Preflight

Now that fixed-wing and multirotor drones are being used literally everywhere for aerial surveys and photography, have you ever thought about making some cash in your spare time after taking the FAA’s Part 107 exam and getting your small unmanned aircraft pilot certification? If so, you don’t want to miss our feature “Making the Grade,” which tells you what you need to study to pass this test with flying colors. Getting certified is easier than you may think!

Who doesn’t remember the famous Lazy Bee line of airplanes? With tab-and-slot construction, even a total novice builder like me could put a Lazy Bee kit together. (My Lazy Bee looked terrific—at least until I inexpertly covered the wing—and it flew well!). This month, we have a special treat for you builders: Lazy Bee designer Andy Clancy is back with another rendition of his famous aircraft: the twin-motor Bee Liner (plans are available at AirAgeStore.com). If you’re more into scratch building, you’ll appreciate our informative feature on using CAD programs to create your own plans.

If you have a hangar full of various brands of electric aircraft, then you know what a hassle it can be to find the right connectors for your batteries, chargers, and more. This month’s Ultimate Electrics column details the various types of electric connectors and the pros and cons of each. And if you’d like to change some of your connectors, we share the easy way to create sound joints in “How to Solder Deans Ultra Connectors.” And if you’re looking to upgrade your transmitter, we showcase six new programmable radio systems that may even make you a better pilot.

One of my favorite articles this month is “UAVs Take Flight at the U.S. Naval Academy,” in which group of undergraduate students modify a Hobby Express Telemaster to accomplish autonomous flight, obstacle avoidance, air package delivery, and more.

So we’ve got something for everyone this month, from the annual gathering of scale aircraft at Warbirds Over Delaware to an interview with our Engine Clinic columnist and renowned powerplant expert Clarence Lee (did you know he piloted P-51s and other WW II aircraft?). Don’t forget to set your online flight path to ModelAirplaneNews.com for the latest RC news, event and flight-review videos, our free weekly newsletter, and much more. We’ll see you there!