Venom Aircorps Brand Night Ranger 3D CP Micro-Helicopter RTF

Introduction

The Night Ranger 3D is an interesting addition to the micro heli market -- a 400g micro heli, capable of indoor and no-wind outdoor flight; collective pitch; fully ready to fly package complete with a 6 channel FM transmitter, and a perfectly acceptable stock power setup. Also available is the hopped up brushless/lipo package, so that you can do like I did, start with the stock set up and upgrade to the brushless with ease.

As I looked through the instruction manual, I was more and more interested in the model. The manual is REALLY detailed and complete, with lots of great info for pilots of just about every skill level. It doesn't assume anything, and covers things clearly, from trimming to blade tracking, from switch settings to the hovering pitch and throttle dials. Even includes an exploded view diagram, parts list with part #s, and more! A company that's put together this nice of a manual, with this attention to detail, is likely going to provide the same level of attention and quality in the entire heli. Let's see!

Kit Contents

Includes:

• 6Ch FM Radio w/3 Micro Servos
• 4-in-1 Gyro, Mixer, Receiver & ESC
• 9 Cell 10.8v 650 mah NiMH Rechargeable Battery
• AC Wall Charger
• (8) Venom Power AA Alkalines
• wonderfully complete and detailed instruction and flight manual

Features:

• Bell-Hiller Style CCPM Head Assembly
• Alloy Headblock, Chassis, Tailboom & Skids
• LiPO Battery Ready
• 5-8 minute flight time, roughly, on stock power system
• Easy Upgrade To Venom's Brushless System!

Requires:

• NOTHING! Even batteries are included!

The only thing I considered lacking, or "missing", in the items included in the stock package was the lack of a heading hold gyro. I did not realize how sloppy a flyer I have become without the HH gryo.

Setup:

Assembly? What assembly! Even the main blades are attached at the factory! The battery pack arrives with a partial charge, intended to be sufficient for the initial trimming flights.

Steps required:

• Remove heli and radio from box and prepare transmitter to fly.
• Read instructions, and be sure to understand the curves and set up as described.
• Extend main blades and confirm they are tight but will spin out properly.
• Install flight battery.
• Check blade tracking.
• Check CG (mine was fine).

The only adjustment I needed to make on this out of the box was the blade tracking. It was only out a half turn. Just a quick adjustment and it was set.

Flight Performance

The Night Ranger 3D did NOT disappoint me. It offered the level of quality and performance that the manual alluded to.

Lift off:

When trying to lift the night ranger off the ground slow and gentle the ground effect made the helicopter slide around a bit. When I just let the helicopter lift off and get a foot or two of altitude it locked right in and sat there.

Hover:

Hovering a foot off the ground the night ranger is very solid. Hovering it under a foot and ground effect starts to move it around and made me feel like I was chasing it a bit.

Forward flight:

Slow forward flight was rock solid. Fast forward flight the showed a little bit of a pitch up tendency.

Inverted:

Either looping or rolling into inverted flight was easy if not really quick. The pitch and throttle curves were a nice match for inverted flight.

Backward flight:

This taught me how much I really rely on the heading hold gyros. For a couple of years I have been telling myself I fly pretty well in backwards flight. Then I try to do it with this and find that I need to fly the tail? I am good at this! So, why cant I do it with the Night Ranger. Well it took me a little while to start flying the tail again while going backwards and found that I could do it. The tail had plenty of authority if I just used it like it should be used. After spending a fair amount of time relearning how to fly backwards....guess what? I've since found that my backwards flight with my glow helicopters is better than it ever was.

Landing:

Within a foot of the ground I started to chase the night ranger a little bit. I found the best way to land was to just let it settle to the ground. Yea yea, I know letting the helicopter do the flying is the best way to fly.

Comparison

Does it fly like a 50 size machine? No not really, and it isn't meant to. If you are flying outside, of course, it gets pushed around by the wind. The brushless motor really brings this bird to life; and, with the brushless motor it's power really is comparable to a 30 size machine, impressive!, and understandably not that of a 50.

Of course, where this helicopter really shines is flying indoors. Try to fly your favorite 50 sized bird in the local gym, golf dome, or your garage!

The only other ready to fly helicopter with collective pitch I've been exposed to at this time is the Blade CP from Horizon. I have only had the chance to hover a blade CP for a short time and I have watched the CP fly at several events.

Observations from my flight time with both helicopters:

• Stock: The Night Ranger 3D and the Blade CP have similar basic hovering characteristics.
• PLUS: The Night Ranger allows the adjustment of the pitch and throttle curves, allowing the pilot to fine tune the helicopter to his/her flying style. This is a BIG advantage to this transmitter.
• Upgrade: With the brushless upgrade and lipoly installed, the Night Ranger is suddenly in a whole new class, and the two helicopters really don’t compare any more. The extra power makes the night ranger a truly 3D capable micro helicopter.
• PLUS: The night ranger is easily upgradeable to brushless, without changing any radio gear. Venom came up with a neat plug and play upgrade that other companies are sure to emulate.

(via Venom Aircorps Brand Night Ranger 3D CP Micro-Helicopter RTF @ Hobby-Estore.com $)