E-Flite Decathlon RJG 1.2m BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select - Model AV8R Announcement & Review

[@TwoBrosRC]

Jon saw RJ Gritter at the MCAS Cherry Point airshow in late 2021. He's a fantastic pilot, and he's also a graduate of NC State aerospace engineering too! Since we're based in the Raleigh area, it's always fun seeing him fly and represent this gorgeous state we live in. Fantastic work, Adam! Looking forward to taking this one up when we eventually get it!

[@Ford_gibbs]

Dude I watch you 24/7

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Jon. Yep RJ is a great pilot. Amazing demo.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

You watch Jon 24/7? When do you sleep? Lol

[@Ford_gibbs]

@@ModelAV8RChannel lol

[@rja12]

This is the first time I've watched one of your videos, after searching KZbin for this particular aircraft. I really, really like your format and enjoyed this video tremendously. I just subscribed and now going to binge more of your content. Great job! 👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Awesome! Welcome!

[@jcb6713]

great look at the RJG...nice flights !!!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man!

[@davidsnyder238]

Beautiful model and terrific flying. Another master class Adam.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you brother David!

[@payitfwdrcl6171]

Adam, Very nice presentation and flights. You make it look so easy. Looks like HH is listening. Ha, Lights! Ooo la la. Keeping my eye on this one. 😉

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Brad! Man this thing is such a beaut!

[@payitfwdrcl6171]

@@ModelAV8RChannel ❤️

[@SteffenRC]

Who doesn't love the Decathlon. A simple plane with so much aerobatic performance.. Great intro about the plane and RJG. Thanks.. You really wrung out this plane and showed us what this little plane can do. I was surprised at the 3S performance. HH did a great job on engineering, there is a LOT of thought in the design and the extra little details show me that HH is all about the pilot experience.. Great price point for this plane too. Thanks for sharing

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Will! Yes sir...very well done. Its a keeper...

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

Adam fantastic review and flying. What a great looking and flying plane for the $$$. Amazing video Heidi. Jeff in LA USA

[@AL-RCjunkie]

It's a really good price. BNF is only $20 more than the PNF! Even if you're one of those weirdo Spektrum haters😂, who wouldn't get the BNF version of this plane?? 👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Jeff! It is a looker!

[@michaelclinerc3211]

Pinwheels, pop-tops, inverted flat spins and even the mandatory 4-point roll! Awesome flight demonstration Adam. 😎

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Ha! So funny Michael...every time I do a 4 pt. now I think about you man! Great plane this one...I bet you'd fly the wings off of it!

[@AL-RCjunkie]

As soon as i saw the HH ad email for this plane, i thought this was right up your alley, Adam. You didnt disappoint 😊 Great review! Sweet filming, Heidi! Thanks, guys 👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Al! It is in my wheelhouse, glad to have one in the hangar. I just wish we had some calm air to film in!

[@mmdynamics545]

Love the first 5 seconds! Gave me chills Adam! Excellent and vibrant intro!!! Marshall

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Marshall! I hope the rest was ok...lol.

[@SlowFlyer85]

Adam great looking plane your flying is outstanding awesome flying 😊👍👍👍👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Frank!

[@jollyroger2226]

Well done ! I really liked the battery storage and hatch. The flying was great and the side slip in for landing was a nice scale touch.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you very much!

[@walharbay9383]

Love your flying......amazing colors on the airplane too......

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks!

[@Tallguysrc]

Adam, another great review video, have always wanted this plane in my hanger can't wait.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man! Its awesome...

[@IansRCExploits]

Verry pretty little plane that Adam, and very well thought out!! Great review and amazing flying, filming and editing 😀👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Ian!

[@emem1613]

Thanks for the nice review Adam 👏🏽. Was looking to see how Decathlon does with 4S and in the wind. And… awesome flying! Thanks again, Mark

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man, glad it was helpful.

[@Bellairvideo]

Very nicely done Adam & great to see Heidi in the lead-in. That should sell a few more!! I used to fly in a Citabria, very similar for aerobatics. Disappointed that there are no flaps, but thats probably the real deal eh. Wonderful!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Ha! She is a cutie. I'm blessed. yes sir, this one is awesome! Not the floater many bush planes are, but Decathlons aren't. My OMP is the same way.

