INTRO

There’s always an excitement when a new aircraft comes out, especially an aircraft that is rarely modelled. Avios went all out with the new Super Tucano by HobbyKing. The HobbyKing Super Tucano is quickly becoming a popular RC aircraft model that emulates the real-life Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, known worldwide for its power, smoothness, versatility and robustness. The Super Tucano features a detailed scale design, capturing the aesthetics of the actual aircraft. The model includes pre-applied decals and a realistic paint scheme of the Philippine Airforce with a shark mouth nose art that adds to its visual appeal that make it stand out from the crowd.

Made from durable EPO foam giving it a great balance of durability, strength and light weight. The foam construction ensures that the aircraft can withstand minor crashes and bumps. The model is sold as an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) kit with a low parts count requiring some assembly and gluing. The build process is straightforward, with clear instructions, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced builders. All hardware, including electric retract landing gear with oleo struts, servos/horns with pre-hinged control surfaces, a full complement of navigation lights, a 5052-525KV brushless motor coupled with a 100amp Aerostar RVS G2 ESC comes pre-installed. This aircraft is intended for the intermediate to advanced pilot and builder who is a newcomer into the scale warbird scene. Let’s get into the detailed review of this beautiful and fun flying aircraft.

Unique Features

When you first open the box for the Super Tucano, you are greeted with a beautifully packaged aircraft. While the aircraft is quite large, Avios has designed this aircraft with a low part count within a small box to help keep shipping costs down. The aircraft that I received had no visible damage from shipping. As mentioned, the aircraft is of EPO foam and ABS plastic parts glued into the foam with beautiful scale details, like panel lines and rivets built into the molds giving the Super Tucano a fantastic presence on the ground and in the air with its large size with a wing span of 1600mm (63”) and a length of 1617mm (63.7”).

TScale electric servo-less retracts with machined aluminum sprung oleo struts give the Tucano fantastic ground handling on pavement and grass strips. Scale type main gear doors and scale foam tires round out the retracts. All hardware needed to complete the build is included except for glue. I used 15min epoxy to glue the tail and the wing halves together.

There are 6 – 13gram servos pre-installed for the flaps, ailerons, elevators and rudder. To add in the robustness of this aircraft, Avios has used a strong 25gram servo for the nose gear steering. One of the features that catches everyone’s eyes is the large bubble canopy complete with a scale type cockpit, including pilot and navigator busts. The canopy opens at the rear with a large latch to hold it down. Once opened, the battery area is huge, allowing for a 6S (22.2V) 4000-6300mAh 40-60C recommended size lipo battery and your choice of receiver. I flew the Super Tucano with an 5000 and 6000mAh lipo.

Day bright LED navigation, landing and formation lights round out the scale details on the Tucano airframe. The Tucano uses a powerful 5052-525KV brushless motor turning a scale 5- blade propeller to give this 9lb aircraft a tremendous amount of thrust to weight ratio allowing for pretty much anything you can throw at it, including hovering.

Bottom Line

The design and attention to detail that went into this airframe is equally impressive to the flight characteristics. The low parts count makes it easy to assemble in as little as 30 minutes including glue dry times and radio setup. The HobbyKing Avios Super Tucano is a well-designed, high-performance RC aircraft that appeals to enthusiasts looking for a realistic and enjoyable flying experience. Its stability, durability and aerobatic capabilities make it a great addition to anyone’s RC aircraft collection.

In the Air

The Avios Super Tucano from HobbyKing is a compelling addition to the world of RC aircraft. The design is meticulous, reflecting the sleek and aggressive lines of its full-scale counterpart. When it comes to flight performance, the Super Tucano impresses with its versatility. The power offered by the 525KV motor and 5 blade prop setup allows for strong acceleration and impressive top speeds, catering to pilots who enjoy dynamic flight patterns. The sound from the scale 5-blade prop makes the Tucano sound just like a turboprop. You can never get enough of the high-speed passes.

