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New Jet Toys for the new year

As the first Platinum Series E-flite® ducted fan, the Habu 32 DF also boasts a level of fit and finish that is every bit as impressive as its performance. Its sleek fiberglass fuselage comes pre-painted and integrates the vertical stabilizer. The fully-sheeted wings and horizontal stabilizers are reinforced with carbon blade spars and covered with genuine UltraCote®. The control surfaces are hinged for you.

Check it out by clicking here

The new X4 is in stock and shipping

The Hitec X4 Multicharger is a four channel computer controlled charger. This compact charger with battery management and integral balancer is simple to use and reliable. It features four identical and independent 50-watt power outputs, for a total output power of 200 watts. Each output can handle up to 15 NiCd/NiMH cells, or up to 6S Lithium pack simultaneously.

Four individual balancing ports eliminate the need for a separate balancer when charging Lithium batteries. Equipped with a twin fan cooling system which has an internal sensor for controlling fan speed, the X4 Multicharger charger is both efficient and safe. Charge your batteries and take charge of your hobby.

Click here to check it out

Weekly newsletter is out

The Atlantahobby.com weekly newsletter is out and available.

You can check out all of the goodies by clicking here.

NEW Extra 300 32E ARF

Designed by veteran IMAC and XFC competitor, Mike McConville, the Extra 300 32e ARF is optimized to deliver unlimited 3D and precision aerobatic performance using the latest in brushless motor technology.

And while it is IMAC legal, you don�t have to be a competitive pilot to appreciate its incredible performance. Intermediate to experienced pilots will enjoy its �big plane� handling characteristics and gorgeous scale lines whether they�re out for a trophy or simply out for a good time.

Key Features:
� Airfoil-shaped rudder and elevator
� Plug-in wings
� Balsa and ply construction
� Genuine UltraCote® trim scheme
� Capable of all IMAC patterns
� Machined aluminum control horns
� Double-beveled control surfaces
� Painted aluminum landing gear
� Painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants
� Large access hatch

Click here to see all of the details and a bunch more photos

New JR 11X Just Released

The JR 11X 2.4 comes with just about everything you would expect in a pro-class radio. Things like an extensive list of programming options, 30-model memory, a big backlit display and a eye-catching case worthy of its capabilities. The only thing it lacks is the one thing you won't miss - a pro-class price tag.

The 11X is also surprisingly easy to use for a radio so advanced. Accessing functions and programming settings is simple with the intuitive roller button interface and big, backlit LCD screen. It also has an SD card slot for model storage, memory expansion and software updates.

Most importantly, it comes equipped with the security and convenience of Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology. With DSM you get more than the best 2.4 radio control technology flying. You also get more receiver choices designed for specific types of flying as well as access to the exciting world of Bind-N-Fly aircraft.

Ultra-smooth, dual bearing stick assemblies
Refined 2048 resolution
AutoAssign� switch selection
Fastest-response, processor, for an unprecedented connection with your model
All 11 channels function at identical speed and resolution
Backlit, high resolution, 4 gray-scale display for optimum clarity in all light conditions
Access all Function and System menus without turning the transmitter off
Easy access, back-mounted levers
RF status light; Blue�RF on, Red�RF off, Green�warning
SD card slot for expanded memory and future software updates
30 model memory expandable with SD Card slot
3+1 Digital/Analog Trims
One transmitter with programming and uncompromised control for all model types: planes, helis and sailplanes
Exclusive, proven JR rolling selector data input
Custom naming for flight modes.

Much Lower Prices on E-flite Brushless Motors

Today we announce a major price reduction on all E-flite brushless motors.

Prices have been lowered by as much as 30% on these high quality motors. Now you can fly the best..... for less.

Back from SEFF

We are back from SEFF and are getting the shop back in order after a week of fun, food, fellowship and flying! We had a great time meeting all of you and look forward to doing it all over again next year.

The weekly newsletter is out

Check it out by clicking here

All new Aerofly Flight Sims are here

After the very successful �Aerofly Professional Deluxe�, the Aerofly 5, having been newly programmed from the ground up, is now available.

The new Aerofly 5 leads the way with many new features and functions. It is a new generation flight simulator for maximum flight enjoyment.

The virtual world of the Aerofly 5 offers, besides breath-taking photo sceneries, completely new "4D-Virtual-Elements-Graphics", which have never been seen before. The new "4D-Virtual-Elements" sceneries are extraordinary; just imagine 4D scenery with the quality of a photograph.

The �4D-Virtual-Element Technology� makes trees sway in the wind, water move, while creating also thermals and wind. Thanks to this new technology the virtual world becomes lively. The quality of the graphics in full HD is second to none. Click to see all that is offered

Telemetry on your iPhone

STi (Spektrum Telemetry Interface) lets you transmit vital information from your model�s on-board Spektrum telemetry module to your iPhone, iPad or iTouch. It can also be programmed to alert you when any telemetry value you are monitoring exceeds limits you define. It�s a great way to let a flying buddy watch model functions for you so you can focus more on flying and less on your transmitter display.

The STi is compatible with all DSM2/DSMX Spektrum and JR transmitters as long as it's bound to a telemetry module.

Click to see more

Check out the new Stryker

Designed by world aerobatic champion Quique Somenzini, the F-27Q Stryker delivers a thrilling blend of speed and aerobatic precision that�s unlike anything else in its class. Its fiberglass-reinforced Z-Foam airframe has been designed to handle abrupt wing loading changes at high speeds.

Click here to see more of the new BNF and PNP versions of this rocket!

DLG Glider contest reflections

This past weekend I attended the East Coast Hand launched Glider Festival in Wilson NC. Some of my reflections from this event are posted here and if you do not know about Discuss launched gliders take some time to learn a little as it is one of the best parts of the RC world.

I am still recovering from the 7+ drive home at midnight (and the subsequent Monday as a small business owner that has been off 4 days) and I could feel the wear and tear in my arm and legs this morning at the Gym but �Wow� what a good time I had this past weekend.

I learn so much at these events and am thankful for the opportunity to fly with the best pilots in the world who are so willing to share their knowledge with everyone.

Thanks to the club, for hosting us, the hospitality and organization you provide is unmatched! Thanks to my team mate Al Pernell for spotting and timing for me, Jeff Carr for radio help (you would think I would know how to program a transmitter) and to my Brother Bob for the support, plane builds, and the research on these killer new wings!

The funniest part of the event for me was watching my neighbor Lou run around the field during a round trying to get the bugs off of him (all while flying the round). He looked like Pig Pin from Charlie Brown as he ran back and forth with the swarm following him but they were relentless and would not leave. Finally after some coaching he changed from a yellow shirt to white and they left him alone.

The conditions were varied enough to keep you on your toes with one thermal so strong I was higher than I think I have ever flown (testing the limits of my new 6255 receiver) and then during other rounds with strong winds and nasty punchy little bullets (thanks for the snap flaps Jeff). As a recreational pilot I am still getting my new T2 dialed in and found myself more and more out of my comfort zone (for expense and retrieval) pushing farther and farther down wind to find the lift (go big or go home) and then circling lower and lower, one time for 1:40+ at tent height and below to get my times. I love how these new wings perform and the sight of them rushing down wind and not loosing as well as the ability to make it home is a nice site to see, I just wish you could add and subtract ballast during the flight ;-)

For the first time I was lucky enough to get to the fly-offs only besting Eric Brown (also flying a T2) by 21 points. From that time forward my performance immediately took a @!#$ and did not match my first 14 rounds. I was disappointed in myself but learned a lesson, I had read the conditions correctly and added 1oz ballast for the fly-offs and flew with it the first three rounds. After second-guessing myself during the break I pulled the ballast out for the last all up round, which really hurt me when I needed to stretch it out.

Kyle Clayton was on and was kicking all our sportsmen�s asses in the first 14 but due to equipment issues had a hard time in the last 4 which cost him.

My hat goes off to Walter Roos for the Sportsman win. I thought I might have a chance against him when I saw his plane in the tree on the first day but then I looked in the back of his van and lost all hope! If you have not had the opportunity to watch Walter fly he is a machine and not to be underestimated. It took a lot of us (and his brother Buddy) to convince him to come and compete with us in the various contest but he has jumped in with a force and continues to kick my but all over the sky!

Well done Walter��. I am glad you are moving up to the big boys and will need to fly in Expert class next time;-)

Click here to read more about the event

New and very cool Platinum Series P-51B

The P-51B Mustang was the first Mustang to match North American�s sleek airframe with the awesome power of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. It was this Mustang that gave the Allies their first truly capable bomber escort and Luftwaffe pilots their first taste of things to come.

The E-flite Platinum Series P-51B Mustang 32e ARF expertly captures the look and feel of this landmark WWII fighter with a scale outline so faithful to form as to be practically indistinguishable from the real thing. Every detail has been pushed to the limits of model size and engineering with features like concealed pocket hinges, airfoil-shaped tail surfaces and a painted fiberglass cowl that blends seamlessly into the fuselage.

Click here to see the details of this beauty

Check out the new Rhapsody Bipe!

The Rhapsody� 25e combines modern styling with classic lines to give you a one-of-a-kind sport plane that�s a real standout. On the ramp, its striking UltraCote® trim scheme, along with the factory-painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants, will turn more than a few heads.

In the air, its crisp roll rates and smooth, predictable flight characteristics will let you enjoy a wide range of sport aerobatics without any surprises. Best of all, you can have the Rhapsody 25e flying in just an evening or two thanks to handy features like the bolt-on tail and included wing jigs that make assembly a breeze.

Click here to check out all of the details

How can an Ultra Micro be a Beast?

Designed by World Champion Quique Somenzini, this is the first ultra micro to come equipped with a brushless outrunner motor and a 2-cell battery pack, allowing outstanding power to handle outdoor flying with authority. For the intermediate to advanced electric flyer that is looking for more power and performance from an outdoor aircraft, the UMX Beast is the ultra-micro airplane that brings authoritative outdoor handling and performance for precision aerobatics.

Click here to check it out and see the movies!

New Blade 120 Helis are in stock

The new Blade 120 Helis are in and are shipping. Check out the movies! Available in BNF and RTF. This is a is a fixed-pitch heli that will give you the confidence to master the basics of single-rotor flight. Its unique rotor head was specifically designed to provide the stability of a co-axial helicopter, but provide the agile control of a single rotor helicopter. Modeled after the popular ultra micro-sized Blade mSR, the sub-micro-sized 120 SR is larger, faster, and more powerful -- which makes outdoor flight a reality.

Click here to see more and a nice film of it in action.

The Dogfighters are on the way!

Check out Mike Mayberry talking about the new Dogfighter from Multiplex. Click here

More C-Z Scimitar

Thrust Vectoring with the new C-Z Scimitar,

New Very cool C-Z Scimitar

C-Z Scimitar, Thrust vectoring.

Boss is out of town Super Sale

Hello Everyone, My name is Greg Ledford and I am the Operations manager here at Atlantahobby.com. Cliff left with his family and went to Tahoe for Christmas so it is just me and a few other associates running the show here.

He has always told me that I am in charge and to run the shop like I owned it (or was the debt holder as he says) so I have taken the global Electron member discount way up for a after Christmas sale.

Now I don't know how long it will be before he checks this site and changes it back but if you are an Electron member now is a great time to make use of some of that Christmas money and if you are not an Electron member now is a great time to join.

As you members know the discounts are automatic and don't tell Cliff but if the sales are good.... well it is always easier to get forgiveness than permission ;-)

Merry Christmas!

High Sierra Li-Polymer batteries

Over a year in development, researching suppliers and waiting on battery technology to develop we are happy to release High Sierra Li-Polymer batteries.

High Sierra has has a strong technology partner who has the manufacturing ability to supply our needs but at the same time to deliver the quality that we demand. Quality is our first priority and we have worked hard to build the highest quality packs.

Each Cell is checked during production and matched with partner cells to assure the highest performance of each pack. Full life-cycle-test are repeatedly accomplished and as a result the high voltage under load will give you a noticeable increase of power.

Try our packs, the pricing is very competitive with those other low priced packs you see out on the market but our packs are not seconds. You will not see us changing names every time we get a new load of packs in stock and you do not have to ship your pack back to China if you have any trouble.

A typical 3 S 2100 25C pack will run $29.99 for Electron members and our bigger 5 and 6 s packs also have great pricing!

Click here to see the entire line of High Sierra Packs

New Traxxas connectors make connections easy

Only Traxxas Y-harnesses let you run dual-battery power for increased speed or runtime with the proven convenience and performance of genuine Traxxas High-Current Connectors. Choose the parallel harness to combine battery capacity for extra-long run time. Use the series harness to combine battery voltage and unlock the 50+mph speed potential of your model.

NOTE: Dual-battery operation requires attention to precautions outlined in the E-Revo VXL manual. Follow all precautions to assure peak performance and reliability of your model and batteries. Traxxas parallel and series Y-harnesses are for use with 2/3A battery packs only.

Click here to see more

The Beechcraft Bonanzas are in!

For most private pilots, nothing says �I�ve arrived!� quite like taking the left seat of a Beechcraft Bonanza. Considered by many to be the finest single-engine airplane in general aviation, the Bonanza is renowned for its classic lines and sporty-yet-stable flight characteristics.

E-flite has expertly captured the scale lines and satisfying flying manners of the Bonanza with this 15-size ARF. It comes out of the box with a great-looking UltraCote® trim scheme and enough scale detail to satisfy any sport modeler.

For those who want to push the scale looks and performance even further, E-flite offers several optional accessory kits (sold separately) that allow you to add cockpit details, electric retracts and even a V-tail.

Click this link to see more data and a couple of movies

NEW F-86 Sabre Jet Receiver Ready

F-86 Skyblazers EDF Jet ARF

Tough EPO jet - Simple, Fun and Inexpensive

Before the Thunderbirds, there were the Skyblazers, formed in 1949 from members of the 22nd Fighter Squadron of the 36th Fighter Wing in Europe. They began flying the F-80 Shooting Star, but moved on to the F-84 Thunderjet and finally, and most famously, to the F-86 Sabre. The team performed over 250 demonstrations in Europe and became the seed of what was to become the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team.

Our F-86 has a 27-1/2" wingspan and is 27-1/2" long with a 17 oz. flying weight. This receiver-ready EPO jet is pre-painted and ready to assemble in about an hour. Designed for simple everyday flying, the model is hand launched and lands on the reinforced drop tanks.

Included is a 64mm ducted fan with a 4300Kv Outrunner brushless motor and 30 amp speed controller with BEC. A 1600 mAh 3-cell Lipo battery supplies the power and is pre-connected with genuine Deans Ultra connectors. Three 9-gram servos are pre-installed and ready to plug into your radio equipment; a minimum of 3 channels is required.

Click here to see more details and a nice movie

FREE Brushless motor and Ducted Fan unit

Save $109.99 for a very limited time.

This exclusive Atlantahobby.com combo includes the ducted fan and brushless motor for a huge savings of $109.99! Act fast before they're all gone. Designed as a trainer and light combat aircraft for use by the British Royal Air Force, the British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk was mainly used to teach air combat, air-to-air firing, air-to-ground firing, low-altitude flying techniques and operation procedures. There are currently over 900 Hawks in operation and nearly 2 million flying hours have been logged on the Hawk.

E-flite�s BAe Hawk 15 DF ARF is a sport scale version of the British trainer. Constructed of fiberglass and balsa, the fuselage is prefinished with scale details. The Hawk boasts the rare and very visible Central Flying School airshow trim scheme from 1987 in red, white and blue.

This exciting model was designed around E-flite�s Delta V 15 (69mm) fan unit and matched 15 DF brushless motor. Pilots can use a 3-cell battery pack or utilize a 4-cell battery pack for increased vertical performance. The built-in fan mounts make installing the fan easy�just drop in the fan unit and tighten four screws. The removable front hatch also allows easy access to the radio equipment and battery. The entire trim scheme is prepainted, pre-trimmed, the wings are covered in UltraCote and all the decals have already been applied. Created for the advanced sport scale pilot, the BAe Hawk 15 DF ARF easily lives up to its reputation of being a stable flying jet.

Atlanta Hobby Receives 2009 Best of Business Award

Small Business Association�s Award Honors the Achievement

SAN FRANSICO, November 7, 2009, Atlanta Hobby has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Hobbies category by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA)

The Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is pleased to announce that Atlanta Hobby has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Hobbies category.

The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. Using consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that we believe have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports. Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.

About Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA)

Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is a San Francisco based organization. The SBCA is a private sector entity that aims to provide tactical guidance with many day to day issues that small business owners face. In addition to our main goal of providing a central repository of small business operational advice; we use consumer feedback to identify companies that exemplify what makes small business a vital part of the American economy.

SOURCE: Small Business Commerce Association

CONTACT:
Small Business Commerce Association

I want to be that Guy

Fellow Hang Glider Pilot and Friend Aaron Sweepson, has produced a great video on Hang Gliding that I thought you all would like. Aaron is one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world and an all around great guy. A great tune goes along with it.

Enjoy

If Twins are your thing

Blade�s mCX Tandem Rescue is a fun new twist on the wildly popular Blade mCX platform. It comes out of the box ready for flight with Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM control, a realistic looking rescue heli body and working navigation lights.

Everything you need for indoor aerial adventures like night time family room patrols or survivor extractions from the top of the fridge.

Check out the new twin and watch the movies by clicking here

Su-34 with 360 Thrust!

We have had the SU-34 in here for a while but the new ones are on the way and thee have full 360 Thrust!

Now with 360 degree thrust vectoring for even wilder stunts - The addition of one more servo and two 360 degree vectored thrust units expands the already amazing flight envelope of the Su-34. High alpha maneuvers are easily controlled and flat spins are crazy.

This is a BIG all molded foam jet with great detail and great performance. Two 64mm fans with two 3500 Kv Outrunner brushless motors and two 45 Amp brushless speed controllers power the big jet. Take offs from a smooth runway or short grass field are quick and the initial thrust will blast the jet nearly straight up.

Available in two colors

Click here to see the new addition!

RC Radio Network is live

The RC Radio Network launched today,

Check out the new site and pay close attn: to our show schedule. There is a great guest planned for tomorrow night. Click here to see the new site.

On the 12/08/09 Show

If aggressive 3D aerobatic flying is your passion, ExtremeFlightRC.com is the company for you. Makers of electrics as well as giant scale high performance aircraft, motors ESC's and more.

Chris Hinson Founder of Extreme Flight will join us on 12/08/09. Topics include the History of EF, detailed overviews of the EF planes, lots of images from China and the low down on what it really takes to design and manufacture the highest quality, highest performing RC aircraft in the world. Keep your seat-belts fastened for a Extreme evening.

The show starts at 8:30 and will run approx 1 hour.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you!

http://fb.me/EbxpuvFC

New Cox Extra 300 to be here soon

Click here to see more of this and the new Sky Ranger

The new Extra 300 EP RTF continues the Cox tradition of well-made R/C products. They are simple to assemble, ready to fly, and all about affordable fun!

Excellent choice for aspiring aerobat pilots ready to try loops and rolls!

Features:

SafeProp� protection � a Cox exclusive
The SafeProp pops off on impact, protecting itself and the rest of the plane. Simply pop it back on, and you�re back in the air. This allows the novice flyer to have more fun and save money.

FlightFlex� construction is practically indestructible
Made of durable, lightweight FlightFlex foam, they bend and flex on impact to absorb crash energy and protect the electronics inside.

Reliable 2.4GHz radio
The cutting-edge 4-channel 2.4GHz radio means you don�t need to worry about interference. Set the controls for either �New Pilot� or �Experienced Pilot� by just pushing down on the stick. (The Extra 300 is a 4-channel system with a 4-channel transmitter.)

All-in-one complete
The motor, radio gear and servos are already installed. Each model also includes a 2S LiPo battery, balanced LiPo charger, extra SafeProp propeller, 4 �AA� batteries and screwdriver.

Assembly is a snap
Simply snap on the landing gear, snap on the prop, and attach the wing with one screw.

December 7th Newsletter is live

If you don't follow us on Twitter of Facebook or if you don;t get our weekly newsletter you can click here to see it.

Christmas Hours

A few notes as we move to the last few days before Christmas.

The shop will be open normal hours thru this Friday closing at 6PM EST each day.

Saturday the 24th we will be open till 2PM and return to normal hours on Monday the 26th.

Saturday the 31st we will also be closing at 2PM.

All of us here wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

Even in these modern times remember the real reason for the season.

Join us for Open House today

Stop by the shop today for our Christmas Open House. If you can't stop by the AH shop visit RCRN and see our live video feed and chat with us.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Product News and Views

This weeks newsletter is out check it out by clicking here

Special Purchase

Special Purchase Save $100 on Combo Package

Cliff has negotiated a special purchase for the pilot that enjoys sport aerobatics and a plane with classic lines and a striking finish.

This special package would normally cost over $460 and includes the

Rapsody 25e Biplane,

A Power 32 brushless motor,

E-flite 60 brushless ESC,

4 JR MN-48 Servos

APC prop

Dummy radial motor.

A savings of $100 using a special coupon code Rap25 while supplies last. Click here to see the combo.

New B-25 Apache Princess Twin

Retracts with sequenced gear doors that deploy at scale speed are just the beginning. The B-25 Apache Princess also comes with navigation lights, counter-rotating props, two brushless motors, two brushless controllers, ten pre-installed servos, and a 3-cell lipoly battery pack. Constructed from tough EPO foam the B-25 is an airplane that will quickly become a favorite flyer. The ground handling is solid, the wide landing gear make takeoffs and landings a breeze.

The retractable landing gear with sequencers on the gear doors is a first in this category of airplane. They are completely pre-installed and setup, you only need to plug in some extensions during assembly. You have to see the landing gear in operation for the full effect. When the retract switch is activated after takeoff, the gear retracts at a scale-like speed and then the gear doors close. When setting up for landing, flip the switch again and the gear doors open fully, followed by the gear coming down.

