Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

HOBBYKING PHOENIX 2000

Anybody looking for a low cost ARTF Electric Glider should consider the Phoenix 2000 from Hobbyking.

It is ideal for both Slope and flat field, and makes an ideal Glider for anyone wishing to try the Club E-Glider challenge at Stanpit on a Friday.

It is a 2m Composite Glider, EPO Foam Wings and a robust molded plastic Fuselage,  and requires  a min of 5 Channel  RX, Elevator, Ailerons, Rudder, Flaps and Motor.   It is very comparable to the popular Radian Pro.

It is available in ARF form, without motor, ESC, Servos (but includes Prop, Spinner and Nosecone) and all fittings or as a RTF version, just requiring you to add your RX and battery.   It is currently available from Hobbyking  UK , less than £40 for the ARF version and £60 for the RTF version , under half the cost when compares to typical prices for the Radian Pro of £95 and £142 respectively.

I opted for the ARF version adding my own servos and electrics, which was obtained for the bargain price of £36, a recent price increase and the Pound against the Dollar changes has increased the cost by around a fiver, but even so a real bargain.

The delivery from Hobbyking was well packaged and protected, and an evening’s work saw it all assembled, initial observations are that it is a well designed and reasonable quality product.  It all fits together well, the fixtures and fittings are adequate (typical of most ARTF kits) and do the job.  It quite screwdriver intensive, the 2  part wing has a Carbon Joiner Tube and a ply joining plate screwed into both wing halves to keep the wing together, It does mean that unless you keep the wing whole, field assemble will involve a minimum of 6 screws to join and attach the wings, its quick and easy though, but always the risk of losing the vital screw into the long grass at the wrong moment!!

A laser cut Ply battery and servo tray is supplied ready fitted, making servo and battery attachment straight forward, the ESC easily attached to the underside of the battery tray,  a velco strap is supplied for the battery (together with pieces of self adhesive Velcro for the battery), there is plenty of space for, batteries of different capacities, I am using a 3S 1800mah LIPO, but will easily accommodate a 2200mah without issue, and plenty of for/aft adjustment to get the CG correct.

2 minor gripes, common with other foamys where the control surfaces are hinged with the foam itself, the flap hinges are a bit fragile and began to part, this is easily fixed with a bit of tape to reinforce or embedding a proper model hinge, the 2^{nd issue was flexing of the motor which is bolted through.}

How does it fly?  The maiden was undertaken at Beaulieu in slightly gusty conditions, vertical performance under power was good, with a little down elevator to hold it steady, a couple of clicks of trim and it was gliding away just great, steady and responsive, landing (without flaps)  presents no dramas.  It 2nd outing was at Win Green off the Slope at the Club Slope Day, an opportunity to fine tune (Thanks Trevor Hewson) the throws and CG, a dive test suggested the CG could move forward slightly and the Ailerons were toned down slightly with Expo and marginally lower rates made is less sensitive on the sticks, Trevor was heard to comment that it was better in the pitch response than his Radian Pro!! , and performance and handling was very similar.

Conclusion – Highly recommended as a general purpose Glider for the Slope or Flat Field and represents exceptional value for money in either the RTF or ARF versions.

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