There's a new E-Flite Opterra in town and it's a little smaller than the old one. Introducing the shorter wingspan Opterra 1.2m! This thing packs in a whole bunch of new features that are sure to make this flying wing a firm favourite among those who fly it.
Here is a brief rundown of the numerous features that make this new Opterra stand out from the crowd. Let's go!
FPV
First off, housed in the nose there's a factory-installed FPV camera. As a versatile airframe capable of long-range flights, the Opterra has been optimised as a great choice for those who like to fly first-person-view. There's also a preinstalled video transmitter with interactive OSD (On Screen Display) meaning you'll be set to get flying right out of the box.
You can also swap out the nose out to fit different cameras, such as a GoPro Session. If you were to do some long-range FPV with this aircraft (always check whether it's allowed in your country first), you'll be happy to know that the Opterra is compatible with the extended range TBS Crossfire micro receiver.
SAFE tech
The Opterra 1.2m includes E-Flite's SAFE technology that makes flying their airplanes pretty much stress-free! However, this tech is even better: the aircraft is fitted with SAFE Plus.
SAFE plus is a GPS-enabled system which is far more advanced than many other SAFE systems. With the Opterra, you can set 'Virtual Fence' that limits the area you can fly in by setting virtual boundaries. When your plane has gone too far, it will automatically turn itself around to keep within the designated flying zone. You can also do autopilot controlled landings. Neat hu?
General Spec
The Opterra BNF version comes with a 2.4GHz DSMX receiver. This means you can get flying right after you bind the model to your Spektrum transmitter.
The airframe goes together very smoothly. What's great about the way this thing has been designed is the tool-free nature of how the wings attach. All you have to do is slide them over the spar and they secure themselves. There's also a handy (or not so handy) hands-free servo connection system. This means you don't have to worry about tucking away servo cables and that sort of thing.
Flying experience
As mentioned, the Opterra 1.2m is a very versatile platform. It's equally at home doing long-range FPV missions as it is sport flying around a park flying field. Relative to its bigger sibling, this smaller Opterra has enlarged elevons that offer superb handling at any speeds you feel like flying at. There's also vortex generators on the wing itself that help with slow speed stability. There's also a folding prop that helps with grassy belly landings.
As you may expect, the airframe itself is moulded out of lightweight and durable EPO foam that can take a beating and stay operational for years. There's also a carbon-fibre spar buried into the wing. As an upgrade over the larger Opterra 2m, this aircraft has integrated winglets that are moulded into the main wing itself.
This thing really does look like a great aircraft to keep in your fleet. If you feel like checking this out in more detail to see if it's right for you, head on over to the Flite Test store.
Handy Links
Article by James Whomsley
Editor of FliteTest.com
www.youtube.com/projectairaviation
Log In to reply