Features:
� Retractable landing gear and wheels (pre-installed)
� 3 landing gear door sequencers (pre-installed)
� 2 brushless outrunner motors
� 2 20A speed controls with genuine Deans Ultra connectors (pre-installed)
� 3-Cell 2200 mAh 11.1V Lipo battery with genuine Deans Ultra connector
� Navigation lights (pre-installed)
� 10 servos pre-installed
� 2 sets of 3-bladed counter-rotating propellers (2 left, 2 right)
� Pre-painted EPO fuselage, wings and tails
� Authentic colorful markings (pre-installed)
� 2 engine cowls with scale dummy engines
� Scale detail parts, guns, air scoops, radio antennas

We are shipping daily,
See the movies and a lot more photos by clicking here

T-Rex 500 3G Programmable Flybarless system

3-axis gyroscopic flybarless system matches the stability of a mechanical flybar system, yet at the same time achieves agile 3D performance.

Features:

3-axis gyroscopic flybarless system matches the stability of a mechanical flybar system, yet at the same time achieves agile 3D performance.
Utilizes Silicon Micro Machine (SMM) sensors for excellent stability.
12-bit processors providing ultra high resolution, resulting in highly precise controls. Software upgradable through PC interface adapter (sold separately).
Simple setup process without the need of external devices. Setup is done through 5 steps and 2 sensitivity adjustments. Rudder setup is identical to GP780 gyro, minimizing learning curve.
Flybarless system dramatically improves 3D power output and efficiency, resulting in reduced fuel or electricity consumption.
Highly sensitive gyroscopic sensors combined with advanced control detection routine provide greater hovering and aerobatic stability than other flybarless systems.
Suitable for all CCPM and mechanical mixing system.
Comaptible with helicopters of all sizes from T-Rex 250 to T-Rex 700.
Innovative Pitch Gauge aids in facilitating pitch adjustments.
High frame rate signal output for faster and more precise servo response.
Capable of operating between 4.5V to 8.4V; compatible with high voltage servos.
Small size, lightweight, simple and reliable design.

See more photos by clicking here

F-35 Lightning II 360 Degree Thrust Vectoring Jet

What a beauty!

360 degree thrust vector nozzle allows you to perform maneuvers that have to be seen to be believed. It comes with a 70mm fan and Outrunner brushless motor (2750 Kv), 45 Amp speed control with switch mode BEC, 4-cell 2200 mAh Lipo battery and comes pre-painted. Glue the wings and tails in place and install your 7-channel radio and you are ready to perform the impossible.

The battery and the speed control are pre-connected with genuine Deans Ultra connectors. Retracts with nose wheel steering are pre-installed. Photo illustrated instructions include step-by-step setup of the various mixes on a Spektrum DX-7 radio. Recommended control throws, CG and expo settings are provided.

The F-35 is the most aerobatic EDF jet available. Extreme maneuvers like flat spins, tumbles and high alpha flight are all possible with the 360 degree thrust vectoring nozzle design. If you want to push the envelope of what can be done with a jet, the F-35 is your best choice.

Included with F-35 Lightning II:
� 70mm Ducted Fan
� 2750 Kv Outrunner Brushless Motor
� 45 Amp Brushless Speed Control w/Switch Mode BEC
� 360 Degree Thrust Vectoring Nozzle
� 4S 2200 mAh 20C LiPo Battery Pack
� Retractable Landing Gear with Nosewheel Steering
� 9 Servos

Micro Cub Now Shipping

We have been flying this little baby here in the shop over the weekend and I am in love with it!

Available in Bind N Fly and Ready to fly no plane captures the essence of flying for fun quite like a J-3 Cub, which is why it makes such a great subject for the ParkZone line of ultra micro flyers. Anyone with a Spektrum or JR 2.4GHz DSM2� aircraft transmitter can experience a little Cub magic with this 3-channel ultra micro flyer that you can fly just about anywhere.

The ParkZone J-3 Cub can be up and flying in as little time as it takes you to charge its battery and bind it to your DSM2 transmitter.The J-3 Cub is small enough to be flown in your local gym or outdoors when winds are calm. Its realistic looks and spot-on Cub flight characteristics make for one of the most enjoyable flying experiences of any size.

� Exceptional scale lines
� Advanced 2.4GHz RC Spektrum DSM2� receiver
� Fully proportional throttle, elevator and rudder
� Classic Cub landing gear with puffy tires and a steerable tail wheel
� Realistic paint and dummy Cub engine
� Li-Po battery power

Click here to see them in action and watch for a mini review on the RC Radio Network tomorrow night.

Air Show is posted

The Air Show team had a fun time talking Ron Marston from PteroWorks. We covered all of Rons very cool electric Pterodactyl designs and he offers a special deal of you tell him you heard it on RCRN.

Check it out by clicking here

Help protect Model Aviation from FAA regulations

As a Georgia business owner I was #16 in GA to sign. It is easy for you to help and your help is needed. Sign this petition: Click here to sign and help Protect Model Aviation.

This weeks newsletter is out

This weeks newsletter has a few items to help you get ready for Spring Flying season.

Check it out here if you are not subscribed

Why not fly something interesting looking?

Ptero - (tér-o); n Greek: wing, wing-like.

Works - n, pl; the mechanism of a machine.

PteroWorks is the creation of an RC enthusiast with a lifelong

fascination of aesthetics, mechanics, design and flight and tonight Ron Marston the owner of Marston Pteroworks joins us as we discuss the design and building of his very high quality flying beauties.

Click to see more in this weeks RCRN newsletter

DLG Gliders, Dr Huff reviews the Aeronca Champ and more

New Gliders ad a DLG contest in FLA this weekend. Listen and learn on the RC Radio networks Air show. The pod cast from last weeks show is now posted to iTunes and you can see all of the details here.

Click to see the after show detail page

This weeks newsletter is out

Spring RC Product News and Views, click over and check out this weeks newsletter.

Click here to see the news

New DSMX is here

Watch for more news later today (here) but the new DSMX is here">

Complete Duster Brushless Combo Save $75

We have had a lot of request and have just added a complete Feather Duster Brushless combo to the site.

The Combo Includes:
♦ Featherduster ARF
♦ Torque 22/930 Brushless motor
♦ Thunderbird 36 Amp ESC
♦ Motor Mount
♦ APC 10/4.7 SF prop
♦ High Sierra 3S 1500 Battery
♦ M/F Ultra Deans Connectors
♦ 2 HS-55 Servos

Click here to see more

Regular selling Price $274.99. Save over $74!

The Feather Duster is another great Jeff Gilbert creation that was designed for use with electric power systems.

Its ultra low wing loading allows this air craft to fly with very little effort. This unique aircraft was manufactured using all laser cut self-jigging parts and is available now as an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) version which is is mostly prebuilt and can be assembled in just a few hours.

The Feather Duster is a lighter version of the popular Diamond Dust and will perform ultra aggressive maneuvers including 90 degree turns at full throttle. The excellent low speed flight characterestics provide for a large flying envelope.

New Low Price on the Sukhoi Bind N Fly

You�ve never seen anything this small that flies so big. As the first 4-channel Ultra-Micro� flyer to utilize Bind-N-Fly� DSM2� technology, the Sukhoi Su-26m will thrill experienced pilots with its amazing aerobatic capabilities.

Based on a Mike McConville design, this exciting addition to ParkZone�s family of Ultra-Micro aircraft definitely doesn�t fly like a toy. Instead, it gives you the feel of being at the flying field, and its incredibly lightweight Spektrum AR6400 receiver and ESC board provide further value and convenience. An additional servo also plugs into the board to drive the Sukhoi�s ailerons.

Check out the video by clicking here and the new low price!

New Blade SR Helicopter With Collective Pitch!

If you�re ready to step up from a coaxial or single-rotor fixed-pitch heli, the Blade SR is the absolute best way to make that transition a successful one. It comes out of the box programmed to provide softer climb, pitch and roll response around the center of stick movement. This, combined with the tough, two-piece main frame and lower head speed, makes the Blade SR more forgiving and easier to master than most conventional CP helis. Plus, it�s big enough to fly outdoors even if there�s a little wind.

Amazing coaxial helis like the Blade mCX and CX3 took the marketplace by storm and if you have one of these now you have no doubt mastered the basics, and can now take the next step in heli thrills with the single-rotor Blade SR. This robust, micro-class, collective pitch (CP) heli bridges the gap between coaxial helis and 3D machines like the Blade 400. The new SR comes complete with digital servos and a real heading lock Gyro (the same one as the blade 400).

As the perfect addition to Blade's growing lineup, the Blade SR is easier to fly than a regular CP heli. This has been accomplished by programming it to provide softer climb, pitch and roll response around the center of stick movement. Since it's optimized for pilots to have a successful first outdoor heli experience, and large enough to fly even if there's a little wind, the Blade SR is going to be a huge hit with the guys who have been itching to get outside and have a little more fun.The Blade SR is also more forgiving and easier to master than most conventional CP helis thanks to a tough 2-piece main frame and lower head speed. Tuned for single-rotor basics, it's the perfect choice as any aspiring pilot's second heli.

Click here to see more

NEW JR X 9503 2.4 Released

Improving on an already successful transmitter is hard to do but with the new 9503 I think JR has done just that! The 50 in the new name designates the new and increased model memory and the new transmitter even sports a new price too!.

Key Features of the new 9503

3 year warranty
50 model memory (new)
Throttle timer start up (new)
Model Match
Spektrum DSM 2 2.4Ghz RF link
Proven JR 9303 transmitter programming
Back-compatible with all Spektrum receivers
Now includes back light screen (new)

Overview

Combining Spektrum�s industry-leading 2.4GHz DSM® technology with proven JR 9303 transmitter programming with optimal features creates this impeccable radio. Additional features such as 50 model memory, model match, and back-compatible with all Spektrum receivers makes this model a great value. Furthermore, the highly requested throttle timer start up feature added to the advanced functions of the X9303 and a back light screen also increases visibility and readability on the display provides top of the line features to this already great radio. Enthusiasts can appreciate this JR radio regardless if a beginner or experienced hobbyist.

Click over and read more here.

AH Is Closed Today Due to Snow storm

We have done our best to get to work today but due to the snow and ice storm in Atlanta we are just not able to get in. Orders placed as of Friday afternoon will be shipped tomorrow pending the schedule of UPS, USPS etc.

We will monitor our Live Help, Facebook page and Email

We apologize for the slight delay.

Cliff, Greg, Russell, Joel

Happy New Year newsletter is out

Happy New Year,

Our first newsletter of the year is out.

Click here to see more

Stinson SR-10 available soon in PNP and BNF

First introduced in 1938, the Stinson SR-10 is as much a work of art as a work of engineering. The combination of its graceful lines and unique wing shape give you the sense it�s reaching for the sky even when it�s parked on the ramp.

ParkZone has expertly modeled this aviation classic to give you a civilian scale experience unlike anything else. It comes out of the box loaded with scale details like an authentic paint scheme and markings, molded ribbing in the wings, a simulated radial engine, accurately modeled landing gear and much more.

A robust 480 brushless motor power system provides plenty of power for everything from half-throttle cruising to full-throttle sport aerobatics. You also have the option of adding flaps. And it will do it all with the same smooth sport flying manners you�ve come to expect from a Park.

See more by clicking here

F4F Wildcat shipping Friday!

Available in Bind and Fly and Plug N Play and shipping this Friday. Click here to see more and a cool video

From Pearl Harbor through 1942 the F4F Wildcat was the only U.S. fighter in the Pacific theater capable of thwarting the advances of Japan�s naval air forces. And though it was slower and less maneuverable than the vaunted Zero, its heavier armor, self-sealing fuel tanks and rugged airframe could often help a skilled pilot overcome this performance gap and live to fight another day.

ParkZone brings the legendary Wildcat to life with this great flying Plug-N-Play park flyer modeled after a plane flown by Lieutenant Commander Edward �Butch� O�Hare � the U.S. Navy�s first flying ace.

Scale touches include a realistic paint scheme, simulated engine cylinders and cowl flaps, molded wheels tucked into the fuselage and more. Its flight performance is equally impressive thanks to the full 4-channel control and ample power provided by its 480 brushless motor.

New Airtronics Rx 6000 2.4 receivers now shipping

This FHSS-1 receiver is compatible with both the RDS8000 and the SD-10G, providing Airtronics users with an affordable Full Range receiver option.

In standard Airtronics fashion, this receiver features their easy-to-bind push button procedure, dual antennas for easy installation and flexibility, and it's in a small, lightweight setup. Fly 60 size planes or park flyers, this receiver will handle it with ease.

Click here to see more

Optima 6 Receivers back in stock

After a long delay the Hitec Optima 6 receivers are back in stock. Click here to get yours today

The Optima receivers are part of a 2.4GHz system that utilizes the latest Adaptive Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Technology (AFHSS) and the Hitec exclusive Smart Scan system to ensure a rock-solid, interference-free connection between the transmitter and the receiver.

The Spectra 2.4 module and Optima line of receivers include built-in telemetry:

Low Battery Warning�Notifies the pilot when the on-board receiver battery voltage is too low for continued operation and needs to be recharged. Very useful for Gas, Glow, and Glider pilots.

Range-Out Warning�Notifies the pilot when the airplane is too far away and signal degradation is beginning to occur. A must for larger airplanes and gliders.

Features:

Boosted Omni-Directional Antenna�eliminates the need for satellite receivers

Supplementary Power Connection (SPC)�permits powering the receiver with up to a 6S LiPo battery

SmartScan Mode Selectable

Length: 1.82" (46.15mm)

Width: 0.84" (21.42mm)

Height: 0.44" (11.1mm)

Weight: 0.54 oz. (15.31g)

Just how hot is it?

Monitor the temperature of your various components easily and accurately with Dynamite's Mini Infrared Thermometer. With its compact design and accurate temperature readings within +/- 2%, this tool is a must-have for any RC enthusiast.

� Large temperature range: -27 degrees to 428 degrees Fahrenheit
� Highly accurate, +/- 2% of reading
� An economical way to monitor surface temperatures

Click here to see more

Widowmaker 22 Deep-V Brushess RTR

See a movie of it in action by clicking here

Hit the waves with the Pro Boat® WidowMaker 22� Deep-V brushless-powered speedboat. Along with its durable and attractive fiberglass hull, this boat only requires a single battery, providing exceptional durability and performance at a price that won't break the bank.

The included ESC comes Li-Po-ready and contains a built-in voltage cutoff that allows you to safely increase the performance of the WidowMaker by simply dropping in your favorite 2S Li-Po pack. The WidowMaker isn't lacking in looks, either. A military-inspired trim scheme and a hull engineered with a 'stealth' design ensure that the WidowMaker will stand out on the lake or on display.

Key Features:
� Brushless power makes it faster than conventional electric boats
� Fiberglass construction for great appearance and durability
� Installed Pro Boat® 2-channel AM pistol-grip radio offers solid control
� Optimum cornering and adjustability thanks to aluminum offset rudder
� Ni-MH/Li-Po Switch allows easy change from Ni-MH to Li-Po batteries
� Water-cooled motor and electronic speed control with reverse
� Battery and electronics accessed through magnetic hatch that securely mounts to the hull
� Receiver and servos protected by quick-access water-resistant radio compartment

4th Of July Holiday Hours

Atlanta Hobby will be closing early on Monday July 4th to allow the crew to spend time with their families. Shop online 24/7 but the shop will only be open 8:30 - 2 on Monday the 4th.

Enjoy the day!

This is a hint for the AMA/Model Aviation 20 questions giveaway.

Cliff out enjoying the weekend in his Yellow Drag-N-Fly Ultralight.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

29 years ago today I drove to the church and remember doing 5-6 laps around the parking lot before finally deciding to park out front and go in. I was not really worried about the actual getting married part I was however worried about what our friends were plotting for the car and I was right, when we sold that car years later it still had birdseed in it!

29 years is a long time. We ve actually been married to each other more than half of our lives, we ve been together longer than we ve not been together.

Remember our honeymoon? We stayed at a fancy downtown hotel in Charlotte and flooded the bathroom with bubbles when we put the whole box of bubble bath in the Jacuzzi. I had just purchased a Volkswagen camper van and the day after the wedding (and while the bubbles were still receding) we took all of the cash we had in the world (about $500) and headed west to see the country. That Van was a traveling machine, it had no air-conditioning but it did have both cassette and 8 track tape decks and with the camera case on the gas pedal it had a cruise control!

How do you stay together for 29 years?
I think our parents set the stage for a long marriage. Both sets of our parents (all of who are still alive and well) are still together today. I think this instilled a model to try to emulate for the two of us as most folks IMO just give up to easily.

I must have been very lucky at age 19. I remember when you walked in and sat across the room from me in Mrs. Fowlers Geometry class. I noticed you the second you sat down. I think I was too young to have any reasonable idea of what we were doing but I knew that day, the path forward I would take.

We were "dinks" , double incomes no kids and had the ability to travel the world and party (and we did). I wish we would have had our kids earlier but I am glad we waited, as we were both able to grow up a little (ok a lot). We had our first child after we had being married 16 years. I have learned that children are a lifetime project and with this project and new responsibility we have seen it all, been full of pride, frustration, fear and excitement and there is more for sure to come. I think our marriage has taught our kids a little about teamwork and responsibility and they have in turn taught us to lighten up and not take things so seriously (they still don't know how good they have it).

Divorce? Never. Murder? Often!
For me marriage is not a 50/50 proposition it is 110/110 work at it project. We have been far more fortunate than we deserve. We have never lived in a conventional neighborhood (well once) but instead had geodesic domes and airplane hangers. We have been close to killing each other many times, said things we wished we hadn't, done things we wished we hadn't, we have had sickness and health, we have certainly been richer, and now poorer but all in all we have done OK.

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage, only perfect moments we have had a lot of them "moments" but I am thankful for that "moment" years ago when some unnamed person who we never knew assigned you to Mrs. Fowlers geometry class.

Happy anniversary Sweetheart, I love you & lets do 29 more!

It's here! Sukhoi SU-26XP

This Sukhoi design features a powerful propulsion system and large control throws that deliver impressive precision aerobatic performance.

The Sukhoi SU-26XP takes everything that made the Sukhoi SU-26m ultra micro a hit and adds a

more powerful motor, new propeller and larger control throws for even more aerobatic excitement. Best of all, you can have it flying in as little time as it takes you to charge its battery and bind it to a DSM2 transmitter (exponential and dual rate functions recommended).

Check out the movies and more photos by clicking here

Pogo LR-1A Pylon Racer Now Shipping

Fans of Goodyear racers from the 1950s will love the sleek lines and exhilarating performance of the LR-1A Pogo 15e. Designed by Jerry Small to give intermediate to experienced modelers a sport plane that can also be flown as a pylon racer, the LR-1A Pogo 15e will accept a variety of power setups.

Click here to see the movies of it in action!

Wingspan:	49.0 in (1244mm)
Overall Length:	36.3 in (922mm)
Wing Area:	375 sq in (24.19 sq dm)
Flying Weight:	3.13 lb (1.42kg) - 3.25 lb (1.48kg)
Motor Size:	Power 15 - Power 25 (1250kV)
Radio:	4+ channels
Servos:	Mini servos required (3)
Trim Scheme Colors:	Ultracote White (U870), Cub Yellow (U884), Midnight Blue (U885)
CG (center of gravity):	2.3 - 2.6 in (60 - 66mm) from leading edge
Wing Loading:	19.20 oz/sq ft (61g/ sq dm)
Prop Size:	8 x 8E - 10 x 10E
Spinner Size:	2.0 in (51mm)
Speed Control:	Power 15 - 40A, Power 25 1250kV - 60A
Recommended Battery:	Power 15: 3S3200, Power 25: 4S2500
Approx. Flying Duration:	5 - 8 minutes depeding on motor and battery used
Experience Level:	Intermediate
Is Assembly Required:	Yes

Text for newsletter

Now you can text ATLANTAHOBBY to 22828 to join our newsletter and receive weekly coupon deals.

Spektrum DX8 Gimbal Bulletin:

Spektrum Product Development has been investigating reports from DX8 transmitter customers experiencing servo movements inconsistent with corresponding transmitter stick input.

As a precautionary measure, Horizon Hobby would like DX8 customers to perform the Monitor Test to examine Gimbal controls over the entire range of each axis of input. Expected results for the Monitor Test should show smooth tracking with corresponding stick input. If the Monitor "jumps", hesitates, or is seen in a channel other than what is being tested, please follow the Monitor Test instructions below to test DX8 Gimbal movement:

Monitor Test:

Step 1: Turn on power switch. Ensure left stick position (throttle) is low and Flap/Gyro switch is in position 0 or all the way up.

Step 2: Press the roller to enter the Function List menu.

Step 3: Using the roller, scroll to the bottom of the Function List menu and depress roller to select Monitor function.

Step 4: Note the position of the Aileron (AIL) and Rudder (RUD) positions. Ensure all trims are centered and sub-trims are zero before continuing to Step 5.

Step 5: Move the Throttle (Left side) and Elevator (Right side) gimbals up and down being very careful not to touch the control sticks. While moving the gimbals up and down, note the AIL and RUD positions on the Monitor.

ONLY touch the Gimbal on the outer frame where shown, being very careful not to move the stick as this will falsify the test.

Step 6: If the percentage for the Aileron or Rudder changes by more than 3%, follow the instructions for sending your DX8 transmitter in for inspection.

DX8 Transmitter Service Request:

Click HERE to complete the Transmitter Service Request Form.
Horizon will pay for ground shipping within the United States and Canada.
If you purchased your product outside the US and Canada, contact your local retailer or distributor. A list of International distributors may be found HERE.
If you have further questions in the United States, please call Horizon Hobby Product Support at 877-504-0233.

We apologize for this inconvenience. Horizon disclaims all liability and warranties for any consumer failing to act upon this product bulletin. Always check your transmitter and equipment prior to each flight.

