Horizon Hobby E-flite Carbon-Z T-28 BNF Basic

Written by Troy Hamm and Ryan Ramsey This gentle-flying warbird provides lots of fun Abridged product review Photos by Ryan Ramsey and Bernie Nosal Read the full product review in the March 2016 issue of Model Aviation.

Specifications:

• Model type: Semiscale foam ARF • Skill level: Intermediate • Wingspan: 78 inches • Wing area: 1,073 square inches • Length: 63 inches • Ready-to-fly weight: 12 pounds • Power system: 60-size 500 Kv BL outrunner; E-flite 70-amp Pro brushless ESC; E-flite two-blade 14.75 x 10 propeller (all included) • Radio: Spektrum six-channel AR636A DSMX receiver with seven metal-gear servos (installed) • Construction: Z-Foam • Needed to complete: Six-channel Spektrum transmitter; E-flite 6S 22.2-volt 3,500 to 5,000 mAh LiPo battery pack • Price: BNF Basic $569.99; PNP $519.99 • Flight duration: Approximately 8 minutes with 5,000 mAh battery

Pluses

• Fast assembly. • Excellent manual and instructions. • Durable foam construction. • Great flight characteristics. • Electric retractable tricycle landing gear.

Minus

• Flap hinges might need reinforcement.

Product Review

The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan prototype flew for the first time in 1949. The T-28 was designed to replace the aging North American T-6 Texan as the military’s basic trainer. The T-28 was a large aircraft that stood more than 12 feet tall and weighed roughly 8,000 pounds. Approximately 2,000 T-28s were built in several variations, with radial engines ranging from 800 to 1,425 hp. I have always been a fan of the T-28, so when E-flite released its 78-inch Carbon-Z T-28, I had to have one. The airplane is available in two versions: Plug-N-Play (PNP), which does not include a receiver, and the Bind-N-Fly (BNF), which includes a Spektrum AR636A receiver with AS3X three-axis stabilization. The airplane arrived in one large box. It was well protected and in perfect condition. The airframe is constructed with E-flite’s Carbon-Z technology, which features a combination of plywood, carbon fiber, and Z-Foam that produces a lightweight, durable, and rigid airframe.

The BNF Basic model includes a preinstalled AR636A DSMX receiver.

The included 60-size 500 Kv BL outrunner motor is paired with an E-flite 70-amp Pro brushless ESC that provides good power and a flight duration of approximately 8 minutes with a 5,000 mAh battery.

Ryan’s Flight Report

Flying this gentle giant is an awesome experience. I love the locked-in feel the AS3X system gives to the flight character of this Carbon-Z T-28. It is breathtaking to watch this airplane fly. It has a presence that is unmatched. Weighing 12 pounds with a 78-inch wingspan, and having no bad habits, are testaments to its Carbon-Z design. This Trojan performs well throughout its flight envelope. On one hand, it can slow to a crawl for that sweet landing, and on the other, it can come roaring by and pull impressive vertical. This Carbon-Z has it all! Transporting it is no chore. Simply remove the four bolts that hold the wing on, unplug a few servo leads, and you are on your way to the next Carbon Z T-28 air show. Every now and then, a model comes along that cannot be resisted. This is one of those models. Great work Horizon Hobby. I can’t wait for the next one!

The flaps slow the T-28 to a crawl. The mechanical retracts operate in a scalelike manner, taking more than 4 seconds to retract.

Troy’s Flight Report

When we reached the flying field, the airplane was given a range check and a preflight inspection. The T-28 tracked straight on takeoff and was airborne from the grass runway in less than 150 feet. No rudder or aileron trim was needed, but it was slightly nose-heavy and required a few clicks of up-trim. On subsequent flights, the batteries were moved back a couple of inches and then the Trojan required no elevator trim. The T-28 is more aerobatic than expected. Aileron rolls were axial and when the center of gravity was correctly set, it only required a small amount of forward stick to maintain inverted flight. The Trojan is stable at all speeds and handles wind well. It landed slowly without the flaps and came in at a crawl when the flaps were deployed. The mechanical retracts have worked flawlessly and are very scalelike, taking more than 4 seconds to retract. The manual recommends removing the gear doors if the airplane is flown off of a tall grass field. I fly off of a grass runway and have flown it both with and without the gear doors with good results. The Trojan is a joy to fly. It looks and flies in a scalelike manner.

The mechanical retracts have held up well flying from grass, and the steerable nose wheel makes ground handling a breeze.

Conclusion

The Carbon-Z T-28 is easy to assemble and fun to fly. Even performing the modifications added less than an hour to the assembly time. I would recommend it to any modeler looking for a warbird that is easy to build and fly. The Trojan is also a good value when you consider all of the components that are included. —Troy Hamm [email protected] —Ryan Ramsey [email protected]

Bonus video

Manufacturer/Distributor:

Horizon Hobby (800) 338-4639 www.e-fliterc.com

Sources:

Spektrum (800) 338-4639 www.spektrumrc.com MrRCSound www.mrrcsound.com