INTRO
The new Durafly Carbon Arcus is a 1000mm wingspan F3A biplane designed for precision flying and effortless aerobatics. Not having flown an F3A type airframe before the Carbon Arcus and not knowing fully what to expect out of this type of aircraft, I was extremely surprised at how ‘effortless’ aerobatics could really be based solely on how the Carbon Arcus’ airframe was designed and why these aircraft are designed the way they are. The Carbon Arcus flies like its on rails. Literally. Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of what is…. the Carbon Arcus.
First off, the design is basically the same as many other F3A type aircraft. One aspect of most all F3A designed airframes is the long tail moment which helps smooth out the yaw and pitch, as opposed to short moments seen in aircraft like the Pitts biplane. The long tail moment and low wing loading (10.2oz/sq.ft) really makes the Carbon Arcus an easy plane to fly. The airframe is made out of EPO foam with carbon fiber reinforcements, ensuring rigidity and strength while keeping it very light at around 1100grams (2.4lbs).
Everything that you need to build the Carbon Arcus is included. The packaging is fantastic, as I had no issues with dents, scratches, or broken parts when I received mine. The fit and finish of the biplane is great, the color scheme is nice and bright, suiting the type of aircraft well.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The Carbon Arcus has a very low airframe parts count as well as a small amount of hardware for assembly. The landing gear is made of aluminum and seems strong enough for light and normal landings. However, the odd unwanted hard landing would bend the gear possibly causing a prop strike as the Arcus sits low to the ground.
All of the control surfaces are pre-hinged from the factory. The motor (3719-820kv) and the ESC (Aerostar G2 RVS 50A) are also pre-installed. The power system is a great feature of the Carbon Arcus. The Arcus comes with 4-9gram metal gear servos also installed throughout.
The components included in the kit utilizes ball-link type pushrods that helps with the smoothness throughout the large throws that the control surfaces allow. It’s a nice simple addition that minimizes the play or slop associated with other cheaper designs that we often see in other kits in our hobby.
The assembly of the Carbon Arcus is user-friendly, with time-lapse build videos that a user can access online should you want to watch demonstrating the ease of putting this airframe together. The design of this aircraft incorporates a straightforward assembly process that allows pilots to get the model flight-ready with minimal effort and time.
CONCLUSION/BOTTOM LINE
Overall, the Durafly Carbon Arcus stands out as a well-designed aerobatic F3A biplane that offers both aesthetic appeal and high-performance flight characteristics. The time to build is fast, around 10-15mins including admiring the build quality and unique design. The battery box is small but manageable, but this is to be expected as the airframe itself is thin and relatively small based off of the design of the aircraft.
The Carbon Arcus is an F3A aerobatic airframe, two wings, a long tail moment and plenty of power. All of these high points in design make the Arcus a combination of durability, ease of assembly, and precise handling and long flight times, a valuable and fun addition to any RC pilot’s hanger. While it’s not ideal for beginners due to its aerobatic capabilities, it’s an affordable and reliable choice for those seeking a sleek and capable aerobatic model.
DETAILED REVIEW
FLIGHT PERFORMANCE/IN THE AIR
The field I 99% of the time fly off of is short grass (LARCC field), which didn’t have an issue managing it, however the Arcus does have smaller tires with low hanging wheel pants and much taller grass might get caught up inside the pants. But, as for takeoff power needed to overcome much taller grass?, the Arcus is no slouch. So, takeoffs were a non-issue, plenty of power. Landings are easy to navigate, its low stall speed will ensure smooth landings even for the less experienced pilot.
Ground handling is great, the airframe design and strong landing gear will handle rougher type terrain without damage or issues. The manual is very good at the CG and control surface deflections for the Arcus, however I found that moving the battery forward in the compartment about ½” was more to my liking and less tail heavy.
- Stability/Tracking: I keep coming back to the long tail moment, it makes a difference. It makes the Carbon Arcus incredibly stable in all flight aspects, slow and precise flight patterns or aggressive aerobatic sequences. Trimming the Arcus for the first time was easy, two clicks of up elevator and two left aileron is all it took.
- Aerobatics: Long control surface throws and four ailerons make rolls fast; include a long fuselage and you get nice and smooth axial rolls. The power to weight ratio is great, allowing hovering capabilities. Inverted flight is easy with minimal down elevator input and the Arcus is completely capable of spins, snaps and rolling circles. Precision response from the servos and control surfaces allows for smooth pattern flying, making it ideal for those interested in getting into the F3A aerobatic routines as the Carbon Arcus was designed to do.
- Glide and stall performance: The stall performance of the Arcus is fantastic. I didn’t notice a wing drop or mushing, it just stopped flying. Most noticeable during slow slow landing speeds where the Arcus would just stop flying, literally, and drop to the ground. Glide performance was uneventful but is something to be aware of in the way it glides. A very short amount of time. You have to keep power on. The airframe is very light for the amount of lift you get from the wings and tail surfaces.
- Flight Times: Using the Turnigy Graphene 2200 4S 75C packs, I was getting an impressive 8-10 minutes of flight time with ample battery % left in the packs. The power setup in the Arcus is great, I was mostly flying half throttle, and I believe that it could be longer in warmer weather, as I was flying in -11degC cold.
Final Pilot Debrief
The Carbon Arcus by Durafly is an outstanding choice for pilots of either intermediate or advanced skills seeking a compact, high performance aerobatic biplane that is also easy on the wallet.
The Arcus, though designed for the F3A world of aerobatic precision flying, the robust construction, precise controls, and smooth flight characteristics make it an extremely versatile and reliable aircraft for practice, competition, or casual flying.
Bottom Line
If you want a small, high-performance biplane with great stability and impressive aerobatic potential, the Carbon Arcus delivers excellent value and fun.
Highlights
- Quick and easy assembly
- Lightweight durable design
- Exceptional flight performance with precise control
- Affordable price for its performance level
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