Spektrum and JR DSMX Transmitter Bulletin

DSMX transmitters operating in DSM2 mode

The Spektrum Team has been investigating sporadic reports from DSMX transmitter owners using their products in DSM2 mode. We have discovered that in some rare instances, DSMX equipped transmitters with the Product ID (PID) within this bulletin, may have a backwards compatibility issue that could cause a "hold" with the following superseded DSM2 receivers: AR500, AR6100, AR6100E, AR6110, AR6110E, AR6200 and AR6300.

Note: This bulletin does not apply to DSM2 ONLY transmitters.

If you have any of the products outlined in this bulletin, please review the PIDs to determine if they are affected. For any units with an affected PID, please follow the instructions below.

If you have a DSMX transmitter with one of the following PIDs, please complete the Transmitter Service Request Form to receive a prepaid shipping label to send your transmitter to Horizon Hobby for a free firmware update.

Click HERE to complete the Transmitter Service Request Form.
Horizon will pay for ground shipping within the United States and Canada.
If you purchased your product outside the US and Canada, contact your local retailer or distributor. A list of International distributors may be found HERE.
If you have further questions in the United States, please call Horizon Hobby Product Support at 877-504-0233.

DX6i/DX5e/DX4e:
PID: HS010, HS011, HH011, HT011, HT012, HE012, HE101, HA101, HA102, HA103, HA104, HA105

Transmitters with affected PIDs may be found in the following products:

Blade mCP X RTF (BLH3500), E-flite Apprentice 15e RTF (EFL2725), Hangar 9 Alpha 40 DSM2 RTF (HAN4400), Hobbyzone Super Cub DSM RTF (HBZ7400), ParkZone Radian RTF (PKZ4700), ParkZone P-51D BL DSM RTF (PKZ2200), ParkZone F4U Corsair RTF (PKZ4600), Phoenix R/C Pro Simulator 3.0 with DX5e (RTM30R5510/RTM30R55101).

DX8:
PID: HS008, HS009, HH009, HH010, HT010, HE010, HE011, HA011, HA012, HA101, HO102, HO103, HO104, HO105

DX7:
PID: HA103, HA104, HA105

JRP9503:
PID: TM101, TM102, TM103, TM104, TM105

JRP9303:
PID: TM101, TM102, TM103, TM104, TM105

We apologize for this inconvenience. Horizon disclaims all liability and warranties for any consumer failing to act upon this product bulletin. Always check your transmitter and equipment prior to each flight.

In Stock Aurora 9!

After a long delay these are in stock!

Hitec is proud to introduce the new flagship radio, the Aurora 9. The Aurora 9 is a �pure digital� 2.4GHz system offering immediate response yet it is also compatible with the Spectra PRO for PPM and PCM Operation. The Aurora is a true 3-in-1 radio with sophisticated programming for sail planes, helicopters and all kinds of power planes. The Aurora 9 also features a backlit 5.1 inch touch screen display, 30 Model memory, assignable switches and customizable programming menus. With all these features and a price that can�t be beat, there is no doubt the Aurora 9 will become the radio of choice for the most sophisticated pilots.

See more by clicking here

4-Site PNP Shipping again

After a little delay the Micro 4-Site is shipping again.

The 4-Site Ultra-Micro Flyer from E-flite is designed to give experienced 3D pilots, who already have a programmable Spektrum� or JR® 2.4GHz DSM2� system with dual rates and expo, a thoroughly capable 3D machine that can be flown in most any gymnasium or other large indoor venue.

The �secret� behind the Ultra-Micro 4-Site�s awesome 3D-capabilities is a unique manufacturing technique that results in foam wing, fuselage and tail parts that are actually lighter, stiffer and more durable than standard sheet foam. These parts are further reinforced with carbon rod and foam bracing that minimizes in-flight flexing and twisting. This exceptionally robust construction, combined with the performance of independent aileron servos, gives the 4-Site a level of control and responsiveness any 3D expert will love.

Be sure and check out the movie on the main page. Click here to see it

Percival Mew Gull

As a dominating air-racing force in the UK during the years prior to World War II, Mew Gulls consistently recorded the fastest times. The Percival Mew Gull is a rarely modeled airplane, one reason that Seagull's new ARF replica will help sport scale enthusiasts stand out at the airfield.

Specifications
Wingspan:   74.0 in
Overall Length:   60.7 in
Wing Area:   797.2 sq in
Flying Weight:   10.1-11.0 lbs
Experience Level:   Intermediate

Click here to see more

Spring ClassiFLYeds

With the smell of spring in the air now is the time to clean out the work shop and sell some of the toys that you have not been using to make way for the new fleet of planes and cars. If you have some old junk.... I mean previously used gems in the barn that need to be sold there is no better lace than the Atlanta Hobby FREE
ClassiFLYeds. Post your ads including photos for FREE for thousands of visitors to see each day.

See more by clicking here

The weekly newsletter is out

Our weekly news and views is out and can be seen by clicking here

Attention Blade mCP X Owners

Horizon Product Support has received reports from customers concerning the new Blade mCP X ultra-micro collective pitch helicopter. Specifically, some customers have reported Main Blade Grips separating from the Main Rotor Head. Horizon Product Development has updated the main rotor head assembly and is offering it free of charge to end consumers.
Please inspect your Main Blade Grips. If your helicopter does not have a �B� molded into the blade grips, complete the Blade mCP X Main Rotor Head Replacement Request form below.

Click HERE to complete the Blade mCP X Main Rotor Head Replacement Request form.
Horizon will pay for ground shipping within the United States and Canada.
If you have any questions, you can call Horizon Hobby Product Support at 877-504-0233.

New and more band-width

We are in the middle of a big in shop bandwidth upgrade, Some of our email responses could be delayed 24 hours but we are answering as we can via our cell phone systems.

All website services are operating as normal and we apologize for the delay if you are send ing us an Email.

Cliff Whitney

Ready for SEFF 2011?

Just how do you prepare for the the largest gathering of Electric flight pilots and equipment in the world?

Tonight on Air Show we get the low-down and the last minute details of what to expect at SEFF 2011. Check out all of the details in todays RCRN newsletter

New Habu 32 now shipping

The new Habu 32 is now shipping!

E-flite�s Habu 32 DF is perfect for the intermediate to advanced skilled electric modeler that is looking for a high-performance sport jet.

Check it out along with a nice movie by clicking here

This weeks newsletter is out

This weeks newsletter is out, Join us as we remember those who have served

http://conta.cc/ltiEcU

Free Receiver with DX8

Limited time Buy a Spektrum DX8 w receiver and telemetry module (click the link) and get a second 8 Channel receiver for FREE. Deliveries to start in 3-5 days. Save $129

Click here to see the Transmitter Package and order. We do not charge your card till we ship.

Atlantahobby News letter

The latest Newsletter is out and has some great deals ad coupon codes.

Click here to see it

Pedro is on RCRN Tonight

Where is Pedro?

He is just back from Top Gun and will be on RCRN's Air Show program tonight at 8:30 EST.

Tune in for all of the fun

Click here to visit the site and see more

No RC Product news Is Out

We have some great deals in this weeks Product news

Click here to see this weeks newsletter

Newsletter Launching Tomorrow

Watch for our Email newsletter to send tomorrow Morning 12/08/09.

Lots of new items and some Christmas specials.

New Phoenix Flight Simulator

You don�t even have to leave the house to enjoy exhilarating flight with all the brands you know and love. Just plug into the Phoenix Professional Radio Control Flight Simulation 2.5, the only RC sim to include a genuine Spektrum DX5e transmitter that you can also take to the real flying field.

Grab your transmitter and get ready to fly like you�ve never flown before. JR® Heli, E-flite®, Blade®, Hangar 9® and ParkZone®�all the brands you know and love are featured.

Click here to see the screen shots of this exciting new simulator. Available with a DX5 Transmitter or as Software only.

The new Micro Crawlers Are Here!

The Micro Rock Crawler RTR is unlike any crawler you�ve ever seen. First, it�s the smallest crawler around. And second, it�s the first Micro vehicle to have a radio system with Spektrum� 2.4GHz DSM® technology. That means you can run it wherever you want without any interference. It also means you won�t need as many batteries.

Measuring under 6 inches, the Micro Rock Crawler can pretty much crawl anywhere. You can run it on the couch, over your keyboard, and almost any place outside. The 1/24 Micro Rock Crawler RTR�it�s small in size and big on fun.

Needed to Complete: Nothing! Everything is included.

Check out the movie and all of the other photos by clicking here

NEW Plane - Feather Duster Was $105.99 Now as low as $69.99

These are a special purchase we made. This aircraft originally sold for $105.99 and is now available for $89.99. Electron members save $20 more and receive free shipping.

The Feather Duster is another great Jeff Gilbert creation that was designed for use with electric power systems.

Its ultra low wing loading allows this aircraft to fly with very little effort. This unique aircraft was manufactured using all laser cut self-jigging parts and is available now as an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) version which is is mostly prebuilt and can be assembled in just a few hours.

Click here to see what all of the talk is about.

Cash Rebates available on Select Blade Helicopters

Enjoy a cash rebate on these fine products when purchased before December 31 2009. Just mail the form with the original receipt to qualify.

Click on the links below and get one today

Blade mCX RTF $10

Blade mCX BNF $10

Blade mCX S300 RTF $10

Blade mCX S300 BNF $10

Blade CX2 $15

Blade CX3 RTF $15

Blade CX3 BNF $15

JR X 9303 2.4 Air and Heli no servos Killer Price

Electron Club Members enjoy the lowest price ever. Log in to see what we have done with the JR X9303 transmitters. This price is to low to advertise but with your membership you will see savings of over $100.

The world's most admired 9-channel radio plus the no-pins, no-crystals, no-glitches convenience and security of proven DSM2� 2.4GHz technology by Spektrum�. Setup and ready for Helicopters.
JRP2925

Click here to see the air version

Click here to see the Heli version

2010 Fly Low Girl Calendar Save $7

Every month features a beautiful pic of Fly-Low-Girl Heather Massey (and sometimes Kristie) taken at the events covered by Higher Plane Productions in 2008-2009. Each month includes the name of the plane and the website of the manufacturer.

Major RC events of 2010 are also listed so you can be sure to remember the big RC events as they approach. The calendar is 11" x 17" when opened and expertly printed and bound by Harperprints, in Henderson NC. This calendar is perfect for the RC workshop and makes an ideal gift for anyone who enjoys looking at beautiful RC models!

Enter coupon code FLG during check out and save $7 off the already low price.

P-51 Ready To Fly Never at a price this low

Victory rolls, Cuban-8s, Immelmans�ParkZone�s P-51D can do them all thanks to its powerful 480 brushless outrunner motor and semi-symmetrical airfoil. The paint scheme and decals are an authentic reproduction of the actual markings from �Gunfighter�, a P-51D that regularly flies in airshows around the world.

Be sure to check out this link for some great photos and a movie of this beauty in action.

Enter coupon code P51RTF when checking out to save $20

Wingspan:	39.0 in (990mm)
Overall Length:	33.5 in (850mm)
Flying Weight:	25.0 oz (710 g)
Motor Size:	480-size 960Kv Brushless Outrunner
Radio:	ZX-10, 3 proportional channels 27MHz
Speed Control:	18A brushless
Recommended Battery:	3S 11.1V 1300mAh Li-Po
Charger:	3-cell Li-Po balancing

Save $20 on the Nemesis Racer (only 2 at this price)

All molded high-density styrofoam construction.

Wing has molded-in carbon tube spar for added strength.

Nemesis is an ideal practice plane for pylon racing with a Speed 300 brushed motor or an Inline 400 brushless motor.

With the recommended motor and prop, Nemesis is very fast yet control response is precise with no bad tendencies.

Designed for intermediate to advanced pilots.

No painting is required.

Battery access is easy with quick-release magnetic hatch.

Controls are Ailerons, Elevator and Throttle.

Included are detailed illustrated step-by-step building instructions, decals and assorted small hardware.

Use Coupon code Racer when checking out to save $20 but hurry as there are only 2 at this price.

ThanksGiving deals continue!

Save $40 on the JETiger EDF Ready To Fly

Tough EPO foam ducted fan jet with powerful brushless motor and 3-cell lipo battery. Model includes a 2.4 GHz radio system for glitch free flying and no frequency conflicts.Everything you need all in one box. Out of the box and out to the flying field in about an hour.

Use Coupon code Jet when checking out to save $40. Only 4 at this price so act now.

Day After ThanksGiving Deals

As we all recover from the ThanksGiving celebrations and hit the Keyboards and various shops remember that the lowest prices (if that is what you are after) are here at Atlantahobby.com.

In celebration of the weekend global Electron Club Member discounts have been raised way up for Friday and Saturday. If you are not and Electron Club Member there has never been a better time to join. Complete details can be found by clicking here but you receive extra special pricing on every item in the shop as well as free shipping on everything and that includes a single screw or something triple oversize. UPS and USPS have already announced rate increases but with the Electron club you have no worries.

Atlantahobby.com will never be undersold and if you are an Electron Club member we will beat any in stock advertised price from any authorized dealer plus 10% of the difference (how is that for an extra special deal). This means that if you were planning from ordering from one of those big box distribution places we will always be lower priced and you will receive free shipping too.

Remember your Savings Are Guaranteed: If during your year of membership you don't save at least the cost of your annual membership fee you can receive an Atlantahobby.com merchandise credit upon request for the difference.

If you see a lower price drop us quick E-mail note and go ahead and place your order letting us know in the comments area while checking out that you found the same item for X at XYZ company. We never charge your card until we ship and will adjust the price giving you the best deal on the net.

Watch this blog for more special deals as the weekend progresses.

Play 20 questions for a chance at a $500 Gift Certificate

If you missed our newsletter yesterday it is not to late to play 20 questions.

When you split it apart, the second word in Thanksgiving is GIVING and as is traditional here and as a way of saying thanks for your continued business we are having our biggest sale of the year and are having a little fun with it. Simply click the link below and play our 20 Questions Game.

Answer all of the questions right and we will enter you in the drawing for a $500 Gift Certificate.

Just click on this link and follow the directions to play.

RC SR-71 JET

I saw this and just had to share. The time and work in a project like this is just beyond me.

As Thanksgiving week approaches

As the Thanksgiving week approaches we have so much to be thankful for!

Our general well-being and our ability to participate in the RC hobby is something I think most of us take for granted each day. My family has been blessed far beyond anything I can understand, we are healthy and have never been hungry. I feel fortunate to be in a position to help others.

The associates here at Atlantahobby.com and many of you have always stepped up to the plate when there was a crisis. The USA as a whole is the most generous nation in the world and as I started to launch our new website I wondered how our group of site visitors could reach out with the staff here at the shop and support communities in need. I wanted to help right here in the USA, our local communities where we live and play.

With that goal in mind Every few months we will choose an organization to get behind and help with our generosity. We are only asking for $1 donations when you shop. It is a small amount compared to what you have been blessed with and $1 can go a long way when we all work together to support a cause. Many of you make hundreds of transactions a year and if you can donate $1 every now and then we can and will make a difference. The link is positioned on the order summary page of the site. from there you can click the donate button and $1 will be added to your cart. There is also a link on that page so you can read about our Group of choice.

Our first recipient is There's Hope For The Hungry. As of October 2, 2009: There's Hope has Fed over 59,000 folks and distributed over 360,000 pounds of food in a three state area. One box of food (about $20 in donations) will feed a family of 4-5 for two weeks.

There's Hope for the Hungry is Impacting our Community... and by doing so our group and the RC community is impacting our World! GOD called us to take care of the less fortunate and has blessed us beyond measure with resources to do so, I hope I can count on you to help (come on it's a buck).

As we move forward with this program we are looking for other organizations who can benefit from our generosity. If you know of such a group, if you have a need in your own community please email me directly.

Good Winds
Cliff Whitney and the team here at Atlantahobby.comTo see more about There's Hope For the Hungry click here

Contest Winners Announced

We held the first drawings yesterday in our November and December contest and I am happy to announce the first group of winners over on our Ask The Experts Forum!

Each of the winners will be notified via Email and given special codes to use on line to redeem their Gift Certificates.

Remember all it takes to win is to enter the word "Contest" in the comments area while checking out. Official rules can be found in the first post of the contest and on this Daily Blog.

To se the list of winners jump over to our Ask the Experts forum

Please post a congratulations to these fine folks and be ready for the next drawing in about a weeks time.

Congratulations to all and we will do it all over again nest week so get your entries in!

A great day ahead!

Many new products and an exciting week ahead as we move closer to the Thanksgiving holiday which is next week! We will be having a week long celebration with several new exciting aircraft announcements as well as a new battery line announcement that we have been working on for over a year!

Later today we will be announcing the first winners in our November contest, watch the "Ask The Experts" Forum for the announcement.

The new products of the day are below.

This cool new adapter allows you to charge up to 4 Ultra-Micro� Batteries (E-flite® and ParkZone® single-cell LiPo batteries and the Kyosho Minium Series) with any charger that supports 1s (3.7V) Lithium batteries via a standard JST connector. The adapter simply allows you to connect up to 4 batteries in parallel so that you can charge them as a single larger mA single cell battery (i.e. 1s4p). The only requirement is that all the batteries be reasonably close in charge level. If you time your flights or fly till cutoff that is close enough. You simply want to avoid connecting a fully charged battery to a group of discharged cells, since a rapid rush of current would occur.

As you plug in the batteries they will be tied together and will self balance. Then connect the JST connector to your existing charger that supports 1 cell (1s) charging and set the charge mA to the sum total of the mAh rating for each cell. You can even mix 70mAh with 110mAh. Since they all receive the same voltage each cell only takes the mA it needs to charge to 4.2 volts max. Click here to read more.

The Yak is back!

This is a smaller version of the 25% Yak54 in same color scheme. It comes with a painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants, carbon fiber wing rod, and magnetic canopy hatch. Sporting a 49 inch wing span this is slightly larger than most of the others while still remaining light weight. Click here to see more and a movie of it flying.

Zlin Z-526 Akrobat

A classic European airshow performer! The Zlin Z-526 Akrobat has entertained airshow crowds all over the world, and now Great Planes brings this aerobatic champion to you in a .40-sized model. In just a few hours you can have a sport plane capable of thrilling maneuvers � with a look that's refreshingly unique. Click here to see more.

New Products Added

We continue to add new products daily and and with winter and building season on us here a couple of new ones that add to any shop.

Self healing work top mat (click here to see them) designed to preserve the work surface and save money . . . fewer broken knife blades. Available in 4 different sizes. eatures many handy markings printed on the surface, including:

Vertical rulers, metric and standard
Horizontal rulers, metric and standard
2" and 3" star templates
30�, 45�, and 60� angles
1" graph background
Dowel and wood stick size chart, ranging from 1/16 to 5/8"
Airplane spec conversion chart (standard to metric), including wing area, wingspan, weight, wing loading, fuselage length, engine sizes, bolt, screw, drill and tap size information table.

The Leisure 3D Bipe (click here to see more) is engineered to be as adept at slow-speed 3D as it is precision aerobatics. The biplane design not only provides crisp roll response, but also it gives the Elegant 3D superb slow flight stability so you can fly high-alpha 3D with authority. Its carbon fiber reinforced EPS foam construction provides the solid, precise in-flight feel of a balsa profile plane but without the weight. I specifically live the full flying fuse and motor box design which makes the whole plane stronger. There s nothing worse than having a little spill and ripping the entire front off your plane. This design is a little stronger.

For a couple of days and for Blog readers only enter coupon code "leisure" to save $5.00 off of this beauty.

Also remember to enter the word "contest" in the comments area while checking out with any purchase to be entered into out $4000 giveaway.

$4000 Contest and Giveaway You can WIN BIG!

We have been receiving lots of entries into our November contest.

Remember it is simple to win as all you need to do is enter the word "contest" in the comments block while checking out. This is our way of letting us know that you saw these post and want to enter the contest. Complete contest rules can be found on the forums and earlier in the month on this Blog.

In November the following will be rewarded.
One $500 Gift Certificate to be used at atlantahobby.com
Four $100 Gift Certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Ten $50 Gift Certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Fifteen $20 Gift certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Along with other prizes drawn weekly

Real Flight G-5 Now shipping

Well it's here and the reviews are starting to come in and they are great!

ompatible with Windows Vista, XP and Windows 7
Local administrator access required
All RealFlight Expansion Packs are compatible with G5
None of the add-on discs are compatible with G5
Not compatible with Windows NT, Mac platforms or Windows emulators such as Virtual PC on a Mac (for Mac see the new AeroFly Pro Deluxe)

.
New features of the RealFlight G5 include:
- Six New Aircraft
- Four Different Combat Events
- Three New Flying Sites
- First Person Video
- Targeting System

I like how you can fly combat online with other folks! To see more and a movie of G5 in action click here

Pay Pal Dragon is Whipped

It looks like we (well Kevin Actually) has whipped the Pay Pal dragon into submission. If you have any issues with PayPal at all please let me know but I think it is now under control and I apologize for the trouble!

Paypal Check out up and down

We have been having a few intermediate reports of Paypal issues during check out. We are working hard to find the trouble and will get it fixed up as soon as we can. The regular credit card processing is stable and is running fine.

If you have any issues I would appreciate you letting us know of any error messages you find.

Thanks and sorry for any trouble

Cliff

Over $4000 in prizes up for grabs in Nov and Dec!

With November first now here we are celebrating the launch of our new website.

We have been working really hard over the last year to get this baby live and as part of the celebration we are having a contest and giveaway to say thanks to all of our loyal followers and customers.

During the months of November and December 2009 each time you make a purchase on the atlantahobby.com website (and enter the word "Contest" in the comments area while checking out) you will receive an entry to the contest.

We are giving away gift certificates, Stickers, T-Shirts, Cool Xtream Socks and more with over 100 prizes per month.

