Overview
Three Channels, Zone 1, Anti-Crash Technology – New Pilots Get It All with the HobbyZone Firebird Freedom

The HobbyZone Firebird Freedom, now the second plane with revolutionary Anti-Crash Technology™ (ACT), makes it easier for new pilots to teach themselves how to fly with a 3-channel system, and then progress on to other larger and faster RC planes in the HobbyZone and ParkZone product lines. Additionally, X-Port technology makes the options for fun endless!

With this plane come many exciting firsts for HobbyZone, which raise the bar for teach-yourself-to-fly, ready-to-fly RC planes:
· A 3-channel radio system in a Zone 1 airplane;
· Anti-Crash Technology in a 3-channel airplane;
· A 2-piece, mid-set, swept, plug-in wing; and
· Rigid, steel wire pushrods to more precisely manipulate the control surfaces.

As with all HobbyZone planes, the Firebird Freedom comes with all the benefits you have come to expect and everything that’s needed to get in the air, including:
· A fully proportional 3-channel FM radio system;
· Batteries for the transmitter;
· A rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack; and
· A variable rate DC peak charger.

FAQs:
Question: What is the benefit of having pitch for a new pilot as it relates to this plane?
Answer: Thanks to incorporating pitch into the control mix, ACT can actually recover more quickly than it can with a 2-channel transmitter. This allows new pilots to have more control, but still benefit from the safety of having ACT working to keep them from going into a spiral dive that could lead to a crash. ACT works in tandem with the 3rd channel (pitch) by reducing throttle and applying up elevator to correct a spiral dive that might lead to a crash. The pitch control also allows the pilot to trim the Firebird Freedom in pitch easily in flight from the transmitter!

Question: How does the wing design for the Firebird Freedom differ from other HobbyZone planes?
Answer: Unlike any other plane in the HobbyZone line, the wing for the Firebird Freedom comes in two pieces that plug-in to the sides of the fuselage. This 2-piece design allows the airplane to fit into a shorter, stronger box, which minimizes damage in transit and the amount of space the product will take up on the shelf. The wing pieces also separate easily from the fuselage, which allows for easy transport of the plane is put together initially. This design also allows for the angle between the fuselage and the wing to be more severe, resulting in a sleek, swept look. Additionally, the wing pieces have a mid-fuselage location for their entry point. This makes the plane respond better to wind and fly more smoothly because the weight of the wing is in the middle of the fuselage instead of sitting on top of the fuselage.

Question: How does the function of pushrods differ from nylon line?
Answer: Pushrods are more durable and allow for more precise manipulation of the control surfaces.

Question: How far away can the Firebird Freedom fly from where a pilot is standing without losing control?
Answer: The Firebird Freedom has a radio frequency range of 2500 feet. That’s equivalent to almost half a mile, so he or she will likely lose site of the plane before control of it would be lost.

Question: How does Smart-Trak differ from Anti-Crash Technology?
Answer: Smart-Trak uses time-based calculations to precisely adjust control surface travel so pilots can enjoy responsiveness without over-control. When the pilot flies a plane with Smart-Trak on at high throttle, Smart-Trak reduces control surface travel if it calculates that the pilot is in danger of over-controlling the plane, which could cause it to enter a spiral dive. When the throttle is reduced, Smart-Trak increases control surface travel so pilots can enjoy superb responsiveness at slower speeds too. To recap on the detailed description of Anti-Crash Technology that is explained above, the optical sensors can “see” what is going on as it’s happening. Therefore, ACT is a better product because it is acting in real-time to what the plane’s actual positioning is, and Smart-Trak technology is less capable because it is reacting the pilot’s input via the transmitter and and 'estimate' of what the plane is actually doing. Both work toward avoiding a dive that could lead to a crash, but ACT is more active in achieving the goal of crash-avoidance.

Question: How do the larger control surfaces make that feature a good thing for new pilots?
Answer: Because the control surface is larger and has more travel, it allows pilots to get more response from their Firebird Freedom than they can with other HobbyZone Zone 1 planes. This means that pilots can make tighter turns than was previously possible with other Zone 1 planes. This is made practical, because ACT actually 'knows' the attitude of the plane and can react quickly if the pilot gets in trouble by over controlling.

Question: How does the updated physical design of the Firebird Freedom, as compared to other HobbyZone Zone 1 planes, make it an improvement for pilots who are new to RC flight?
Answer: The Firebird Freedom has a lot of great physical features that make it a great plane for new pilots. It has a resilient rubber nose, unlike the hard plastic nose of the Firebird Commander and Firebird IIST. The material that the nose is made of is important in reducing the force of impact of the plane should a crash occur, which will ideally minimize any potential damage to the plane. Additionally, the Firebird Freedom has larger control surfaces, which increase responsiveness, and it has black stripes on the bottom of the wing that help pilots keep orientation of the plane when it is in the sky. The decals on the top of the wing are on the very edge, while the decals on the underside of the wing are close to the fuselage. The plane also has a 2-piece mid-set wing that is a first for HobbyZone.

Question: How does the 2-piece wing help new pilots learn to fly?
Answer: The fact that the Firebird Freedom has a mid-wing design makes the plane respond better to wind and fly more smoothly. The 2-piece, mid-set, plug-in wing design allows for:
· The airplane to fit into a shorter, stronger box, which minimizes damage during shipping, and it can come apart easily for transport after it has initially been put together.
· The wing to have a mid-fuselage location, which makes the plane respond better to wind and fly more smoothly
· The wing design to have a modern, swept-wing line
· A stronger wing because of the carbon fiber rod supporting the wing at the point of attachment
· The wing to be relatively clear of the prop because it sits further away from the prop

Question: Where can the Firebird Freedom to be flown?
Answer: Like all HobbyZone planes, the Firebird Freedom should be flown in a large, open area that is free of trees, telephone poles, light poles, power lines, buildings, cars, and people, such as a large park or soccer fields. Additionally, it should be flown upwind, with the sun behind the pilot or at high-sky. This plane can be flown at an AMA-sanctioned RC flying field, but it doesn’t have to be because of its size and speed. Just be sure to keep it away from people and objects.