All in-flight photos by Ray Juschkus

Horizon Hobby’s ParkZone line of Ready-To-Fly (RTF), electric-powered RC models has a reputation for being quality built, excellent flying aircraft. Several reviews of ParkZone aircraft have already been published in Sport Aviator such as the Super Decathlon and the P-51 Mustang. But the subject of this particular article is the new ParkZone J-3 Cub BL (brushless) RTF. This J-3 features a brushless motor unlike so many RTF electric-powered Park Flyer aircraft.

Photo  1

The Horizon Hobby catalog number is PKZ4500 and the current (February, 2008) selling price is $160.00. That price gets you a ready built aircraft that includes a brushless electric motor and ESC (electronic speed controller) with a BEC (battery eliminator circuit); a Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery pack with a companion charger and a ZX-10 complete RC system (transmitter, receiver and two servos). Even a set of eight (8) “AA” size alkaline batteries is provided to power the RC transmitter.

Facts About The ParkZone Cub

The ParkZone J-3 Cub has a wing span of 38 inches and a wing area of 200 square inches.

Stated target weight is 15 ounces complete with the 2-cell 800 mAh Li-Poly battery pack. The resulting wing loading is 10.9 oz/sq. ft. The motor is a 370-size brushless outrunner which is capable of running up to 10 amps motor current while using approx. 100 watts input power.

The ParkZone J-3 Cub meets all the aircraft requirements of the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ (AMA) Park Pilot Program. The aircraft weighs less than 2 pounds (the Program’s upper weight limit) and has a level top speed under 60 mph (the Program’s upper speed limit). For complete Park Pilot aircraft details, follow this link.

The AMA Park Pilot Program offers non-AMA members the opportunity to become AMA members at a much reduced cost. Park Pilot membership includes a great magazine “Park Pilot”, $500,000 personal liability insurance, $2.5 million liability insurance for the flying field owner (see insurance details) and membership in the world’s largest sport aviation association – the AMA. For complete information and details about Park Pilot membership, just click here. 

What Comes Out Of The Box

Since this is an RTF model, essentially all of the work is already done for you.

The construction is both foam sheeting (wing, and tail assembly) and molded plastic for the fuselage and cowl. The brushless outrunner motor is factory installed with a spinner nut type propeller adapter and a plastic 8.25 X 5.5 in. pitch propeller.

Photo  6         Photo 7