In November the following will be rewarded.
One $500 Gift Certificate to be used at atlantahobby.com
Four $100 Gift Certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Ten $50 Gift Certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Fifteen $20 Gift certificates to be used at atlantahobby.com
Along with other prizes drawn weekly

In December we will reset and do it all over again!
There is no purchase necessary to win. We want everyone to enter and if you simply can t make a purchase that is no problem as there is really no purchase necessary to win. Just send us a self-addresses stamped envelope with the word "Contest" on it and we will enter you. It s that easy.

New Sebach 32 now shipping

The new Sebach 30E ARF was designed by the 10 times F3A Italian Champion Sebastiano Silvestri. It is a replica of a new full-scale aerobatic plane.

This professional ARTF kit is the result of Sebastiano�s long research and experience in F3A and 3D. This experience, combined with an extremely lightweight all wood airframe structure, gives the Sebach 30E an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio and an impressive precision at any airspeed and flight condition.

The Sebach 30E can do it all�it is ready for any pattern sequence and for unbelievably easy 3D aerobatic maneuvers. Almost anything else you can dream up is waiting for you! The only aerobatic limit is your imagination!

Click here to see more

New LIFE Receiver packs are here

Click here to see the entire line!

LiFe (lithium iron phosphate LiFePO4) offers a lightweight, high energy density battery with more power than NiCd and NiMH receiver batteries provide.

Nominal voltage rating of only 6.6V typically does not require a regulator to power receiver and servos.

Three discharge leads:

Two with Universal Receiver Plugs with 22AWG 5.1" (130mm) long wire these are for models with dual power switches, regulators with redundant inputs, redundant radio systems, or for applications that draw more current than a single plug can safely deliver;

One Discharge Lead with Deans Ultra Female Plug 14AWG 5.1" (130mm) for voltage regulators, power distribution boxes and applications drawing more than 10 amps.

A Great Birthday

I had a great Birthday yesterday and want to thank everyone for all of the good words and well wishes. It is great to be able to connect with both current and old friends and as I am speaking of old yes I am getting there but I do have a special day each year as my daughter Sierra was born on the same day as I. While there is a great age difference between us what a special treat it is to have someone like Sierra to share the day with.

Being a small business owner who is typically a workaholic, days off are rare but yesterday I did manage to take 1/2 a day off and after a very early morning trip to the shop I went out to the club sailplane field and met up with some great friends. I got to fly my Twister 2 DLG sailplane and the lift was just fantastic. On my second trim toss I got a bump at about 8 ft just when I was turning to land and was able to take it back up out of sight. The lift was so good that half way up the climb I flipped it inverted and climbed the rest of the way up. After a hour or so of thermaling the DLG I put it away and got to fly my Electric 3 meter span Pike Perfect. Again the lift was fantastic and the Pike is a real thrill to fly as it is so big and graceful. The lift was so consistent that you could fly all over the field at abut 100 ft and this is a lot of fun with such a big ship. At any time you could climb up out of sight and then make fast passes up and down the field. The sound of a high performance molded sailplane is something to hear.

In the afternoon I took Sierra to get her birthday present. What would any 12 year old little girl want? Yes it was off to the Apple store for a new iPhone 4! and then a ice cream cake, mamas home made cookies and a movie to end the day!

Fantastic day!

Thanksgiving Newsletter is out!

Our Thanksgiving newsletter is out and available!

Check it out by clicking here

Once in a hundred year RC sale

Check out our once in a hundred year RC sale this week!

Click to see more

Spektrum 4 years later

Just today I was looking through the Dec 2005 issue of Model Aviation magazine and saw the announcement that "Horizon Hobby and Spektrum RC announced Spread Spectrum RC System for Aircraft use!"

It is hard to believe what has taken place over the past 4 years in our industry especially when you consider this systems introduction. There are few times in an industry where there are quantum leaps in product advancements. Most of the time it is the small changes and updates that keep evolving but in the case of 2.4Ghz radios and receivers IMO it did for the RC industry kind of like what the CD did to the music industry.

Now that most all major MFGs have 2.4 systems on the market the industry is in sync. The competition between systems is strong with each having their strengths and weaknesses. I have no real preference between systems but I do like what Horizon and Spektrum have done with the combination of radio and aircraft/cars. The Bind N Fly products are really nice and I enjoy the ability to just open the box push the bind button and go fly.

I am looking for ward to playing more with the new Hitec systems and seeing ow their future looking telemetry systems will work for us and I especially like the Sailplane programming abilities of these systems.

What ever the future holds it is nice to go to the field and just turn on your radio without the fear of shooting someone down! You can click here to see all of the 2.4 systems on our site and if you have a 2.4 story or feedback on your system post it here or over on our forum and also remember if you have a system to sell.... say maybe a 72MHz system you can also post it in our FREE ClassiFLYeds area.

We are LIVE!

After just over a year of work our new site is live today (I need a drink)!

Be sure to poke around and see all of the new sites features and please if you see something out of place be sure to let us know about it.

We have thousands of products already loaded but still have over 3000 more to go so if you don't see something that you want to order E-Mail us and we will get er done quickly!

New HABU EDF Jet

Now this looks like is going to be fun. I first saw it when a German site published a photo a little

early and when I ask my rep got the full scoop. It is available in a Plug and Play as well as a Bind N

Fly version.

This baby is a full-throttle thriller capable of blistering speeds and precise aerobatics. At the heart is a power system of E-flite s BL15 3200Kv brushless ducted fan motor mated to an E-flite Delta-V 15

ducted fan. The potent combo produces enough thrust for outstanding climb performance and thrilling high speed passes. When it comes time to throttle back and enter the pattern, the Habu s remarkably

wide flight envelope and forgiving slow speed handling will reward anyone used to flying faster sport planes with picture perfect nose-high touch downs and take-offs.

Wingspan: 36.3 in (920 mm)

Overall Length: 43.3 in (1100 mm)

Flying Weight: 2.8 lb (1300 g)

Motor Size: E-flite BL15 DF 3200Kv six pole brushless inrunner (installed)

Receiver: AR500 2.4GHz 5 channel Sport DSM2 (installed)

Servos: 5 total, 3 digital metal geared (nose steering, rudder, elevator), 2 standard (Aileron)

CG (center of gravity): Approx 4 inches from leading edge of wing at root

Speed Control : E-flite 60A Switch Mode BEC Brushless (installed)

Battery: E-flite 4S 3200mAh 30C LiPo (included)

Charger: 3-4 cell DC powered variable rate balancing LiPo charger (included)

Landing Gear: Optional landing gear is included

Click over to the site and watch the movies!

ETA 12/03/09

Xoar Props delivery update

As many of you know we have been having backorder issues with Xoar props. These are great props and in fact this company makes private label versions of these fine props for many companies. We are a large supplier of their props and are working with them on the delivery issues that they have had. I wanted to share the note we received on 09/25/09 as an update to their delivery situation.

"As you may be aware Xoar Intl is a full sized propeller manufacturer who carry out a significant amount of work for the UAV market. The great thing about this is that the model propellers they produce benefit from their research technology - hence the performance they deliver.

The factory has been going through the final stages of ISO accreditation, whilst in the long run this will further enhance the quality of the product they produce, in the short term it has resulted in production delays.(Xoar are the only Chinese company to have this accreditation, they have worked hard to achieve it and it is something they are very proud of).

I have recently returned from a trip to the factory and can assure you of their absolute commitment to delivering a top quality product in the most timely manner. I was hugely impressed by the time and effort that goes into producing each individual prop!

We very much appreciate your patience during this period. The certification process is now complete and production is back up to speed, our orders have priority and we fully expect deliveries to resume in the next couple of weeks."

With the above being said, I was told on 10/21 that the next shipment is due to arrive before the end of the month.

I apologize for the delay and will ship the same day we receive them.

Spektrum DX6I Trainer Plug short circuits

News from Spektrum today regarding the DX6i.

"Our service centers in the US, UK, and Germany have received several reports of short circuits occurring in the DX6i, melting some interior components. The cause for this issue is an incorrect trainer jack used in the assembly. Use of these incorrect trainer jacks by either a buddy cable or a flight simulator cable can create a short circuit, causing energy from batteries to be released in the form of heat inside the transmitter, melting interior components and generating smoke. Our investigation shows that only a small percentage of the transmitters are affected, and the situation has now been corrected at the factory, but all transmitters with these two PIDs should be returned to Horizon for inspection and, if needed, repair. Even if you do not currently use or plan to use your trainer jack, please return the transmitter for inspection.

Please complete the on-line request form here. For US and Canadian consumers, Horizon will pay for all ground shipping charges to and from our US service center. Customers outside the US and Canada should contact their retailer or local Spektrum distributor. Within Europe, please follow these links to our service centers in England or Germany. Australian consumers can follow this link. Any transmitters with PID other than HA906X or HA907X are not affected by this bulletin and do not need their trainer jacks inspected.

If you have any questions, please call our Product Support group at 1-877-504-0233.

We apologize for this inconvenience. While there is no evidence of any fire hazard associated with the melting, Horizon assumes no risk for any consumer failing to act upon this service advisory.

What's for a snack before flying?

Running a marathon, grab a carbohydrate bar. Lifting weights, gulp a protein shake. But climbing into a fighter jet? Butter-soaked lobster might help.

That was the surprising finding of a new military-funded study that sought to figure out what types of foods were best for pilots when missions restricted when or what they could eat. University of North Dakota researchers found that pilots who ate the fattiest foods such as butter or gravy had the quickest response times in mental tests and made fewer mistakes when flying in tricky cloud conditions.

High-carb diets trumped high-protein in performance tests.

October Sickness

A long time but distant friend was visiting me last week as were trying to finish up one aspect of our new website. He had a nasty cold and now I have it but we were (mostly him) able to get the job done and I think you will like the results when we launch the new site which BTW should only be in a couple of days.

THe Hand launch contest in Wilson NC was a blast and I finished in my normal middle of the pack. My Neighbor Lou beat me for the second time so I guess I need to practice more.

The Jug!

Affectionately dubbed "The Jug", Republic�s P-47D Thunderbolt was a swift, multi-role fighter that was as much of a menace to ground targets as it was enemy aircraft. Its rugged airframe, armored cockpit and eight .50-caliber machine guns allowed its pilots to fly into the teeth of heavy fire, devastate a ground target and still make it home despite significant damage.

ParkZone has brought The Jug to life with this great flying scale recreation that comes out of the box with details like a simulated radial engine, molded panel lines and a realistic 404th Fighter Group paint scheme. It�s even set up to let you easily add the option of functional flaps and retractable landing gear.

Available in Bind N Fly and Ready to fly versions, click here to see them in action

New Jackal 50 ARF Ready for speed?

The Jackal 50 was created to give sport pilots all the speed and excitement of a jet without the complexity, costs or precocious flying manners of one. Its sleek, swept-wing design makes it possible to achieve scorching speeds using nothing more than Evolution�s economical .60NX engine and a high-performance tuned muffler.

It also gives you the option of pushing the speed envelope even further with optional mechanical or pneumatic retracts (HAN501 or HAN502, sold separately).

Assembling the Jackal 50 is as simple as any other Hangar 9 sport plane. Its low parts count and innovative assembly features, like the bolt-on horizontal stab and elevator servo tray, make it possible to have yours flying in a few evenings. Even the flaps are cut and hinged for you. Just drop in a servo and hook them up.

When it comes to no-hassle flying thrills that truly satisfy the need for speed, the Jackal 50 delivers.

Check it out in action here

New LIFT-n-LOK Tool Box colors

Real men can have a pink tool box!

Great for competitions as everyone will be talking about your toolbox and not paying attn to their flying!

LIFT-n-LOK is not like your grandfathers tool or tackle box, its patented fastening system is unique to PDY Systems, LIFT-n-LOK has the only AUTOMATIC self fastening mechanism which also closes the clearance gaps between the drawers so there is no mixture between compartments - LIFT-n-LOK is not a relic from the past so please familiarize yourself with the system by viewing the video demonstrations; only then will you see why our customers say that it's the simplest, fastest and most convenient toolbox and tackle box fastening system yet invented.

LIFT-n-LOK gives you the ability to choose not to spill all your tackle when you pick up your tackle box. Get the new LIFT-n-LOK and you will never need to remember to latch your tackle box in a hurry again.

Check out all of the colors here

4000mAh LiPo Transmitter Battery for DX8

Have a new DX-8 Transmitter? With this battery you will have power to spare!

Key Features:

� Built-in cell balancer
� Built-in safety current prevents over charging

Overview:
The 4000 2S LiPo offers not only double the flight time as the stock DX8 battery but also advanced safety and features.

It also includes a built in safety current that shuts the battery, to avoid overcharging and damaging the battery and radio. Plus a built in balancing system to make sure you get the longest life and power from your pack.

A little about F3K

More about Carbon Z

A Man and His Dog!

NEW Carbon Z for Christmas

The Carbon-Z� Yak 54 is a quantum leap in unlimited aircraft design that uses patent pending Carbon-Z construction. The brainchild of world aerobatic champion, Quique Somenzini, it comes out of the box equipped with the phenomenal brushless Q-Power system and digital high-speed servos. The combination of these high-performance components with the light weight and superb rigidity of the Carbon-Z airframe result in a 3D airplane with a 2:1 thrust-to-weight ratio that knows no limits.

Best of all, you can have this Plug-N-Play® version airborne in just a few minutes. All you need is a full range aircraft transmitter and receiver, a 4S 14.8V 2800mAh Li-Po battery, and a 4S Li-Po charger. To get the most from the Carbon-Z Yak 54, a programmable aircraft transmitter with dual rates and exponential function is recommended

Check out the movies by clicking here

These are a Must Have

We have been flying these in the shop the last few days and having an absolute blast with them. Take some time to watch the video. They fly very precision, the sound effects are cool and they are just addicting! Available RTF and in several colors. The Force helicopter battling system is designed to give you an out of the box air-to-air battling experience. The Force MH-35 is an ultra-lightweight, battle-hardened heli perfect for out-maneuvering opponents in tight quarters.

Click here to see a really cool movie of them in action.

48 Hours only 3S 2250 45C packs $10 off

For FB and Daily Blog readers only, the latest and the greatest in battery technology. For the next 48 hours only save $10 on the new Thunder Power 45C 2250Mah packs.

Enter coupon code 2250 during checkout. The supply is limited so don't come whining after the 48 hours.

Thunder Power RC is proud to take those industry-leading standards to a whole new level. The exclusive Generation 4 (G4) chemistry offers a realm of power delivery, cycle life delivery and ultra-fast charge rate capability never before seen or experienced. G4 series cells are built using the highest quality Japanese-made materials, including the latest in super-fine substrate (nano) technology to offer the lowest possible internal resistance (IR) and vastly superior power, capacity and cycle life delivery.

Click here to go directly to the pack

Radian Pro Giveaway announced

The new Radian Pro was recently released and will be shipping in late October early November. There was a recent announcement over on the RC Radio Network that they were going to give one of the first available planes away during their monthly promotion with no purchase necessary to win. You can check out all of the details by clicking here. Also be sure to click over to the RCRN Community forum on this new glider.

New Stinson is shipping

Available in Bind N Fly and Plug N Play Click here to see more

Lots of goodies

The newest newsletter is out today with lots of goodies. if you do not subscribe check it out here.

http://conta.cc/osFwEG

Eastern Soaring League Scores Brother Bob Wins!

The latest scores are posted from the Eastern Soaring League and I am happy to say that my Brother Bob will no longer be able to stay in the Sportsman class. As you can see from the scores he placed first in the Sportsman class at the CASA TD event in Warrenton, VA 09/12 - 09/13. With this he will now move on the the Expert class which will give us peons a chance to move up in our own standings.

For those of you that have not seen or ben involved in Hand launch Sailplanes you are really missing out and should look in to this rewarding aspect of our hobby.

GMA War Bird Event

There is more info regarding this yearly event over on the Ask The Experts forum but I wanted to post a link to some of the great photos provided by Jerry Smith. This event was held on Sept 4-6 2009.

To see Jerrys photos just click here and they will come up in a new window.

UPS Shipping now back up

The UPS Name Servers have for the most part been restored. Shipping and Electron functions are now working again on the site

Confirmed UPS is hacked and down

Just confirmed the UPS name servers have been hacked. The domain registration company used by UPS and other companies is temporarily unable to provide access to UPS.com. This means that most all real time shipping services are currently down.

UPS Real time shipping is down

A quick note the UPS is having web issues today 09/05/2011 and if you are using the shopping cart the UPS option is not showing up properly (we use UPS in real time). If you are and Electron member add it to the comments area, we will confirm and update the order for you.

Researchers Test First Brain-Controlled Drone

Mind-controlled devices could help those who are paralyzed

By JASON KOEBLER

June 4, 2013 RSS Feed Print

University of Minnesota Professor Bin He stands by a brain-controlled helicopter. His lab has been working on brain-computer interfaces for more than 10 years.

In a gymnasium in Minnesota, a small quadrotor drone flies effortlessly through hoops. But look for its pilot, and it's not obvious who it is, because it's being flown by someone's brain.

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have designed and tested the world's first noninvasive, brain-controlled helicopter in a breakthrough that could one day allow people who are paralyzed to operate wheelchairs, robotic arms or electronics using only their minds. The study is described in the Journal of Neural Engineering.

[WATCH: DARPA Creates Bionic Fingers That Can 'Feel']

The project was carried out by Bin He, whose lab has been working on brain-computer interfaces for more than 10 years. To fly the drone, a commercially-available Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, the pilot simply needs to "imagine" making a fist. A cap with 64 electrode sensors picks up the pilot's brainwaves and directs them through a computer, which wirelessly transmits them to the drone. To fly left, the pilot imagines making a fist with his left hand � to fly right, he imagines making a fist with his right hand. Imagining making a fist with both hands flies the helicopter up.

"We've demonstrated for the first time that this kind of thing can be done nonintrusively," says He. Previous brain-computer interfaces have had to connect a chip to a subject's brain in order to accurately control a device using brain waves.

Before flying, the average pilot needs to train for about 10 hours � a computer picks up the electric signals sent by the brain so that it can interpret them later, when the pilot is actually flying the drone. He says that merely thinking about making a fist causes the brain to react in a similar way to when a person actually makes a fist, making the technology potentially useful for people who are paralyzed.

"The brainwaves contain signatures for each person, but there are some common features from person to person," he says. "There's a high degree of similarity between imagining or thinking of movement as compared with actually moving that part of the body."

He said he wanted to use a helicopter because it is inherently more difficult to control than an object on a flat surface. In order for the technology to be useful for people in the future, they have to be able to effortlessly perform complex movements.

[ALSO: Are Armed Drones the Next Gun Debate?]

"It's not that complicated to move a car on a surface compared with the three dimensions of a helicopter in the sky," he says.

After the team's successful test, they are in the early stages of designing a test for people who have been paralyzed.

"This has to be a step-by-step process, but we'd like to move to disabled patients soon," he says. "We want to allow them to control a wheelchair or switch the channel on a television using just their thoughts."

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/06/04/researchers-test-first-brain-controlled-drone

Add search-and-rescue to the list of Multi Rotor Capabilities

Add search-and-rescue to the list of Multi Rotor Capabilities!

A Saskatchewan man, lost, alone and hypothermic, was found by an RC quadcopter that spotted him from the sky using an infrared camera. The 25-year-old had wandered away from where his car rolled on Highway 5 near St. Denis, about 40 kilometres east of Saskatoon, early Thursday morning.

Emergency crews arrived at the accident scene after midnight, but couldn�t find the driver. �He had suffered a head injury in the crash and became disorientated and wandered off,� said emergency crew corporal Doug Green.

Two hours after the rollover, the man phoned 911 and said he was lost and cold wearing only a t-shift, pants and had no shoes. The GPS on his phone was used to narrow down the search area. A STARS helicopter used night vision and a search light, but couldn�t find him.

That�s when Green came in with the Dragan Flyer X4-ES, a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that weighs just over four pounds, with an infrared camera. �When I put the Dragan Flyer up, I put it up in a hover mode � and just did a slow rotation,� Green said. The infrared camera identified three heat signatures within five minutes � one was the missing man, the other two were likely animals, Green explained. �Something hot will be white, whereas cold is dark. So, it�s very easy to spot animals and human beings.�

Volunteer firefighters from the Vonda and Prud�homme fire departments then went to that spot where they found the man curled up in a ball at the base of a tree next to a snow bank. He was unresponsive and taken to hospital with hypothermia. Green said he�s now in stable condition, but this could have turned out much worse without the Dragan Flyer. �We wouldn�t have found him until later on today and he wouldn�t have made it,� Green said. Green has been operating the Dragan Flyer for about a year-and-a-half and said it is typically used to take pictures from the air of accident scenes. He said this is the first time it has ever been used to find a missing person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apEnf-0Rzb4&feature=player_embedded

RC Car Action Announces New Editorial Leadership

Air Age Media Announces New Editorial Leadership

May 15, 2013

Wilton, CT� We are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Vieira to the position of Editorial Director, Surface Group.

In this new role, Peter is responsible for content direction and management across a number of platforms including print and digital publications, e-newsletters, websites, and ancillary Air Age Media products within the surface RC category.

Peter is a familiar face at Air Age, having lead the

RC Car Action editorial team as Executive Editor from 1997 to 2008. For the past five years, Peter has lent his creativity and insight to Traxxas' marketing department, and now looks forward to new opportunities with Air Age Media.

"My time at Air Age was very fulfilling professionally and personally, as I worked with a talented and inspired creative team supported by engaged and enthusiastic owners and managers," said Peter. "I couldn't be more pleased about returning to the company and brands that have been such an integral part of my life, from my first exposure to the hobby with RC Car Action in 1986, to my decade-plus experience as a member of the Air Age team. Exciting things are ahead!"

Air Age Media CEO and Publisher, Louis DeFrancesco, shares Peter's enthusiasm. "We are very excited to have Peter back at Air Age. His experience and knowledge of the market, along with the time he spent at Traxxas, will be a great asset here."

Join us in welcoming Peter to Air Age Media. You can reach Peter at peterv@airage.com.