[@Retset]

I had never heard of RJG and, now that I have watched his Oshkosh 2023 display, I can definitely say that was my loss - thank you for opening my eyes! All the flying was top notch and the last s .. l .. o .. w roll pretty much brought a tear to my eye! The model looks really good and, as my OMP one is STILL on the shelf in pieces, is perhaps the one I should have bought. I have never quite cleared the bench for it and, truth be told, I really am a BNF sort of flyer! Hopefully the onset of some decent weather will spur me on! If i didn't have the OMP, I'd buy this for sure.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Glad you enjoyed watching him. Very skilled pilot. Amazing what he can do with a Decathlon. Hope you get your OMP or this one going at some point...awesome airplanes, and different enough from Edge's and Extras to be a new experience.

[@michaelrobertson4745]

I ordered this one because the parts for my OMP Decathlon have been on back order or sold out since last summer.

[@JustEnoughRC]

Looks fun Adam! Sounds like it's got some punch 👍👍👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It is Jude, and it does!

[@ElijahHolmanRC]

Looks like a auper fun plane. Great review as always!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It is! Thank you Elijah!

[@looneytunes47]

Thanks for the amazing good review and flights Adam

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man!

[@SunriseRCAviator]

Great review Adam! I was waiting for HH to do a Decathlon.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man, they made a good one!

[@trevorfurlotte]

I was wondering if Horizon had forgotten how to make anything other than Timbers. Lol. Great Video Adam.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Lol. Yeah they do. Timbers are a guaranteed seller though.

[@purcellrcaviationchannel]

Fabulous review of a very capable aircraft, Adam. Spiritual successor to the E-flite Clipped Wing Cub, maybe? If anything happens to my CWC I'll get one of these, for sure.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Gina! Yes ma'am...this thing is gorgeous!

[@DadsRCHangar]

Great review Adam, I liking for a nice plane to do my ‘A’, maybe this could be the one.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Chris! It is a beauty!

[@bernardanderson3758]

I’ve known RJ and he does a show in a Beautiful J-3 Cub

[@hechtspeed]

This looks like a BLAST!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Yup...purdy!

[@jayaustin3096]

Awesome plane adam. I seen this at work today and immediately pulled the trigger. I couldnt wait for the reviews. Lol. We have been waiting for a 4s valiant with top loadind and lights. Wow, we got this. I love it. Cant wait to crash it. I mean fly it. Lol. Price point is great considering it has a 80 dollar receiver in it. Great review again. I will take lights over a clear canopy any day. But the rv 7 had that. Scrathing my head. Thanks bud. Awesome plane. Better than the valiant, what do you think. Lots of rudder on both. Looks like a valiant on steroids to me. We like.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Its fun Jay, and so beautiful. Different than a Valiant, but in some really great ways! On the clear canopy stuff, it depends on the design...the RV does in fact have a canopy, with a high wing plane this size, there are windows...right below the wing attach point, So, clear widows means you have to reinforce that area with something else where you removed foam, which now is structural. That something else is usually a combination of plastic and carbon...or just plastic. Either way...heavier than foam. Kind of like a convertible car...there's less of it, but its heavier.

[@TerranceNeill]

Nice flying Adam. You do a great job with your reviews. I have a question. This RJG Decathlon, compared to the OMP 55In Super Decathlon. can you share some insight now that you have flown both? I get it that it is apple to orange (foam vs wood) but I trust your reviews and value your insight.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man! So honestly...I like them both. They both have "Decathlon characteristics" that differ from many other aerobatic planes like Edges, Extras, Pitts, etc. which is a nice change. Other than that though it really is an apple to orange comparison. One is a good bit bigger and balsa, while one is more compact and foam. The OMP has the potential to fly a bit better, but it takes a keen set up to get it there, and even then it is very, very close. The E-Flite has a more scale outline and proportions, and the fit/finish is as good as it gets on a foam aerobat. It is easier to set up, the AS3X helps a good bit. In a crash, with the lack of parts availability on the OMP, you'd need balsa building experience to fix it. Parts will be available on the E-flite for a while, and fixing foam is something more modelers can do in this day and age of the hobby. I intend to keep them both for what thats worth.

