Aeroquarium "known to work well" setups

Budget vs non-budget airframe/radio/illumination/charger setups

Airframes

You want a tough aircraft for this event--it will be getting lots of abuse and you really want something that can survive a midair and be flying either immediately or the occasional 5 min repair involving strapping tape or replacing a broken link. That means you want an EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) aircraft. They bounce rather than break.

Multiplex EasyStar

The Multiplex EasyStar is a small, tough, and easy to fly. If you have no RC experience, need to learn or want to minimize your time getting into the air this is a fine choice. There may be cheaper sources out there than Hobby Lobby--they charge $59.90. Review, with very silly models posing with the plane.

The EasyStar comes with a motor and a prop but you will need in addition a battery pack, a battery charger, a speed controller, two servos and a radio. Unfortunately this all adds to the expense but this investment will transition to further aircraft.

You can buy versions that include all you need. Hobby-Lobby provides a complete setup for $259. I don't recommend this because the radio is 72MHz which will lead to possible frequency conflicts and less flying. See the radio section below. I also think metal gear servos are required--stripped servos are common which is not part of the package (they provide Hitech HS-81's which in my experience strip gears very easily. See radio section.

Other planes

Suggestions welcome here.

Radios

R/C aircraft radios are in a period of transition right now between older, frequency designated units in 72 MHz (50 channels designated 11 to 60, one channel per aircraft) to 2.4 GHz systems that use more sophisticated techniques to lock receivers to transmitters which allow anywhere from 20 to 40 simultaneous connections. There are also HAM frequencies (50 MHz) and the 27MHz band that store bought toy planes typically use.

WARNING: I fly a Multiplex Profi P-4000, a way old school, made by gnomes in the Black Forest, radio on 72 MHz.

This means I have not tested how well the 2.4 GHz systems do with the electrical interference that will be coming off your plane and others given all the elwire and LEDS they will be festooned with. Some experimentation from those who know would be much appreciated. Get in touch and I will tell you what I would like to test.

If you have the money, I recommend a 2.4 GHz system because of the frequency flexibility. It is frustrating to not be able to fly because someone else is on your frequency--it all works out in the end and you may make a new friendship with the person you are sharing a frequency with, but it is still a hassle. Some cheaper 2.4 Ghz systems include:

• The Futaba 6 channel looks good at Tower for $199. They may be cheaper else where and be aware that Tower will put you on their mailing list until death. Includes a receiver and a transmitter charger
• The Spektrum DSM 6i for $179.99 at Horizon Hobby and Hobby Horse. Be careful, you want the DSM2 versions. You can get two recievers untill April 30th for that price and that is a great deal if you are willing to send in a coupon or some such. By the time you have added 2 servos this setup will be costing about $210 but you will have the right servos. The 7 channel systems are coming in at $350 so with a receiver and servos so that may be a better way to go if you want more features.

If you are on a budget you can get 72 Mhz systems for cheaper, just make sure you get rechargeable batteries otherwise you will be spending lots on disposables. You are going to need a battery charger for your airplane anyway. That will work off of a 12 volt supply (car battery or the like).

I like Hitech because they have a reputation for amazing customer service combined with very inexpensive radios. Unfortunately they have not gotten hip to the 2.4 GHz thing so this is my economy choice for 72 MHz. Lots of folks are dumping 72 MHz. gear so Ebay might not be a bad option.

• The Neon SS setup looks good for the money. Best deal I could find was Servo Hut for $89 but I have never dealt with these folks so take care. The primary advantage of their offering is a NiCad pack for the transmitter--really, you want to be green(-ish) and get rechargeables just for the money side of it. Try to see if you can get metal gear servos, see how much it would be to get HS-81 MG's rather than the pratically suicidal regular HS-81's. Let me know if they will do the swap--it is worth $20.
• Nearly everything that I can find for more costs about the same as the 2.4 GHz stuff, so leave it alone. Shop above...unless you want 12 channels of sweet computer radio with nearly random mixing which is what I fly....but if that applies you already have your own ideas as to what works for you.

Servos

This one is easy, get Hitech HS-85 Mgs and be done with it. They are $30.99, which is expensive but they are a super solid servo. Maybe you can save $10 on a cheaper one but you will hate not flying because your servo broke.

Power Systems

This is where a lot of money can get spent if you are not careful. A few things need power and this is the system that will handle it. Those power needs are:

• Radio Receiver and servos: 4.8-6.0 volts and can draw an amp or two with servo movement
• Motor: Anywhere from 50 to 1000 watts at varying voltages/amperages.
• Lighting: Up to a few amps at various voltages (3-12 volts for el wire inverters), LEDs are basically free if you don't get too crazy.

All of these systems can be run independently with separate batteries/regulators but simple is good here. The motor will be controlled by a speed controller which most have a Battery Elimination Circuit (BEC) that takes the big power battery (6-40 volts of NiCd, NiMh, LiPo or other chemistry) and divert sufficient energy to run the receiver and servos as well as drive the propeller. So that device takes care two of our needs. What remains is how to power the lighting. See the Aircraft illumination page for info.