T-REX Mania
By John Adams
In case you haven’t noticed (or are just new to the planet) electric helicopters have become R/C’s latest obsession. And Align’s T-REX 450 is clearly leading the hi-performance mini-electric helicopter class with a cult-like following. With aerobatic performance that rivals the most powerful
glow powered 3D machines, Align’s T-REX offers the challenge and excitement of doing the most radical 3D maneuvers, quietly, in confined spaces, and at a fraction of the cost of 50-90 size
glow powered machines.
The Advantages of Flying Electric
Imagine doing flips and tumbles, tic-tocks and inverted flight, or working on perfecting backward flying in your backyard or at the park. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing almost every day for the last 5 months. Because it’s electric (quiet) and compact, a T-REX can be flown nearly anywhere, anytime. I fly almost every morning before work in my yard and during lunch at the park. I’m actually getting more heli stick time than I ever have in over 20 years of flying helicopters.
The T-REX 450SA ARF
Here at Horizon, we have an exclusive version of the T-REX—the T-REX 450SA
ARF . The 450SA’s design is based on Align’s top of the line T-REX SE and it shares the exact same layout and geometry as the SE. The 450 SA is the only T-REX that comes pre-built. All that’s needed is to install the radio gear, motor,
ESC and gyro, hook up the linkages, trim the canopy and fly. Typical time from box to ready to fly is about 6-8 hours.
To keep the SA affordable, carbon side frames are replaced with anodized aluminum. Some of the aluminum head, frame and tail pieces are replaced with fiber filled nylon parts. This actually reduces the overall weight by nearly 2 oz, making for even more nimble flight performance. Hop ups are available for those wishing to upgrade to SE level. Other 450SA features include a machined aluminum head block, newly designed tail rotor grip and
Pitch change mechanism, and 325mm PRO wood blades.
Suggested Setup
For the hot setup I recommend (and use) Align’s 430L motor with a 13 tooth pinion, the Align 35 amp speed controller, an Align or JR 500T gyro and Thunder Power 3S 2100 Prolite batteries. I have JRXS285 servos on cyclic and an S3650 servo on the tail rotor. Spektrum’s DX6 2.4GHz DSM system is the ideal transmitter and receiver. In my experience, I’ve found this to be the ultimate setup for precise control with tons of power.
In the Air
So what it’s like flying a T-REX 450SA? For experienced pilots the Rex offers incredible response and maneuverability. Flip and tumble rates are faster than any 3D
glow machine thanks to its light weight and low mass. Over 9 minutes of aggressive 3D flight is the norm using the 2100mAh Thunder Power Prolite pack. And with a 60+ mph forward flight speed, the T-REX can get very zippy when you’re ready to rip.
Lately I’ve been flying several 90 size 3D machines and the T-REX 450SA will do everything the big machines will do except for auto rotations. The Rex just doesn’t have the blade mass to do the type of autos that a 90 size machine can muster. In fact, other than autos, the Rex may be even more capable at really aggressive 3D maneuvers. And unlike with the big machines, a crash won’t break the bank.
If you’re a heli guy and have yet to see a T-REX go, hang on as your not going to believe what one of these things can do. If your getting comfortable flying your Blade
CP and are ready to advance to the next step, the T-REX 450SA will take your flying skills to the next level and beyond. If for any other reason, you owe it to yourself to get a T-REX and find out what thousands of heli pilots around the world have already discovered—flying the T-REX is addictive.
I can't wait...Sleepster...
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