A quick note from the Aloft staff:
We were asked to inventory the classic Powerfly 2 by one of our customers, and we must admit that we are glad we did as we found they offer great value as the craftsman of this kit is very good. The wing sections are constructed from quality balsa; accurately assembled and sanded to the point of being ready to cover. The same is true for the rudder and elevator assemblies. The fiberglass fuselage strikes a good balance between light weight and stiffness. The molding work is very good. All in all, we are impressed with the quality of this kit and can tell she will be a wonderful flying model. We suggest grabbing one while they are available as we are pretty sure they will be gone once existing inventory is depleted.
The instructions that come with the kit are in German so we have included a link to the English version that can be found here.
The Powerfly is a further development of the Panafly 400 G. The reason for the introduction of this model lies primarily in the outstanding flight performance of its predecessor. The use of modern motors and propellers, a voluminous, light GRP fuselage, which allows the installation of a range of motors and allows the battery to be changed through the removable canopy.
The fuselage was lengthened by 15mm; the previous wing was retained without changes. Most of the kit is pre-built. The wing is delivered in 4 parts, and the the elevator and rudder are also pre-built. And of course the fuse is pre-built too. The effort needed for construction has therefore been significantly reduced.
The Powerfly has excellent aerodynamics - eg the profiling of the wing. It has a Selig-Donovan SD 3021 profile. The basic airfoil has been slimmed from a thickness of 9.5% to 8% (wing tip). This reduced the critical RE number in this area and, in conjunction with the wingtips, the induced drag. The wing is D-box construction, this makes it stiff enough to handle the Powerfly's 12:1 aspect ratio.
In terms of flying, the Powerfly is a treat. It can float on the weakest of thermals. The Powerfly picks up speed quickly but without a noticeable increase in sink rate. Wind speeds of 13-16 mph do not bother the Powerfly.
To ensure that the model comes back safely from great heights (Boomer Thermals), the installation of dive brakes is recommended. These have been extensively tested and are drawn in detail in the building plan (see pics) and described in detail in the building instructions. They are controlled via two 9 gram servos and a "Y" servo cable.
The model is controlled via rudder and elevator, while the motor is controlled via a small ESC with BEC (2A minimum). The two-part wing is joined with a steel pin 4 mm, the assembly on the fuselage is done with two dowels and two plastic screws. The canopy, which can be removed quickly, ensures free access to the motor, controller and battery replacement.
In the year 2000 the "International Best RC Glider of the Year Award" group was so impressed by the Powerfly, they awarded it the coveted award of Model of the Year.
- Weight: 1050g approx.
- Length: 930mm
- Span: 1935mm
- Wing Area: 30.98dm2
- Controls: Rudder, Elevator, Throttle, Dive Brakes (Optional)