Eflite - Air Tractor 1.5m - Unbox, Build, Setup, & Flights 

Everyone, I got a couple GOOD questions about this, so I wanted to clarify it, as my wording was very confusing in the video @ 7:10 - I was measuring the plane as being tail heavy, but it felt like it was flying NOSE heavy, so I moved the battery FURTHER back to see if it would help. I had another commenters suggest that the way I had marked the CG on the wings was wrong...I used a piece of paper to lay tight along the leading edge of the wing to the recommended points - This was wrong because you're supposed to measure STRAIGHT back, and I was following the contours of the wing, so my marks were ahead of where they should have been. This would explain why my plane was flying nose heavy, while measuring tail heavy. Sorry about my mistake. We'll fix it in the future.

Ordered and received this plane a couple of weeks ago through your generic HH link. I will place all my future purchases though your links to support your channel. Thanks to both of you for posting these very informative and detailed videos, it is very much appreciated!

Love following your Channel and had to laugh because I picked up an Air Tractor 1.5m and for the life of me, couldn't figure out the tail wheel assembly. I jumped on to watch your build video, figuring you would answer my questions, and after watching you and your wife's confusion, I felt better:) Keep up the great work brother!

Gorgeous in the evening and it looks like a lot of fun. I'll be getting one!

Very awesome flying and super nice Plane. Thanks for the Video’s

Thanks for such a detailed build and set up. Have had this plane for over a year and just decided to tear into it because I have been gun shy after wrecking thousands of $ in planes due to improper setup. You and the camera crew are the best!. Love the banter and inuendos!🤣

I Absolutely love mine. It’s like flying the Timber 1.5. Ok on to watch the build.

hello brian, I had my first flight a few days ago. It flies really well, no trimming was necessary. It was really good that I watched your videos before. To be on the safe side and from experience, I secured the tail unit with epoxy resin and longer screws on the landing gear. greetings from Germany

Geez , such a great plane and looks so easy to control , but then it is in the hands of one of the best RC pilots on RU-vid P.S. love the nose lights they just give it that little touch

I’m using telemetry with my 637T open stock RX in my Turbo Timber. Your Tractor receiver may be locked for programming. Power up Tractor and scroll down to Telemetry, select auto configure. Find Volts and set min volts to 14.4 which is 3.8 v/cell for a 4S. I get voltage audio every 30 seconds but no audio warning when volts go below 14.4. Instead I use custom voice “volts” in the Telemetry category. So any time I cut the throttle and move the C switch from 2 to 1 and when I hear 14.4 I know that after landing I’m at around storage voltage. One day I hope we will have official written documentation from Horizon.

Great video guys!

Nice video thank you so much!

OK. If you won't adopt me, can I come and play at your house? Love the lights in the nose too.

Yes Brian I just want to introduce myself my name is Jerry I watch your show all the time I just want to take time to tell you I think you and your wife are two of the coolest people and you two get along so good with each other I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brings you some cool air planes

Very cool Brian, thank you both. Hey adding some smoke would push it over the top lol.

Loved that you brought the cats in for a cameo! Also, just bought one of these, looks awesome!

Every time I see this plane, I think of the film Planes. Great video 👍🏻

A guy crop dusts near me with a full size one of those!! Love to watch him!! He does such low or should I say shallow/steep turns!! Runs a turbine powered power plant! Sounds great! One of my old sayings, which you are welcome to use is,, turns on a dime and gives you 9 cents change!!😉 Love all your videos. Camera crew is great too! My wife has 0 interest in my planes!😡 she don’t need to like them but it would be nice. Oh well, I can’t get into her sewing hobbie to much.

Just picked mine up today, and I watched the unboxing portion of your video again after I unpacked mine. Haaaay, Mine was missing the "chop thee fingers off warning" decal on the battery lead, hahaha. But as a bonus, they got my receiver mounted 100% square, so i'll take that instead! :)

Nice plane its for spraying crops for sure!!!

Beautiful

Thank you so much. I just purchased this plane and I found your video extremely helpful. I am a little nervous right now before my first flight. I was up late last night fine tuning all the controls. It has a lot more power than my Timber but as long as I get this thing in elevation I should be ok. By the way, try skin so soft next time during mosquito flights!

Awsome video, nice plane...kewl kitty's 😄

The E-Flite clipped wing cub has the same tail wheel.so I did mine the same way as the cub and it workes fine.