[@jkingamy9737]

I know this video is older so I don’t know if you will respond. But I am thinking about buying this plane and saw on the website that it recommended a 4s 3200 50c as one but I own a 4s 3200 30c so I wanted to ask you with your experience if I will be alright using it. I’ve only been in the hobby for a few years so I don’t know much about C rating. If you see this, thank you for your help!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

First, welcome to the hobby! Yes, your 30c packs will be fine. I have found however that I prefer the plane lighter, so I use 1800 and 2200 packs. It will still fly fine on a 3200, but the feel will be different. The lighter it is, the more forgiving it is and the better it slows down. When it comes to C rating...don't put too much stock in those numbers. There are no regulations in place that dictate what those numbers even mean. In other words, there is no standard that dictates what internal resistance range makes a 30c, 40c, 50c, etc. for all battery manufacturers. The only real use for them is they do determine what batteries from a specific manufacturer have the lowest internal resistance. So a Spektrum SMART 4s 2200 50c will have a lower internal resistance than a Spektrum SMART 4s 2200 30c. But if you compare a Spektrum 30c to a Pulse 30c and a HRB 30c you may get three entirely different levels of internal resistance. By the way...the lower the internal resistance the better the battery. That said, any new name brand battery...even cheaper ones from Amazon like HRB, Zeee, and Ovonic will perform fine in most planes (Prop planes, EDF's are different)...although how long they perform well (charges/discharges) can vary greatly. Sometimes spending more is worth it, sometimes it isn't. Battery lifespan is very much determined by how a specific person charges, stores, and uses them. Look into some videos/articles about Lipo battery care (by battery manufacturers...look at several different ones). Hope this helps! Happy flying!

[@jkingamy9737]

@@ModelAV8RChannel Wow, I appreciate your quick and very helpful response. I do also own a 4s 2200 so I will keep that in mind when I purchase it. I do try and take care of my batteries in terms of landing around 3.7 and making sure I don’t overcharge them. I just had no idea until now what the C meant on my packs so I am grateful KZbinrs like you exist because I had watched lots of videos and just left with some confusion. I’ll make sure to use your affiliate links and subscribe! Thanks again!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Happy to help man. That is why we do this. Thanks very much for your support...we very much appreciate that!

[@thelongestday64]

If you like the model but prefer relaxed flying, would it still be OK? Or rather the Cherokee? I am looking in the 3S/4S range. I love my Turbo Timber Evolution and the T-28 1.1m and my Conscendo 1.5m. Our runway is awful and we mostly take off and land on gras.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Cherokee is more docile, but it really depends on the set up. The Decathlon can be docile with a more conservative set up, and the Cherokee can be set up more aggressive if you like.

[@mickydee6550]

Hi Adam. love your channel. Since you have now owned and flown the OMP Decathlon and the E-Flight Super Decathlon 1.2, how do they compare to each other. Do you prefer one over the other? Thanks!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man! So honestly...I like them both. They both have "Decathlon characteristics" that differ from many other aerobatic planes like Edges, Extras, Pitts, etc. which is a nice change. Other than that though it really is an apple to orange comparison. One is a good bit bigger and balsa, while one is more compact and foam. The OMP has the potential to fly a bit better, but it takes a keen set up to get it there, and even then it is very, very close. The E-Flite has a more scale outline and proportions, and the fit/finish is as good as it gets on a foam aerobat. It is easier to set up, the AS3X helps a good bit. In a crash, with the lack of parts availability on the OMP, you'd need balsa building experience to fix it. Parts will be available on the E-flite for a while, and fixing foam is something more modelers can do in this day and age of the hobby. I intend to keep them both for what thats worth.

