I would like to thank both Heather Rose of Great Planes and Futaba for choosing Rotory Modeler Magazine as the exclusive Publication and Web Site for the review of this amazing new set. This will be a multi-part review of the 14MZ. In this first segment, I'll dedicate the space to the new sets outstanding exterior features and we'll also touch base on some of the 14MZ's communication features with both a new 14-channel wireless Synthesized receiver, your PC, and most important, how the 14MZ interfaces with you.
After years of 9ZAP domination, the once Mercedes of Futaba R/C systems, has to finally step down and make way for the new 14MZ. This state of the art system breaks new ground for our R/C industry. Aside from the 14MZ's outstanding features and looks, it's almost impossible to not focus your attention on the 14MZ's display. Gone are the LCD characters of the past. The new graphic display, powered by Windows CE, is similar to what you would find on a PDA device. The graphic icons are easy to see, use, and understand. Within seconds, the new system can be commanded, thanks to a true user-friendly interface which I'll get back to in a moment. For those who still like high-end features without all the horsepower of the 14MZ, word from Futaba is they will continue to offer the older 9Z system in their line-up.

In this and the upcoming July/August issue, we will showcase the new RC helicopter products that were unveiled at the 2005 Nuremberg Toy Fair. This month we will concentrate on engine powered helicopters, and in Part, Two we will focus on electric RC helicopters. The Nuremberg Toy Fair is the largest hobby show in the world. There were 77,000 trade visitors (worldwide) and 2,747 exhibitors from 65 countries. This six-day show is for trade visitors, such as dealers, distributors and journalists from around the world to see what new products the manufacturers have to offer for 2005. Out of the 2,747 exhibitors, probably 300 booths are related to RC hobbies, and it takes two days to go through all the RC booths. The rest of the 2,447 exhibitors are manufacturers of toys, stuffed animals, art and crafts, electronic games, etc..

The T-Rex 450X is the newest mini electric helicopter and also one of the hottest ones on the market now. With its stock 315 mm length wood blades, the T-Rex has a rotor diameter of about 0.7 meter (around 28 inches). The T-Rex is designed for the modern Speed 400 size brushless motor and lithium-polymer batteries. With a Thunder Power 2nd Generation 2100 mAh 3S Li-Po pack, the T-Rex can hover or perform aerobatics for up to 20 minutes - that is impressive. The most amazing thing is the T-Rex looks like a little Raptor 30, and with some careful setting up, it even flies like a miniature Raptor on steroids.

Heli-Max's latest release to the electric market is a new ARF fixed pitch electric called the RotoFly. This little machine offers both new and experienced pilots a nice electric package. RotoFly offers "Ready-to-fly simplicity" since it only requires a quick charge of the supplied Li-Po battery pack, and eight "AA" cells to get in the air. The kit includes a DVD that offers valuable instruction for the newcomer to help with success on first flights. A training gear is also supplied to help prevent un-expected tip-overs and increase pendulum stability.
RotoFly is also realistic looking as well. Modeled after a Schweizer 300, the factory-finished canopy is made of lightweight, crack-resistant polycarbonate . . .

There are many Internet and magazine ads advertising mini cameras that can capture video and then beam the signal and display image remotely on a video monitor. I always thought that would be a neat thing to try, but never got to it. Finally, at the 2005 WRAM Show, my friend, Erez and I saw such a unit for sale at the Bruckner Hobby booth for only $99, and that sounded like a very reasonable price. It was a lightweight unit powered by a 9-volt battery. My friend thought it was worth $99, so we decided to get one to test on a micro electric helicopter and fly it indoors. Erez also wants to put it on his Park Flyer airplane.
This is what the $99 system includes: a mini color camera with a built-in transmitter that can transmit up to 500 feet, a receiver that receives the RF signal and then displays the video and audio on a regular television set, a 12-volt power supply to power the receiver, a 9-volt power supply to power the camera/transmitter, a 9-volt battery, and all the necessary cables. This little camera unit was intended for use as a surveillance camera. The camera/transmitter itself is just a tiny one-inch cube and weighs one ounce. It has a little 3-inch wire antenna protruding vertically.