red Hawk. He also has had nothing but problems with it. I think we'll stick to the Aerobirds for trainers. Personally, I plan on getting the Aerobird Swift next, as it has ailerons and I'd like to learn how to do barrel rolls and more with it. These things are a blast! Can't wait to transition into gas.
Good luck, have fun, don't quit...
01-18-2007, 12:23 AM
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RE: My Red Hawk experience
I didn't intend it as a "flame" per se, but only sharing my experience with Red Hawks. After having problems with my second Red Hawk, I took it back for a refund. I'm saving my money for a bigger step up this spring. There are several electrics I've got my eye on at this point.
Overall, I'm kinda liking the electric planes. Easy maintenance: play with it, and put it away when you're finished. I really enjoy my T-maxx's, but they are high maintenance as far as the engines go. There's a new Cessna electric plane that recently came out on the market that looks very appealing, I just don't think I'm good at flying enough to justify/chance the $400+ plane just yet. It's got over a 5' wingspan, brushless motor and runs off of two 6-cell battery packs. The guy at my LHS claimed it was good for up to 80-90 mph. This would be a huge step up for me right now, so I'll probably wait a bit for something of that caliber but I do want something challenging that will keep my interest.
Overall, I'm kinda liking the electric planes. Easy maintenance: play with it, and put it away when you're finished. I really enjoy my T-maxx's, but they are high maintenance as far as the engines go. There's a new Cessna electric plane that recently came out on the market that looks very appealing, I just don't think I'm good at flying enough to justify/chance the $400+ plane just yet. It's got over a 5' wingspan, brushless motor and runs off of two 6-cell battery packs. The guy at my LHS claimed it was good for up to 80-90 mph. This would be a huge step up for me right now, so I'll probably wait a bit for something of that caliber but I do want something challenging that will keep my interest.
01-27-2007, 07:28 PM
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RE: My Red Hawk experience
I would recommend the Hobbyzone "Super Cub" for your daughter to learn on. My son, ever so cocky, took my Cub up for a flight and got a little to wild
with it too low. He nearly cried when he tore the left horizontal stab off on a tree. I told him to get the epoxy and put it back together. I flew it an hour later.
Parts are relatively inexpensive and it is a super stable plane. Good to learn with.
with it too low. He nearly cried when he tore the left horizontal stab off on a tree. I told him to get the epoxy and put it back together. I flew it an hour later.
Parts are relatively inexpensive and it is a super stable plane. Good to learn with.
