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Inside The Hobbyzone Firebird Commander 2
One of the biggest
concerns for anyone starting to fly is crashing. If you look at the
time and money that you can invest in the hobby, it’s an
understandable concern. But what if it were possible to greatly
reduce the potential of a crash while still making a plane easy to
fly? Well, now that possibility is a reality with ACT (Anti-Crash
Technology™) which has been incorporated into the HobbyZone Firebird
Commander 2™. Improving on Smart-Trak™, where the original Firebird
Commander® left off, ACT truly protects your investment and gives
you more confidence when flying.
How It
Works:
Two separate
sensors have been built into the fuselage of the Firebird Commander
2, one directed towards the sky while the other is directed towards
the ground. The receiver analyzes the information read by the
sensors to keep the Firebird Commander 2 flying level. In the event
that the plane is placed in a steep dive, the top sensor will tell
the on-board receiver and speed controller unit that the plane is
aimed towards the ground. The receiver and speed controller make the
appropriate flight corrections to pull level the Firebird Commander
2. These corrections include the motor being cut and the opposite
input being given to the control surfaces. Those changes make the
nose come up and allow the plane to become level. Once the Firebird
Commander 2 has returned to level flight and the pilot briefly
returns the right st ick to neutral, the control is returned to the
pilot so normal flight can resume.
How Does
ACT Differ From Smart- Trak?
Smart- Trak was,
and is still, revolutionary, and there are still pilots taking their
first flights with Smart-Trak equipped planes, such as the Firebird
Scout ™. Smart- Trak prevents pilots from “over controlling” a plane
by reacting to stick inputs, but ACT actually “sees” the sky and
ground and makes the appropriate control surface adjustments. While
Smart-Trak helps keep beginners out of trouble, there isn’t much
that can help pull a plane out of a death spiral, unless the pilot
releases both
 sticks,
allowing the plane to return to normal level flight. One can think
of ACT as a “smarter” Smart-Trak. Anti-Crash Technology actually
works to pull a plane out of a dive that could potentially lead to a
crash. In the event that the Firebird Commander 2 is placed in a
steep nosedive or death spiral, ACT will not only reduce the
throttle input, it will add opposite rudder input to help level the
plane out. These changes cause the nose of the plane to rise,
pulling the plane out of a dive. When the plane has returned to a
level flight path and the pilot returns the steering stick to
neutral, control of the plane is returned to the pilot. This is the
major difference between Smart-Trak and ACT. Where Smart-Trak tried
to predict and react to conditions, ACT “sees” what’s going on and
responds. While it all sounds complicated, it works flawlessly.
Advanced
Flying:
As pilots gain
confidence and experience, ACT can be disabled for more aerobatic
flying, as is possible with planes that are equipped with Smart-Trak.
Additionally, the Firebird Commander 2 has improved maneuverability
over the original Firebird Commander. The tail control surfaces have
been made significantly larger to make the Firebird Commander 2 turn
much sharper than the original Firebird Commander. The Firebird
Commander 2 also accepts the full line of X-Port accessories,
including the Night Flight Module (HBZ3510), the Aerial Drop
Module (HBZ6023) and even the Sonic Combat Module (HBZ4020). And
with the additional control provided by the larger control surfaces,
dog fighting with the Firebird Commander 2 is more interesting and
intense.
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