15.7.2012

I got this plane last week and have flown it a few times. So far, I am VERY impressed by it. Here's my review...PACKAGING:The plane is VERY WELL packaged in a huge box. The box has styrofoam form designed to perfectly hold the plane, plus all of its accessories. KEEP THE BOX AS A CARRYING CASE for transporting and storing the plane safely. The case has compartments (or cutouts) to hold the plane, remote, charger, spare AA batteries, and 6 rechargeable LiPo S1 batteries (what the plane runs on). The box itself is 20" x 19" x 6".When delivered, the remote is secured in the box with a zip-tie. After snipping away the zip-tie,I added a twist-tie so I can put the remote back in its place and easily remove it when needed.I also added a small clear-tape dispenser to the inside of the box (see below).PHYSICAL STRUCTURE:The entire aircraft is constructed out of a sort of hardened styrofoam. So, it's a lot stronger than the typical packaging styrofoam, but it is styrofoam nonetheless -- it requires very delicate handling, especially around the wings and tail. The entire plane has a wingspan of about 20 inches and is 14 inches long. However, it seems to weigh less than my micro RC helicopter (only 8 inches long).The plane's body is split into an upper housing (wings and upper half of fuselage) and a lower housing (lower half of fuselage, motors, propeller, electronics, landing gear, tail). To service the mechanical parts of the plane, you'll need to remove the top half of the fuselage. The two parts are held together using small strips of clear tape. You will need to cut through the tape to open the plane. Since I see myself needing to open the plane often, I added tabs to the tape (rolled a small piece of tape onto itself to create a tab), so I can easily peel the tape back and reuse. However, you'll need to first put a piece of tape permanently on the body and then add the removable tape on top of that (otherwise, removing the tape will peel off all of the paint from the styrofoam and render the tape useless).FLYING THE PLANE:First, you'll need to charge the LiPo battery. The kit comes with one 3.7V 150mAh 12C LiPo battery. It also includes a battery-powered battery charger. The charger takes 4 AA batteries (cheap ones included), so it can charge the LiPo on-the-go. The charger also accepts a 6V DC power adapter (not included) (I used an old power adapter from Radio Shack and it works well). Charging takes about 30-45 minutes. The battery supposedly lasts "6 to 10 minutes", but I was out there for about an hour or so and didn't even use up two batteries (there were a few down-time moments, etc.).The remote runs on 4 AA batteries (cheap ones included). After turning on the remote, you'll plug in the LiPo battery into the plane and perform a pre-flight check (make sure everything is working). Then set the plane on a smooth surface (sand from a baseball field is smooth enough, but not grass), heading into the wind. Crank up the throttle and the plane takes off with only about 10 feet of runway.You'll want a VERY LARGE open field to fly the plane in, and calm winds. The plane moves quickly, especially when traveling with the wind. So, unless you have a large field, it will be difficult to keep away from obstacles (no chance of flying this in your suburban neighborhood streets unless you're an advanced pilot). Beware of trees (they will consume your VERY lightweight plane, as it won't fall to the ground easily), fences, ponds, and other hazards. The problem with large fields, of course, is that they tend to be windy.Once the plane is flying, you can cut the power back to about 30% and it will cruise nicely with smooth response. It's much easier to fly the plane with only power at about 30-40% than at full power.Landing the plane is also relatively easy. Align with your runway, and cut the power either most of the way or all of the way (it will glide itself back down with no power). Right before touchdown, pull back on the stick just a bit to soften the landing.Great plane, overall. Survived a bunch of crashes (my first flight was in strong winds -- not recommended). I lost the nose cone from the propeller, but it flies the same.Enjoy!

