FEATURES: This is the radio controlled, glow powered, Almost-Ready-to-Fly Sonic Low Wing sport trainer airplane kit from Phoenix Aircraft Models. For beginner to intermediate modeler/fliers who have succesfully flown and landed high-wing trainers. Wingspan: 52.3" (133cm) Wing area: 470 sq. in.
INCLUDES: Prebuilt and pre-covered wings fuselage and tail section tricycle landing gear with 2" (51mm) wheels, nylon engine mount, pre-bent pushrods, hardware package, fuel tank, hinges, all hardware and fasteners and photo-illustrated instructions.
REQUIRES: Engine: .25-.32 cu in (4.1-5.2cc) 2-stroke engine Muffler: Standard type included with engine Radio: Four channel Servos: Four, 42 oz/in torque minimum (1-aileron, 1-elevator, 1-rudder, 1-throttle) Misc. Items: 2" (51mm) spinner, 1/4" foam rubber padding, 3' medium fuel tubing, fuel filter, propeller, building and field equipment.
Due to my UGLY plane being totaled in the last ACMA Combat Event, a new plank was in order to compliment my most excellent Raptor Titan/ium rotary aircraft. After much head scratching, research and seeking advice from fellow RCers, I settled on the "Sonic 25 Low Wing" airplane by Phenoix Models.
Today (Tuesday 1/30/07) I recieved a phone call that, to my surprise, my Sonic 25 LW kit had arrived at Hobbytown USA.
HTUSA Sales Associate Slappy Jake Wiggins had ordered it for me only last Friday and it was in already.
I went right on out there and Slappy rang me up along with some glue and epoxy brushes.
The kit had arrived in perfect condition. Sturdy cardboard and full color picture of airplane on lid.
The box contents were packed for excellent protection and everything was in order with a complete inventory.
All the sub-assemblies came pre covered in a white base film with red, blue, and yellow accents.
Engine mount is in place and control surfaces are pre-hinged, glued and pinned. Wood dowel pushrods are built and in place as well as the servo tray and wire pushrods to engine throttle and stearable nose gear are installed.
Full color pictures and large text in comprehensive assembly manual will aid with speedy and correct build.
A very complete and useable assortment of hardware was included with only adhesives needing to be purchased separately.
For engine power, I will install the OS .32 H that was in my recently demised UGLY plane. Also the radio gear will be recycled from the UGLY carcass.
Wing halves are joined, aliron linkage installed, and landing gear mounted. Tail fins are now attached and rudder and elevator hooked to pushrods. Fuel tank is assembled and installed in fusalage. The only adjustments so far are that I had to trim bottom of vertical fin some for proper fit and had to shorten the nose gear strut about 3/8 inch to get plane sitting level. Also the wheels needed a drill run through them as they were a little tight on the landing gear wires. About down to engine and radio installation. Just have to face up to getting the old UGLY out of the crash bag and strip the good stuff out of it.
I finally nerved up to being able to look at the remains of the UGLY airplane.
Ripped open the body crash bag and started pulling equiptment from it.
Got most all the good stuff out a lot quicker than it went in. You can really go with a big hammer, side cutters, and prybar.
Cleaned up the OS .32 H and it looked to be in unharmed condition so I went ahead and mounted it on the Sonic and hooked up all the plumbing from the fuel tank that had just been leak tested. Sure as I don't fuel up a new tank outside the model, it will leak in the plane on first fueling, this one passed the leak test. The radio gear came out without any noticeable damage.
Battery pac was dead as a doornail because the switch had been left on for about a week after the crash. It is on charge and I will hook up the electronics then and see how things are working before installing in Sonic.
Everything is in place now except for the radio gear install which will be next thing to do.
Might just have it ready for first flight about Sunday if radio install/setup goes without any hitches and it is not too cold this weekend.
Main problem I am sweating bullets over is how I am going to route the reciever antenna, an innie or an outie.
But, it is looking like an airplane now.
Got back home from a visit to flying field and pretty much finished up the build/assembly of the Sonic 25.
Got the servo pushrods all hooked up and the throws adjusted. Had to replace gears in one servo that must have got stripped in UGLY plane crash.
Applied some foam wing saddle tape. The reciever antenna wound up being an innie installation with it all hid inside the tail of fusalage.
OK, I have saved the best for the last.
That is the amazing color contrast between the top side of airplane and the bottom side. Ought to be easy to tell the top from the bottom even way up in the air.
And here is the beautiful green & white checkerboard table cloth looking bottom side.
I decided to load up the Sonic and go give it the first flight (2/4/07). Got to field and was nice crowd out to witness the Sonic's "Cherry Busting". Everything checked out with good ground radio range check. Engine fired up, so out to runway and pointed it into the breeze.
Started the takeoff roll and It needed a little rudder correction to keep it on center line. Fed in some right rudder and nothing much happened, fed in little more and still no noticeable affect, was still on runway and up to speed so I went ahead and rotated. I remember thinking that I would have to increase the rudder and nose wheel throw because it appeared that I did not have nearly enough to control takeoff roll.
Sonic was flying pretty nice and was fast enough so I tried some stall turns and knifeedge flight. Very soon I realized that the rudder was not working at all.
Made a nice landing and took wing off and sure enough the rudder servo was dead.
Made another flight anyway because it would run pretty straight down the runway even without rudder. Elton Sullivan gave me one of his spare Futaba servos to replace the broke one on the rudder. I will get it done right away and look forward to some more Sonic 25 flying.
Bottom Line: I am pleased with how the plane went together and how it flew. Should be even better with rudder working and can then do stall turns, knife edge, spins, snaps, and taxie around. I give the Sonic a thumbsup and is very good value for the money.
...I reckon that ends this product report and thanks for your attention...
Final Note: After many enjoyable flights and several combat wins, the Sonic's tragic demise was due to terminal elevator servo failure.