About Air Age Media

Air Age Media is the largest multimedia publisher of content dedicated to radio-control cars, planes, and helis. In addition to six market-leading publications devoted to RC, aviation, and diecast, Air Age Media produces a full line of ancillary products including books, special issues, DVDs, a network of 7 websites, RCX�the world's largest radio control expo�and The Radio Control Show�the only weekly RC show. Air Age Media''s network of assets reaches more than 1 million enthusiasts and consumers of all ages and levels of expertise.

Phantom Prop guards

Phantom Prop guards have been ordered and we expect them May 27th.

SKU is 100014362

new DJI iOSD MARK II Firmware 2.00, Assistant Software 2.00 and User Manual 2.04

The new DJI iOSD MARK II Firmware 2.00, Assistant Software 2.00 and User Manual 2.04 has just been released.

What�s new?

iOSD MARK II Firmware- Naza-M is supported by PMU V2 (Naza-M V2 Accessory);
- Naza-M V2 is supported;
iOSD MARK II Assistant Software- Added compass data recording;
iOSD MARK II User Manual- Added instruction note that the NAZA-M is supported;

Note: NAZA-M Firmware Version SHOULD be upgraded to V3.10, with the same assistant software V2.10 of Naza-M V2.

new Naza-H firmware version 2.00 and assistant software 1.20

DJI has released today new Naza-H firmware version 2.00 and assistant software 1.20.

What�s changed?

Fully optimized Flybarless algorithm.
Optimized brake feeling of tail gyro.

What�s new?

Added two new parameters � �Star Para.� and �Stop Para.�, and deleted one parameter � �Stick Boost� for FBL in Advanced of Common page.
Added �Brake Gain� for tail gyro under "Advanced" of the "Common" page.

Positive progress in the state of UAV legislation

by Justin Toland | April 18, 2013

Airborne scanning using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is widely recognized as a potentially huge opportunity for the private sector. However, it has also been widely noted that legislation is lagging behind technical capabilities and end-user demands (see myreport from the last SPAR Europe, for instance).

However, things may be starting to move in the right direction, as explained to SPAR International 2013 delegates by Nick Palatiello, Assistant Executive Director for External Affairs with the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS).

"There are 36 [US] states that have introduced or have some sort of UAV legislation in the state legislatures. MAPPS is working to make sure that the private sector is able to use UAVs in the commercial market. Right now it's limited only to law enforcement agencies, to universities, but we are trying to make sure that the private sector is able to use these for commercial purposes," said Palatiello.

He noted that two states have already had UAV legislation signed by their Governors � Virginia and Idaho. In the case of the former it is "a two-year moratorium that starts July 1st. It really goes after law enforcement being able to use UAVs." In the case of Idaho, which passed last week and also goes into effect in July, "it targets mostly state law enforcement, however, it does have an exemption specifically for mapping or resource management," explained Palatiello. "That's a big deal - that's one of the first states that has an exemption for mapping. It does allow for the private sector - when the FAA finally allows the private sector to use UAVs � for mapping not to be restricted, so that's a big win for us."

He added that another state (Georgia) has a similar provision in its legislation and that a number of states are now addressing the issue.

http://www.sparpointgroup.com/News/Vol11No17-Positive-progress-in-the-state-of-UAV-legislation/

Welcome first time visitors!

Welcome to the Atlantahobby.com Daily (or almost daily) RC news Blog.
Please stop in from time to time to see all of the daily happenings here at the shop and from around the world.

I will try to keep you up to date on the latest products and any special unannounced sales we are having. I will also be posting daily news and views on industry happenings. If you want to keep up on what is going on in the hobby industry and get the latest insight of the latest cool toys this is the place to come first.

I want you to be involved so while reading a post feel free to leave me your feedback, just click on the leave comment link (blue above) and your feedback will be posted for the world to see.

Thanks again for stopping in.
Cliff

Off to Wilson North Carolina

Mr Lou and I are leaving this morning at 9am (had to be at the Gym at 5am) to go to Wilson North Carolina.

Down East Soaring Society is hosting the 8-th annual
East Coast Hand Launch Glider Festival on September 25-27, 2009
in Wilson, North Carolina. This will be a fun event and feature the best of the best in Hand Launch fun.

Fun fly, HLG seminar, one-on-one help clinic for beginners, and
Pro/Am contest on Friday, September 25
F3K tasks with some modifications on Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27
Best pilots go into the Fly-Offs on Sunday
Free entry if this is your FIRST ever contest
Lunch provided on Saturday and Sunday
On-field dinner (possibly) on Saturday

Club web-site is here: www.downeastsoaringsociety.com
We will be posting more information as it becomes available. Watch this thread for more posts!

Here is a link to the Google map of the field: DESS field (Google map)
Use the link and the map to get directions to the field from your place!

Wish us luck!

New Archaeopteryx Footage

This wing has always impressed me. O to have one!

O how close can you go?

Jeb Corliss my hero was recently hurt but is due out of the hospital Friday. This past Tuesday he released comprehensive video of the accident that broke both his legs and came within feet of taking his life when he clipped a rock formation at roughly 180 mph. The accident happened last month while Corliss was filming a jump for a TV documentary at Table Mountain in South Africa. Corliss cleared the rock formation with his upper body, but his legs hit. The contact significantly changed Corliss' trajectory causing him to nearly tumble but he quickly recovered and deployed his parachute. Multiple cameras placed on the ground, on a trailing wingsuiter and on Corliss himself captured the flight and the impact. Click through for video.

Very cool Quick time VR Movie

Base jumping where you can control the camera view.

Click to see the movie

A Quickie at Dog Mtn

Just a nice little movie from Fellow Hang Glider Pilot Aaron out west. Aaron is one of the top rated acro pilots in the world. When there is no lift and you have the altitude there is nothing else to do but cut it up a little! Great music and watching his son after he lands is priceless and shows the future of our youth.

Myth Busters go Hang Gliding

Many of you know that in a former life I was the owner of a Hang Gliding shop in Tennessee, "Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supply" . It was always great fun sharing free flight with friends in the form of a tandem flight. This was a fun short clip I thought you would enjoy when the Myth Busters go Hang Gliding.

Neal Goss Still flying Hang Gliders at 89

I first met Neal Goss when I was the owner of a Hang Gliding shop Sequatchie Valley Soaring in Dunlap TN. Neal was a regular to our flight park and I thought you would all enjoy reading about him. Click here to read a little more about this Young man now flying in FL.

Someone on your back?

Ever felt like someone was on your back or following you around! Pat Gaines actually felt sorry for the red-tailed hawks at Bonny Lake State Park this summer. Despite their aggressive reputation, loud screams and fierce, piercing looks, the red-tailed hawks at the park north of Burlington, just west of the Colorado-Kansas border, were being bullied when Gaines saw them.

Father of Free Flight Thermals Away

As many of you know I am a big fan of all forms of aviation but especially free or gliding. For years I was the owner of Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supply (Hang Gliding). We were located in Dunlap TN and I enjoyed flying and living there. I learned to Fly Hang Gliders in Boone NC after reading an article in Popular Mechanics while in High School. Our ability to fly these fancy wings was borne out of one mans (along with his wife) invention of the flexible wing glider.

Francis Rogallo, was the man, the inventor of the flexible wing glider. Sadly he died September 1 at his home near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Francis and his wife, Gertrude Rogallo, invented the flexible or what we all called the Rogallo wing in 1948 with material from Gertrude�s kitchen curtains. The airfoil, which was tested using a homemade wind tunnel consisted of a cardboard box and a window fan eventually led to the development of the hang glider, paraglider, ultralights (light-sport aircraft), sport parachutes, delta kites, stunt kites, parafoil kites, sport parachutes, and kiteboarding kites.

At the outset of the space race, the Rogallo�s donated their wing patent to the government (donated) and NASA began a series of experiments testing the Parawing (renamed by NASA). The wing was tested at altitudes as high as 200,000 feet and as fast as Mach 3 in order to evaluate it as an alternative recovery system for the Gemini space capsules and spent rocket stages. The Parawing program was used by civilian designers as a basis to develop many of the ultralights we all fly today.

Francis Rogallo was born in Sanger, California on January 27, 1912. He graduated from Stanford with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and aeronautics in 1935 during what is called the 'Golden Age of Aviation'. In addition to the �flexible wing�, he held patents on wing controls, slots, airfoils, target kites, and advanced configurations for flexible wing vehicles. His death is preceded by his wife Gertrude�s in January 2008. Rogallo took his last hang gliding flight on his 80th birthday.

I encourage all of you to do a few searches on this man who changed my life and brought me wings!

Ford Tri-Motor in Atlanta

EAA Chapter 690, Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia, will host one of the few flying Ford Tri-Motor aircraft on its visit to the Lawrenceville area. A classic aircraft from the beginning days of commercial air travel, the Ford Tri-Motor re-creates the romance of pre-jet air travel. The visit provides opportunities for aviation enthusiasts, grandparents, parents and kids alike to see and ride in the world�s first mass-produced airliner when the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) brings its restored 1929 Ford Tri-Motor, the first owned by Atlanta's Eastern Airlines, to Lawrenceville.

The Tri-Motor will be available for a daily schedule of flights at Lawrenceville�s Briscoe Field from the Landmark Aviation (north side) ramp, off GA Highway 316, from mid-day Thursday, May 24th through Tuesday, May 29th. Scenic flights are planned from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day.

"This airplane allows people to experience a true piece of the living history of aviation, as well as to learn more about EAA and our mission to help people fully participate in the world of flight," said Adam Smith, director of the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, WI, where the airplane is based. "As we bring the airplane to the Atlanta area, thousands of people will get a rare glimpse of a unique flying machine that changed the way people travel in America."

The Ford Motor Company built the Ford Tri-Motor, nicknamed the "Tin Goose," in the late 1920s in it's Dearborn, MI plant. EAA�s airplane underwent a 12-year restoration beginning in the 1970s and since the mid-1980s it has been based at the EAA museum's historic Pioneer Airport. This facility is a faithful re-creation of an early aerodrome, including flying activities from a 2,000-foot grass airstrip.

The presence of such an historic aircraft of the past offers a unique opportunity for individuals, clubs, schools, home school and church groups, etc. to see and fly in this historic aircraft. At each tour stop, visitors will have the opportunity to take flights aboard this unique aircraft. Make this Memorial Day Holiday extra special by booking your Tri-Motor flight.

In addition, on Saturday, members of the Stone Mountain Radio Control Club will be displaying several Radio Controlled model aircraft. Members of the Gwinnett Amateur Radios Society will be operating radio station W4LZU making commemorative contacts with other radio hams around the country and the world.   Flights are available for $80 with the co-pilot seat for $125. A secure flight reservation system and complete information are available through EAA�s Tri-Motor tour web-site at www.flytheford.org. You can also pre-book a flight by calling 1-920-426-6536.

ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT SYMPOSIUM SET FOR APRIL

The CAFE Foundation has announced the dates for this year's 6th annual Electric Aircraft Symposium, which will be held April 27 and 28 in Santa Rosa, Calif. The event focuses on practical knowledge and updates for electric aircraft builders. Speakers at the event will include representatives from Pipistrel, the winner of last year's $1.35 million Green Flight Challenge, as well as experts on electric batteries, UAVs, ultra-quiet liftoff technology, and new developments in electric LSAs. CAFE also will announce the details of a new Green Flight Challenge at the event.

More here

Could it be true?

Bridgeport Resident Gustave Whitehead May Have Flown Two Years Before the Wright Brothers

A locally-bred controversy has snapped at the heels of American icons Orville and Wilbur Wright for years. It is this: Did Bridgeport resident Gustave Whitehead successfully fly in a powered airplane in 1901, more than two years before the Wright brothers first flew in 1903, or didn't he?

The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport is setting aside Sunday, Aug. 14 � the 110th anniversary of Whitehead's first successful flight, as reported at the time in newspapers in Bridgeport, Boston and New York � to consider and celebrate Whitehead (and Igor Sikorsky's helicopter and the Frisbee).

Who was Whitehead? As related by William O'Dwyer and Stella Randolph in their 1978 book History by Contract, he was a mechanic who worked at factory jobs, but he was so obsessed with building airplanes and flying that on his marriage certificate he listed his profession as "Aeronaut."

The Smithsonian Institution, home of the Wrights' "Flyer" airplane, has never conceded that Whitehead flew, but the museum is hardly a disinterested observer. As Randolph and O'Dwyer and other supporters tried to secure some recognition for Whitehead, they found themselves stymied by a contract between the Wright estate and the Smithsonian, under which the Flyer would revert to the estate if the Smithsonian ever dared suggest an earlier airplane might have been "capable of carrying a man under its own power in controlled flight."

In a 1986 monograph, Peter L. Jakab of the Smithsonian dismisses the evidence in favor of Whitehead, but he does not mention the contract, a copy of which is on display at the Discovery's Bridgeport: First in Flight Festival. He does admit, though, that "one of the factors that make the Whitehead store seemingly creditable is the sheer volume and complexity of the references to his purported flights."

Jakab also does not mention that Whitehead was apparently visited by two other dabblers in the field � the Wrights.

Cecil Steeves, a neighbor, 14 at the time, remembered such a visit and that Whitehead told him afterward he had given his secrets to the men fromOhio.

And Anton Pruckner, an 18-year-old in 1901 when he worked for Whitehead, said in a 1964 affidavit, "I can also remember very clearly when the Wright brothers visited at Whitehead's shop � before 1903 � I know this to be true, because they introduced themselves to me. ... The Wrights left here with a great deal of information."

In a 1945 article, "The Mythical Whitehead Flight," Orville Wright mentions no visits to Whitehead's workshop.

Pruckner also said he witnessed Whitehead fly on Aug. 14, 1901, after which the Bridgeport Sunday Herald's account likened Whitehead's airplane to "a great white goose raising from the feeding ground in the early morning dawn."

Some reports speak of a photo of Whitehead's plane in flight, once displayed in a Bridgeport hardware story window, but no photo has survived.

Nevertheless, Jeff Bishop, the Discovery Museum's executive director, says, "We've accumulated enough evidence to support the notion Gustave Whitehead flew two years before the Wright brothers." Spoilers might turn up on Sunday and try to convince attendees that Whitehead never flew. If that happens, Bishop says, he will not hesitate to throw them out. "I'd rather get a little publicity for throwing those jerks out of here," he said last week.

Got 4 min? Want to see a great Video?

This was shot at a recent Swiss Air show. Good mucic and put together well!

The Sky�s the Limit for China�s DIY Aviators

SHANGHAI The buzzing of small airplanes is very rarely heard in China 's vast yet closed skies, and flying for the sheer joy of it is still a novelty. But that is slowly changing as enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers take to the sky by whatever means possible.

China is home to a widespread DIY culture fed by necessity (the mother of all invention) and innovation. These garage builders and innovators are, like their products, often called shanzhai. Literally translated, it means mountain strongholds, but it has come to mean nonprofessional or clandestine manufacturers turning out products from the basic to the highly sophisticated. These shanzhai often take familiar products, concepts and marketing memes and remake them with peculiar but innovative twists.

Aviation is by no means an exception, and it has its share of shanzhai builders. But there is more to it than that. China s emerging aviator class is spreading its wings with a plethora of approaches, from the ramshackle to the sophisticated to the potentially revolutionary. They re using everything imaginable, from old motorcycle engines to electric motors to even their own legs, like Mao Yiqing and his human-powered airplane shown above. You could easily plot these adventurous innovators on a graph, with the X axis showing their skill and the Y axis their financial means.

Occupying the lower right corner of that graph would be 20-year-old Wu Zhongyuan, a farmer from Henan province. He has since childhood dreamed of flying and spent three months and $1,600 building a shanzai helicopter. The airframe, if you could call it that, is fabricated from a steel scaffold. Power comes from an old motorcycle engine twirling wood blades. Zhongyuan claims the chopper will fly to 800 meters (2,600 feet), but so far hasn t been able to prove it.

Provincial authorities have forbidden him from flying on safety grounds.

Moving upward and across our graph we would find Xu Bin, a 31-year-old farmer from Zhejiang province. Bin became an internet sensation and the face of the shanzhai zeitgeist when a video of him flying his autogyro went viral.

Bin managed to design and build the contraption, which uses a rotor for lift and a propeller for thrust, then teach himself how to fly it after checking the internet for guidance. He s built four flying machines, including a two-seater. It's strictly a low-budget affair, as Bin finds using new engines beneath his dignity. Using old motorcycle engines, he says, keeps me on my toes. It prompts me to be a better designer.

Bin says the craft is inherently safe because it can safely glide to the ground in the event of an engine malfunction. Many wannabe pilots have paid Bin a visit in the three years since his first flight, and he is only too happy to offer advice and guidance gleaned from hundreds of flights.

The authorities, he says, leave me mostly alone, as I fly low and locally.

Somewhere toward the upper right side of our graph we would find Mao Yiqing, who has built China's first and so far only human-powered airplane.

He calls the plane Mozi, after the Chinese philosopher who, by many accounts, invented the kite with Lu Ban in the 5th Century BC. Yiqing, who is 40 and lives in Shanghai, follows in the footsteps of Paul MacCready, who built the prize-winning human-powered Gossamer Condor 30 years ago.

Yiqing honed his skills running Oxai, a company that builds high-end remote-control planes. Mozi was built using many of the same techniques and materials balsa wood, styrofoam and carbon fiber as his model planes. His workshop is covered with pictures of Eric Raymond, the American pilot who flew his solar glider across the United States and, in June, over the Alps. Yiqing is preparing his plane, which weighs 38 kilograms and has a wingspan of 25 meters, for a flight across Dianshan Lake near Shanghai.

It 's about 6 kilometers wide, he says of the lake, and there's the risk of losing the airplane. But I'm lightweight and I 'm cutting down on the cigarettes.

Should all go according to plan, Yiqing will bring Mozi to the Birdman Rally in Japan, where he hopes to break the duration record for human-powered flight. Already he's attracted the attention of Brian L Allen, the cyclist-pilot of the Gossamer Albatross and Condor. I showed Allen, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a video of Mozi in flight. He was impressed.

Flying from an unfinished motorway speaks highly for its controllability, Allen said.

Photo and videos courtesy Mao Yiqing

Orig article is here

See the Movie below (Flash is required)

Biannual Flight Review (BFR)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing my BFR with a very talented Master CFI (and aviation author) Russell Still. For those of you who are full size pilots you know what this is and for those of you who are not it is basically a proficiency check ride with a qualified instructor that you do every 24 months. You can read up on it a little here and another source here.

I mention this as if any of you out there have ever thought to get your pilots license there is never a better time. What a great privilege it is to be able to take to the air and travel or just site see whenever you want. I am very fortunate to live where I fly and to have a 2000 model Citabria to terrorize the sky with.

Russ has a family of websites called Gold Seal Flight and if you have ever considered taking up Full size I invite you to take a look at his sites. The Online Ground school site is especially good and offers many FREE videos and tutorials. Check it out here and enjoy.

Memorial-Decoration Day 2013 Thoughts and ramblings.

I trust you have seen the American flags along the sides of the road and in yards as you drive around town this week. Do you know what they stand for, do you care?

To most, Memorial Day is little more than a 3-day weekend with backyard barbecues to kick off the summer season. The ability to enjoy this weekend is however due to the work of a past generation.

I think most of today�s Americans take for granted that "somebody" will take care of them. You feel safe and taken care of but all of us are beneficiaries of those who have served. Most believe that they will always live "free" and be able to celebrate events with our hot dogs and hamburgers. Apathy however is rampant among us and is not good for our country. Apathy is what our enemies of the world have been counting on; it is what they have planned for. An entitlement society I think we have become and we are slowly slipping over the edge.

Are you a typical American living in total apathy or do you have a voice? Are you one of those who will hold it against me and my company for speaking my mind, for getting involved? Remember I gave you the option not to read my ramblings and some will opt out of my mailings and send me nasty letters because they say representatives of business should not be involved and should not speak our mind, talk of policies, religion or politics. For those, take solace that the Constitution gives you the ability to opt out just like it gives me the freedom of free speech. Remember those that are involved are affecting your lives.

My weekly newsletter, Radio Station and Bi-weekly Air Show Internet television show reaches over 60,000 and growing. These give me a voice and with that I take great responsibility do what I can to spread the good word. I encourage you to get a voice, get involved; do you know your congressmen? You know those 535 men and women that are the actual persons who have the ability to vote in our laws and who are responsible for representing our views and ultimately upholding our Constitution. Do you write to them, have they ever come to see you, have you ever ask them? I have and Mine is making a trip to see our shop and me next month, I am being active, I have a voice and you should too.

�Memorial� day was originally called Decoration Day, a day set aside to remember and honor Americans who died while serving our country. These great Americans died not only to protect their families and their fellow citizens, but also to protect an idea ... one of the world's greatest ideas ever brought to being. They did so because they took an oath and they stood behind it.

Unless you've ever served in the military, you may not be familiar with the oath that all service men and women take when they enlist. Here's what it says:

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Notice what our service persons vow to defend first and foremost. The Constitution. The good men and women who serve our country and are prepared to die for it. Yet, how many people really understand what it is they're defending?

Now, more than ever, we need to understand what the Constitution says. Have you even ever read the Constitution? Click this link and give it a read, simple and straightforward with no need to be interpreted by some bureaucrat that wants to take your watch and tell you what time it is.

Why pay attention. now?

Because the Constitution guarantees that citizens will not be subject to illegal search and seizure ... as they were in Boston last month. Law-abiding citizens were ordered out of their homes, hands on their heads, while their homes, and in some cases their persons, were searched without a warrant because of a "terrorist threat." And in another kind of illegal search and seizure just last week, it was revealed that the IRS illegally stole, without warrant or subpoena, 60 million private medical records from Americans. If you were one of the millions affected, your rights were violated. Then again maybe you think this did not affect you and you don�t care.

