Aero Ace
Encyclopedia
The Aero Ace is a small R/C Ready-To-Fly plane sold by Spin Master
(Air Hogs) in the United States and Canada. The design was by Silverlit (a Hong Kong based company), and was originally called the X-Twin. It is popular because it is a cheap toy grade plane that flys as well as more expensive hobby grade planes. As with most planes in the micro size with small lipo batteries, the aero ace could fly for about 10 minutes per charge, and due to its small size the plane has enough room to fly in an area about 30 ft x 30 ft.
The Aero Ace is powered by two 6 mm coreless pager motors and a lightweight Lithium Polymer battery which is recharged through the built-in charger on the transmitter. Control of the plane is provided exclusively by varying the thrust of the motors.
The Air Hogs Aero Ace was originally introduced in the US in the fall of 2005 as a biplane (one of the original X-Twin styles) and was followed up in the spring of 2006 with a jet body style. Like the biplane, the jet is an unrealistic form. Some say that it resembles a "squashed F-22" fighter. The jet's electronics are virtually identical but it offers significantly different flight characteristics. Though it can still be flown in relatively small spaces, it requires a bit more room to turn than the biplane. As a trade-off, it has a slightly higher air speed, can handle a slightly stronger breeze and offers a far superior glide ratio.
In late 2006/early 2007 Spin Master introduced the Acrojet. This is another jet body style but this more resembles a civilian aircraft with canard wings and a "T" tail. While this was not labeled as an "Aero Ace" it is based on another of the X-Twin bodies and uses the same electronic and motor package as the Aero Aces. It also retails for the same price (approx. $30US). Some have reported stability issues, though simple modifications can remedy this.
In early 2007, a new Air Hogs model was introduced, labeled the Aero Ace Sport. This is a high wing mono plane with a rounded nose resembling a sail plane in form (though not proportion).
The second generation of the X-Twin based biplanes hit the shelves in late January 2007. Currently available, the newest Air Hogs biplane is labeled Power Hawk. It differs most significantly from the original Aero Ace in that the rear half of its fuselage and its tail section (the empennage
) are molded from expanded polypropylene
(EPP). The original Aero Ace has a hollow plastic straw tail boom and empennage cut from 1 mm thick depron foam. The Power Hawk also has a reshaped nose, a free-spinning nose propeller and its wings are curved from wingtip to wingtip. This model is based on the Silverlit X-Twin Classic Trainer.
There is a growing number of fan-made videos of Aero Ace flights being posted on video-sharing sites such as YouTube
.
Spin Master
Spin Master is a children's entertainment company based in Toronto, Canada.- Entertainment :In 2008, Spin Master Ltd. partnered with Cartoon Network Enterprises to create "multi-category consumer products programs for Spin Master's portfolio of brands." The company employs over 700 people in...
(Air Hogs) in the United States and Canada. The design was by Silverlit (a Hong Kong based company), and was originally called the X-Twin. It is popular because it is a cheap toy grade plane that flys as well as more expensive hobby grade planes. As with most planes in the micro size with small lipo batteries, the aero ace could fly for about 10 minutes per charge, and due to its small size the plane has enough room to fly in an area about 30 ft x 30 ft.
The Aero Ace is powered by two 6 mm coreless pager motors and a lightweight Lithium Polymer battery which is recharged through the built-in charger on the transmitter. Control of the plane is provided exclusively by varying the thrust of the motors.
The Air Hogs Aero Ace was originally introduced in the US in the fall of 2005 as a biplane (one of the original X-Twin styles) and was followed up in the spring of 2006 with a jet body style. Like the biplane, the jet is an unrealistic form. Some say that it resembles a "squashed F-22" fighter. The jet's electronics are virtually identical but it offers significantly different flight characteristics. Though it can still be flown in relatively small spaces, it requires a bit more room to turn than the biplane. As a trade-off, it has a slightly higher air speed, can handle a slightly stronger breeze and offers a far superior glide ratio.
In late 2006/early 2007 Spin Master introduced the Acrojet. This is another jet body style but this more resembles a civilian aircraft with canard wings and a "T" tail. While this was not labeled as an "Aero Ace" it is based on another of the X-Twin bodies and uses the same electronic and motor package as the Aero Aces. It also retails for the same price (approx. $30US). Some have reported stability issues, though simple modifications can remedy this.
In early 2007, a new Air Hogs model was introduced, labeled the Aero Ace Sport. This is a high wing mono plane with a rounded nose resembling a sail plane in form (though not proportion).
The second generation of the X-Twin based biplanes hit the shelves in late January 2007. Currently available, the newest Air Hogs biplane is labeled Power Hawk. It differs most significantly from the original Aero Ace in that the rear half of its fuselage and its tail section (the empennage
Empennage
The empennage , also known as the tail or tail assembly, of most aircraft gives stability to the aircraft, in a similar way to the feathers on an arrow...
) are molded from expanded polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
(EPP). The original Aero Ace has a hollow plastic straw tail boom and empennage cut from 1 mm thick depron foam. The Power Hawk also has a reshaped nose, a free-spinning nose propeller and its wings are curved from wingtip to wingtip. This model is based on the Silverlit X-Twin Classic Trainer.
There is a growing number of fan-made videos of Aero Ace flights being posted on video-sharing sites such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.