From the Field -- E-flite Air Tractor 1.5m Flight Review (The RC Geek)

Here is my flight review of the E-flite Air Tractor (bit.ly/EfAT15). This is a really unique looking model that has a wide performance envelope being surprisingly quick at full throttle, has great power for straight vertical up lines yet slows to a crawl on landing with the slotted flaps down. The airplane is quite aerobatic as well and will do most anything you throw it's way. Now, if we can just figure out a way to do some simulated spraying from the airplane, hmmm. 😉
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[@camomaster6316]

As a farmer I watch these planes spray all the time and eflite nailed it. This will be next for my collection. Great video!

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks!

[@ruftime]

Yes! Aerodynamics that beat the air into submission😎. Happy to see your field open.....can’t wait for the same here in OC sometime soon.

[@Thercgeek]

Haha! Actually, this was filmed before the lockdown. Our fields are still closed at the moment. 😢. I hope they will start easing up on things soon.

[@finneganfly]

Well that’s pretty cool! I recently retired from ag flying after 15000+ hours. Just completed a stationary 1:9 scale replica (wind vane) of the AT802 I flew - 78” wingspan, built out of wood and aluminum with the help of my cnc machine. No chance it would fly at approx 25 lbs. I just might have to take up R/C flying to scratch that itch!!

[@Thercgeek]

Wow, very cool!!

[@TheSouper36]

Simply awesome, smooth plane!

[@flymachine]

I wish I could show you what Ive done to mine, scale pilot with bone dome, full seeding spreader - pump prop driven, cable cutters, brake lines with dummy disc brakes, scale wheels, stall strips, VG's, Antenna kit, 5 blade prop and full model 520 decals with steps, panel weathering and more. I am working on a powder spray system but used a low heat smokle cannister in the spreader and it really is hard to tell from the real thing. The Air Tractors are close to my heart clearly.

[@Thercgeek]

Oh man, that sounds awesome! If you’re on social media, you can always send pics that way. My handle is @thercgeek

[@mr.morgan5643]

As always great flying Chris!! Thanks!!

[@TAILWINDACE]

Even sounds like a turbo prop! Gotta get me one.

[@Thercgeek]

It really does! My friend who used to work on Air Tractors who was at the field when we filmed this said that it sounded just like the real one.

[@razorboy08]

"Great flying airplane"' he said, meanwhile the fact is he's a great flying pilot!, it's a quality nonetheless, Chris you're too modest just like your flying skills. Great video.

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@airhammer6203]

Love the color. The construction of the aircraft is great, hardly tell it's foam. Sounded like you had a gas leak.... better fix before next flight, it might cause a crash!😁 AirHammer out!!

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah, it’s nice and smooth! 😊. Hey, gotta be careful there’s crop dusting happening! 😂🤣

[@payitfwdrcl6171]

Chris. Good lookin little Air tractor from Eflite. Nice leisurely flight there too...Enjoyed the review as well. 👍😊

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks!

[@jed1947]

Thanks for the tail wheel instructions with E-Flite sadly does not provide. Great and helpful review. Liked and subscribed.

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@michaelrobertson4745]

Great flying and review. Im going try the expo settings that you used.

[@Thercgeek]

I’m not one who uses a ton of expo generally, but you should find it’ll help reduce the sensitivity around center a little bit. Also, it can help provide a more linear feel actually if you use it right. It’ll also give you a very nonlinear feel if you use a lot which in some cases (like 3d flying) may be desirable.

[@mikepetrillo3541]

Great job, can't wait to get mine Thursday:-)

[@Thercgeek]

Nice! Have fun with it! 😊

[@g1967]

Reminds me of the 502's in the field

[@bearnicholas3830]

having lived in California most of my life this siloettte is very familiar

[@normleonard52]

Sweet little plane....great review Chris and great job flying as always. Been kinda busy lately and trying to get caught up on all the latest posts.

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@mikenowland2739]

Nice review Chris. I have one in the box ready to put together. Like you work. 🇦🇺🦘

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you! 😊

[@shownuff891]

Great looking plane but I have to say it’s hard seeing you fly such a “basic” non jet plane/ warbird plane ✈️ . Anyways great review 🥳

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks! Yeah, it’s a little weird flying it, haha! Great flyer though

[@jerrywillfong5770]

Chris you should do the military version of a light attack plane.

