Written by Terry Dunn
Review
As seen in the March 2021 issue of Model Aviation.
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Access additional content by visiting www.ModelAviation.com/bonuscontent. CLEARLY, THE DESIGNERS of the full-scale Nanchang CJ-6 were not constrained by any aesthetic requirements. It is a stunning example of rugged simplicity. For example, the wheel brakes, retracts, flaps, and engine starter are all powered by pressurized air. A compressor, driven by the engine, keeps the dual onboard air tanks charged and makes the CJ-6 largely self-reliant. More than 60 years after its introduction, examples of this radial-engine trainer are still serving in numerous Far East militaries. The CJ-6 has also found increased popularity among warbird collectors in the West. Private owners have discovered that the airplane’s minimalistic design and youth (it’s still in production) make it extremely reliable and relatively affordable to own (as warbirds go). Few modifications are necessary to make the CJ-6 a practical civilian airplane; however, one common upgrade among private owners is to install larger fuel tanks in the wing. Rumor has it that the limited range afforded by its stock 40-gallon fuel capacity was intended to discourage military pilots from defecting. The FMS downsized rendition of the CJ-6 captures every aspect of the full-scale airplane’s unique appearance. It has large wing with dihedral on the outer panels and a long, skinny fuselage behind a blunt engine cowling. These parts sit on top of a stork-like tricycle landing gear. As with its namesake, the RC model’s true charm is found within. The CJ-6 is a molded-foam model that includes most of the necessary onboard electronics. Six 9-gram, factory-installed digital servos actuate the ailerons, elevator, rudder, nose wheel steering, and a single flap. Electric retracts are provided as well. You will have to source a 4S 2,200 mAh LiPo battery and a six-plus-channel radio system. All of the control surface servos are connected to a preinstalled FMS Reflex V2 gyro. This device can be switched off or set to either of two modes during flight. Stabilized mode provides auto-leveling, as well as pitch and bank limits. Optimized mode helps keep the CJ-6 on a smooth flight path when flying in turbulent air. The included power system consists of an outrunner brushless motor. It spins a scalelike 11-inch diameter propeller. The system is connected to a 40-amp ESC. Unlike many warbirds, visibility is not a concern with this model. It comes out of the box in a red, white, and blue trim scheme from the Chinese Air Force (People’s Liberation Army Air Force). The colors and markings are a combination of paint and decals. The quality of the finish on my example is outstanding.Assembling the CJ-6
This model is mostly prebuilt, so there are not many assembly steps to be completed. One of the first tasks involves installing the elevator pushrod. In stock form, the elevator clevis engages with the control horn at an odd angle. I was concerned that this might cause binding and premature wear of the plastic clevis. I was able to bring the parts into alignment by applying a slight S-bend to the pushrod. All of the foam airframe components fit together precisely. The seams are tight, with no large or uneven gaps. Plastic accent pieces, such as engine louvers, a pilot bust, and landing gear doors, further improve the CJ-6’s scalelike appearance. This kit creates a fine-looking model. It is always a good idea to check the propeller balance before installing it on any model airplane. I found that the included propeller was significantly unbalanced. I corrected it by applying tape to the backside of the lighter blade. The entire canopy is actually a removable, magnetically secured hatch. It provides great access to the radio gear and battery compartment. The gyro is hard mounted to the fuselage at the rear of the radio bay. With all of the servo wires going into and out of the gyro (in addition to wires for the navigation lights), careful wire management is necessary to prevent a messy bird’s nest. I used a Futaba R7008SB receiver with S.Bus. This allowed me to connect the receiver to the gyro with a single servo extension (instead of an extension for each channel). I still found it necessary to bundle and use a zip tie on the wires to keep things organized. I installed a shelf made of scrap foam just in front of the gyro. This provided a handy location to mount the receiver with hook-and-loop tape.Equally important, it created a space for tucking excess wire. There is a plywood tray with hook-and-loop straps for securing the battery. Unfortunately, this tray is positioned too far rearward. When I moved my 4S 2,200 mAh battery to balance the model at the recommended center of gravity (CG) location, it was almost completely forward of the tray. Rather than extend the tray toward the nose, I added .75 ounces of lead just behind the louvers in the cowling. This allowed me to place the battery solidly on the tray while maintaining the CG. Even with the additional nose ballast, my model still weighed slightly less than the advertised weight.Flying the CJ-6
The CJ-6 has roughly 1.25 inches of ground clearance for the propeller. Despite the tight margin, this airplane has no trouble operating from my club’s rough grass runway. Ground handling is excellent, and the model can easily muscle its way into the sky. It might clip a few blades of grass as it goes, but it goes! With the landing gear tucked away, the CJ-6 cleans up nicely. The power system provides a good balance of speed and climb performance. It is actually surprisingly fast. The model covers ground in a hurry! Full-power vertical climbs are tall, although not unlimited. Loops can be as big as you want them. I quickly realized that I could ease the throttle back to 50% to 75% and still have lots of fun.






Conclusion
The Nanchang CJ-6 might not be the prettiest airplane ever made, but no one can argue its successful track record. It does what it was designed to do and that functionality carries over into the FMS rendition of the famous Chinese trainer. This model is a well-rounded aircraft that does many things competently. It is nicely made, easy to assemble, and exciting to fly. Even its looks are starting to grow on me!
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