Blade 130X Review

I picked up the 130X on impulse to kind of celebrate my new job, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect much from a little plastic heli with AS3X, but Blade has done a great job again. The 130X has the stability you might be familiar with from other aircraft with AS3X, but it's much more nimble than the mCPX, and the brushless power system makes it a real 3D machine. The shaft-driven variable pitch tail system provides solid tail control even with me at the sticks! No more tail blowouts in simple maneuvers! I think if you can fly the mCPX, or you're good with simulated CP helicopters, the 130X would be a great choice for your next helicopter!

Here's the review video, flight test at the end...

1/6th scale Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser

Pilot: Jasmine

Aircraft: 1/6th scale Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser

Music preference: swing or big band, Brian Setzer, or Sinatra

Announcer Script (after a simple ad-lib introduction):

The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser is an American three-seat, high wing, single engine fixed gear light aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft between 1946 and 1948. It is an upgraded and redesignated Piper J-5. As a three seat aircraft, the PA-12 is flown without a co-pilot, from the front seat, with room for two passengers side by side in the back. The PA-12 is known for its reliability and short take-off capability. In 1947, two PA-12s flew around the world and the worst mechanical failure they suffered was a broken tail wheel. The PA-12 is still a popular bush plane today, and in 2009, over 1900 PA-12s were currently registered in North America.

The model being flown today is 1/6th scale and electric powered. It uses a 4-cell, 14.8V Lithium Polymer battery and an E-Flite Power 32 motor, producing approximately 600 watts (just over 3/4 horsepower). This gives the model "better than scale" performance, making it an excellent trainer and all-around fun flyer.

Quote from the pilot: "This plane is really joy to fly. It is beautiful in the air and flies like an airplane should!"