E-flite Apprentice
The E-flite Apprentice brings RTF electric rc trainer airplanes to a new level, and that's absolutely great news for the hobby of rc flying and anyone looking to get started in rc airplanes!
My first electric rc airplane was a 4' wingspan, 3 channel kit that weighed so much it just didn't get airborne! At the time, using a large motor, heavy batteries and standard size receiver and servos was the only realistic option... and I returned to flying gas rc airplanes in disgust! But these days, the variety of electric rc airplanes on offer is just incredible, and the E-flite Apprentice is no exception.
Powered by a 15 size outrunner brushless motor and Li-Po battery pack, this 58 inch wingspan, high wing trainer has amazing performance, and closely resembles a gas trainer in terms of size and flight characteristics.
The Li-Po motor pack for the Apprentice is 3200mAh, which is a good capacity and will give flight times of around 15 minutes - that's about the same as an average gas trainer with medium size fuel tank!
High wing trainers like the E-flite Apprentice are the most stable of all rc airplanes, exactly what you need when learning to fly radio control. Any rc airplane with the wing on top of the fuselage, and noticeable dihedral (the upward angle of the wings, when viewed from the front), will be very forgiving in the air, giving you plenty of time to react.
Another great feature of the E-flite Apprentice, and another sign of the times, is that it is sold with the latest 2.4GHz DSM Spread Spectrum rc system, in place of the traditional 72MHz FM system.
This 2.4GHz rc technology ensure interference-free flying, and provides much more direct and immediate control response from the airplane.
The Spektrum DX5e rc system is a great system to have, and of course can be used with any other rc airplane with compatible receiver.
Construction of the airplane is of Z-Foam™, a durable and lightweight material that's robust enough to withstand its fair share of knocks and bruises - inevitable when learning to fly rc. Z-Foam is also easily repairable, an important factor to think about because of those knocks and bruises!
E-flite have given the Apprentice a standard tricycle undercarriage, and this is strong enough and gives enough clearance for taking off from grass.
- See the Apprentice in action (opens Windows Media Player).
E-flite Apprentice features & specs
These include...
- Completely Ready To Fly (RTF)
- E-flite 30A Brushless ESC installed
- Motor: 15 outrunner brushless
- Wing Span: 58"
- Overall Length: 37"
- Approx. flying time: 15 mins
- Approx. assembly time: 30 minutes
- Included charger: 3S Balancing Li-Po charger
- Included radio: Spektrum DX5e 2.4GHz
See the E-flite Apprentice in more detail.
Do you own or have experience with an Apprentice? If so, let us know about it here!
Related pages
Electric rc airplanes - an overview of electric planes.
Electric rc trainer airplanes - more electric trainer examples.
