Intro
Having had the original Tundra many years ago, I was excited to receive the Tundra V3, called the ‘Inspire’ from HobbyKing. The wings span is 1300mm (51in), length is 920mm (36.25in) and flying weight is going to be around 1150grams depending on battery used, these numbers are the same as they were for the V1. Over the years the Tundra has received widespread praise across the RC flying community and gained a strong reputation among hobbyists for its versatility, durability, and great STOL capabilities and characteristics. The Tundra originally debuted in 2015 at Joe Nall and during the Euro Tour 2015 in Coburg, Germany. Almost immediately, the pilots were excited to see how it would fly and couldn’t wait for production to start. Most pilots believe that the Tundra resembled the Highlander Super STOL bush aircraft that is famously flown by Steve Henry, and it kind of does. The V3 ‘Inspire’ is an evolution of the previous Tundra models, featuring key upgrades that most of the community wanted to see in the V3. Let's get into the review.
Design, Build Quality & Material Used
The Tundra is constructed using EPO foam, the foam feels softer than most foam airframes and will dent if squeezed too hard, however it will handle fairly rough landings and minor crashes with minimal damage. The red/silver livery is a beautiful color scheme for this aircraft and can be seen in all lighting conditions. There are reinforced sections on the airframe using plastic for strength particularly in the landing gear and wing root sections. This will enhance some of the structural integrity compared to previous versions of the Tundra. The nice feature of the Tundra construction is the addition of quick-connection wing servo/LED light plugs molded into the wing and fuselage that simplifies assembly and transport. Since the Tundra is a plug N fly model, it also has the servos installed (6 – 9gram servos), upgraded wing connectors and the battery tray is improved upon as well. Hex head bolts and screws are also in the kit, which is a welcomed addition too. The sturdiness of the V3 is evident all around. The Tundra also comes with a set of FPV wood parts should you decide to go that route. Included in the kit are a set of Vortex generators to glue on the top of the wings..
Landing Gear & Floats
The Tundra has fully sprung landing gear that is easy to assemble and works well. It absorbs impacts effectively, making it perfect for rough fields and any bumpy landings you might encounter. It comes with large EPP foam tires with large white lettering like you would see on tundra type tires. It definitely adds to the realism of a bush plane. The large wheels provide good ground handling on grass, gravel and dirt. I found that landing on pavement adds to the bounce a bit, but still manageable. The Tundra comes complete with a set of floats, at the time of writing this I wasn’t able to try out the floats as we don’t have access to a body of water for it. However, the floats are well built, lightweight and sturdy and should allow the Tundra to excel in water landings and takeoffs as it does on the ground. A water rudder is also included in the kit. The tail wheel is a little bigger than the one on my previous V1 Tundra and adds to the improved steering response that enhances taxiing on all surfaces. The bounce in the tail also seems less than before
LED Navigation Lights
The Tundra comes with an ultra-bright set of LED system with an included cowl white LED light in the front of the cowl behind the prop. This really adds to the scale realism of a bush plane. The brightness of the LED lights can be seen not only during lower light situations, but also during the day. Unlike many stock type LED’s on RC airframes, these higher intensity lights are well integrated into the airframe. It's fun to see the Tundra coming in for a landing seeing the LED’s shining away during the daytime.
Power System and Performance and Recommended Battery
The V3 comes with a Durafly 3636-900Kv brushless outrunner motor attached to an Aerostar RVS G2 40amp ESC with reverse function. The V3 is now a pure 4S setup aircraft and once you fly it, you will see the difference in power over previous versions. I used Turnigy Graphene 4S 2200 mAh 75C packs as well as the new HD Turnigy 4S 2200mAh 60C packs. Both are well suited for the power demands of the motor/esc combination. Even though the 4S version has substantially more power for those vertical pullouts and short take offs (a few feet) than the previous Tundra's, you won’t have to worry about the Tundra sucking up the battery, I was still getting around 6-8 plus minutes of flight time. Rounding out the power system is a nylon-reinforced 11.5”x5” prop that works well with the setup and pulls pretty hard.
Flight Characteristics
The main feature of the Durafly Tundra V3 Inspire that makes it stand out the most is the STOL capabilities. This allows it to operate in smaller areas than most other aircraft. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, taking off within a few feet is where the Tundra shines and impresses. The 4S power and air-grabbing prop is evident here, with no issue going straight into the vertical. It never gets old.
The 90-deg ‘barn door flaps’ are very effective; the plane slows down well in all flap degrees and floats around the airfield with ease, allowing the Tundra to slow down dramatically for good control in confined flying areas. Aileron control remains effective at extremely slow speeds. Touch and goes are effortless, and the suspension works really well absorbing any impacts smoothly.
Low throttle and high angles of attack are very predictable and stable. Inverted flight is the same. Depending on where you decide to put your rates for the ailerons, elevator and rudder the Tundra will handle most of what you can throw at it. Even if you like to yank and bank, the airframe is strong enough. Stall characteristics are gentle and predictable as well. It seems to dip a nose instead of that violent wing drop some of us are used to
Can The Tundra V3 Do Aerobatics
While the Tundra is not a dedicated aerobatic airframe, the V3 handles sport-flying maneuvers well. Loops, rolls, knife edges etc. High alfa does give a little bit of wing rock, but manageable with a little bit of power. The light wing loading of the Tundra and high wing configuration not only allow the aircraft to float around, it also handles the wind with no issues but you will notice the tail moving around a bit. However, its nothing the Tundra can’t handle
Conclusion
The Durafly Tundra V3 ‘Inspire’ is one of the best all-around bush planes in the rc market. The design of the original Tundra was a great performer then and with the additions to the V3, it has made it that much better. It excels in STOL performance, aerobatics, durability, versatility and now with a 4S power system, makes it an aircraft that is a perfect choice for both casual and serious pilots. While the Tundra is for the intermediate pilot, I do believe that the docile and forgiving flight characteristics and durable airframe would make the Tundra V3 a good second aircraft for the beginner wanting to up their skill level. The addition of an added FPV mounting system, including floats and a reversible ESC also adds to the strengths of the Tundra.
Gear Used
Radio: Turnigy/FrSky TWIN X14 ACCESS 2.4GHz Transmitter (Orange) - Exclusive to HobbyKing
Engine/motor: Supplied Durafly Tundra Replacement 3636-900KV Motor w/Mount and Propeller Shaft
Battery: Turnigy Graphene Panther 2200mAh 4S 75C & Turnigy Heavy Duty 2200mAh 4S 60C Lipo Pack
Optional Extras
H-King Candy Dropper Module
Turnigy Heavy-Duty Folding Airplane Stand
Sports/STOL Airplane 1500mm Optional Ski Set (3pcs)
Key Specifications:
Wingspan: 1042mm (41 inches)
Length: 1030mm (40.5 inches)
EDF Unit: 70mm 12-blade fan
Motor: 2860-2100KV brushless inrunner motor
ESC: Aerostar 80A RVS G2 ESC with reverse thrust
Battery: Recommended 6S 3000-5000mAh LiPo
Servos: Pre-installed digital servos
Landing Gear: Electronic retractable landing gear
Material: EPO foam construction
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