Programmable Flybar Paddles

The main reason I added these Proto programmable flybar paddles was for their florescent yellow color which helped improve my Trex 450 Sport's visability.

I found two manufacturers for these paddles. One was Gorilla Gear priced at $17.98. The other being the Protos brand made by MSH which I purchased for $4.99. From what I could tell and by what I've read by other users, the 2 brand are basically identical, so it's not hard to see why I chose the Protos. Both come with brass weights that you slide into the paddles. After sliding them in I took a pin and pushed them all the way in as they wedge themselves into the end of the bored hole so as to not fall out. If you need to remove the weights there is a small hole on the outboard side of the paddle that you can slide a pin into and push them out.

First off, I weighed the paddles and found them to be only slightly lighter than the stock 450 Sport paddles. They have a different outline but the end airfoil shape seems to be the same. I did find that the Protos paddles screw on farther than the stock paddles by 3mm. This shortens the overall length of the flybar by 6mm.

I tested the paddles without the weights added first and found them to be a little to quick for my taste. If your are doing serious 3d you would probably like them. I found them to suit me best with the full weight. Finless bob says they are perfect for his flying style using only half the supplied weights, so to each his own.

The bottom line is that I really like them over the stock paddles. Not only are they easy to see, but they truely are programmable to your flying style, depending on the amount of weight you add to them.