[@joshholcombe612]

I’m new to the hobby so correct me if I’m wrong.. this will work with my DXS transmitter that came with my carbon cub?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Technically yes Josh, but you want more programmability (for set up) to get the most out of the Decathlon. I would upgrade to a NX8. Great all around TX that can fully operate the majority of foamys out there. You want to get as much TX as you can now, or you'll find yourself needing to upgrade very soon, and in the end you'll have more money in the investment. 6 channels just isn't enough for so many planes now a days.

[@rafaeltorres2886]

That prop is noisey 😮, I've flown mine on 3s I was surprised it was an easy 7min flight, but 4s is the E ticket.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Yep it has some serious punch on 4s!

[@itzjoeylo4501]

It’s a shame that there isn’t a clear canopy like the full size.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Not practical at this size really. The windows are right below the wing attach point, and the foam is structural. So if you remove that structure for clear thin plastic...first off you're looking in at electronics as there is no where else to put them on a model this small. Then you have to reinforce that area to make it structurally sound again with something heavier than foam.

[@DanielBlackton]

How does this compare to the OMP hobby decathlon you reviewed?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

So honestly...I like them both. They both have "Decathlon characteristics" that differ from many other aerobatic planes like Edges, Extras, Pitts, etc. which is a nice change. Other than that though it really is an apple to orange comparison. One is a good bit bigger and balsa, while one is more compact and foam. The OMP has the potential to fly a bit better, but it takes a keen set up to get it there, and even then it is very, very close. The E-Flite has a more scale outline and proportions, and the fit/finish is as good as it gets on a foam aerobat. It is easier to set up, the AS3X helps a good bit. In a crash, with the lack of parts availability on the OMP, you'd need balsa building experience to fix it. Parts will be available on the E-flite for a while, and fixing foam is something more modelers can do in this day and age of the hobby. I intend to keep them both for what thats worth

[@DanielBlackton]

@@ModelAV8RChannel thanks for the reply. That helps with my decision. I agree the scale outline of the HH model does look spot on!

[@Truthstillmatters2]

What do you enjoy flying more between this one and the Super Timber?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

I fly them different. With the RJG I'm trying to mimic RJ Gritters airshow, with the Super Timber anything goes. Overall, the Super Timber.

[@sceadu498]

How would you compare it to the other Decathlon out there, the OMP if I may ask?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

I wouldn't really. The OMP is a good bit larger and balsa. Not really an apples to apples comparison. They both have that "different" Decathlon feel compared to other aerobats like Edge's and Extras. Not bad mind you, just different. OMP steals a lot of their designs...at least HH designed this themselves. So there's that.

[@Random4RC]

Did I miss the stall test? Always my concern with a Decathlon

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

No you didn't...I did. I tested it and set it up by myself, then we filmed later. I forgot to do a stall on camera. It stalls like other decathlons I've flown. Little bit of wing rock to let you know its coming, when it breaks it drops a wing. Recovery is standard...neutralize the controls, add power, ease it out. Not dramatic unless you do it at 5 feet. lol.

[@Random4RC]

@@ModelAV8RChannel lol, I've definitely lost one that way but they keep drawing me back. Such a beautiful airplane!

[@bernardanderson3758]

How much is the cost of the whole package with the controller?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It's not a RTF. Also not a trainer. From you questions you would clearly be a beginner to RC flying. This isn't the plane to start with. Price depends on which of the dozens of transmitters available you chose.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Can you install a smoke system.?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

No. Not in an electric.

[@USNVA11]

The only thing that could be better is if they made a 2m version. 😃

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

I totally agree...

[@I_am_archie]

🤠👍🏻

[@turnerator21]

Is it just me, or does the wing look like it has a flat bottom? If so, it is more of a Citabria than a Decathlon, which has a more of a symmetrical airfoil.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It is more of a flat bottomed airfoil. Often times the airfoil on a model is changed to make it fly better as a model. For example, won't see any model P-51's with a true laminar airfoil. Reynolds numbers explain the reasoning. You can scale down the airplane, but you can't scale down the atmosphere. There are other departures from scale for this reason as well on many models. You will rarely see a scale model that is exact in outline, airfoil, and proportion. There are a few exceptions, but not many planes work out as 100% true to scale as a model and fly well.