AVENGER Technology

Technology is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but have you ever stopped to figure out what it means. We hear about new technology in boats, cars, planes, trains, computers, and even our RC Combat designs.

The definition of technology in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:

1 a : the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : ENGINEERING

Take what you know and make something better. This has been my approach to RC Combat the past 3 years and the development of the AVENGER. I've taken my knowledge of aerodynamics and structural mechanics to help cut back on design iterations and tied this together with a ton of real world testing. The only way to test a combat plane is at combat events. You can sport fly for years and not learn 1/10 what you can in one round of combat.

The AVENGER is on its 9th design iteration. Each upgrade has incorporated changes that were revealed during testing. The changes always addressed flyability, durability, and maintainability issues. Wow, that's a lot of ability to try and manage. Manage you must though young Jedi, because they're all intertwined. An increase in flyability can lead to degradation in durability. All these must be considered when making changes and in my mind this is where true technology lies. The more knowledge you have to apply, the more technology you have to employ.

The latest version, the 900 series, really focuses on the maintainability variable. I found the AVENGER fuselage was one tough customer that could be repaired if really rocked but the tail group often got tore up and needed replacement. The forward section of the fuselage and aft section also needed some attention as they were the first areas to break in a really hard dirt nap. The driving design criteria with the 900 was to control what broke and make it very easy to replace those broken parts. Durability through maintainability because if a part can be swapped out over lunch, you just picked up another back up ship.

Another application of knowledge or technology in the AVENGER has always been applied to flyability. For an airplane to make the grade in this category, guess what, it has to fly good. I've been fortunate through my 18+ years of RC to fly some really good flying airplanes. Q-500's and Formula 1 pylon racers that literally grooved like they were flying on rails. This sets the bar pretty high in terms of flyability.

The AVENGER has evolved to the point where it really grooves. Combat heavily favors a competitor that is comfortable with the plane they're flying. I know the success we've had is due in large part to the good flying designs we've had. Some get tight turning and good flying confused. I would give up 5 feet of turning radius for a rock solid turn entry and exit in a heart beat. These are important to me as a combat pilot and I have tried to carry this philosophy through with evolution of the AVENGER.

Is the AVENGER right for you? That's an excellent question and one you should definitely be asking. If you're a furball style pilot, then the answer is MAYBE. There are designs out there that will out turn the AVENGER. Pure turning is really important in furball engagements. The new 972 is addressing furball performance, so MAYBE.

Now if you're an engage one guy and hunt them down kinda pilot, the AVENGER 964 is without equal. Great tracking and nimble flight characteristics will help you stay on someone's six longer in better position for what we're all after, MORE CUTS...

NOTE: The AVENGER has won the RCCA Open B and Open Overall NPS (national points system) Championship the past 2 seasons.