14.1.2012

I'll never forget crashing my .049 Cox model airplanes on their first flights when I was a kid. As traumatizing as losing a pet! About ten years ago I thought I'd like to get back into planes, and checked out the latest at a hobby store. $400 to get back in with a nitro plane, plus a transmitter, plus you need to find someone at a flying field willing to put in the time to train you. I backed off. Fast forward to last October, I looked into the state of the hobby, and found that a revolution had taken place, with lots of cheap, well-designed electric foam trainer planes on the market. I bought the Champ and the Aerofly simulator, and now wonder how the heck anyone managed to get into all this before.This has been the perfect trainer plane, though the sim made a huge difference, and putting in a good 8-10 hours really paid off. I've crashed the plane dozens of times (mostly on grass, except when I get cocky at a local parking lot), with no damage that I couldn't repair in thirty seconds with scotch tape. It has been my little buddy I carry around in the back seat of my truck and pull out whenever I pass a park and have a few minutes to kill. So fun. Also, the batteries are really cheap, so get three extras (if you can find them, seems like everyone sold out for Christmas).Because the Champ is 3 channels (throttle, rudder, elevator), you should practice on the sim with the model that most closely matches that config. You will probably want to take the smallest cub-type plane, hopefully electric, and disable the ailerons. Even though in real planes and models it is mostly the ailerons that are used to turn (in the air anyway), you don't have them on the Champ, so you should start sim training without them. Later it will be easy enough to re-learn the proper way when you get a four channel plane.Expect the sim to be hard at first, especially landing. Practice landing as much as you can. It takes a while to get used to controlling the plane when it's coming toward you. One note regarding this: as it's turning toward you, in order to level, turn the steering stick in the direction of the wing that is dipping down, which will straighten the plane. This advice helped me get the hang of it.When you fly for the first (and if possible any subsequent) time, go to as big a space as you can, with grass. You can launch by hand if there's no asphalt. My first flight I got stuck in a tree, and it was a real chore to get the sucker back. Stay as far from trees as you possibly can. The Champ is very sensitive to wind, so go on calm mornings. Take it really easy at first, and take advantage of the little trim adjustment buttons on the controller, so that if you let the steering stick go neutral, it will fly straight and level.As soon as the batteries go weak (or momentarily stop), bring it in as soon as possible. These lipo cells don't like to be completely discharged, and you don't want to lose control when it's really high.This plane is a fantastic bargain, and prepared me for my second plane, the ultra micro T-28, which is the perfect next step.

13.8.2013

I bought a $100 electric plane 9 years ago from my hobby store. I had a bad experience which was a combination of It flew poorly, I flew it poorly, battery life was poor, etc. I lost faith in my ability to pilot any hobby plane made and hadn't thought about it since. One amazing day this summer I saw a guy having loads of fun with his and it looked effortless. So I researched planes again and knew I needed something for beginners.One search for "RC Planes" on amazon instantly showed me the Champ. I had considered the supercub and others like it. But here's why I decided on the Champ and why I'm still glad that I did.1) Price. $90. Can't beat that.2) Ease of flight. No matter what kind of maneuver you're attempting,if you let go of the controls the champ rights itself. This is due to it's center of gravity and dihedral wings.3) Comes with everything you need. Extra batteries are cheap. I bought 3 extra ($7 each). On a calm day I got 15 minutes out of one using 1/2 throttle most of the time. Fyi it takes 20-30 min to charge each battery. Also, the charger can plug into the wall(with purchase of a dc adapter) and this way it takes 15 min to charge a battery. If you don't buy the DC adapter($14) the charger uses AA's which are provided so you can charge you batteries while your flying. When you're done with the first battery, put it in the charger. By the time you're done with the other 3 the first one will be ready again.4) It can fly very slow giving you time to adjust. Also you can fly it in small areas like parks and ball fields. I fly mine in a little kids ball park.5) Landing. All I do when I want to land is drop the throttle all the way down. You can do this at 100ft in the air or 10ft in the air. The Champ will glide down with your guidance. When I get close to the infield of the ball park I just pull up slowly and it lands Perfect on all 3 wheels. It feels great.6) Replacement parts. The parts are relatively cheap. If you break a wing ($11-$14) at least it doesn't have servos or cables and things like that which you also have to buy and/or repair. Just put on a new wing. Who care's if it doesn't have ailerons, it's still fun and rewarding to fly. Since the plane is so popular, your hobby store should have most parts on hand.7) Storage and portability. The plane comes fully assembled. It fits back in the box for transport to and from the place you like to fly. You can store it in a closet when not in use. The box has a handle for easy carrying.8) Only one Con. You really can't fly it with wind speed greater than 10mph. Mornings and evenings are the best time for me. When starting out make sure the wind is below 5mph. It makes a BIG difference in your experience. At 10mph wind I keep it up in the air so that it won't get tossed into the ground, that is if I dared to go out in the first place. I land into the wind for very slow landings which are still pretty easy to do. At 1-2mph wind, I can fly it with the wheels touching blades of grass with ease. You'll feel like an old pro if you wait for a truly calm day.