[@Thercgeek]

That would be pretty cool

[@DonsRCAirplanes]

Really great review, big like and thumbs up. I’m really enjoying my air tractor, flying mine on a roaring top 3300. It’s a really fun plane, highly recommend it to everyone....👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you very much!

[@MasboyRC]

Next air buldozer will fly 😎

[@jerrywillfong5770]

Great flight. I want to do one in Military scheme.

[@Thercgeek]

That would be awesome!

[@thecraftking113]

Cool brother always wanted a 502 air tractor. 👍👍 just need a spray bar and a tank and your ready to spray✌

[@ruftime]

That would be cool! Maybe spray smoke?

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks! Maybe with a tank and a pump and then a spray bar made from brass tubing.

[@thecraftking113]

@@Thercgeek exactly my thoughts 👍

[@matthewjames2649]

Nice! Ty.4sharing

[@airbus7379]

Looks nice 👍

[@tonyfromdiego3394]

Did you fly today? I thought your field was closed. The duster is a classic airframe.

[@Thercgeek]

Nah, this was filmed a while ago before the lockdown. Haven’t flown since mid March.

[@burlingtonfilms]

If someone only flew jets and wants a first sporty tail dragger, would this be the best choice? Or would you recommend the RV-7 over this one?

[@Thercgeek]

While I haven’t flown the RV-7, watching the product video I’m guessing you’d probably have more fun with the RV vs the air tractor. The air tractor is cool and flies well, but the overall performance of the RV-7 appears to be better.

[@user-kx4tg2zk7r]

Why didn't you show the programing for safe mode and AS3x mode ? I have several of the e-flite airplanes with the safe mode but this air tractor did not work in safe mode. I programed it like it says to in the instructions but it did not work correctly. I am in contact with horizon hobby to find out if the receiver is faulty. In the mean time I am flying it with the safe mode disarmed but would like to know why it does not work in safe mode. Maybe you can help. Thanks , Al Huth

[@Thercgeek]

I didn’t show it specifically because I had put together a separate video specifically talking about safe. All the info is still relevant: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6imfZKoZd14jq8

[@jackhayes1839]

Great video. The wheels on this plane seem hard. Would larger and softer wheels wheels work better on hard landing surfaces?

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you! The wheels are pretty hard. Though, they work, some softer ones would definitely help soften the landings on hard surfaces.

[@michaelnicholas9086]

FYI the link you have in your comments for a 4s lipo is actually a 6s.

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks for the heads up! I’ve fixed the link.

[@jimp6150]

Is anybody having problems with elevator in the crease its ripped on the ends so it makes it uneven

[@Thercgeek]

Are you talking about the counterbalance at the elevator tip? If it’s come off, I’d recommend flying it back with ca with the radio on so that the servo holds the elevator in place and you can ensure it’s symmetric to the other side.

[@jimp6150]

@@Thercgeek the crease there are 3 sets of holes 3 holes pure set on the crease its ripped the ends i would send pics but I don't know how to

[@militarydocumentariesinc.7007]

Jim P mine were super stiff and took a little just to break in the hinges on my elevator. I did have a problem on setup with them not giving up elevator

[@rcflyer7788]

Wishing I had bought one of these instead of my Turbo Timber!

[@Thercgeek]

I’ve not flown the big turbo timber, but from what I’ve seen it looks like a fun airplane!

[@rcflyer7788]

@@Thercgeek The Turbo Timber is certainly a fun plane but I think the Air Tractor is probably a bit more agile and sporty. Gotta love that bright yellow paint job too!

[@michaelrobertson4745]

@@rcflyer7788 I have both and like the turbo timber better. The landing gear on the Air Tractor are weak and bend very easily. There has been a lot of complaint's about the landing gear.

[@rcflyer7788]

@@michaelrobertson4745 Thanks for the information about the landing gear.

[@wazza7575]

Sick of the tunda type planes such as the Timber. Go the tractor.

[@BansheeFifteen]

Wonder how it would do with replacement wheels like some Dubros or Dave Browns?

[@Thercgeek]

It would probably do really well with them. The stock tires aren’t much for shock absorption.

[@BansheeFifteen]

@@Thercgeek Yeah I'm in the process of setting mine up, think I'll spend some time retrofitting mine.

[@dougrymer4490]

Will the Air Tractor fly well with a 4S 4000 smart battery? I already have 2 of them. Thanks

[@Thercgeek]

Yes, the 4000s should do the trick well. 😊

[@tomjerome4577]

HI, great video! I just bought the Air Tractor 1.5m BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select. I currently have a Radiolink AT9S Pro. Will that work with the AS3X and SAFE? If not what do you recommend? I'm trying not to break the bank on a transmitter. Thanks!