Because the Constitution guarantees that citizens have the right to bear arms. You shouldn't have to have a license or a permit to exercise a constitutional right ... and states like New York, Colorado, and many others require just that. Then again maybe you think this does not affect you and you don�t care.

Because the Constitution guarantees that people have freedom of expression and the government may not restrain, punish, or penalize them for it. Last week, it came to light that the IRS made unreasonable demands of numerous non-profit organizations, having a quelling effect on their activities and communications. Then again maybe you think this did not affect you and you don�t care.

Because the Constitution guarantees that people may exercise their religion freely. Despite this guarantee, Washington state officials ignore it to harass a florist who would not provide flowers for a gay wedding because it goes against his religious beliefs. Worse, religious organizations are forced to provide health insurance to employees that offer practices that go against their conscience, such as contraception or abortion. Again maybe you think this did not affect you and you don�t care.

Weather I/you agree with the above or not these citizens have had their rights as granted in the Constitution taken away from them. �Give someone an inch and they will take a mile�. Think this statement is not true? I believe the Constitution was written to protect the people from our own Government and five times in as many weeks; the government has stomped on constitutionally protected rights. Even if you were not directly affected, make no mistake about it ... you could be next due to apathy.

It's becoming ever more apparent that many of us and many of our officials don't understand or care about our constitutional rights. It's however up to each of us to have a thorough understanding of them so that we can defend them. Otherwise, they'll be stolen from us when we're not watching or even when we are.

What does this have to do with RC flying and a hobby store? Nothing at all with the exception that I am a concerned American who has no apathy and is using his voice. During this weeks Memorial Day festivities when we are all out flying, eating our Hot Dogs and hamburgers and celebrating with friends, and if the reach of this weekly newsletter/blog can cause a few to stop and think, remember and take action by spreading a little history and current events to today�s generation. If it can cause a high school senior who's graduating to better understand and to consider what and who has given them the ability to be where they are and then to stay pointed in the right direction as the future leaders of our country then some purpose will have been served by my voice.

Be assured as my family celebrates this Memorial Day I will talk to my kids, both who are now in High School. I will tell them about my Grandfather and what he went through when he made multiple landings driving the Higgins boat on the shores of both Iwo Jima and Okinawa,. I will tell them about their grand Dad who served in the Air Force and is the reason for me getting into aviation, I will tell them about my Father in law Bill Ritchie who served in many areas of the Navy, my good friend and neighbor Cal Tax who flew the F-105 Thunderchief on over 70 combat missions in Vietnam, my good friend Rick Jacob who served on the ground in Vietnam and lost a lot of his shoulder to gun fire.

And then there is Atlanta Hobby's own Veterans, Russell Huff who served on the carrier CVS 21 and Joel Shreenan our webmaster who from 1966-1990 served all over the world including Bad Kreuznach, Germany in the 8th Inf Division and later in the 82nd Airborne Division out of Ft Bragg and our newest associate Thomas Owen, CW3 US Army Special Forces (yes a real Green Beret) with expertise in unconventional warfare, operations and intelligence.

To each of these men and to all of you who have served and are currently serving, I have great admiration and my family thanks you for your oath and service protecting the Constitution, which has allowed us (up to now) to live free.

Enjoy your weekend, don�t be apathetic, get involved, have a voice and do your part to spread the word of the past and be thankful that we are all so very fortunate to live in the greatest nation in the world.

Good Winds, God Bless!
Cliff Whitney 05/26/2013

Living in the greatest nation in the world due to the work of a past generation.

Memorial Day 2012

There are many outdoor festivities planned around the country this week including RC flying and I hope you will get in on the festivities over this Memorial day long weekend.

For those of you outside the USA or who are new to our country you can find more about the Memorial Day celebration and remembrance by going a quick Google search.

Is Memorial day a bad celebration? Is the celebration or remembrance of war a bad thing? Memorial day is not actually memorializing or celebrating war but we are remembering those who have fought, served and for many given their lives. War has been waged to stop oppression and the spread of rogue empires who wished to exterminate some and impose their ways on the rest. Wars have been fought for many worthy and un-worthy causes and if it were not for some wars we would indeed be speaking other languages and some of us would not exist at all.

For those of you who are Americans, from school you should know that our country was born out of the need for religious freedom. We went to war to declare our independence and a new free nation was formed. Our founding fathers set guidelines on how to grow a free nation and how to go to war if needed.

When studied, religion has been the cause of most wars but it is funny when you study most religions as they are peaceful and all really have very similar roots. In modern times it is only when you bring in the radical participants of religion and power hungry and controlling governments that you see the need or the spread or continuation of war and lets face it, war is a driver for the economies of the world�. but at what cost?

In most parts of the world we are living in easy modern times. I remember stories from my grandfather and my father telling me about wartimes when people would knock on the door at meal times and begging for food. It seemed like people were more helpful in those days. I have heard my father n law tell of his experiences of seeing his brother and brother-in-law going off to war, one coming home wounded and the other not coming home at all. He tells of red & gold stars hanging in the windows, air raid drills and yes, people going to church during the week for special prayer services to pray for our boys & girls in the war. I remember 90 year Frank who was in my office last year. He told me about being in high-school and graduating in the mid-'40s. He talked about the Great Depression grinding on, and the guy across the street from him never finding a job; crying in the arms of his girlfriend in the high-school hallway because his older brothers were shipping out to "The War" that day; he told me about ration stamps for meat and sugar, butter and gas.

Think about this for a minute, ration stamps, in the United States of America! Frank said he remembered the sense that due to war his whole life had been under one darkening cloud after another, tempered only by the family bonds and friendships that had always been more important than material goods.

IMO there should be no more need for war, no cause for it except in extreme situations and our government should abide by the engagement rules set up by our founding fathers. If other countries want to blow themselves up, so be it but why? Why should we send billions of so called aid over seas only to have the recipients become our enemies, hate us and want to war with us. Then again, reality is reality and some of this is our own fault. I am worried, worried for our current and future generations. I am a believer that most all of what we are seeing and will see has been foretold. If this is the case should we go crazy and engage the media to expose it, how about getting into politics to try and stop it all�.. or is it to late and we should take an alternate path, buy guns, ammo, food and watch prepper shows waiting for the end to come?

In reflecting on these conversations I know that my kids and indeed even I have no clue how good we have it. We worry about the size of our home, not that we are lucky to have one. We worry about what our next toy will be, not where our next meal will come from. We worry about being seen on the various social networks and not that our neighbors are unemployed.

With Memorial Day in mind, I think the "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us. I am ashamed that way to many of us are just un-educated on the past history of our nation and it's current path.

All of us are beneficiaries of those who have served but most could care less. IMO this should be a week where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have served. We all should use this holiday to start actively working to prevent future wars. Instead, I fear that during this week we will see Americas biggest challenge which is apathy.

We live in the greatest nation in the world due to the work of a past generation. Most of today�s Americans take for granted that "somebody" will take care of them. We believe that we will always live "free" and be able to celebrate events with our hot dogs and hamburgers. Apathy is rampant here and is not good for our country. Apathy is what our enemies of the world are counting on, it is what they have planned for and waited for. An entitlement society we have become and that is what it takes for us to slowly slip over the edge. Apathy is what the enemy wants for us, to catch us off guard �from the inside�. I am a believer that if we do not wake up�. it is most likely already to late.

What does this have to do with RC flying and a hobby store? Nothing at all with the exception that I am a concerned American who has no apathy. During the upcoming weeks festivities when we are all out flying, eating our Hot Dogs and hamburgers and celebrating with friends, and if the reach of this weekly newsletter/blog can cause a few to stop and think, remember and take action by spreading a little history and current events to today�s generation. If it can cause a high school senior who's graduating to better understand and to consider what and who has given them the ability to be where they are and then to stay pointed in the right direction as the future leaders of our country then some purpose will have been served by this rambling.

Be assured as my family celebrates Memorial Day I will talk to my kids, one of which is in High School, is a full size pilot and who will soon be considering the military. I will be telling them about my my Grandfather and what he went through when he made multiple landings of the Higgins boat on the shores of both Iwo Jima and Okinawa,. I will be thinking about my Dad who served in the Air Force, my Father in law who served in the Navy, my good neighbor Cal who flew the F-105 Thunderchief on over 70 combat missions in Vietnam, my good friend Rick who served on the ground in Vietnam and lost a lot of his shoulder to gun fire. And then there is Atlanta Hobby's own Veterans, Russell Huff who served on the carrier CVS 21 and Joel Shreenan our webmaster who from 1966-1990 served all over the world including Bad Kreuznach, Germany in the 8th Inf Division and later in the 82nd Airborne Division out of Ft Bragg.

To each of these men and to all of you who have served and are currently serving, I have great admiration and my family thanks you for your service, which has allowed us (up to now) to live free.

Enjoy your weekend, do your part to spread the word of the past and be thankful that we are all so very fortunate to live in the greatest nation in the world.

Good Winds, God Bless America.

Cliff, Joel, Greg, Gary, Ryan, Eli, Dr Huff, Ronnie & Mr. Lopez

The "W" in Christmas [Author unknown]

Each December I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. This year I cut back on nonessential obligations� extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even over-spending. Yet I still found myself exhausted and unable to appreciate precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant. I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the

production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his

teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation, and all parents who were unable to attend that evening were welcome to come to the rehearsal. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

The morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early and sat down. Around the room I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class was

accompanied by their teacher and then they all sat cross-legged on the floor. Next, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing "Christmas Love," I was a little surprised by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates. They were all adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and had bright snowcaps upon their heads.

One by one, those in the front row - center stage - held up large letters to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing, "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C, then, "H is for Happy," and so on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her: a small, quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake, however, she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall and proudly held her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued, until the last letter was raised and then �we all saw it. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrate this holy day in the first place, and the purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And He still is.

HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON AND A VERY

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Where Do Pumpkin Pies Come From?

It was a very busy day last Monday and I was just swamped with ten thousand things to do, the phones were ringing, I was planning Thanksgiving Emails and shop specials and some one was beating me up on the phone because their solder connectors were lost in the mail and the world was going to end if they did not get them that very moment.

As soon as I hung up the phone and took a deep breath and turned around I saw a older man in my lobby. He was looking at the 40 some odd planes hung and positioned in our lobby. I was really busy but he was interested in the history of my 1/4 scale Waco (built by Mr. Slick larson) so I invited him to have a seat in my office.

I had a great chat with this gentleman (Frank) and as it turns out he was 90 years young. In my recent years I have learned that when speaking to elders I need to relax and take my time with them. There are several reasons for this, most of the time it will take them a little longer to get their point across but primarily because anyone that has been in this world 90 years deserves some respect and I have also learned (after many hard lessons) that these folks have been around the block a bit and there is generally some wisdom to be learned in their words if we take the time listen.

I turned the phone off dialed down the Jimi Hendrix from the new RCRN website and one thing led to another and we got to talking about what he called the old days. Now I know what you are thinking and this was not the real estate bust and, no, not the first dot-com boom or even the Reagan years. He was talking about World War II, graduating high school, and buying his first Ford. everything that he talked about was about being young in the middle of the last century.

He told me about being in high-school and graduating in the mid-'40s. He talked about the Great Depression grinding on, and the guy across the street from him never finding a job; crying in the arms of his best girlfriend in the high-school hallway because his older brothers were shipping out to "The War" that day; ration stamps for meat and sugar, butter and gas.

Think about this for a minute, ration stamps! in the United States of America! He had a great story about the black market in fake ration stamps that you'd buy from somebody's cousin's friend; and the sense that your whole life had been under one darkening cloud after another, tempered only by the family bonds and friendships that had always been more important than material goods.

He left after about an hour and this morning in reflecting on that conversation it struck me that on this Thanksgiving Day that my kids and indeed even I have no clue how good we have it. We worry about the size of our home, not that we are lucky to have one. We worry about what our next toy will be, not where our next meal will come from. We worry about being seen on the various social networks and not that our neighbors are unemployed.

Hopefully we can learn from our elders and their history and step back a bit this weekend turn down the Hendrix (at least during dinner) and focus on family bonds and friendships. We are not in the Great depression (yet) and the rationing has not started (yet) but we should be mindful especially on Thanksgiving to be kinder than necessary as everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle, even the Pumpkin who has to make all of those Pies.

My Family wishes each of you a great Thanksgiving

Cliff, Gail, Elijah, Sierra

Thanking all who have served

On this Veterans Day, I salute everyone who has served in defense of our great nation and preserved the liberties that we enjoy today.

I also offer a special prayer for the tens of thousands who are stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers those who were killed in the Fort Hood terrorist attack a few days ago.

We should be ever mindful of the sacrifices that these men and women of the military -- and their families -- make for us each and every day. We give thanks to those who have strengthened our liberties, all too often at great personal costs to them and their families.

Because of these folks service (mostly volunteer) we Americans take for granted that "somebody" will take care of us. We believe that we will always live free and be able to celebrate events with our hot dogs and hamburgers. Our countries problem is Apathy and it is not good for us so we should all stop and think and be ready if/when the need arises.

Please join Gail and I and all of the associates here at the shop in lifting up a prayer for all our veterans and their families on this day. Pray also that we, as a country, remain worthy of their sacrifices.

Thank you,

Excellence

Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.

Ducks or Eagles?

No one can make you serve customers well. because great service is a choice.

Harvey Mackay tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey. He handed my friend a laminated card and said:

�I�m Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.' Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.' Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.' And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?' Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It .

Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'' 'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle.

I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So; I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.' 'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said. 'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it.

You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cab stands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.' Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call.. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting. Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about us? Smile and the whole world smiles with you... The ball is in our hands! A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people.

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

Thanks and Good Winds

Cliff Whitney
6110 Parkway North Dr
Cumming Ga 30040
678-513-4450

Online Shoppers Are Rooting for the Little Guy

"Harold Pollack used to spend $1,000 a year on Amazon, but this fall started buying from small online retailers instead. The prices are higher, but Dr. Pollack says he now has a clear conscience."

Click to read more

Support Small business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner. Check it out here and be sure to be signed up to our newsletter for all of the specials.

Earth from Space

Check it out

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael K�nig on Vimeo.

A bugs life..

While it might seem like just a cute, silly commercial that gets attention, it really does spark these questions and more and it's electric!

I am Feeling small and Insignificant today!

The Known Universe
Credit & Copyright: American Museum of Natural History

What would it look like to travel across the known universe? To help humanity visualize this, the American Museum of Natural History has produced a modern movie featuring many visual highlights of such a trip. The video starts in Earth's Himalayan Mountains and then dramatically zooms out, showing the orbitsof Earth's satellites, the Sun, the Solar System, the extent of humanities first radio signals, the Milky Way Galaxy, galaxies nearby, distant galaxies, and quasars. As the distant surface of the microwave background is finally reached, radiation is depicted that was emitted billions of light years away and less than one million years after the Big Bang. Frequently using the Digital Universe Atlas, every object in the video has been rendered to scale given the best scientific research in 2009, when the video was produced. The film has similarities to the famous Powers of Ten video that has been a favorite of many space enthusiasts for a generation.

From a Birds Eye View

Now if you don't think this is cool........

Since the beginning of time, people have envied birds. They can fly high over the world at will. For most of history, we could only dream of what that�s like. Of course, today we can just jump in a plane. But is that really the same thing?

What does it really feel like to fly with the birds? The BBC will show you. In Scotland, a Golden Eagle was outfitted with lightweight cameras. Then, it was set loose. You�ve never seen soaring like this. I guess we�ll have to keep dreaming.

The Big Five 0, Birthday reflections

Yesterday was my birthday, it was a big one, you know one of those birthdays that ends in a 0. This year it was particularly big as it started with a 5, yep the big 50.

I had a shock on Friday when I came home from the shop and while looking through the mail saw the letter, it was an invitation to join AARP and I was hit with a shocking reality that I was really going to be 50 the very next day.

I have to say that I had a simply fantastic day yesterday and as my big 50 day progressed I was thinking that as a kid I would of never dreamed of being 50 or of being so blessed with such a wonderful life.

I was, as Steve Martin once said, (in the movie The Jerk) well he said it slightly differently, born a poor white child. But I would take that statement further and add that I was born a poor white ugly boy as I was also born pretty ugly or at least I was told that one of my aunts went home and cried after I popped out because I looked so bad. Never the less I was here and my parents were both very young with my father working in a radio station on his way to Shaw Air force base and my mother having grown up doing hard labor as the middle of three sisters on a fully working farm in SC. I never knew it but I am told we were also very poor and in fact when my father needed to buy gas to go to work he would trade a few silver dollars he and mom had saved to the man at the gas station who would save them for him until pay day so he could trade them back for paper money.

I grew up as most kids my age and we moved from a very small rental home to a nice neighborhood in Florence SC and then to Charlotte NC where dad had taken a job in a growing television station. With three younger brothers mom had her hands filled as she took care of us, made most all of our clothes and made sure we were growing up with the right values.

As I got older I was introduced to aviation by my dad and we built and flew control line model airplanes. At about 15 via a Popular Science magazine I was introduced to Hang Gliders and was hooked on the sport. It was free flight and I had to do it and in fact became consumed by it.

After having paper routes, driving a school buss and various fast food jobs my new girlfriend (soon to be wife) found me a job at a young but growing photo company as a part time sales person. With no formal collage I got a real education in business here. I learned from the owner of the company that the key to being successful was to surround yourself with smart successful people and to let them do what they were good at while leaving them alone to get the job done. I did just that and the photo company grew from two stores to over 700 (with help from a talented team of folks). My growth in this company afforded me the privileges of private jets, and other perks that come with corporate success. I moved the the wife and I to Chattanooga TN where I could continue to work in my newest position and to fly. While doing this I started a Hang Gliding company called Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supply. A few years later I was moved to Atlanta and was fortunate to be able to guide the company now as the President of it's new dot com from the analog world of film to the digital photo word all the while with aviation playing a larger part of my life from Hang Gliders to Sailplanes to powered planes and the ultimate of being to live on a small grass strip with partnerships in a couple of small planes.

Alas the family owned (not my family) photo company went bankrupt ( I should write a book about the adventures with this company) and my family lost all that we had invested in my 26 year tenure there. I took it in stride and set out to start over again in the hobby business. I have once again surrounded myself with more successful people and will not go back to the corporate world to be disappointed again..

Now before this starts sounding like an obituary instead of a birthday reflection and thanks, my point is that I can see that I have had a wonderful life and am not sad to be turning 50 in fact I am so thankful and have been blessed beyond what any man could deserve. I have a great family with a fantastic wife, two wonderful children and a dog with an airplane name (Katana) .

My birthday was a simply fantastic day. The weather was great and I was able to take all of the visiting family on airplane rides and see the beautiful fall colors and the clear water in lake Lanier. Then I was able to fly my hand-launched sailplanes with a great group of friends at the local club. Last night there was a party at our home and many many friends came by and celebrated the day with my family.

What a great time I had and did I mention that I share the same birth day with my now 11 year old daughter, and as I reflect on the day and my past fifty years I think my old boss had it right but only partially so when he advised me to surround myself with successful people. I think that is was Clarence (it�s a wonderful life) instead that had it right and that the real key to success is to have real friends. No man is a failure who has friends.

I am blessed to have the best of the best of friends and I thank you all for sharing in my day!

Newly released Mercury Epoxy

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Mercury epoxy contains one 4 oz. bottle of resin and one 4 oz. bottle of hardener. Epoxy has the advantage of setting quickly, even in small amounts at low temperatures.
Great at bonding wood and nearly all other types of materials. It achieves its great strength as a result of a chemical reaction when mixed with the hardening agent and does not shrink while curing.

See more by clicking here

EXCLUSIVE: New line of camera mounts announced at Atlanta Hobby

Atlantahobby.com the nations leader in providing innovative, Electric Flight products to consumers around the world and being one of the largest multi rotor dealers in the USA announced today that it has released a new line of Professional Grade, Made In The USA, multi axis Camera Mounts and Gimbals for multi-rotor aircraft.

Cliff Whitney, President of Atlantahobby.com said �The multi rotor segment of the hobby is exploding and I am excited to be able to continue to add to our unique line of quality products that are made in the USA. No mater if we are working in our role of Federal defense contractor or supplying equipment to a first time pilot who wants great photos we always work to deliver the highest quality components backed up with the technical support we are known for.�

Three new Gimbals head the line SR-Pro, SR-800 Pro and SR-Pro Micro with more in the works.
Leading the line is the new SR Pro Micro Gimbal/landing gear system. The SR Pro Micro is the perfect solution for the popular DJI 450 and 550 frame sets and is easily fitted to many other multi rotor copters. The unit is manufactured of the highest quality aircraft components while maintaining a very lightweight but strong design.
Weighing in at only 300 grams (10.5oz), the SR Pro Micro flies like a dream! Finished in stealth black electro static thermal powder coat for a non scratch super tough finish.
The SR Pro Micro is built from light but strong 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum, Carbon Fiber Skids and Rails as well as space-age polymers, genuine Teflon bushings, Titanium screws and native rubber vibration dampeners all working together for the best photography.
Extreme ease and functionality is had with direct drive two axis servo control (Hitec HS-65 servos are included) producing fluid smooth and dynamic video footage.
A Built in battery balance system helps dial in the perfect balance of your multirotor for longer flight times and less wear and tear on your motors.

Prices start at $399 and you can see this and the rest of the line at Atlantahobby.com by clicking this link

FAA exemption for aeromodeling

Date: February 7, 2012
Contact: Chris Brooks, APR
765-287-1256, ext. 276
chrisb@modelaircraft.org

Senate joins House in passing FAA bill, exemption for aeromodeling

M U N C I E � The U.S. Senate late Monday joined the House in passing the first full FAA Reauthorization Bill in more than four years. In passing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 both the House and Senate included a provision aimed at protecting model aviation from burdensome regulations. The President is expected to sign the bill into law.

