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The Easy Electro-72 may be a break through in ARF construction. This electric glider from Cermark is advertised as being able to fly in twenty minutes or less and this is correct. From the time the box is opened to the first flight can be as short as twenty minutes. The Easy Electro-72 features a durable one piece molded fuselage. A Mabuchi 550 electric motor is factory installed and fitted with a prop adapter, folding props, and spinner. There are several additional features that make the plane a real winner. The servo/battery tray is installed and fitted to the inside of the fuselage. There are Velcro straps attached to hold down your battery pack while in flight. The fuselage also has precut switch slots for both the power switch and the start switch if electronic throttle control is being used. A unique feature of this ARF is that there are 2 factory installed standard servos connected to the pushrods ready to hook up to the tail control surfaces. Cermark also includes an extra piece of covering material for making wing repairs. The wing is conventional rib/spar wing construction that is built in 3 wing panels with removable aluminum spars. The wing can be left in three piece for ease of transport or permanently assembled as one piece. If the wing is permanently assembled, the foam cushion between the ribs one each wing panel must be removed and the covering must be trimmed so that the epoxy will contact the wood ribs. The wing is covered with a transparent purple covering making it highly visible in flight. The rudder and elevator are also built up construction. They are hinged, covered, and ready to attach to the fuselage with bolts that are built into the vertical stabilizer. The test flights of the Easy Electro-72 took place on a brisk February afternoon with light winds and temperature about 20° F. After a quick preflight and a freshly charged battery pack was installed, it was time to begin the flight. When the throttle was advanced, the plane started to climb away with authority. A touch of right trim on the rudder was all that was needed to provide straight level flight. After some altitude was gained, it was time to see how the Easy Electro-72 would perform. The plane handled very well. It is capable of nice tight turns and it loops well when enough speed built up during a slight dive. Stalls are gentle and straight forward. The Easy Electro-72 has a higher wing loading than a traditional glider due to the added weight of the battery and motor. This gives the plane a fairly wide speed range that allows the it to cover a lot of ground. Flights averaged eight to ten minutes with a 1300mAh flight pack and ten to twelve minutes with a 1700mAh pack. Overall, the Easy Electro-72 is an impressive plane. There is definitely a benefit to the ease and speed of assembly for this plane. The plane is capable of being totally broken down for those who like to travel with their planes. In the air, it is a gentle and well-behaved yet still has the speed and power needed to climb. The Easy Electro-72 is a fine choice for an electric glider. |
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