Best Batteries for the Trex 450 Sport

While there are many batteries on the market that will work for the Trex 450 sport, I really like these Rhino 2250mAh 3S1P 30C Lipoly Packs from Hobby King . They are not the least expensive of the batteries you can get from this Hong Kong supplier, but at $19.99 they are considerably cheaper than what you can get from American suppliers. They also ship with XT60 connectors which are heaveier than Dean's and what I've set up my ESC for, so they don't require me to do any soldering. I just attach some hook and loop velcro, strap them in and fly.

I have them set up so that they mount narrow side down on the battery tray which keeps the center of gravity closer to the main shaft. I also like the fact that when I do this the rounded end of the batteries fits right into the rounded front frame support. They seem very secure when I add a velcro strap to pull them tight to the battery tray. Don't want a battery existing the aircraft during flight, this would not be a pretty sight.

With my set up and these batteries, I'm getting a full 6 minutes of flight time and only depleting about 75% of capacity. I'm only doing sport type flying so I don't put much of a strain on them. With the 199g weight they are a little heavier than some batteries and a tight fit for the sport, but the weight provides a perfect balance for my stock bird.

Now, as far as buying from Hobby King, they can be slow in arriving in the USA. if you use standard shipping, they literally come on a slow boat from China and your looking at a possible 45 day shipping time. Personally, I use the EMS shipping which runs me an additional $25 and I have my batteries in 7-10 days here on the east coast of North Carolina. Still much cheaper than buying from a state side supplier. Another tip, be sure there are plenty of batteries in stock at the time you place your order. If their site shows a negative quantity, you could be waiting a long time before they even ship your items.

One possible drawback would be if you received a bad pack. Hobby King will refund your purchase price, but not the shipping costs and it will cost as much to send it back as what you paid for it. The good news is that I have placed several orders and have always received healthy batteries. I will continue to buy from them and hope for the best.

RC Helicopter Safety

Recent events have brought together the RC flying community and shown a light on the issue of safety. A young girl was walking through a Tampa public park when she was struck by a RC helicopter that was said to have lost control. Fox News 13 in Tampa did the following report on the accident.



Following this report, it was found that the pilots involved did call 911 and one of them rendered first aid until the paramedics arrived. The Tampa police have interviewed all involved and decided there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime.

What most of have learned form this event, is that once we arm our aircraft, we become responsible for the safety of those around us. RC aircraft tend to bring out the curiosity of most of us and especially in children. Unfortunately, most people view RC helicopters as toys and are not aware of the dangers they pose. It's hard to keep an eye out for anyone that might be entering your fly zone and it's great if you have a spotter that will watch your back and warn people that are approaching, but on days that you don't have a friend along, the next best thing might be this t-shirt with it's danger warning.

You can get yours here.

Flybar Lock for Trex 450 Sport

When you're setting the blade pitch angle on your Trex 450 Sport, it is critical that your flybar is level while taking measurements. You can try to hold the flybar and eyeball it for level while taking the measurement, but this can be quite awkward and not completely accurate. I found the pictured lexan flybar lock at RDLohr's clearly Superior Product. This little jewel just slips over the head button and it securely locks the see saw cage and flybar at a 90 degree angle to the main shaft making pitch set up a breeze. This is a great gadget and at $10, I highly recommend it to Sport owners.

Micro Heli Landing Pad

Looking for a miniature heli pad to land your Blade MCX or MSR on? This mousepad is just the target you need when practicing touch and go's with your bird. The yellow "H" and circle on a green background are the designation for helipads. This is surrounded by yellow and black strips outlining a safety zone.

Checkout our RC Store to get yours today.