�We are very appreciative of those in Congress who recognize that model aviation hobbyists have been highly successful at governing themselves and being safety conscious over generations,� said Bob Brown, president of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, representing 143,000 aeromodelers. �We are intensely committed to a safe National Airspace System (NAS), and have proven so. This bill is testimony to a common sense approach to model aviation.�

The AMA�s ongoing attempt to protect aeromodeling from what it believes to be unnecessary and overreaching federal regulations was championed by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) who sponsored the amendment. The Academy would like to express its sincere appreciation to the members of Congress and their staffs, with special thanks to John Mica (R-FL), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Tom Petri (R-WI).

�I can�t stress enough the impact that AMA members have had on getting this amendment passed,� said Brown. �Last year, our members sent 90,000 letters of concern to their Congressional representatives, and the collective voice of aeromodeling was heard loud and clear.�

Rapid technological advancements and the integration of small unmanned aircraft systems, or sUAS, has been a challenge for the FAA, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of the NAS. The AMA has consistently contended that aeromodeling conducted by its members, following the AMA Safety Code, is different from commercial sUAS operations. That distinction lies, in part, with hobbyists operating within a defined area, away from people and property, and not for commercial purposes, among other self-imposed rules.

�This legislation is a very positive step,� said Rich Hanson, AMA�s Government Regulatory Affairs representative. �However, there are still steps to come. We look forward to a cooperative effort with the FAA in ensuring that model aircraft may continue to operate safely within the NAS.�

AMA expects that the FAA will issue its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for public comment sometime later this spring. The Academy continues to believe that a regulatory approach to model aviation is unnecessary and unwarranted.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics is the nation�s collective voice for aeromodeling, founded in 1936, with 143,000 members in 2,400 clubs in every state, Puerto Rico and Guam. The AMA successfully sanctions more than 2,000 events and competitions each year, and boasts the world�s largest collection of model aviation artifacts and documents in the National Model Aviation Museum situated on the 1,100-acre International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.

FAA Cracking Down On UAS Use

From Av Web

See the video by clicking here

Department last week warned L.A. realtors to stop renting remote-control aircraft to shoot aerial video and photos of their listings. "We are just trying to inform the public to ensure that before hiring these companies to operate these aircraft in federal airspace, that they are abiding by the federal regulations to ensure safety," police Sgt. George Gonzalez told the L.A. Times.The LAPD, which operates its own camera-equipped drone, said the images were obtained by an aircraft flying at "several hundred feet" and might have violated FAA guidelines. The practice has become a common sales tool (Google "aerial real estate photography") that occupies a gray area of airspace regulations in light of the low cost of increasingly capable and widely available remote-control aircraft. The latest measure may be an expansion of FAA action to shut down a California company's use of large helicopter drones for film and television work.

MI6 Films used a substantial aircraft to carry full-sized motion picture camera gear and rented the drone and camera along with three crew for $2,500 a day. The company has a long list of well-known clients for the work. According to the MI6 website, the FAA wrote the company a letter last December saying there is an "existing prohibition" against using UASs for commercial purposes. That may be an interpretation of the current approach to UASs by the FAA. According to an FAA fact sheet, unmanned aerial systems are not approved for use in civilian airspace, except through a special airworthiness certificate, and the special airworthiness certificate precludes commercial use of UASs. To accommodate model aircraft hobbyists the FAA has voluntary guidelines (PDF), written in 1981, that advise owners to restrict RC aircraft operations to 400 feet in altitude and away from populated areas and full-sized aircraft. That guideline, however, does not specifically mention a prohibition of commercial use of remote-control aircraft. The FAA says it intends to clear up the ambiguity surrounding UAS operations with a comprehensive rule that will be issued in 2011. It told MI6 the new rule will include allowances for commercial use of UASs but in the meantime its fleet is grounded except for fun flights. MI6 is reportedly using only piloted helicopters for its film work now.

The Lobby For Lithium Batteries On Aircraft

The Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA) Wednesday took aim at a recent FAA study about the risks posed to aircraft by lithium batteries, calling it "scare-mongering" and distracting from important safety issues. The FAA's Freighter Airplane Cargo Fire Risk Model (PDF) assessed the likely number of U.S.-registered fire accidents through 2020. The answer, according to the study, is about one every other year. The FAA's findings assumed batteries contributed to two key incidents it used to develop its risk model. According to the PRBA, "no facts are presented that indicate any involvement of batteries in the incidents." When the batteries do burn, there is little doubt about their destructive potential.

"It's like a fireworks display," an engineer told Bloomberg news. "They explode. They shoot fireballs. They emit smoke. Sometimes they spray flaming liquid," the engineer said. Airline pilot unions are pushing for the FAA to take seriously that potential threat. Early in December, those unions made their concerns clear, stating that existing standards are "generally recognized as inadequate." The comments came after news reports that a deal struck as part of negotiations for long-term funding of the FAA blocked new rules. Manufacturers that include Apple and Panasonic say those new regulations, originally proposed by the Obama administration, could cost them $1.1 billion per year. The PRBA's current rebuttal of the September 2011 safety study makes clear its position should the topic be revisited during new talks regarding FAA funding. A current funding extension expires in January.

More on AvWeb http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/2092-full.html#205949

Lithium batteries aboard planes cause increasing concern

Battery fires in personal electronic devices can be scary. But if a battery ignites on a plane, the risks are much greater.

Alan Zale for The New York Times

Waiting at the airport in White Plains. Batteries in electronic devices are a concern for safety agencies.

With more people traveling with an assortment of portable electronics � sometimes a plane has more devices than passengers � fires are occurring on airliners with increasing frequency. More than half of the 22 battery fires in the cabin of passenger planes since 1999 have been in the last three years. One air safety expert suggested that these devices might be �the last unrestricted fire hazard� people can bring on airplanes.

This month, the Federal Aviation Administration along with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued special advisories to airlines about yet another gadget: the credit card readers that many have begun to issue to flight attendants to ring up sales of food, drinks and other amenities.

While airlines have used portable credit card readers for several years, the F.A.A. said earlier this month that they needed approval from the agency�s hazardous materials division. Like the majority of hand-held consumer electronic devices, the readers are powered by rechargeable lithium batteries, which the government considers hazardous.

�The carriers came and asked if we would allow them to have the credit card readers on aircraft and they wanted spare lithium batteries to allow them to switch out the batteries,� said Christopher Bonanti, director of the F.A.A. office of hazardous materials. �I was concerned about having spare lithium batteries, and I asked them not to do that.�

Some airlines have agreed to special training for handling batteries and were allowed to carry spares, Mr. Bonanti said. But other airlines, like Delta and JetBlue, figured it was safer to avoid carrying extra batteries altogether.

�They�re not charged onboard the aircraft and batteries aren�t removed from these devices while onboard,� Bryan Baldwin, a JetBlue spokesman, wrote in an e-mail message.

While no fires from credit card readers have been reported, the list of spontaneous combustion events with other devices reads like a thriller. Last month, a portable DVD player was dropped on an American Airlines flight, causing a fire. In March 2008, aUnited Airlines employee placed a flashlight in the storage compartment of a Boeing 757 at the Denver airport. A report said the flashlight exploded �like gunshots,� turning the on-off switch into a projectile. On a flight to Miami that same month, eight people were injured when a small battery fell against a metal seat frame. In the ensuing explosion, debris singed a passenger�s ear and hair and the smoke sickened seven crew members.

In 2004, an ABC News camera exploded on a plane being used by the presidential candidate John Edwards. A seat caught fire, causing an emergency return to the airport. Even more events go unreported, the authorities said.

�If you have an issue in the air there�s not a whole lot you can do to recover from it,� said Gerald McNerney, a vice president at Motorola, which provides hand-held devices to airlines. �You put your brand at risk if one of your devices has an issue with the battery. What we�ve done is look at creating backups, duplicity in development so that you�re not going to have an explosion.�

Figures from the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site show that at least 400,000 portable device batteries have been recalled so far this year, an indication that manufacturing problems are sometimes to blame. Batteries are also becoming more powerful, so that even the smallest have the potential to unleash a lot of heat.

�The battery industry is trying to squeeze more juice into these batteries for longer life,� said Joe Delcambre, a spokesman for the hazardous materials agency. �Smaller battery, more life, with a terminal that can overheat the product � it�s a risk.�

Considering that problems with batteries are occurring on passenger planes at a rate of one every four months, Merritt Birky, formerly a fire and explosions expert with theNational Transportation Safety Board who is now a private consultant, suggests they should be kept where passengers can keep an eye on them and out of overhead storage bins.

�Any time you have a fire on board it�s alarming, especially in the overhead bin,� Mr. Birky said. �That area is chock full of luggage and coats so you have lots of fuel for a fire and it�s going to go undetected for quite some time.�

The Transportation Department has created a Web site that includes the rules on traveling with lithium batteries, and it works with the manufacturers of portable electronic devices to spread the word about the hazards. But the transportation safety board estimated that only one person in every 170 to 190 travelers had actually visited the Web site.

�Most air passengers and flight crews are likely unaware of the fire risks posed by rechargeable lithium batteries,� the board wrote in 2008 in recommending a more aggressive approach to educating the public. The F.A.A. plans to follow that suggestion when it begins broadcasting public service announcements in airports next year, Mr. Bonanti said.

�There�s a whole slew of things that can go wrong with a lithium battery,� he said, adding that no matter how comfortable people are with their devices, caution is the best course of action. Full story here

EEStor unveils ultracapacitor-based battery system, Li-ion shudders in fear

If relying on sunlight and downhill routes in Venturi's uber-greenEclectic doesn't exactly sound feasible for your everyday (and night) errands, and your ultraportable's five hours of battery life just isn't where you think it should be, EEStor is hoping to remedy those issues -- along with basically every other battery-related quandary -- in one fell swoop. Read more

Thunder Power is the power behind 3D Masters victory second consecutive year!

LAS VEGAS, NV; July 28, 2011 � Thunder Power RC Generation 6 Chemistry Pro Power 65C Series batteries were the power behind the 1st and 3rd Place 2011 3D Masters wins thanks to the amazing talent and skill of team pilots Jamie Robertson and Nick Maxwell. The 2011 3D Masters win marks the second consecutive win for Thunder Power RC with the 2010 Masters win at the hands of Nick Maxwell. 3D Masters is known in the RC Helicopter competitive arena as the World�s 3D Competition and is where the best of the best compete. The 2011 event was held July 22 � 24 in Venlo, Netherlands and was hosted by the Jupiter Flying Club. Twenty-seven top pilots competed in the Masters Class of competition to take home the championship title of 2011 3D Master.

The 3D Masters events truly push and test all piloting skills and ability to the extreme. The 3 day event had pilots competing in the areas of set maneuvers, flight to music and freestyle. During the set maneuvers segment of the competition, pilots fly 8 maneuvers from a selection of 40 maneuvers rated in difficulty of �k� factors from K1 to K3 and known to vary as hard- to �very, very hard to master. The flight to music gives the pilot the chance to entertain, fascinate and exhibit their artistic skills and ability while choreographed to their favorite music selection. The freestyle event gives each pilot three minutes to impress the judges and spectators with all-out flying to push the limits of their skills, machines and equipment. By winning 3D Masters, Jamie Robertson has truly earned the accolades by putting his piloting skills to the brink and back through the rigorous rounds of competition. Jamie also took home trophies for the Best Flight to Music, Best Electric Helicopter and Best Flybarless Machine!

Team Thunder Power RC is represented by some of the most talented pilots in the RC industry. Just seven weeks ago Robertson and Maxwell shared the podium at the Extreme Flight Championships (XFC), where Robertson won the Championship and Maxwell brought home the 2nd place win. Now with placing 1st and 3rd at 3D Masters, these two pilots are a force to be reckoned with in the RC helicopter competitive flight scene. Both pilots have achieved major helicopter title wins as the XFC Champion and 3D Master as well as many other career victories. Jamie Robertson now has two XFC Championships and a 3D Masters title to his name while winning both the 3D Masters and XFC back-to-back for 2011 in just a matter of 7 weeks! Thunder Power RC is proud to be the power behind these top victories at 3D Masters, thanks Jamie and Nick for representing TPRC with your awesome piloting skills and ability!

About Thunder Power RC

Since 2003, Thunder Power RC has been the world-leader in the advancement of Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery power and charging solutions for a wide variety of RC, UAV/UAS and other applications. Continuing to set industry-leading standards in performance and reliability is why more pilots, drivers and professionals world-wide choose Thunder Power RC LiPo batteries over any other brand.

Thunder Power RC, # 1 in Performance and Reliability

Ice HV 120 Notice from Castle

Hello all,

While Castle takes all controller failures seriously, many have felt that our response to the incidences of failures in our Phoenix Ice 120HV was taking too long. We didn't make any official statements as we couldn't identify any particular pattern or cause for the failures. Our Repair Dept. keeps track of our returns - for any reason -- and the returns of the 120HV were actually very low; less than 3%. We generally see more than that rate of return just from crash damage unrelated to the controllers. Given that we've produced more than 10,000 of these controllers, a low percentage of failure still results in a lot of upset customers.

We've recently determined that some, again some, setups stress particular components in a way that causes the controllers to fail instantly. The failure mode allows a complete short circuit to occur. Our controllers are designed to carry high currents with as little resistance as possible. This is advantageous when the controllers are operating properly, but this leads to extreme currents and heat when the controllers fail. As the ICE controllers are encapsulated in metal heatsinks, this heat is further concentrated such that physical injuries or property damage may occur.

Our engineers have tested a hardware modification that greatly reduces the risk of this particular failure. We do not recommend using Phoenix Ice 12HV controllers until they have been modified to this new standard.

Please return any 120HV controllers that you may have for one that has this modification. There will be no charge for this exchange.

Please advise anyone using a 120HV controller of this notice.

REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE

Click this link and follow the directions to process your return.

North American customers please ship to Castle in Kansas via a traceable delivery service:

CASTLE CREATIONS, INC
120HV SERVICE / Service Department
540 N.ROGERS RD.
OLATHE, KS 66062
European customers may return their controllers via a traceable delivery service to our new European repair center:
CASTLE CREATIONS EUROPE BVBA
120HV SERVICE
GEELSEWEG 80
2250 OLEN
BELGIUM

Please be sure to include a copy of the order confirmation in your package.

NOTE: For purposes of fast turnaround, you will be sent another Phoenix Ice HV 120 controller. Remove all connectors, etc. from your ESC before shipping as they will not be returned with your replacement controller.

Our Technical Support and Repair staff do not have any additional information, calling them will only lead to additional frustration for all involved. We will advise you via email of the expected shipment date for your return.

We apologize for any problems this matter may have caused, and we hope that our candor and willingness to repair these controllers will help maintain your trust in our products and service.

Thanks,

Team Castle

Creekview High School Aeronautics Place in the Top 100!

Students associated with the Georgia Model Aviators place in top 100 in the world�s largest student rocket contest

Creekview High School students, of Canton GA are now celebrating after placing in the top 100 in the world�s largest student rocket contest after months of preparation. They will now be competing to win the 2013 Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) on Saturday, May 11 at Great Meadow in The Plains VA. The students representing Creekview will be the only ones to represent Georgia. TARC is the world�s largest student rocket contest that aims to inspire students to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Local club, the Georgia Model Aviators (GMA) is very excited for the team, which has earned a spot as a national competitor three times. The Georgia Model Aviators encourage the student�s hobby and regularly support the program by sponsoring the team and allowing the students to use their facilities.

The amateur rocketeers on the team have worked hard to earn their spot by designing, building, and perfecting the model rockets so that can safely carry one raw egg up to an exact altitude of 750 feet up in the air and return to the ground within 48-50 seconds.

The Aeronautics Team program at Creekview began in 2008 under the direction of Tim Smyrl and Todd Sharrock, both science faculty members at the school. Says Todd, �Tim and I are so proud of how hard our students have worked to compete in this year�s competition and qualify for the national finals. These are truly exceptional kids who are destined to do great things through their creativity and innovation.�

Creekview�s team will compete for the national title which includes a great prize package of $60,000 worth of scholarships and prizes and a chance to participate in NASA�s Student Launch Initiative. Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and more than 30 industry partners, TARC annually brings together more than 5,000 students from across the country. Participants represent a diverse group of students from urban and rural America, with a breakthrough number of all girls� teams and teams from underserved schools.

Click here to learn more about the Georgia Model Aviators.

http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amaclubs/2013/04/17/georgia-model-aviators-place-in-top-100-in-the-worlds-largest-student-rocket-contest/

Zenmuse HERO

SEE Video at bottom of page

DJI, one of the world�s leading developers and manufacturers in UAV systems, today launched the revolutionary Zenmuse HERO, a gyro-stabilized gimbal built specifically for the GoPro HERO3. Optimized for installation on the popular PHANTOM consumer quadcopter, the Zenmuse HERO combines the versatility of the award wining GoPro with industry leading stability for truly cinematic aerials not previously possible within a consumer package.

The Zenmuse HERO was designed for consumers seeking a cost-effective means of producing high quality aerial cinematography, without the issues plaguing consumer systems. With the Zenmuse HERO�s advanced algorithms and instant-response direct drive motors the GoPro remains perfectly level and steady during nearly all flight conditions. This combination allows consumers to produce high quality HD video that rivals productions from systems costing nearly ten times more.

Features of Zenmuse HERO

First fully integrated gimbal for GoPro
Built in GoPro control module for power, video output and start/stop capability
Independent IMU for professional level stability during flight
Accurate to +/- 0.08 degrees
2 axis (pitch and roll)
Integrated iOS app for camera control

Features of DJI iOS App

Low latency video monitoring (downlink)
Full remote camera control
Wireless synchronization
Social Media sharing
First person viewing (FPV) functionality

When the Zenmuse HERO is combined with DJI�s PHANTOM quadcopter, anyone can create cinematic aerial content at a fraction of the cost of existing systems.

The Zenmuse HERO will be available for purchase at the end of Q2 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9duHPk4B730

NAB news, DJI shows new prototype prop guards for the Phantom.

Zenmuse now supports Nex-5R with Sony 16mm lens

Zenmuse Z15 now supports Nex-5R with Sony 16mm lens.

The manual has been updated to V2.0.

What's new?

EN: P2/P10/P32/P33: Add contents of NEX-5R.

NAZA-M / WKM / Phantom Manuals have been updated

Please be advised the NAZA-M Manual has been updated to V2.7 and the WKM Manual to V3.9. The PHANTOM Advanced Manual has been updated to v1.4 and the NAZA-M Quick Start Guide for Phantom has been updated to v1.02.

What's new?

NAZA-M:

Fix the IOC tip on page26

WKM:

Fix the IOC tip on page32

PHANTOM:

1. Advanced Manual

Fixed the IOC tip on page10

2. NAZA-M Quick Start Guide for Phantom

Fixed the IOC tip on page13，Add VU tip on page5

Phantom Flying Flowchart V1.0

AUVSI's Michael Toscano during Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on UAS, Law Enforcement and Privacy

Association News

Opening Statement of AUVSI's Michael Toscano during Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on UAS, Law Enforcement and Privacy
20 March 2013

On 20 March, AUVSI President & CEO Michael Toscano gave testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee during the hearing "The Future of Drones in America: Law Enforcement and Privacy Considerations"

Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Grassley, I want to thank you and the rest of the Members of the Judiciary Committee for inviting me to testify here today.

My organization, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International � or AUVSI � is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. We have more than 7,500 members, including more than 6,300 members in the United States. The industry is at the forefront of a technology that will not only benefit society, but the U.S. economy, as well. Earlier this month, my organization released a study, which found the unmanned aircraft industry is poised to help create 70,000 new jobs and $13.6 billion in economic impact in the first three years following the integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace.

However, the industry fully understands the technology is new to many Americans, and their opinions are being formed by what they see in the news. Today�s hearing is an excellent opportunity to address some misconceptions about the technology and discuss how it will actually be used domestically.

You have probably noticed that I do not use the term �drone.� The industry refers to the technology as unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, because they are more than just a pilotless vehicle. A UAS also includes the technology on the ground, with a human at the controls. As I like to say, there is nothing unmanned about an unmanned system.

The term �drone� also carries with it a hostile connotation and does not reflect how UAS are actually being used domestically. UAS are used to perform dangerous and difficult tasks safely and efficiently. They were used to assess the flooding of the Red River in the upper Midwest. They were used to help battle California wildfires. And they are being used to study everything from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, tornadoes in the Great Plains, and volcanoes in Hawaii.

Unlike military UAS, the systems most likely be used by public safety agencies are small systems, many weighing less than 5 pounds, with limited flight duration. As for weaponization, it is a non-starter. The FAA prohibits deploying weapons on civil aircraft. And for the record: AUVSI does not support the weaponization of civil UAS.

I also want to correct the misperception there is no regulation of domestic UAS. The FAA strictly regulates who, where, when, and why unmanned aircraft may be flown. If public entities want to fly UAS, they must obtain a Certificate of Authorization or COA from the FAA. UAS are generally flown within line of sight of the operator, lower than 400 feet, and during daylight hours. It is also currently a violation of FAA regulations to fly a UAS for commercial purposes.

As we focus on the use of UAS by law enforcement, it is important to recognize the robust legal framework already in place, rooted in the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution and decades of case law, which regulates how law enforcement uses any technology � whether it is unmanned aircraft, manned aircraft, thermal imaging, GPS, or cell phones.

Safeguarding people�s privacy is important to my industry, as well. Last year, AUVSI published a Code of Conduct explicitly directing users to respect individual privacy. AUVSI also endorsed guidelines published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for the use of unmanned aircraft by law enforcement. These guidelines were not only praised by our industry, but the ACLU as well. AUVSI strongly opposes any misuse of UAS technology. Just like with any technology, those who abuse it should be held accountable.

In conclusion, AUVSI believes all stakeholders can work together to advance this technology in a thoughtful way that recognizes the benefits and fuels job creation, while protecting Americans� safety, as well as their rights. Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.

http://www.auvsi.org/AUVSI/AUVSINews/AssociationNews/#JudiciaryHearing

New Go Pro Hero 3 is announced

The most epic news in GoPro history was released tonight.

