Cool New Stuff
Santa skip your house this year? If so, treat yourself to one of these great new products.
Shaka Slope Wing
A small and convenient glider for your backpack or car boot.
The impetus for Shaka wasn’t new — the need for a portable slope glider to carry around in a backpack or car trunk is a popular, well-established requirement. Pilots also want to know if a good location is spotted while out and about, the aircraft had to be quick and easy to get ready for launch.
When the design process for Shaka kicked off, there were quite a few similar options already, but not a lot based on durable wood construction. The main task, therefore, was to adapt the portability and rigidity of the popular foam Alula, for example, into a classic balsa glider. It was a challenge but with a great result in a form of a small, lightweight, easy-to-build and stiff construction that doesn’t break the bank.
Shaka is designed and manufactured by FlightPoint located in the west of Ukraine. Perhaps surprisingly, there weren’t a lot of slope spots near the FlightPoint factory, so they also created a powered version of Shaka which is how it got its FES (front end sustainer). This makes Shaka a very capable all-rounder as a result. It also provides a failsafe in the event the lift band in an unfamiliar location doesn’t pan out as expected — perfect for the ‘discovered enroute’ slope site!
The size is relatively small with just under 1m wingspan. However, it breaks down into parts that will easily fit in a regular backpack. All that’s needed to setup Shaka is a screwdriver for the two nylon bolts.
Importantly, the airframe is lightweight and even the powered version can be build under 250g that will make it legal to fly in most countries without special registrations and licenses.
The powertrain for which this glider was designed includes reasonably priced drone motors and can employ cheap and powerful drone ESCs with no BEC if used with high voltage servos.
The flight performance of a Shaka is very satisfying. It can fly slow and catch thermals on a field as well as doing a sweeping passes in wings on a slope. If you’d like to learn more about the Shaka it can be obtained directly from the FlightPoint website.
Magnetic Switch 45A HV
A robust, hidden, 30V switch designed for RC but with many additional applications.
This new switch from Composite RC Gliders is a clean and easy way to turn on your model — just place the magnet adjacent to the switch for three seconds. Typically it’s mounted inside of the fuselage, out of the air stream, and the magnet will easily activate the switch from outside. No more fumbling for little external switches or plugging in awkward connectors.
While it’s a general purpose switch designed for RC, it has many additional applications including RC submarines, diving lights, car or motorcycle immobilisation and many other potential uses where activating the switch from outside the vehicle hull is an advantage.
It also has a built-in failsafe function: it remembers its state for at least ten seconds even when disconnected from the battery. It will protect the switch from power glitches and spikes caused by poor electrical connections.
The switch has an ultra low stand-by consumption while in the off state — so low that the switch can be connected to a small battery for several years without discharging it. Additional specifications are as follows:
- Input voltage range: 6v~30v
- Output current constant: 45A @ +25C ambient temperature
- Output current burst: >90A
- Ultra low stand-by current: 8µA (micro-ampere)
- Connectors: XT60
- Weight: 15g / 0.53oz
- Dimensions: 46mm x 18mm x 13mm / 1.81in x 0.71in x 0.51in
- Operational temperature range: -40C to +85C
Additional information can be obtained directly from the Composite RC Gliders website.
New RC Soaring Digest Cover Photo T-Shirt
December 2022 Edition
The almost sculptural cover photo was taken by Pierre Gumy at Oberiberg in the Swiss Alps in December of 2017. The aircraft is an Elf from Vladimir’s Model of Ukraine. According to Pierre, it’s a modest 100cm span, weighs just 100g and he says “it’s a fantastic little plane to fly anywhere in very little wind. It’s very relaxing to fly and one of my favourites.” Thanks again, Pierre, for the opportunity to feature your beautiful photo.
This beautiful t-shirt feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It’s comfortable and flattering for all. 100% combed and ring-spun cotton; fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2); pre-shrunk fabric; side-seamed construction shoulder-to-shoulder taping.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions. More information can be obtained from The New RCSD Shop.
The Fine Print All product descriptions in Cool New Stuff are prepared in collaboration with the product’s manufacturer and/or distributor which is/are entirely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their product’s descriptive text and images contained herein.
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