A lot of soaring excitement in a small model

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Written by Jon Barnes Alien Technologies Micro Aquila
As seen in the December 2020 issue of Model Aviation.
Review

Bonus Video

At a Glance

Specifications

Model type: Micro-size sailplane kit

Skill level: Beginner

Wingspan: 31.5 inches

Wing area: 88 square inches

Length: 15.1 inches

Weight: 1.95 ounces

Power system: None

Radio: Two-channel UMX brick or other micro-size radio gear required

Construction: Balsa and light plywood

Covering: Lightweight covering or tissue

Price: $60 (USPS Priority Mail shipping included)

Test-Model Details

Receiver battery: 1S 3.7-volt 150 mAh LiPo

Radio system: E-flite UMX Vapor Lite HP receiver/ESC brick (EFLU6807)

Transmitter: Spektrum DX9

Ready-to-fly weight: 2.15 ounces

Flight duration: Varies; determined by pilot skill level and type of flying

Pluses

Simple two-channel design.
Can be thermaled or flown at a slope.
Small form factor.
Offers modelers an affordable way to experience the satisfaction of building a conventional balsa and light plywood kit.

Minuses

None noted.

Manufacturer/Distributor

Alien Technologies

TWO DECADES deep into the 21st century, most pilots who enjoy flying fixed-wing models are now accustomed to the numerous benefits of LiPo technology batteries and brushless power systems. Although the prevalence of foam-based, quick-assembling, plug-and-fly models, complete with embedded multi-axis gyros and stabilization systems, has allowed many pilots to gain quick and easy entry into the hobby, most newer pilots are missing out on the joy and satisfaction that come from transforming a box of sticks into a hand-crafted, traditional-composition balsa and light plywood flying model.

The unique challenges of 2020 have resulted in many people having to shelter in place for extended periods of time. A great way for modelers to beat the boredom that can occur when forced to stay indoors for protracted periods is to build an old-school balsa kit!

For pilots who might be reluctant to make the commitment required to build a full-blown, fullsize, fixed-wing model, Alien Technologies offers the slightly more appetizer-size Micro Aquila kit.

Although long out of production, the original Airtronics Aquila kit featured a relatively large 99-inch polyhedral-equipped wing and was touted as a jack-of-all-trades sailplane. The Micro Aquila captures much of the styling and essence of the original model in a micro-size, 31.5-inch wingspan model.

Although the full-size Aquila model was listed as weighing 38 to 44 ounces (unballasted) ready-to-fly, the Micro Aquila tips the scales at a lightweight 2 ounces! The Micro Aquila was designed to be equally at home on the slope or when seeking out thermals. This kit includes the following items:

Full laser-cut kit with 1/64-inch plywood and 1/32-, 1/16-, and 1/8-inch balsa sheets
Two sheets of 11 × 17 rolled plans
Two .020 pushrod wires
Laser-cut control horns
Hardwood dowel for wing hold-down
One .025 magnet and washer for hatch hold-down
One 2-56 nylon bolt for wing mount

Pilots need to provide adhesive, covering, and micro-size radio gear to complete this two-channel kit. The downloadable 20-page Micro Aquila assembly manual states that pilots should be able to use a ParkZone/E-flite UMX receiver/servo brick for control.

Pilots who have a spare UMX brick might be able to press it into service in this kit. Should pilots need to procure one, Alien specifically recommends the E-flite Vapor Lite HP receiver/ESC (part number EFLU68070). Pilots will also need to source some type of ultralight covering to finish this model.

Construction

I caution pilots before beginning the assembly of this kit. Although a ham-fisted approach might generally work when assembling the current crop of EPO foambased, plug-and-fly models, going into this build with anything less than kid gloves on is almost sure to result in damaged parts and frustration!

Many of the smaller laser-cut balsa and light plywood parts feature notably diminutive dimensions. Pilots will need to take their time and handle the thinnest parts with a deliberate and deft touch. Thin CA adhesive is the glue of choice when assembling the Micro Aquila. Anyone who has ever worked with this adhesive has probably noticed its uncanny ability to quickly find its way onto an amazing number of additional surfaces other than that upon which it was originally deployed!

All framed up and ready for some lightweight covering.

The kit features several high-quality, laser-cut balsa and light plywood sheets and two 11 × 17 sheets of plans.

With that in mind, pilots can do themselves a monstrous favor by obtaining and using a package of disposable, micro-size applicator tips. These tips afford a level of control that is virtually impossible to achieve when using the tip on the CA bottle on its own.

Another handy tool to help tame and control this diabolically effective adhesive is a bottle of CA accelerant. A well-aimed, quick spritz or two does wonders to mitigate thin CA’s ability to travel at the speed of light from the parts being glued to a modeler’s fingertips.

Pilots will need a flat, pinnable surface upon which to lay the included 11 × 17-inch plans. (I used a flat area from a foam shipping cradle.) With a piece of parchment paper pinned in place to protect the paper plans, the wing halves and fuselage can be directly assembled on top of the plans. The full-color, 20-page PDF does an admirable job of walking pilots through the process of bringing the Aquila to life.