As a large Go Pro Dealer we have been watching this development for a while and are very excited about the new cameras.

Cameras will be posted on the site soon and deliveries of the Silver units will start in a few weeks. The Powerful Blk version will be available early Nov.

New Wookong Firmware released

The latest WooKong-M Firmware 5.22 and assistant software v2.00 as well as the new LED-BT-I (Bluetooth indicator) has been released from DJI.

What�s new with the Firmware?

Added the Bluetooth assistant function. You will be required to have the new LED-BT-I hardware.

New in the Assistant Software

New UI design, simple and easy to use.

Bluetooth LED firmware support.

Support for the iOS mobile device assistant, download this on the App Store.

Update on Phantom

After a long delay where our container was held hostage in US customs for a detailed inspection. We have now received credible tracking that our large Phantom shipment is out of customs and in route to the atlanta Hobby warehouse. We will start to package all backorders late this weekend with all orders being fully caught up by Monday morning. If you have a Phantom backorder watch for your UPS tracking # to come live over the next 2 days but remember the actual shipments will not move until Monday.

http://www.atlantahobby.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=17125&idcategory=

The Phantom is here!

Atlantahobby.com the nations leader in providing innovative, Electric Flight products to consumers around the world and being one of the largest multi rotor suppliers in the USA announced that it had completed beta testing and would be one of the first in the USA to deliver the new and revolutionary RTF Phantom multi rotor copter.

Cliff Whitney, President of Atlantahobby.com said �The multi-rotor segment of the hobby is exploding and advanced technology is enabling more and more to enjoy our hobby. Via our strong relationship with DJI and after extensive beta testing I am excited to be able to announce the new Spirit of pure flight, The Phantom, ready to fly Quad copter.

The new futuristic Phantom is ready to fly out of the box including its own dedicated 2.4 Ghz transmitter, batteries and charger. With it's attractive and sleek appearance as well as ease of flight you will not want to put it down. The New Phantom includes a highly integrated design including the proven NAZA auto pilot flight control system along with built in GPS satellite module to make first time or advanced flight easy. The system includes an integrated GoPro Camera mount making aerial filming especially easy and the built in colored lights look very cool in the air and make orientation easy. �

Everything in the Phantom is pre installed so no more guessing on the best motor, esc, or battery requirements. Even the flight parameters and functions have been setup and tuned by factory engineers prior to delivery, so you can fly the moment you receive it. Just charge the supplied lipo and go and fly.

Taking a trip or vacation? The Phantom is so easy to operate and stable it makes aerial filming a breeze. The compact design makes it easy for you to carry in a backpack or small case each time you travel. With the integrated camera mount shooting footage from the air will bring you a brand new travel experience.

Main Features of the Phantom

- Fitted with the proven Naza Autopilot Controller

- Naza Gps and Compass Module

- All in One Design Ready to Fly

- Power monitoring Unit with 2 level voltage protection

- Accurate Position and Altitude Hold (Built in Gps and Barometric Sensors)

- Highly Accurate Feel when flying

- Intelligent Motor Arming for Safety

- Multiple Flight Modes - Manual , Atti and Gps Atti

- Intelligent Orientation Control enabled via 3 way switch. Course Lock and Home Lock (IOC)

- Enhanced Failsafe Protection with go home and auto landing

- Included Gopro Camera Mount with quick release screw mounting

- High Intensity Led Lighting automatically comes on when motors are armed

- Led Module to display flight mode and lipo status

- Includes 2.4 Ghz Transmitter, completely ready to fly. (Just add 4 x AA batteries to TX)

- Frame Size of the DJI Phantom 330mm Approx

- Stable Flight Characteristics but with agile performance

The Atlanta Hobby skunk works flight team has been testing this product extensively and we cannot put it down even flying around inside our shop! It flies great, looks great and comes with everything you need to get in the air.

Price for the complete package is $679 and you can see it in action by clicking this link

The Helicopter World has changed today

Atlantahobby.com the nations leader in providing innovative, Electric Flight products to consumers around the world and being one of the largest single and multi rotor suppliers in the USA announced today that it had completed beta testing and would be one of the first in the USA to deliver the new and revolutionary Naza H Auto Pilot system.

Cliff Whitney, President of Atlantahobby.com said �The autopilot segment of the hobby is exploding and technology is enabling more and more to enjoy our hobby. Via our tight relationship with DJI am excited to be able to announce that the helicopter world changed today with the public release of the revolutionary NAZA H Auto Pilot system. This new flight control system goes beyond simple gyros and makes helicopter flying easy and stress free for the masses. Imagine being able to fly a helicopter on your first trip out to the field or if while practicing a new maneuver you get disorientated to be able to flip a switch and have the helicopter right itself and return to the takeoff point all on it�s own. The new Naza H makes helicopter flying easy.�

The Naza-H autopilot system is a new platform designed for beginner and expert single rotor helicopter model enthusiast. It inherits the world famous Multi rotor Naza series�s All-in-One design with specially tuned functions for the single rotor Heli Pilot. Standard high performance functions such as tail gyro, flybarless, and multiple flight control modes.The new Naza H also supports D-BUS and with the optional GPS module, flight stability and failsafe functions are no longer a problem.

From novice to aggressive 3D, the Naza H perfectly meets the needs of different flying styles. It is not just another FBL controller; it is �THE� best choice for the discerning model helicopter pilot.

A few features

All-in-One Design

Built-in Tail Gyro/Flybarless Supported

Support for Multiple Electric Helicopter Platforms

Advanced Attitude and Control Algorithm

Optional GPS Module

Multiple Flight Control Modes/Intelligent Switching

D-BUS Supported

Independent LED Module

Future firmware upgrade to give Semi-auto Take-off & Landing

Additional features in the future Prices start at $269 and you can see the rest of the Naza H line at Atlantahobby.com

Click here to see it in action

DJI Free upgrades!

New from DJI

Starting today June first, the single waypoint system is now going to be a standard feature with every WooKong-M purchase (excluding data link).

Customers with �View� and data link previously purchased can upgrade to single waypoint via firmware upgrade; while single waypoint customers will enjoy the new 5-waypoint. Full waypoint is now increased from 20 to 50, requiring a simple firmware upgrade.

We will be updating our site today and tomorrow and there will be other improvements and more information in the next two weeks. Stay tuned to our daily Blog or sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Take a look at the attached chart for a visual.

Thanks

Cliff

Coming Soon: Era Of UAS?

The new FAA reauthorization bill that was signed into law this week by President Obama (PDF) creates a fast track for the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace. The legislation states that the FAA and the UAS industry must work together to develop a "comprehensive plan" by mid-November that will safely achieve the full integration of UAS by Sept. 30, 2015. Deadlines for certain smaller systems are set even sooner. For example, first responders will be allowed to fly small UAS weighing 4.4 pounds or less within 90 days. And within six months, the FAA must designate six test ranges where the UAS can fly to develop their sense-and-avoid capabilities.

Within one year, small UAS under 55 pounds will be allowed to fly in the Arctic regions of the U.S., 24 hours a day, at an altitude of at least 2,000 feet. By mid-2014, small UAS that weigh under 55 pounds will be allowed to fly in the national airspace system. "Technology is advancing to the point where we now know these systems can reliably fly," said Michael Toscano, president of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. "The next step is to work on the regulations that govern the rules of the sky to ensure that unmanned aircraft do no harm to other manned aircraft or to people or property on the ground." The legislation says that all UAS must have a "sense and avoid capability," and standards will be set for the licensing of operators. The FAA also will be required to study the causes of accidents involving UAS.

More at AvWeb

Attn Blade 450 owners

Attention Dealers and Distributors Selling Blade® 450 3D RTF and BNF Basic Helicopters

Horizon Hobby has discovered errors in the transmitter programming instructions for the Spektrum� DX7, DX7se, and DX8.

Please immediately replace pages 39 and 40 of the original Blade 450 3D manual with updated pages dated 06/2011 found at the following link. Horizon will also be sending dealers and distributors printed copies of the replacement pages.

Consumers programming the DX7, DX7se, and DX8 transmitters for use with the Blade 450 3D, should use the transmitter programming instructions dated 06/2011.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your continued support of Blade products.

Martin Jet pack up for auction

At last year's AirVenture in Oshkosh, the Martin Jetpack was easily the most anticipated and hyped product. But the sort-of jetpack only sort of flew, with spotters keeping a close eye on it. The jet pack is a personal flight vehicle powered by a single engine driving twin ducted fans. Martin has shown the vehicle will fly without external assistance in this latest video and I post it here for my readers to see.

MapleFlopter (Top Secret)

I wanted you to get a look at a top secret project an acquaintance is building. Ever seen a maple seed fall from a tree and spin around like a one blade helicopter? Get a look at the Maple Flopter which is nearing completion. I will post more details soon but the engineering behind this project is no joke and uses sophisticated electronics like a earth�s magnetic field sensing cyclic pitch control.

Stay tuned

An interesting article on the maple seed (the real thing) can be found here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/science/16obseed.html?hpw

A little about the new AS3X Gyro technology

New Brushless Outrunner Electric Motors from O.S.

Pilots loyal to outstanding O.S. performance but eager to fly electric will soon have the ideal option � powering electric airplanes using new O.S. brushless motors!

Designed by O.S. engineers to be the new "gold standard" in electric power, these motors offer the same legendary quality and reliability that have made O.S. glow engines famous worldwide for 75 years.

Only O.S. brushless motors will offer a ventilation system that increases efficiency and allows the motors to generate additional power. Key to this system is a unique centrifugal fan design. The fan draws air through specially angled ventilation holes, across the windings and over the magnets for greatly improved cooling.

Click here to see the complete line Available in July

Full Metal Yakket (Yak 54)

Part of our limited edition Rock N Roll series of Planes, this new 45 inch Yak is designed, cut and printed right here in the USA.

The ultimate in performance, featuring full color art from renowned Charleston SC Artist Frank Ruopoli. These are limited edition planes and be assured you that you have never seen anything like these before. Click the images tab to see the intricate details of the UV based printing.

Kit requires servos, motor, radio transmitter, receiver, battery, and speed controller. Landing gear optional. Glue, tape and standard building tools needed. This is an all new design, flys great and is not a jerky airplane. large enough with it's 45 inch span to be flown outside. Very stable platform when it comes to 3D.

Specifications

Type Yak 54

Wing Span: 45"

Length: 39"

Airfoil: Flat

Weight (empty): 7.3oz

Construction: Precision CNC cut from stiff 9mm Depron

Kit includes: Carbon spars and Ply engine mount

Suggested Servos: Hitec HS-65

Suggested Motor: Torque 2830/1095 (250 watts)

Suggested ESC: Thunderbird 36

Suggested battery: 3S 1350mAH to 3S 1800mAH

Other: This kit requires a medium level of building skills to complete and is not for beginning R/C flyers. Glue, tape and standard building tools needed.

New USA made Rock N Roll Series

New "Rock N Roll" airplane series to be released late next week (4 planes). Full color, limited edition by fantastic Charleston SC Artist. 45 inch wingspan. 9mm depron.

Now Shipping Icon A5

One of the hottest new aircraft in general aviation is now an outstanding ParkZone replica and has started shipping. The ICON A5 was designed in cooperation with ICON Aircraft for looks and flight characteristics to match the full-scale flyer.

Along with a near-perfect scale outline and realistic trim scheme, it features a special hull design that makes water takeoffs and landings remarkably easy to master. Add the optional light set (sold separately) and you will really have a one-of-a-kind parkflyer that will grab attention wherever it flies.

Click here to see both planes

Interview with the Jet Man

This is a very good interview with Yves Rossy (The Jet Man).

New UMX Gee Bee R2 BNF W AS3X

The UMX Gee Bee R2 is yours to groove through the skies just about anywhere because it features specially tuned handling more in common with a Sunday sport model than a short-coupled engine with wings. The awe-inspiring UMX Gee Bee R2 replica offers handling so remarkably smooth, you�ll want to fly this authentically scaled model every day. Its built-in, specially tuned, AS3X System invisibly helps you enjoy the kind of silky handling and outstanding control you always wanted from a conveniently sized RC model, but never thought possible before now.

Click here to see more!

New UMX Beast with AS3X

Enhanced with the AS3X System, the UMX Beast 3D is specifically set with an aft CG and large control surface deflections for maximum maneuverability. However, instead of handling that feels super-sensitive, the UMX Beast 3D, with the AS3X System, flies ultra smooth, even in conditions considered windy. Plus, you get locked-in precision and the outstanding control authority necessary to perform 3D more confidently. To learn more click here.

New Dogfighters are shipping!

We had a review on the RCRN Air Show last night. Very nice new plane and I think this will develop into a new racing class of it's own. See more by clicking here

NEW Edge 540 Red Bull is here!

This very cool PIP (Plug In Play) ARF is pre-installed with 4 servos, brushless motor, speed control, propeller and spinner so you can use your choice of transmitter/receiver. Click here to see the movies and more!

More on the Scimitar

Introducing the E-flite Carbon-Z Scimitar! Available in BNF (EFL10180) and PNP (EFL10175) models, the new fantasy-scale Scimitar bursts open the performance envelope with an evolutionary compound-delta flying wing. Designed by world aerobatic champion Quique Somenzini the Scimitar contains a specially tuned Q-Power system harnessed inside a revolutionary single-axis, vectored-thrust propeller system. Check it out!

Very cool Twin Otter

Hangar 9 has done it again with a new Twin Otter, a scale model of the UV-18 'Twin Otter', is the military version of the DeHavilland DHC-6. The trim scheme is based on the three UV-18B planes used by the US Air Force Academy cadet parachuting program which carry a pilot, copilot and up to 17 jumpers, and are the only three owned by the Air Force.

Although this is a multi-engine model, the high wing design and clark Y airfoil improve low speed handling and provide stable flight characteristics which make this a great first-time twin for intermediate to advanced pilots.

The Twin Otter ARF also features an electric power option which adds to the reliability. It also features fiberglass cowlings and fairings which make it very durable and easy to repair. The aircraft also includes fixed gear and large landing flaps to provide easy and fun landings without the addition of complicated landing gear necessary.

See more of the Otter by clicking here

Wingspan:	82.0 in (2080mm)
Overall Length:	65.0 in (1650mm)
Wing Area:	738 sq in (47.61 sq dm)
Flying Weight:	11.5 � 13.2 lb (5.2 � 6.0 kg)
Engine Size:	.36-.40 2-Stroke
Motor Size:	Suggested Power 25 BL Outrunner Motors
Radio:	6+ channel with 8-10 servos
Trim Scheme Colors:	Ultracote: Golden Yellow (U889), White (U870), Deep Blue (U873)

Piper L-4 Grasshopper Now shipping

The L-4 Grasshopper was the military derivative of Piper�s famous civilian high-wing monoplane�the J-3 Cub. The U.S. Army Air Force turned to the J-3 in military guise as it sought a rugged yet lightweight aircraft for liaison and observation duties in direct support of ground forces. The primary difference between the civil and military versions is the enlarged window area in the rear cabin to allow better observation.

This new one from E-Flite has the following Specifications

Wingspan:	38.2 in (970mm)
Overall Length:	23.7 in (600mm)
Wing Area:	210 sq in (13.5 sq dm)
Flying Weight:	9.00-9.70oz (255-275g)

The new L-4 is designed for a little 250 motor, You can see more and a nice film of it flying by clicking here.

Toy Model rockets under fire!

Remember shooting model rockets as a kid?

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently advised that they intend to change the classification for shipping model rocket motors (engines) and igniters from �Flammable Solids� to �Explosives�.

Since 1978, there has been a Special Permit allowing limited quantities of model rocket motors and igniters to be shipped as �Flammable Solids�. In 33 years there have been NO incidents involved in the shipping and transporting of model rocket motors and igniters. Therefore, we

believe the Special Permit should be allowed, continuing the classification �Flammable Solid�.

We need your support! Attached is a sample letter that we request you e-mail immediately to express your support of keeping the Special Permit in place.

We believe that changing the classification to �Explosives� would only cause unnecessary concern for educators, youth group leaders and families using model rockets for educational and recreational purposes. An Explosives label on packages sends an exaggerated and frightening

message, and potential difficulty for those handling, transporting, receiving, storing, selling and using these products.

If you believe as we do, send an e-mail or letter supporting our request now! The e-mail or letter (or both) should be sent to DOT no later than October 2, 2011.

Click here for sample letter

Glider Day This Sunday!

We will be sponsoring the first ever NASA Glider Day this Sunday 01/22 at the beautiful and big Atlanta Soaring club field. NASA stands for North Atlanta Soaring Association and if you have ever wanted to learn about gliders and soaring flight this will be the day.

Any type of glider is welcome (AMA required to fly). We will have the two club winches for the pure soaring planes as well as demos of DLG, ALES, Power asst and more. Come check out the big birds with 3 and 3.5 meter wings and get all of your questions answered by friendly club experts.

Don't have a glider? No worries, the club will have one for you to try out and I will have several of my DLG's and even 3 meter ships for you to try.

Burgers and a good time will be served up all starting at about 11AM. Let me know if you think you can make it, everyone is welcome. Directions can be found by clicking here . This will display a map with Scott Hudgens park in the middle of the page.

4573-4589 River Green Pkwy

Duluth GA 30096

F3X Viking-E Race - 4kW

The fastest F3X E ship to date. Viking 2 E Race - 4kW - wing span 3m - AUW 2.9kg - climb rate 50m/s continuously, 58m/s max.

Click to see the movie

F3X Viking-E Race - 4kW - On board video from Rakovnik from PiNa.CZ on Vimeo.

Get ready for 120+ MPH!

The Dago Red pylon racer is back in stock and can take you there with its sleek design and included power plant.

Check it out and watch the movies by clicking here.

World F3K Championships under way!

Get almost real time updates by following this thread.

Go USA!

Click to read more

Large Electric Sailplane

I saw this and wanted to pass it along as it is a very cool Duo Discus electric (assist) sailplane. 7.2 meter span, 20 Servos and running on 10S 5000Mah packs.

Enjoy

NEW Atlas DS09 Digital Servo

I just love these new servos!

A total of 140 degrees available, plus 25% programmable by transmitter, means that as much as 175 degrees of throw can be obtained. So these servos not only guarantee as much control throw as you will ever need, but are also perfect for retract and scale hatch installations. Speed is adjustable from 1% to 100%, and 1% is VERY slow indeed.

The New Hyperion ATLAS servos have some rather large advantages compared to other Digital Servos on the market. They are fully programmable for a wide variety of settings, using an inexpensive USB adapter cable. And - considering the huge investment in precision molds and highest quality components Hyperion has made - they are very attractively priced. You may find cheaper Digital Servos, but you won't find a higher value.

To learn more click here

New Transmitter News

Exciting new DX7 feature never before available on a Spektrum transmitter. Users have the ability to upgrade to the latest RF protocol, as well as update the operating software, using the included SD card.

A big step forward in performance for users. Users are now able to enjoy DSMX, and every groundbreaking RF protocol that comes after it, without ever having to buy a new transmitter or send in for an upgrade.

New RealFlight Basic now available for only $99

RealFlight �Basic" is out and at $99.99 it can give modelers all of the essentials needed for an ultra-realistic R/C flight simulator experience. This new program has an excellent variety of aircraft and flying sites to choose from. New Pilots can enjoy the same flight physics that have made the full version of Real Flight the best selling sim for the past 11 years!

The new RealFlight Basic features many aircraft and flying fields found in current versions of RealFlight G4.5 and Expansion Packs. This is not a stripped down, low quality product. Choose from 47 aircraft and 6 PhotoField flying sites.

Easy navigation using the controller and QuickSelect menus. Picture-in-picture views of the transmitter and a zoomed-in image of aircraft can be toggled on and off and you can control wind speed and direction.

Want to go fast?

Buying or building acarthat can reliably hit 100 mph in under five seconds usually takes enough cash to acquire a house. TheTraxxasXO-1 can get the job done for about $1,100 � as long as you're willing to only imagine yourself in the seat.

Calling it the first �ready to race supercar,� the XO-1 is a one-seventhscale radio controlspeed racer. Having built smaller, high-end radio controlled racers for super cross competitions,Traxxassays it wanted to offer a one-box speed runner and put hobbyists on track faster than if they assembled all the components on their own. The run to 60 mph takes 2.3 seconds, or a few ticks faster than the newest Nissan GT-R. (Serious R/C racers have already pushed the world speed record for miniature cars to 161 mph.)

Even at one-seventh scale, getting to 100 mph faster than you can read this sentence requires considerable engineering skill. The XO-1 uses high-tech driveshafts to put power from its lithium-ion batteries to mini tires rated for top speed. Thecarwon�t reach its full potential without a iPhone app, which integrates with thecar�s trigger controller.

Traxxas warns upfront that the XO-1 �is not a toy and is intended for use by experts only,� waiving off those who might consider it a stocking stuffer. Just don�t try to outrun it at a stoplight.

The NEW Slash 4WD is here! (see the movies)

The Traxxas Slash 4X4. It�s everything you expect from a Slash; tough, fast, fun�and 4-wheel drive! Slash 4X4 is built for versatile, exciting RC fun on and off the track with an all-new rigid chassis, super-efficient shaft drive, and Velineon brushless power for speeds over 60 mph.

Slash 4X4�s innovative design is like no other, and offers a combination of long-travel suspension, high ground clearance and a modern, ultra-efficient 4-wheel-drive system for the traction needed to exploit the massive brushless horsepower. Just three gear meshes and a lightweight aluminum tube driveshaft are used to transfer power to all four wheels.

Optimized placement of the components in the chassis yields perfect side-to-side and front-to-rear weight bias. The Slash 4x4 continues Slash's legendary toughness and simplicity of operation. The modular design provides easy access to the running gear. A TQ 2.4GHz radio system offers switch-on-and-drive convenience, and waterproof electronics keep the 4WD fun rolling in water, mud, and snow.

Click here to see another video and more!