Horizon finally come out with (another) Cub!!!

[Capt_Beavis]

This pushes the SAFE technology envelope quite a bit.

Key Features

•AutoLand actively assists with landing with minimal to no pilot input
•Instant flight recovery with Panic Recovery mode
•Beginner, Intermediate, and Experienced modes make learning to fly easy
•Holding Pattern returns aircraft to a fixed point and flies in a pattern
•Virtual Fence keeps aircraft within a comfortable flying range
•HD Camera ready with an E-flite® EFC™-721 camera mount included
•4-Channel aircraft with working throttle, rudder, elevator, and aileron
•1300mAh 3S 11.1V Li-Po battery for long flight times on a single charge
•Impact-resistant, durable Z-Foam™ construction
•Tricycle landing gear provides easier handling on the ground
•Compatible with any full-range Spektrum™ 2.4GHz DSMX® transmitter



http://www.horizonhobby.com/glasair-s-bnf-hbz8480

 

[Christopher14]

Woah...

 

[Capt_Beavis]

I go out to the field with my 5 year old son all the time. If he ever got hurt the holding pattern would be very useful, allowing me to pick him up an check him out.

 

[Ron B]

I thought it was a bit pricey but the technology is sure advancing rapidly and a lot of it is coming from the use of quads

 

[makattack]

It's definitely a little pricey, but my FliteTest Versa Wing with APM pretty much implements all that for about $200 which really isn't that far off their price considering this is an RTF with a TX and you don't have to build it and configure it! The APM is a bit more flexible, and can auto-takeoff, fly a mission and autoland, but still, we're not talking a huge difference in price. Getting the APM tuned takes time though.

Honestly, though, the features makes me wonder if they're using APM for the software/hardware...

FBWB could be beginner mode, FBWA intermediate, Stabilized or acro for Expert.
Geofence
Loiter
RTL

Those are some of the more popular flight modes and configuration for arduplane.

 

[airhawk]

this thing has been out for a while

 

[makattack]

this thing has been out for a while

I don't believe so... it's still on "pre order" and represents the first time I know of Horizon Hobby putting in a GPS enabled flight controller on a fixed wing platform...

 

[Capt_Beavis]

If, by a while, you mean 5 days (the Youtube video was posted on 5/1/15), then yeah, it has been a while.

 

[airhawk]

oh i got it confused with the glasair sportsman

 

[IFlyRCstuff]

That is pushing the limits of autonomous control right there, still though. What happens when you run into "fence", an unexpected u turn? Hmm... hmm... Could pose a problem, but I'm assuming it can be turned off?

 

[makattack]

With apm,you can program it to return to launch our to fly to a designated rally point. Asuing they want to keep it simple to operate, I'm assuming it will return to launch and loiter at that point until manual control overrides.

 

[airhawk]

i miss the authentic sportsman it was a good plane

 

[Maingear]

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPMA3173

Looks like Spektrum is launching a new sportsman receiver with a GPS module...in July.

Justin

 

[prestonjorgensen]

whoa mind blown

 

[Oglesbyr]

What's crazy is it's only $10 more than the Apprentice -- a super great plane for a new pilot (like myself). The fence is definitely cool. I got distracted with my first Sport Cub a few months ago...and gave up the search after about an hour...having the plane go into a holding pattern if it detects it's too far from home? Very cool...