For better ground control after landing I got rid of the springs on the tail wheel and installed metal control rods. Z bend on one end (tail wheel control arm) and ball links on the rudder arm makes the ground control 100% better

One Cool Item I have added on mine is a rotating beacon on top of the Cockpit. I had seen one on a full scale 502 Air Tractor My Brother in-law flies

I modified mine by installing a spreader bar on the main landing gear and replacing the tail wheel unit with a Klett assembly.

I agree with the elevator correction. It needs no elevator correction for flaps.

About time. Lol. Hope you enjoy the air tractor as much as I do !!

Great video, try smidge for the mosquitos... works here in the uk

Brian--Just assembled my Air Tractor, my horizontal stab also has an obvious downward warp on both sides, a little more so on the left. Maybe a flaw in their mold? Also that tail wheel setup is confusing. I set up mine like you did the first time. If the steering is crappy I will install that extra piece, although I do not see why the simple set up will not work. Overall I think Horizon did a real nice job on this plane, they just keep getting better and better. In a week or two I am going to get the Conscendo, I have a bunch of 1300mah packs that should work good and keep the plane light.

Brian, your camera crew is one of the best on u-tube! she does a great job and usually bails you out on builds. Keep up the good work you all make a great team. Now a few questions? 3 planes of interest 1) eflite 1.5 mustang 2) eflite 2.1 ss cub 3) fms 1.7 Corsair What’s your opinion on any of the 3 for intermediate flyers (ease of flying) any of them fly like the air tractor?

I had the same headache H.H. needs to label their screws took me 2 hours to build this plane!!!!

Nice!

Good to know Micheal, thanks I thought I could be on the right track as the field I fly on is like 3" grass. On a setup question for those in the know, what is your aileron throw? as well as elevator and flaps. I have it set up per the manual, which to me has it acting kinda lethargic.

keep up the good work Brian watched your review on this plane and i bought it and thx to your guide which i found very helpful she is looking smick as and ready to go :) love your chanell i basically watch your review on a plane always before buying.You ever thought about being a rc plane sales person for horizon? LOL they should pay u haah u sold that trojan the stang and this tractor to us for them :) anyways again thanks heaps for the vid was a great help :)

Air Tractor needs to crop dust some deet on those skeets!

Kinda random question, my Spektrum Dxe transmitter fell off the table and the throttle/rudder stick broke off at the base what do you think is the best way to fix it?

If someone only flew jets and wants a first sporty tail dragger, would this be the best choice? Or would you recommend the RV-7 over this one?

What a janky tail wheel setup is right!!! lol Come on Horizon, where's your instructions for this whole step? Glad I wasn't the only one who was overly confused by this silly simple step. Couple tips for others: Those thick coarse screws for mounting the aluminum bracket were slightly too large go through the bracket freely without the screws binding up at strange angles, so I drilled those holes out slightly for some play. Next your clip of screwing in those coarse screws looked dangerously tough going for my comfort. Yours had me clenching my cheeks hahah. Didn't want to risk splitting the plastic or worse sheering off the cheap screw heads on the way in, so I pre drilled out the yellow plastic holes ever soo slightly to ease the install. They were still very snug so I got the size just right! Then I was really liking how you initially attached the springs directly to the control arm, and not that additional extended yellow arm with those set screw clamps. So I did some research...If you zoom in on the Air Tractor pictures on Horizons site, you can definitely tell the springs are hooked directly to the control arm only like you first had. On one or two of Horizon's Air Tractor videos, I was able to get a glimpse that they didn't use that adapter either. The springs are parallel looking and not V'd out like they are with that arm. A shot on Pilot Ryan Media's video shows he hooked them direct too and didn't use that extended arm. So I'm confused as to what that extended yellow arm is even for, floats only maybe? I did end up building mine initially with that piece but think I will give it a try both ways to see if it even matters? It feels to me like the springs will stay hooked in better directly hooked into the hole in the arm than with those set screw clamps.

Tailwheel instructions were a mess. Looks like you set it up the same way I did, no issues. There were other inconsistencies in the manual as well. Looks like they need to update it completely.

Hey Brian. Well i guess we're on the same page; you did a vid on the dynam bf 110, and i bought it, and now this air tractor, which i will buy as well. Thanks! Someone may have already said this, but the prototype air tractor has y struts on the horizontal stab.

A great way to get rid of mosquitoes is to have a big shop fan blowing air on you. Mosquitoes can't fly in high winds. It would make it hard to record a video because of the noise but it works great for me ;) The Air Tractors are crop dusting the fields around me this week. I have been driving under air tractors breathing God knows what this whole week. This is better.

