ParkZone/Horizon Hobby Conscendo Advanced 1.5m BNF Basic
A sporty, low-cost, all-around flier
When the original Conscendo S was introduced a few years ago, it was an immediate hit. With its convenient size and excellent flight characteristics, it’s no wonder there was an outcry when it was discontinued. ParkZone has been quietly working behind the scenes, though, for a new and improved rendition and now brings us the Conscendo Advanced 1.5m BNF. If you liked the original version, you’re going to love this one. Molded out of lightweight and durable EPO foam and equipped with AS3X and SAFE Select, hitting max altitude is easy and fun. With four channels, this model will take you far beyond just catching thermals with its aerobatic capabilities. Assembly is minimal and can be completed in far less time than it takes to charge your battery.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The Conscendo requires little in the way of effort to assemble, thanks to the factoryinstalled electronics, motor, speed control, and pushrods. It took me just about 20 minutes to put it together, and in fact, it took me longer to apply the self-adhesive graphics to the bottom of the wing and horizontal stabilizer; all other graphics are factory applied. One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes with preinstalled receivers, it can be difficult to install the bind plug or other servo leads because access is limited. Not so here, as ParkZone has thoughtfully fitted a short servo lead in the bind port and a Y-harness in the aileron port of the receiver for easy access. This makes getting to the servo ports much easier. The wing is a twopiece design that makes assembly fast and storage compact. The upgraded 370 brushless power system is a potent package aimed at providing fast climbs and long flight times with a 3S LiPo battery. After a quick and easy hand launch, you can climb to altitude quickly, where you can bring the throttle down, watch the propeller fold back, and catch some thermals for extended flight time. Or you can keep the power on and utilize four-channel control to take this model beyond the glider experience with surprisingly crisp sport aerobatic performance.
As mentioned, the Conscendo uses an inexpensive and compact 3S 1300mAh LiPo
that is installed under the canopy. The canopy cleverly uses a tongue at the front and a quickrelease latch at the rear; a simple push on a button releases the hatch. One thing I found is that if the battery is installed as recommended, the preinstalled Velcro strap just barely wraps around the battery. I added some Velcro to the battery and to the battery tray so that the battery wouldn’t slide around. I also noticed that there’s a composite stiffener in the rear underside of the fuselage; being that the fuselage is pretty narrow there, I can see where this would be a big benefit. There are also plastic skids near the nose and the tail of the fuselage to protect it from scuffs and scraps.
Here’s the effort needed to assemble the Conscendo: Slide a stabilizer half onto a carbon-fiber tube and then through the fuselage, slide the other half on the tube, and secure both with the supplied clear tape to the fuselage and then attach the elevator clevis to the elevator horn. Don’t worry about the stabilizer departing the model in flight; after many flights, the stab halves have remained secure. A benefit of this is that replacing a damaged part is quick and easy.
For the two-piece wing, slide each piece onto a strong carbon-fiber joiner tube, followed by a plastic cover over the center section of the wing; four screws secure the assembly to the fuselage. That’s all there is! After that, bind the transmitter to the receiver and adjust the control throws and you’re ready to soar! One thing I recommend is that if you’re going to apply the graphics to the underside of the wing and stab, do so before attaching them to the fuselage because it will be much easier to apply them.
IN THE AIR
The ParkZone Conscendo Advance is a nice flier, and it thermals surprisingly well for a 1.5m foamie. It has SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) Select Technology and AS3X for the beginner, and it works as advertised. Hand launching the model is easy: Point it into any wind, power up, and gently toss it; the plane will be on step quickly and climbing out smartly. The speed control is preprogrammed to apply the brake function automatically when the throttle is brought to its lowest position, so the propeller folds back to decrease drag but, more important, to lessen damage to the prop during landings.
GENERAL FLIGHT PERFORMANCE
Stability: As the Conscendo is a powered glider, it doesn’t lack for stability and is a gentle flier.
Tracking: Because the Conscendo is such a sleek design, it tracks well and just slices through the air; wind doesn’t really affect it— that is, unless it’s really windy. I did notice that the model carves turns better if you coordinate the rudder with ailerons, so it’s a pretty good trainer for learning coordinated turns.
Aerobatics: The Conscendo is surprisingly aerobatic, and I would classify it as a mild warmliner. It will easily do all standard aerobatics, so if you get tired of thermal hopping, you can loop and roll from altitude.
Glide and stall performance: Being a glider, glide performance is awesome, as expected. I did find that the plane likes to float in on landings, especially in ground effect. As expected from a glider design, stalls are a nonevent. As the model slows, adding elevator just raises the nose until it stops flying. Applying some power has the plane quickly underway again.