Radio Controlled Spitfire For Ready To Fly Radio Control

Flying a real World War Two Spitfire may be an impossible dream, but with this radio controlled Spitfire you can have just about as much excitement, and without hours of laborious assembly. If you thought that realistic radio controlled aeroplanes had to be slowly built from complex kits, and that anything that was “ready to fly” (rtf) was boring, then think again. The radio controlled Spitfire from Parkzone does not need hours of careful assembly, and is certainly not boring. It's not small either with a wingspan measuring I metre, or 39 ins.

You can relive the excitement of the famous Battle of Britain with this electric powered, radio controlled Spitfire model. It is based upon a 603 Squadron Spitfire based at Hornchurch in Essex during the summer of 1940, and is a Mk IIB variant that played such an important role in the Battle Of Britain. Compared with many electric rtf planes the detail of the modelling is superb. It includes

• a true elliptical wing to give the classic Spitfire profile in the sky,
• accurately moulded three stack Merlin exhausts
• Royal Air Force 603 Squadron codes
• a dark earth and green camouflage scheme
• a moulded canopy containing a painted pilot figure with life jacket
• a fully detailed fuselage, complete with moulded panel lines

Everything needed to get the radio controlled Spitfire together and flying is included in the box, which means this plane is truly a one box purchase. Items include the fully proportional 3-channel FM radio system, a rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack, batteries for the transmitter and a variable rate DC battery charger.

Getting the aeroplane in the air is pretty straightforward - attach the wing and tail to the fuselage, make a few minor checks, charge the battery, and in about forty minutes, you will be taking to the air. Once in the air, you have two choices of flight mode – Mode A or Mode B can be selected with just the flick of a switch on the transmitter. Mode A limits the control surface travel while pilots get used to the Spitfire, so in theory, manoeuvres are smoother and more manageable. Mode B gives the experienced pilot maximum control surface movement, making possible manoeuvres like loops, victory rolls, and more.

But don't be fooled by the simplicity of preparing this radio controlled Spitfire for flight. If you are inexperienced at flying three channel radio controlled aircraft, you will struggle to fly this aircraft – even in Mode A which makes flight a little easier. If you are inexperienced and choose to fly regardless, you will need the help of a more experienced radio control pilot during several flights until you get familiarised with the controls. This is very important if you have not flown a three channel model with aileron control as one of the channels – it will take some getting used to and crash damage is not included in the warranty!

In experienced hands though, best use can be made of the ZX10 radio system fitted to the ParkZone Spitfire Mk IIB. It uses 10-bit, 1024-step processing for high-fidelity control and a six channel FM receiver with industry standard three-wire servos. The ZX10 radio system and two three-wire servos can be taken out and used in other speed 370 or 400-class electric aircraft, including V-tails and delta wings, due to the optional servo reversing and T-tail/V-tail options.

In summary, the Parkzone radio controlled Spitfire is difficult to fault - all in one box, virtually ready-to-fly and with a stunning performance. Watch the video at the foot of the page to see how well it flies!

• Wingspan: 39.5 in (1000mm)
• Overall Length: 33.5 in (850mm)
• Flying Weight: 26 oz (740 g)
• Motor Size: 480 Power with gear reduction
• Radio: 3-channel FM proportional (27MHz)
• Servos: 3-wire, 12 g
• Prop Size: 10x8
• Aileron: proportional
• Elevator: proportional
• Rudder: no
• Throttle: proportional
• Landing Gear: none
• Approx. Flying Duration: 10–12 min with stock Ni-MH battery, 15–20 minutes with optional 11.1V 2200mAh Li-Po battery pack
• Gear Ratio: 3;1
• Transmitter Range: 2500 ft
• Available Frequencies: 6 channels on 27MHz
• Charger: 1.2-amp, 5- to 10-cell variable rate DC peak charger

Watch the video for a great radio controlled Spitfire demonstration flight. It's worth it..