The Super Tucano excels in aerobatics, capable of executing loops, rolls, spins to name a few including hovers with precision. The slim design of the airframe and low wing and responsive controls allow for tight turns and rapid and smooth changes in direction, making it a joy for those who relish aerobatic flying. The models stability in the air is noteworthy, attributed to its well-balanced design and effective control surfaces. This stability makes it a reliable choice for low-level flying and simulated strafing runs, adding to its realism and appeal.

A standout feature of the Super Tucano is in its handling. The plane responds smoothly to control inputs, with a level of responsiveness that instills confidence. Pilots will appreciate the precise control during takeoffs and landings, crucial for maintaining a safe and controlled flight envelope. The landing gear being retractable, not only adds to the realism of the aircraft but also improves aerodynamics during flight.

The flaps on the Tucano are extremely effective and add to the fantastic flight performance of the aircraft. During set up, I stuck to the recommended control throws and Centre of Gravity numbers. With most of my aircraft I rarely use low and high rates, I just stick with high rates and 40% expo.

The flight times of the Super Tucano are quite respectable, around 4-5 minutes, unless you are ripping around the sky, getting a kick out of the sound of the 5 bladed prop.

As a conclusion, The Avios Super Tucano from HobbyKing stands out as a well-rounded RC aircraft, blending aesthetic appeal with robust flight performance. Its ability to perform aerobatics, combined with stable handling and a durable build, makes it a versatile choice for enthusiasts. Whether for intermediate pilots looking to advance their skills or experienced flyers seeking a reliable model for dynamic flights, the Super Tucano delivers on multiple fronts, ensuring an engaging and enjoyable flying experience.

GENERAL FLIGHT PERFORMANCE

• Stability- The Super Tucano is known for its stable flight characteristics, making it suitable for intermediate pilots. It handles well in various wind conditions due to its design and tracks well in all situations. Once trimmed, it flies hands off.
• Maneuverability- It offers a good range of aerobatic capabilities. Pilots can perform loops, rolls and other standard maneuvers with ease. The control surfaces are responsive, allowing for precise movements.
• Speed, glide and stall performance- The Tucano can achieve moderate to high speeds depending on the battery C rating you use. It is fast enough to be exciting but manageable for pilots with some experience. Stall performance are also very manageable with a small amount of a tip stall characteristic. Landings are typically smooth with the aircraft having a good glide ratio.

GAT A GLANCE

• Model – Avios Super Tucano
• Manufacturer – Avios from HobbyKing
• Wingspan – 1600mm (63”)
• Length – 1617mm (63.7”)
• Pilot Skill Level – Beginners to scale aircraft and above
• Time to assemble - ~30 min based on glue dry times and radio setup
• Power Req’d – 6S 4000-6300mAh 60-80C Lipo
• Radio req’d – 6-7 Channels
• Price - $499.99 USD

Gear Used

• Radio – RadioMaster TX16s with a RadioMaster R88 receiver
• Motor – 5052-525KV brushless (included/Installed)
• Prop – 5 Blade scale prop (Included)

Highlights

• Beautiful scale design
• Fast turbo prop performance and sound
• Large battery compartment
• Great handling in the air and on the ground

SIDEBAR:

The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also known as the A-29, is a turboprop light attack aircraft designed for counterinsurgency, close air support and aerial reconnaissance missions. With a crew of 2, and a suite of advanced avionics, the super Tucano fits the multi-role light aircraft role perfectly. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68C turboprop engine fitted with a 5 blade prop. Top speed is 318 knots and a range of 718 nautical miles. It can be armed with 2 wing mounted .50 cal machine guns and multiple under wing hard points for various weapons, bombs, rockets and missiles as well as reconnaissance pods. The Super Tucano is used by many difference Airforces around the world and is known for its durability, low operational costs and versatility in various combat and training roles.

AVIOS SUPER TUCANO By HobbyKing and reviewed John Dueck

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