ALIGN TREX 500 RC Helicopter Review
Align produces radio controlled helicopters of the highest quality. Radio controlled helicopters are different from radio controlled airplanes distinctly. The construction and aerodynamics are much different. Along with these, the controls are markedly different. Controlling an RC helicopter is much more difficult that controlling an airplane. RC stands for radio controlled indicating that the radio frequency technology has been used.
One of the best battery powered models out there is the TREX 500. The TREX 500 is a battery powered helicopter, the design and testing of which was done by the legendary RC pilots Jason Krause and Alan Szabo Jr. This model uses 425 mm blades. This model is powered by two batteries, the 3S (6S1P) LIPO batteries. These batteries can be arranged in series. In the TRex 500 RC Helicopter, four varied battery set up configurations are present. They are the 5S 3200mah, the 4S 3200mah, the 6S220 or 6S 2500mah. The battery configuration used most often is the 6S LIPO. The ESC system is included in every variation of the TREX 500 RC Helicopter. Therefore, the TREX 500 RC heli can run on many different battery configurations and voltages. The blade sizes can vary too, between the 425 mm blades and the 450 blades.
However there are a few reports of the TREX 500 Radio Controlled Helicopter crashing due to static build up and discharge, This was not experienced during the review or since. The TREX 500 RC Helicopter has a tail which is belt driven and hence is at risk from the static produced by the pulleys and the belt. This is a problem not unique to the TREX 500. Many other models of similar size and configuration have the same problem. The static collected and accumulated will discharge through the tail boom and might mess up the on board electronics. The solution is fixing the tail boom to frame. This provides a suitable and safe discharge path for the static charge accumulated.
Some of the variations of the TREX 500 RC Helicopter include, The KX017001TA. This is a carbon fibre version complete with even blades made from carbon fibre. The KX017003TA is also the carbon fibre model but the blades are not made of carbon fibre. KX017004TA is the fibreglass version. It also has fibreglass main blades. KX017006TA is a version with fibre glass. However is has carbon fibre blades. Another model is the KX017008TA ESP. This is a carbon fibre model. It has carbon fibre blades too. It also has carbon fibre fly bar paddles along with carbon fibre tail blades. It has tail grips and a metal tail slider along with a full metal head. This model also has a metal tail bracket and servo mount. There are also three DS510 servos added. The TREX 500 RC Helicopter range also includes a helicopter canopy made from fibre glass and carbon fibre blades. With slight modifications, a nitro-conversion kit can be used. This kit makes use of an OS37 engine. With little modification of the frame, the kit can be bolted to the model and its parts.
The Align TREX 500 Radio Controlled Helicopter is one of the best buys out there and gives you total value for your money.