You ought to do a video on your basement and model storage

Insect repellent spray or cream helps while flying to keep the mosquitoes away

Are there actual plastic hinges on the control surfaces, or just the crappy foam hinges?

Seems everyone flying this model for the first time comments on the elevator adjustment. I'm thinking it may be the short distance between the main wing and the elevator. I haven't flown mine yet, but may try extra expo and less travel.

So in the end, did the 3s battery position wind up at your original 3200 4s mark, and the 4s at the new red mark?

im a fairly good rc pilot but that plane with full landing flaps was a handful for me to stick the landings. tended to hop all over the place and go into a hard stall for me! without flaps landed perfect every time.

Do you have issues keeping the battery in place on the Air Tractor? I love this plane but I am going to have to rig something up to keep the battery where I want it.

Mucilage is in stock at HK today if you need some. I've been waiting 4ever

You sound like me were I fly as soon as the sun starts to go down the mosquitos mount there attacks in Waves!!

Hey Brian. Love the videos. On take off into slight wind and with safe on my air tractor abruptly went vertical so much so that I couldn't control it and nosed into the ground. I confirmed before take off that safe was on. Have you ever noticed an issue with safe select on this model plane?

Yea my twin otter has the same curve in it as well and goes straight when the elevator is fully deployed scratching my head on that one still. And thanks for reviewing the Air Tractor cause that’s the next one in the cart!!! And I have a question real quick because I’m stumped on something with the Eflite SU-30 I just got yesterday after I had a horrible flight with it today seemed like it was losing signal at like 100 yards and every time I plug the battery in I had to rebind it to the transmitter. Is that a RX problem ? “and safe as well won’t work” I’m leaning towards the receiver is defective. I checked my TX with my other planes and no issue any help would be appropriated thanks and happy and safe flying!! And yes btw I seen that with the thumb lol all I can say is it’s a great one definitely better with flaperons!!!

I have the same bug problem, which is why I wear a beekeeper's veil when I fly.

One thing I have found after flying this plane numerous times, The elevator trim kept changing What I found is that the horizontal stab is loose in the fuselage, I was wondering about this when I assembled it. after many flights the horizontal stab can be moved back and forth. So I squared the stab with the wing and fuselage and glued it in place. no more trim change

I still say you have my order sheet from HH,lol,have this one too.At least this one I got to maiden it when I got it 3 months ago(1 flight on it)Love this plane but I sure do have problems trying to slow it up for landings.On your CG marks,you need to measure straight back from leading edge,not around cord of wing,this is making your CG too far forward,at least that's the way we have been doing it here for 50 years,lol.Thanks for another great video,Rick from Delaware

Mix some bifrenthrin with some water in a backpack sprayer and spray around the yard (or at least where you spend time outside at dusk) and you can cut down your mosquitos quite a bit.

Just hit a thermal with three huge birds! Had my heart pumping good and thought I was going to be attacked

I just got this plane and setting up. When setting up the Gyro and SAFE. everything I have seen, the plane needs to be level. You set it up on the three point wheels. Which should I do? Thanks.

Question if I have to remove the wings to transport it to the field do you think doing this continually will make them loose on the tube and going into the fuselage? Do you think removing and reinstalling those screws in the wing numerous times would make them loose over time as well? The Timber Turbo Evo and Apprentice wings come off and reinstall pretty easily and no real concern about doing it numerous times over a long period of time... Just wondering what your thoughts are, I'm thinking it's one of those planes where you install the wings once and leave them installed.

You know the bugs were bad when I’m catching myself slapping my own ear, with ear buds in…..😂

I’m getting this plane to teach my grand how to fly. He has a lot of simulator time so think he will be okay.

love the video Brian. i just had fedex deliver the air tractor, ive been flying the twin otter and love it also, will there be much difference as far as handling the air tractor, ill keep it in safe for a few first flights

Good review 👍 in fact the best one I've seen on this plane now I want one ps your turf is looking good

How long would you say a 4s lasts on this plane on cruising wise, Because I was thinking about getting one for my birthday

Hi there Brian, I know how helpful you’ve been in the past. I have recently been given a very large nitro engine piper cub. And it is beautiful, only problem is I have got to make it fly again. I was wondering if I could get any guidence of what I need to make it fly. Thanks. Gliding Amelia

Very nice... N I wanna to know the main motor used

CRASHED my Air Tractor, some how the plane took off with a weird trim causing it to stall from a vertical takeoff. The plane couldn't overcome the up trim. my question is the flap servo's are damaged do the have to be a reversed servo only? Bought SPMSA332 these are not reversed. love your channel, thanks for helping the sport to stay alive.