[@Thercgeek]

I'm not familiar with the ATS9, but I'm guessing it's not spektrum compatible. AS3X and SAFE are Spektrum features and so it would require having a spektrum radio to take advantage of those features.

[@tomjerome4577]

@@Thercgeek thanks! I'll have to do a little research on Which transmitter I need to get.

[@Thercgeek]

Well, if you get the pnp version, then you can install your own receiver. Otherwise, if you want safe and AS3X, you’ll need to go Spektrum.

[@tomjerome4577]

@@Thercgeek yeah, that's the one I wanted, but it said it was on backorder. I just checked again and now it's available. Oh well, looks like I will have a Spektrum receiver kicking around. Lol

[@Thercgeek]

You can always sell it. 😊

[@prsachsen]

I also want to buy the air tractor, but I read in English forums that there should be all sorts of problems, especially with the tail unit and the wings. Someone also had problems with the elevator, because the tail unit is said to be warped. I would hate to waste 329 euros and buy good luck. Can you confirm these issues? Sry my englisch is bad

[@Thercgeek]

I never had any issues with mine personally.

[@prsachsen]

@@Thercgeek I also have the air tractor now. I still have to assemble it and fly it in. I am curious. greetings from Germany

[@prsachsen]

is the prop already balanced at the factory? My Maiden flight is on sunday :)

[@Thercgeek]

It doesn’t hurt to check, but I didn’t balance the prop on this one.

[@prsachsen]

@@Thercgeek okay thanks :) I don't have a balancing device anyway. But I don't think that this will be necessary either. Eflite is good quality as usual. my first flight is tomorrow. :)

[@waiex1]

Nice flying AT Chris! I'm getting the feeling your going to "have your way" with this one as well. I've really appreciated all of your refinishing videos. (Been slowly refinishing a FMS 1450mm P-51.) My vote for a new scheme would be; Air Tractor N1558W. It would be a completely scale transformation as well, because 58W was originally painted yellow and blue! You could even paint the tailwheel pink! Copy and paste links below to get a look at it. www.flickr.com/photos/tim_crippin21/35446461284 www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001364722.html

[@Thercgeek]

That’s a pretty cool scheme! I’ve also seen foreign militarized ones too with all kinds of stores on them which is kind of cool too.

[@waiex1]

@@Thercgeek I was going to send you a pic of one of those, but you mentioned hooking up a pump and spray bar so, ....... The nice thing about N1558W is the pod under the fuselage, that would allow you to mount the mechanics for a pump/hopper to drop some "Phos Chek"

[@volksyes9477]

Let me ask, do you have that feeling of getting used to fast jets that when you fly slower planes you somehow get too far ahead of the plane? That thing takes off like a bush plane haha

[@Thercgeek]

Not so much with slower airplanes, but if I fly slower birds for a while and then go back to the real high performers, I sometimes am behind the airplane a bit on the first flight back.

[@volksyes9477]

The RC Geek Hey thanks thought I was the only one having Aircraft type type issues. Ehehe I wonder what will happen to my planes in a few months after 3 months of not being able to fly 😱

[@bearnicholas3830]

In the real a very agile aircraft

[@Thercgeek]

The model isn’t too far off there. 😊

[@wazza7575]

Eflite planes are always good but waaaaaaaay too expensive compared to others like FMS, Hobbyking, etc.

[@Thercgeek]

I understand. Keep in mind that the quality of components are also far better than what you get from hobbyking (I have a MiG-17 and the servos are not very good). I've not had an FMS brand aircraft in hand in quite some time, so not sure if they've improved the servos at all. The servos in the FMS P-51 I had a few years ago were just ok. Certainly not as good as what's coming in the E-flite airplanes now.

[@MollydogRadar]

Yes. The plane flies great, BUT, don't break the prop like I did. You can't buy one. Not from E-Flite or Ebay. They are on back order. Really disappointing.

[@Thercgeek]

Bummer! Take a look at the master airscrew 11x8 3blade prop. That should do the job in place of the stock one.

[@militarydocumentariesinc.7007]

The RC Geek Much appreciated for posting that reply , was looking for spares myself. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@EDF_FANatic]

Very boring plane.

[@dougrymer4490]

Will the Air Tractor fly well with a 4S 4000 smart battery? I already have 2 of them. Thanks

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah, that battery should work well.