9.1.2012

Okay, only one flight in, so this review could change with time, but, overall, this appears to be a good little plane. We have been flying my son's two channel Air Hogs plane and I decided to get a full three channel model for myself. I did have to bind the controller before the first flight, as it was not synced initially. It took me a couple of tries, but nothing too difficult. Also, big tip here, this plane comes with a reduced input beginner's mode on the controller, use it. My first few flights I forgot to engage it and, while I could fly it okay, it was a bit more sensitive than I expected. After about my third flight, I realized I'd forgotten to engage it. Once engaged,

8.11.2011

As other reviews note, this is the BEST starter RC plane on the market. It's cheap (relatively) and will take a lot of abuse. Nearly any damage can be fixed with clear tape and foam-safe CA glue. You will break stuff (slipping a streetlight pole at full throttle will break a wing). After a lot of crashes, you will need to replace some foam parts--but it'll take lots of flying to get to that point.A few tips:- you'll want extra batteries (figure ~6 minutes of flight time per 150mah battery)- it's probably worth replacing the velcro that holds the battery with something a little grippier. You will have to put the new thicker velcro on the label side of the battery so the battery will still fit

13.5.2011

I've always wanted to fly RC planes, but I was always afraid of spending a lot of money on a plane and crashing it due to my inexperience. I came across the Hobbyzone Champ completely by accident but I am sure glad I did! Before the plane arrived I spent time watching videos online about the plane. There are many useful videos about the Champ online that go over many of the things you will have to do to make your plane airworthy. I also recommend downloading the manual off of Hobbyzone's website and reading it in advance. I'm not one to read manuals, but this is one that is worth your time.The plane itself is flight ready in a couple of minutes. I had never flown an RC plane before,

13.11.2014

This will be an odd review as I have yet to fly the plane.Per the manual, I got the plane binded (?) to test the controls. I was viewing the plane from the tail and noticed that upon elevator movement- that only the left side had significant movement. The right side was barely moving. So, I got my magnifier headband out and took a look. I saw a crack most of the way around the left side of the control horn while looking down from above. And, yes, while moving the controls, the crack opened and shut. Well, that was an easy fix. glued it up like new. Now the elevator has normal movements. I was envisioning the awesome corkscrew the plane would have done with hard up elevator.Next, testing the rudder...

5.11.2013

Great first RC Plane. Biggest mistake I have made is to fly it when the wind is blowing. Since the plane is less than 2 oz in weight, it goes wherever the wind takes it - usually a tree or the ground - and there is not much you can do about it. When it is calm, you can fly the plane for 10 or more minutes at about half power. There is plenty of power to do loops and stalls, but it looks best cruising at slow speed across a field.It literally includes everything you need to get going, even the batteries for the controller and the charger. I used the included batteries for about 20 flights before replacing them with new AA batteries. An incredible value.I have been pretty fortunate with crash survival.

