Model Airplane News

EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDS

This year marked our second annual Model Airplane News Editors’ Choice awards. As we looked through all of the planes, helicopters and gear we reviewed this past year, we realized that narrowing them down to our top picks wasn’t going to be easy. The products that scored the highest in this basic test were the ones that made us say “Wow!” and we couldn’t wait to try them out. To win, they had to exceed our high expectations for quality and performance. The following winners did just that.

Top Innovation BLADE MCP X ULTRA MICRO HELICOPTER The company who won this year’s Innovation of the Year is always pushing the performance envelope with aircraft that are easier to assemble, fly and always ensure consumer success. This impressive product is ready to fly out of the box, weighs less than 2 ounces, and offers the latest in helicopter technology: flybarless performance. Congratulations to Blade for their mCP X Ultra Micro helicopter.

Scale Squadron This year we were lucky enough to have The Scale Squadron of Southern California put up an outstanding display of scale aircraft inside the Model Airplane News Expo hall. This group started in the early 1970s when they formed an official scale club and started putting on scale events. Founding member Harris Lee devised a plan for sanctioning a series of local qualifiers around the country and then having a fly-off to determine the national champion. It was from this idea that the U.S. Scalemasters began and today it is the premier scale competition in the country. Enjoy some of these great planes!

Radio of the Year SPEKTRUM DX8 Without a doubt, a transmitter is the item that pilots spend the most time with and has the greatest influence on how well their aircraft fly. A top radio needs to be easy to program and have enough memory for all of our planes and helicopters. Add real-time telemetry that lets you monitor your plane’s battery voltage and you have a winner! Our Radio of the Year is a great value: congratulations to Spektrum for their DX8.

Helicopter
of the Year

A MAIN HOBBIES JS MODELS FRENZY 50

Our Helicopter of the Year is an increasingly popular machine that just keeps getting better. This heli can take you from your first hover to 3D aerobatics and is even available with a flybarless rotor head. It has G- 10 side frames, a CNC-machined engine block, a belt-driven tail rotor and more. The best part is the price tag of just $150! Congratulations to A Main Hobbies for its JS Models Frenzy 50, our editors’ choice for Helicopter of the Year.

Plane
of the Year

TOP FLITE GOLD EDITION P- 40

GIANT-SCALE ARF

Our Plane of the Year has it all: it’s a great-looking warbird in a nice

50cc size, can accept optional retracts and has outstanding scale details. Assembly is straightforward, with many items already completed at the factory, so you can easily finish it in a weekend. At the field, it’s a star performer that will have you flying majestic loops and crisp rolls like an ace. Congratulations to Top Flite, for their Gold Edition P- 40 Giant-Scale ARF!

THANKS TO OUR

2011 RCX SPONSORS

Align Assurance RC Distributor Byron Fuels Race Gen2

Castle Creations Die Cast X Hextronik Hitec RCD Horizon Hobby LipoSack.com Losi MaxAmps.com Model Airplane News Nitro RCX.com Pro-Line Racing RC Car Action The Dirt Traxxas Venom RC Verizon Wireless Viper

ON THE ROAD

CHICAGO, IL | ORLANDO, FL | LONG BEACH, CA Big news was announced at this year’s show—RCX is going on the road! Future locations include Chicago, IL, Orlando, FL and Long Beach, CA. Make sure you check out ModelAirplaneNews. com and RCX.com to learn more. See you at the next show! ;