Hi Brian. I just got the tractor and I noticed something about it that was interesting. The grey exhaust pipes in the front are not even. The right one is pointing a little up and the left is pointing a little down. Do you know why this is. Thanks

What are the best low and high rates for this plane?

Nice video... What's your thoughts with replacing the stock wheels with those from the Turbo Timber? I agree the stock ones seem hard and not all that great for grass.

I never put a correction for flaps on mine and it's fine.

Very cool plane. assuming Megan can fly, How about an aerotow set up? That would be an awesome video. Air tractors are used in Australia and the low level skills are amazing,

So when you set Aircraft Type in thie video, you choose 1 and 1. But the picture on the radio shows by servos, and this plane has 2 and 2? That is confusing? It's using all 6 channels. Any thoughts?

Next air buldozer will fly 😌

Brian add a hopper and spray rig to this baby and go to war on those mosquitos!!!

Hi Brian, can you please please tell me what the diameter of the spinner is? It is sacriledge that this didn't come out with an aluminium or chrome spinner as standard, mine is in the post and I am considering trying out one of my bag full of FMS PC-21 5 blade props (long story about China) but I have to fit a metal spinner, it's a hallmark of the Air Tractors - those PT exhausts need to be bronzed and blued too, cable cutters, a wiper and a better panel and she'll be gorgeous

If the safe switch is off, does the plane become as3x only

Holy Mosquitos, I'm itchin from here.

When I watch your videos, I'm basically thinking "does this plane look cool? Does something about it in flight impress me?" But when you did the A-10 video, which is a very cool looking plane and a fast plane, you discouraged buyers when you said that you can't see what the plane looks like when it's flying far away from you. I thought that was a very good point. I'm curious what makes you like a plane, if how it looks isn't significant. I started with a Champ RTF, which was really fun for a couple flights but then I got bored. So I got a Carbon Cub S+ which was much more fun, mostly because it was so much bigger. If you screw up a Champ landing, so what? It's the size of a housefly and I don't really care what it does on landing. But I want my Carbon Cub to land properly, which takes a little doing.

where do you store all of your models you demo?

Brian, what happened to your backpack fogger!? I’ve heard of good success with those when used every few weeks.

When I finish Avery thing I noticed that my propeller it was not straight had to send it back.. waited for like 3 weeks for nothing at least I learn some new things

Isn't there a way to put the lead connector on an empty channel, (ch6?), Then assign that channel to a switch (knob?), to turn the lights on/off? (In theory, to me it sounds like it.) Thank YOU sir! 👍🏻

This looks like it would fly like my Trojan t28? Is it similar flying? I like it!!

Alright, it’s been a day. What was the new release that you mentioned being announced “tomorrow at 10:00”?

Great video brian . question though do you have any nitro planes? Or have any experience on them?

Do you have the timber turbo? The blue one?

Hey Brian, Question for you, Would you recommend the air tractor as a first low wing airplane? Or would you recommend something else? I want to get to fly a spitfire in the future. Hanging around with the carbon cub s and so far so good didn t crash it yet🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻, but want to feel what is like to fly a low wing plane and get confident with it, Thank you You guys are AWESOOOOOOOOME

Hi it can work with tx16s ? And safe mode Too ?

How did u install the takeoff flaps

Brian, you should get the Dynam BF-109. They have some on eBay brand new and it’s an AMAZING plane!

Which do you like better the Commander or Tractor?

Brian - I'm helping a guy learn to fly his Air Tractor using the wireless trainer option. We have a DX9 set up as the Instructor radio and a DX6 as the student radio. A strange thing is happening that I've not had happen before with wireless training. We have rates and expo set up on the master radio. I did a test flight and set the trims as needed. Then I set the student radio to have all the same rates, expo and trim values as the master radio. He is the weird thing - even though the student radio has all the same values - the actual throws, expo and trim - turn out to be only about 1/2 of the master radio ! So I have to double the rates, expo and trim values on the student radio to get the same results that the master radio gets. Do you have any idea why this is happening ? We have been able to train okay - but its a hassle to adjust the student radio by doubling and and don't know what causes it or if there could be any potential problem.

Laughing out loud at those adorable kittens. Best of luck to your curtains, drapes or screens. :)

Nice plane! Maule M7 next? :D

This is cool but I might be getting the Rv-7 instead

🏆🏆🏆!

You making me itch, talking about mosquitoes. And I'm in-doors.