ParkZone™

SUPER DECATHLON BL RTF

(PARK PILOT ELECTRIC RTF for INTERMEDIATE and SPORT FLYERS)

By Bob Aberle

Let me start this product review by telling you that this airplane is actually a second-generation model aircraft. The first ParkZone SUPER DECTAHLON appeared in 2005. At that time the power system consisted of a brushed SPEED-300 geared motor and a Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack. My review of that first version, which was posted in July 2005, still appears in SPORT AVIATOR. I urge you to click on the blue link above and read that review first.

The entire SUPER DECTAHLON airframe is still exactly the same and employs the same three-channel, 27 MHz FM RC radio system. Rather than repeat everything here, I’m only going to highlight the basic aircraft and then get into the new power system and how it affects the overall flight performance.

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The ParkZone ™ “SUPER DECATHLON BL” is an RC electric powered model aircraft intended for intermediate type flyers and also for sport flyers. It is categorized as a “Park Flyer” which means it is suitable for flying at local, small size fields.

The Super Decathlon BL 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. 

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ParkZone has a companion RTF electric aircraft to the SUPER DECATHLON BL that is also a Park Pilot aircraft. It is the ParkZone J-3 CUB BL (insert SDBL-30), which is roughly the same size and weight and also comes with a brushless motor system and a Li-Poly battery. The review for that aircraft was posted in February 2008 to the SPORT AVIATOR webzine and can be found at this exact website: http://www.masportaviator.com/activedit/../ah.asp?CatID=15&ID=197

The ParkZone “SUPER DECATHLON BL” comes Ready-To-Fly (RTF) with everything pre-assembled at the factory; except for inserting the landing gear into slots at the bottom of the fuselage and attaching the wing struts.

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Let me explain that RTF concept a little further. When you open the box (photo 5) you will find a completely assembled model aircraft that is painted, trimmed and with decals for added scale realism. It includes both the radio control system and the motor power system already installed. The controls to the rudder and elevator are also factory installed.

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A rechargeable two-cell Li-Poly battery (photo 6) and a balancing charger (photo 7) are provided. A three-channel function 27 MHz FM RC transmitter (photo 8) is included in that package.

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Even a set of eight AA size alkaline battery cells is provided to power the transmitter.The SUPER DECATHLON BL is so complete that ParkZone refers to it as a “Charge and Fly” aircraft. No real assembly is required. You can be out flying in just the time it takes to open the kit box, insert the batteries in the transmitter and charge the Li-Poly aircraft battery pack.

Best of all is the current selling price, for the entire package, of $159.99.

FLYING SKILL LEVEL

ParkZone classifies this SUPER DECATHLON BL for intermediate RC flying skills. What that means is that you probably shouldn’t consider this aircraft for your first attempt at flying an RC model. Under the ParkZone label are a series of RTF aircraft that can take the new RC pilot from the beginner stage (first time pilot), then on to the intermediate level (as with the Super Decathlon BL) and then on to the more advanced aircraft.

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An excellent first time trainer aircraft would be the ParkZone “SLO-V (catalog No. PKZ1300) Beyond the SUPER DECATHLON BL is a more advanced airplane that an advanced intermediate pilot would truly enjoy; the ParkZone T-28 TROJAN (catalog No. PKZ4400).

This is a wonderful flying, low wing aircraft, with full four-channel control of the ailerons, elevator, rudder and motor throttle. Click on the link above to read the excellent review of this aircraft, by noted author and flyer, Tom Hunt.

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The SUPER DECATHLON, like so many of the ParkZone aircraft is constructed basically from sheet foam material and molded plastic parts.20).

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As already mentioned, these airplanes are all neatly painted and sport realistic decals to further dress them up. The motor in this new “BL” version is the PKZ 370 1500 Kv outrunner brushless variety. No gearing is necessary so there is little that can wear out.

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The motor can handle upwards of 7 amps current. The same size propeller, as before, is supplied with an 8.25-inch diameter X 5.5 inch pitch . The new, 2-cell Li-Poly aircraft battery pack is rated at 800 mAh and weighs only 1.5 ounces.

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The indicated propeller turned 5800 rpm with a motor current of 7.06 amps (at the start), 7.04 volts under load and 50.6 watts input power. The final measured weight of this new version of the SUPER DECATHLON was 16.7 ounces.

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