December 2005 — Vol. 22, No. 12 - RC Soaring - RCSoaring.com

Left: The X-Plane flight simulator DVD. Right Mikro Designs’ SPF-5 RXO receiver
world itself for that matter, from the DVD.
You can also download real-time weather
from the internet and use it within
X-Plane simulations.
40 aircraft are included on the DVD,
including the Hindenburg, Cessna 172,
Bell 206 helicopter, the B-2 Spirit and
SR-71 Blackbird, the SH-Cirrus, and the
V-22 Osprey. But you’re not limited to the
included aircraft. You can download a large
number of aircraft files created by other
X-Plane enthusiasts, or create your own
aircraft files for either existing aircraft or
fictional designs. X-Plane reads in the
geometric shape of any aircraft, including
the airfoil and control surfaces, then
figures out how that aircraft will fly. Yes,
X-Plane can handle tailless aircraft. You
can also create your own instrument
panels.
As a result of this comprehensive
programming, X-Plane is being used by
aircraft manufacturers to test conceptual
designs before finalization.
Being able to fly the Space Shuttle or
maneuver an aircraft in the Mars
atmosphere, while attractive, did not
materially sway our purchasing decision.
Rather, the final decision to purchase was
made when we visited the X-Plane web
site and saw
that it was temporarily on sale, reduced
from $50 to $39.
One caveat... before purchasing, make sure
your current computer will handle the
intense graphics demands made by
X-Plane, and your computer can read DVD
formatted data disks.
If you’re looking for a very small
lightweight five channel receiver,
you owe it to yourself to investigate
the SPF-5 RXO by Mikro Designs.
Mikro Designs is owned and
operated by Don McGlauflin. You
may remember Don as the
innovator who came up with the
Sirius SmartCharge and Sirius
SmartTest.
The SPF-5 RXO, while not
dual-conversion, it exceeds AMA
requirements and has proven itself
to be a solid performer with
exceptional resistance to
interference and a range of over one
mile on the ground.
It is digitally programmable for use with
any FM transmitter brand, has five fully
proportional channels, can be
programmed so AUX can be either
channel 5 or 6, and has built-in Elevon
Mixing capability. The SPF-5 RXO can be
used with lithium batteries. All this in a
package just 1.00" by 0.65" by 0.40". Oh,
yeah, it weighs just four grams with the
GWS crystal. The price for this work of art
is just $43.95. Watch for a complete
review in an upcoming issue of RCSD!
Mikro Designs also puts out the same
receiver with a 20 Amp ESC for $10 more.
Be sure to check out other Mikro Designs
items when you visit their web site at
.
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