12.1.2013

I ordered and received this plane after looking at the reviews and deciding to try out a beginner sortof model. Right out of the box, I put the batteries in, hooked up the controls and launched it outside.The plane is very zippy, even on a low charge, and it made two quick laps around the yard before gettingcaught in some air and smashing into the gravel driveway. After a second (and more cautious) flight,(which still ended in a crash) one of the propeller blades snapped off and was lost. To fix this problem,I shaved down the part of the propeller that screws onto the shaft and fit it into the tail blade for mySYMA SO33G helicopter. While heavier, the plane still flew very well,

1.5.2013

I got this for my husband as a first wedding anniversary gift. He was crestfallen because his little wooden plane from his childhood didn't want to get off the ground. I thought this would be a nice little update that he would enjoy flying. I order it yesterday and it said it would arrive the in 3 or 4 days. It was here the very next day! I was so elated that I almost kissed the delivery man. I was especially pleased that it was also intact with all the promised accessories. I allowed my husband to open it early and we decided to take it out for a maiden flight ASAP. Neither of have ever flown RC planes, so we did a little manual reading and went out to our apartment's courtyard.

30.8.2011

I purchased this plane wanting to get into flying, i have a mini heli and it is fun but hard to control in very light wind so i was a little scared at first with the plane as it is really light. I first got it and charged the battery took maybe ten minutes or so pluged it in and decided to just see what it does and i full throttle and threw it it took off and right into the tree knocked it out and no damage just moved the trim out of adjustment which i adjusted with the controll very easily. went out to a empty field no bigger than a decent size park tossed it up and was flying took about one battery to get the hang of it and be hooked.

18.10.2010

I am relatively new to flying R/C planes, but I have been flying R/C helicopters for some time now. Before this, I purchased an Parkzone Ultra Micro Piper Cub J-3 cub for the classic look and smaller size. I had some terrible luck with the J-3, and after some research, I stumbled across several posts recommending the Champ. The Champ flies like a dream, and completely different then the Cub. It has a "beefier" body, longer and wider wings ( just by a bit though, but enough to notice)and a bigger tail section which seems to help it elevate faster and turn harder. This plane responds well, has better power, and best of all it can land itself should the need arise.I just flew several batteries last night over a concrete parking lot and not a scratch to show for it.

11.7.2012

Its a Model Hobby for beginners not simply a kids toy in the sense that one needs some basic understanding of how flight & flight controls work. e.g. Less throttle = descent. Nose up = less forward speed = Stall. Kids with time on a game console might think they can handle it but may find it more difficult in real practice. I'd recommend a more true to life Flight Sim to try first.Some modeling experience might be handy too. I was maxed out on my trim settings & rudder still wasn't centered. I had to open the Model & shorten the control rod from the servo & now it flies a beautiful straight line. A 1/4 throttle is all it takes to keep her aloft.

31.12.2011

Santa brought this for my 7 1/2 year old, despite it saying for ages 14+ on the box. Well, there is no reason that kids (and adults!) of all ages can't enjoy this plane. Sure, an adult needs to be present to help little ones, but this plane literally flies itself.WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLY THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF WINDThis plane is made of very light weight foam. The slightest breeze has a drastic impact on its maneuverability and flight path. Be patient. There are days that aren't at all windy. One you master flying this plane, you can venture out in slight wind, but don't do it on your first day out or you will find yourself on amazon ordering replacement parts.Pro's:- It takes off from the ground,

9.9.2014

I have owned my Champ for almost 6 months, and I have flown over 20 hours on it. I have crashed many times and done a lot of repairs, but it is still very airworthy.This is a very good beginner airplane for someone serious about getting into model aviation. The price is right when you consider it is RTF (ready to fly) with transmitter, battery and airplane. Many people either doesn't have enough space to fly a larger craft, or don't want to invest a lot of money right in the beginning. This is a great product choice for those individuals.It is a basic 3-channel aircraft with throttle, rudder and elevator. This keeps things simple for beginners, and as far as I am concerned it is the best way to learn.

HobbyZone Champ RTF (4900) - Reviews

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