VolantexRC Brushless P-51 Mustang RC Plane Overview

A little while ago I reviewed the 400mm P-51 Mustang from VolantexRC, and was suitably impressed! Exactly the kind of radio control model plane I would have given anything for when I was a kid back in the late 1970s / early 1980s. Instead we (myself and brother) were having fun with our little rubber-powered balsa model planes, built from the kits our dad used to buy us (he was an avid aeromodeller, hence my own lifelong interest in the hobby).

I don't remember ever building a P-51, but the closest I came was a P-40 Warhawk which didn't fly that well because I painted it with the wrong kind of paint, and as a result it was a bit too heavy.

Fast-forward 4 decades or so and aeromodelling is a totally different hobby. The mini rc planes we dreamed of as kids are a reality, and the rapid electronic revolution that we all know really did hit the hobby hard in the late 1990s / early 2000s - in a very good way!

The new VolantexRC brushless P-51 Mustang, available at the moment from kidstoylover.com, is a shining example. At 500mm wingspan it is 100mm span larger than its smaller cousin, and is powered by a brushless motor and 2S (2 cell) li-po battery pack.
It is 4-channel so has control to motor power, ailerons, elevator and rudder.

 

The pre-programmed aerobatic function is common across planes from VolantexRC, as is the electronic stabilization and options to switch between beginner mode (most stabilization), intermediate mode (slightly less stabilization) and expert, where the stabilization is deactivated completely.
This choice of flight mode is made by switching a 3-way toggle switch on top of the transmitter.

The VolantexRC brushless P-51 Mustang comes Ready to Fly, so there is no assembly required. If you prefer to take off from a smooth surface, rather than hand launch, then there is an optional undercarriage (landing gear) that simply clips into the underside of the wing. A tailwheel is also supplied, and it is steerable for easier ground handling.

Personally I prefer to fly this type of plane without the undercarriage, as the plane looks so much better in the air. Hand launching is dead easy, just apply full power and a slight bit of up elevator as you smoothly launch it into the air. Given the power of this brushless P-51 Mustang, it gets away easily and quickly.

That said, it's always good to practise take offs and landings so if you do have access to a smooth surface that you can use as a runway, then make use of the undercarriage!

In the air the brushless P-51 is as smooth as silk, and I was very impressed by just how quiet it is.
To use a well-worn saying, it really does fly around like it's on rails - so stable and just a delight to fly. The differences in the stabilization modes are obvious - beginner mode limits the bank angle and pitch attitudes and gives the most stable and safest flight characteristics, intermediate mode increases the attitudes and makes it more lively, and with the stabilization turned off completely the P-51 is, to be honest, a bit of a beast but still flyable.

If you're new to radio control flying then be sure to keep the switch on beginner mode, it will save you getting in to a whole heap of trouble!
If it makes you feel any better, I've been flying RC planes for 30+ years and I am fine with keeping this P-51 on beginner mode ;-)

Power to the brushless motor comes from a 2S (2 cell) lithium polymer battery, and a USB type charger is supplied. Two battery packs were supplied with my Mustang, although I didn't discover the second one until I opened the transmitter battery compartment to install the 4 AA batteries (not supplied). The second Li-po pack had been placed in that compartment, just for transport safety I guess.

A spare propeller is supplied, and the same 'prop saver' system is used as the smaller version P-51 and other warbirds in the range. In other words, the prop and spinner just clip on to the motor and pops off in the event of an awkward landing, to save breaking the prop blades. Very simple, very clever!
It's great to see a scale 4-blade prop on these rc planes, it really does give the plane such a scale look.

Back to the flying.... Do bear in mind that these mini RC planes are light in weight. This brushless P-51 version weighs in at 90 grams (without battery) whilst the smaller 400mm span version is just 50g. This means that, despite the electronic stabilization, they are affected by wind easily. The stabilization helps enormously but, at the end of the day, anything light weight is going to get blown around by gusts.

So on that note, you'll have the best flying experience on calm days or in a light breeze - maybe 5mph or so. The planes will cope with stronger winds (say 10-15mph) but they will get knocked around. On a completely calm day, you'll see just how lovely this P-51 is to fly!

 

So the big question - is a small radio controlled P-51 Mustang really suitable for a beginner RC pilot? Not that many years ago the answer would have been "absolutely not"- RC warbirds were never good planes to learn on, but made excellent planes for a second or third model, once your competence, confidence and reactions had been built up from learning to fly radio control with a trainer plane.

But these days, thanks to that electronic revolution, planes like the VolantexRC brushless P-51 Mustang, and its smaller cousin and other warbirds in the range, actually are suitable for beginners.

They are surprisingly easy to fly, and if you're in to gaming then you will already have good coordination and reactions - exactly what's needed for radio control flying!

These mini RC airplanes are surprisingly affordable, and kidstoylover.com share my own mantra of encouraging younger guys and gals to get in to the radio control flying hobby. But even if you're not so young (like me...!) and just fancy flying a radio control warbird such as a P-51 Mustang, then I cannot recommend this brushless version (Link to buy) enough!

Happy Landings!

 

  If you or your child are interested in RC and want to give it a try, our team member Pete, an expert in RC airplanes, has written an ebook for beginners. This guide has helped many RC enthusiasts by providing essential knowledge and answering common questions about RC flying. Here is the link to his ebook: The Beginner's Guide to Flying RC Airplanes by Pete. A small investment for big savings— we hope it helps everyone.