Okay, that headline is a bit inaccurate. It’s not a tow plane per se, but why anyone would want to fly it any other way just does not fit our scale soaring-skewed view of the world. Sue us! But, literally minutes after it’s public debut this morning in Toledo, the team at RCAerotowing.com wanted to bring you more information on the new love in our lives.
There were rumors. There was talk. Now we know the Hangar 9 Pawnee is real! This workhorse of the agricultural cropdusting scene rendered in 1:3 scale has every quality to make it the star of your local flying field. The ARF kit sports a 130+ inch wingspan with an exceptional scale outline. The designers stuffed it with nice features and details including oleo struts and functional flaps. According to the team at Horizon commenting on the plane’s debut at the annual Weak Signals Toledo Show, even with it’s impressive size it’s no more of a challenge to assemble than many smaller ARFs.
Our good friend Peter Goldsmith and the team at Horizon have every right to be proud of their new Hangar 9 offering. They don’t — but should — brag to the aerotow crowd, and all hobby enthusiasts, about a generous wing area, flat-bottom airfoil and fiberglass wingtips that should make this new Pawnee an excellent platform to fly and from which to tow. Short landings with flaps that that help speed tow turnaround time on the aerotow scene are said to be a breeze on this beauty. Those same qualities will benefit all modelers and also aid short field takeoffs. Again, why anyone would want to take off without a big sailplane in tow baffles us, but we hear it happens!?
Horizon Hobby makes our day with a stunning new Pawnee!
Priced at $1,249.99 and available starting in July, it’s time to start saving your milk money for a new toy that has the potential to put a wide smile on your face. There are reports that this big beast of a beautiful Pawnee will be doing towing duties at the 2011 JR Aerotow, June 2-5. Check our our Aero Events map in the Interactive Mapping Center for more information on attending the JR event. It’s four wonderful days in the corn fields of Illinois with a great group of fellow soaring enthusiasts. You will not regret it!
Here are the important specs thanks to the folks at Horizon:
| Wingspan: | 130 in (3.30m) |
| Overall Length: | 94.0 in (2.40m) |
| Wing Area: | 2620 sq in (169 sq dm) Oh yes! |
| Flying Weight: | 34.0-38.0 lb (15.5-17.3 kg) |
| Engine Size: | 60cc to 100cc gas (we say go big at 100cc or go home) |
| Radio: | 6 channels minimum |
| Servos: | 8 high-torque servos required |
| Trim Scheme Colors: | Red, White, Blue |
| Prop Size: | 24″ A Vess Propeller |
| Spinner Size: | 3-3/4″ |
| Recommended Battery: | 2700mAh receiver battery |
| Flaps: | Yes |
| Retracts: | No, but functional oleos |
| Control Throw (Ailerons): | Low: 18°; High: 18°; Expo: 30% |
| Control Throw (Elevator): | Low: 15°; High: 15°; Expo: 30% |
| Control Throw (Rudder): | Low: 30°; High: 30°; Expo: 30% |
| Control Throw (Flaps): | 40° maximum |
| Approx. Flying Duration: | 15 minutes (no word on how big a tank can be shoehorned in) |
| Scale: | 33% |
| Approx. Flying Speed: | 75mph |
RCAerotowing.com will be certain to bring you more on this model. Given our passion for the hobby, you can pretty much figure we’ll be sharing our own build threads with RCAT readers very soon as well as chatting it up over on the RCAT discussion Forums.
Now, feast your eyes in a couple more detail photos thanks to Horizon Hobby. Be certain to check out their website for all the specs and to place your advance order…
Submitted by Steve Pasierb on April 01, 2011 – NO FOOLING!
