Indoor RC Airplane Palm Z Micro Flyer
Indoor RC Airplane Palm Z micro plane uses infrared guidance to fly in your living room!
Indoor RC airplane Palm Z micro flyer
- No additional equipment needed to fly
- Two channel control: proportional rudder and throttle
- Skill level: Beginner to advanced
- Flight characteristics: 9.5 out of 10 (great fun!)
- Where to buy: www.amazon.com
The Palm Z indoor RC airplane comes as a complete, ready for fly package for under $40. The Palm Z is made of foam, and is extremely lightweight. The proportional rudder is controlled by a magnetic actuator, which is common in the very small indoor RC model airplane, and differs from the more normal servo in the fuselage by providing the control input right at the rudder.
Indoor RC airplane Palm Z rear view
Note that I mention the Palm Z indoor RC airplane is remote control, rather than radio frequency controlled model airplane. The transmitter of the Palm Z operates on the infrared frequency band, much like the remote control for a television set. You can see the three small clear plastic antenna knobs on the transmitter for the IR signal. The vast majority of remote controlled micro RC planes operate on radio frequencies. There are few other remote control systems that operation in the IR spectrum; the micro RC airplanes Cyclone is another example.
Palm Z infrared transmitter ports
The chief attraction of using an infrared control system is low cost. The IR system of the Palm Z indoor RC airplane gives very good control of the airplane. However, there is one key item you must keep in mind always when flying the Palm Z. The IR signal from the transmitter is very directional. In other words, you must keep the transmitter pointed right at the Palm Z at all times for effective control.
Palm Z infrared transmitter and built in charger. Note throttle control at left, rudder control at right.
With the other indoor RC airplane systems, the radio frequency signal tended to propagate in a wide pattern from the transmitter. The transmitter could be held in a variety of positions, and the control signal usually got through to the model fine. ParkZone aircraft use radio frequency for precise model airplane control.
With the Palm Z indoor RC airplane, especially when the model is flying close to you, it can get out of an area where the airplane's receiver "can see" the transmitter's infrared signal, and the plane will not respond to your control inputs. But, once you understand to always point the transmitter at the indoor RC airplane, all these problems just go away, and the Palm Z flies very nicely.
Palm Z indoor RC airplane using built in transmitter charger.
One very interesting feature of the Palm Z micro RC planes is the airplane flight battery charger is part of the transmitter. Nothing extra to purchase or carry to your flying sight. There is an innovative charging jack built right into the face of the transmitter. Just mount the Palm Z on the recharging jack, and you are ready for another flight with fully charged flight batteries in about 15 minutes. You just cannot get any safer or convenient than with this method.
Bottom view of Palm Z indoor RC airplane.
At a given throttle setting (airspeed), the Palm Z micro indoor RC airplane will maintain altitude. Increase power, and the Palm Z will climb. Decrease power, and the model will descend. The rudder provides very good turn control inputs. Remember that for any airplane, you should slightly increase power during any turn to maintain altitude. Just be sure to reduce the power slightly when the turn is complete, or you will climb a bit. With three channel RC control, such as the ParkZone Ember, you can use both the throttle and elevator for precise altitude and airspeed control.
The indoor RC airplane Palm Z's motor is surprisingly tiny, but is geared to the rather large propeller to provide plenty of thrust. The transmitter has a spring loaded throttle control on the left, and rudder control on the right. Larger propellers moving at slower rounds-per-minute give good efficiency to the smaller models. You will not get top speed with this arrangement, but good power from miniature motors.
Flying the Palm Z indoor RC airplane
Palm Z indoor RC airplane in flight. Note normal, nose high attitude in level flight.
As with any model with a two channel throttle-rudder arrangement, your airspeed will control altitude. At a given throttle setting (airspeed), the Palm Z indoor RC airplane will maintain altitude. Increase power, and the Palm Z will climb. Decrease power, and the model will descend. The rudder provides very good turn control inputs. Remember to slightly increase power during any turn to maintain altitude. Just be sure to reduce the power slightly when the turn is complete, or you will climb a bit.
The Palm Z makes a great introductory trainer for the ParkZone aircraft three channel models, such as the ParkZone Cessna 210, and leading to the great four channel aerobatic micro flyer ParkZone aircraft Sukhoi.
Flying the Palm Z micro indoor RC airplane close in.
The key trick in learning how to fly RC, as mentioned above, is to keep the transmitter pointed straight at the Palm Z, where ever it might be. This is especially important when flying close to you.
If you ever sense the Palm Z micro indoor RC airplane is not responding as it should to your control input (usually going into a tight, uncommanded turn), and answer almost always is that the infrared signal is not getting a clear view to the airplane.
The Palm Z's very light weight provides wonderful flight characteristics, especially with slow flight. You'll soon be very comfortable flying the Palm Z close in.
See information on other ready to fly indoor RC airplane with the Aero Ace, Cessna 210, Ember and Havoc Cyclone. Lots of fun for very little money and zero time to build!
Indoor RC Airplane Palm Z