One area that could test the patience of even the most laid-back of builders is the process of threading the included twin .020-diameter pushrods through the completed fuselage.

In my case, I found that the two tiny holes in the former located just behind the radio brick compartment had apparently been blocked by a dribble of rogue CA glue. These two holes are not easily visible after the fuselage has been built out, leaving no apparent option other than blindly poking around until victory was attained—twice!

Builders must then feed them aft and attempt to finagle them into exiting the fuselage via the ultra-narrow, laser-cut slots. I found that the following process and tools transformed this potentially frustrating task.

Pilots with a surplus UMX brick lying around have most of the electronics required for this model. The only other electronic item needed is a one-cell LiPo battery to fuel the brick.

The model requires a little ballast in order to achieve the recommended CG.

Put a 30° bend roughly 2 inches from one end of each pushrod. Use a small inspection mirror laid in the interior of the fuselage, slightly ahead of the former with the pushrod holes, to put eyes on the holes.

If the holes are in any way obscured, a T-pin can be used to clean them out. After the pushrod has been threaded through the hole, hold a small rare earth magnet in place on top of the desired exit slot at the rear of the fuselage. Feed the pushrod aft, rolling it back and forth in your fingers, until it is captured by the magnet. Voilà!

The final part of assembling the smaller Aquila involves applying some sort of lightweight covering. I purchased a few rolls of UltraCote Lite and ParkLite just for this project. Because the amount of covering required to finish this small model is measured in square inches, I now have a veritable lifetime supply of blue and white covering!

Builders can stack their chances for success in creating a good-looking finish on their Micro Aquilas if their tool arsenal includes a trim sealing iron. Using the shoe on a larger iron might result in your model looking as unspectacular as mine! A 20- to 30-year period of dormancy did nothing to improve my marginal covering skills!

Flying

The finished, covered, lightweight model tipped the scales at 39 grams. I was happy to find that my battery bunker contained three of the single-cell LiPo batteries used to power the UMX receiver brick that is installed in my Aquila. These E-flite 3.7-volt, 150 mAh LiPo batteries weigh a scant 4 grams. Even with the battery positioned as far forward in the battery compartment as possible, it was necessary to add 18 grams of ballast in order to achieve the recommended center of gravity (CG; listed as being at the front edge of the wing spar).

An alternate way to shift the CG forward on models that require any type of a battery is to use a larger battery. This approach also comes with the potential benefit of longer flight durations. Although I did have a 300 mAh single-cell LiPo in my battery bunker, getting it to work in the Micro Aquila would have required retrofitting its connector to the same, almost microscopically small, two-pin connector as used on the E-flite UMX brick. I might still pursue this approach, but I decided to go ahead and make the initial flights using the smaller batteries.

I set up a mix on my DX9 in order to allow control of the Aquila’s rudder using either the conventional left-hand stick or the righthand stick (Mode 2). I also configured both the rudder and elevator to have dual rates, with 40% exponential added to both channels.

There is an impressive variety of options available when it comes to flying the little Aquila. I decided to pop around the corner to the luxuriantly green soccer field at the local high school for its maiden flight and had a ball hand-tossing it into the normally stiff evening breeze.

My initial tosses were soft and subdued in order to trim the model for straight-andlevel flight. Subsequent tosses saw a gradual increase in the the amount of "oomph" that I put into the toss. The efficiency with which the Micro Aquila can surf a brisk breeze surprised and impressed me! Although it weighs a scant 2 ounces, the Aquila can also be flown at a slope. Designer Red Jensen’s YouTube channel includes a video of two of these tiny models racing back and forth along a bluff above the Pacific Ocean!

Another option for getting the Micro Aquila airborne is to haul it aloft using a towplane. The included .020-diameter pushrods are long enough that pilots will have several inches of each left over. A strategically bent piece of excess pushrod, taped in place slightly ahead of the model’s CG, is all that is required to create a usable towhook.

It was towed up using an FMS 850mm Ranger. Getting the Aquila to release from the hook required coordination between both pilots. When at the desired altitude, the towplane pilot gave me a short 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, at which point he pulled the power back on the Ranger.

This maneuver, when combined with a well-timed application of up-elevator on the Aquila, allowed the aircraft to fly free of the towline. Although the limiting factor on maximum release altitude was hard on our late-50s-something waning eyesight, we had a ball cruising the little Aquila around and searching for thermals!

Conclusion

Pilots who have yet to experience the thrill of building a conventional balsa and light plywood-composition kit could find the Micro Aquila to be a perfect model with which to savor the satisfaction that comes from transforming a box of sticks into a full-on flying machine.

Although this model is not much larger than a chuck glider, its two control channels allow pilots to skillfully steer it around the sky in search of lift-sustaining thermals and slope-created wind. Those who prefer that their sailplane models include an option for a power system might be interested in the micro-size Gentle Lady kit, also available for purchase from Alien Technologies.

SOURCES:

Horizon Hobby

(800) 338-4639

www.horizonhobby.com