Wild Wing: Boomer Redux
We’re still searching for the perfect combat platform.
Initial experiments by Dave North indicate that we may have an excellent candidate in the $20 Wild Wing.
The Mini SpeedWing serves us well, but it’s not as maneuverable as we’d like. Its loops aren’t tight and it doesn’t like to fly upside down.
We’re seeking more agility and accuracy without losing the robust nature of the Mini SpeedWing, which bounces back from most calamities.
Slow Kills. Slow flight and quick acceleration are big pluses: they let you float, aim and fire.
A couple of months ago, Kevin Chin showed up at Baylands with a Boomer, an acrobatic variation on a Wild Wing. The Boomer already has a big fanbase with regular combat sessions in Livermore and a lively discussion on RC Groups. Butch, who conceived and designed the twin-boom wing with aelerons and elevator, is ringleader.
Kevin’s Boomer flew beautifully. It looped tightly and could stay in the air with almost no forward motion. It also handled wind with authority and style.
I contacted Butch and arranged to get some basic Boomer kits.
Making Changes. Dave studied Butch’s build thread and began working on his. Inevitably, he made a number of changes. You can read Dave’s build thread here.
The result of Dave’s experimentation was impressive: a floaty flippy daredevil of a plane.
He quickly achieved three kills of conventional wings. 
A Weak Tail. But the tail structure was fragile. Kevin had mentioned this vulnerability and Dave soon confirmed it.
Does it really need a tail? Does the elevator contribute that much to its flexibility?
So we ordered some Wild Wings and Dave started tinkering again.
His first version added wonderful Batman-like elevons and mounted the motor on the trailing edge. It was tail heavy, so he had to add weight to the nose.
Close, but it was a bit sluggish because of the extra weight and it wasn’t balanced.
Centered Motor. Two days later he moved the motor toward the center of the wing and shed the weights.
Bingo!
Today was its first flight, but it looks like a killer plane already. He can practically park it in the air, then dart wherever quicker than a cobra.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
So far its battle record in two sessions is eight hits, two kills and Frank finally killed it when the temporary motor mount popped off.
Once these things get in the air it’s going to be blam blam blam all the time. They resonate a satisfying slap when they hit, too!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Today I flew one of these bad boys. . . It was some morph of parts, I dont know if it was a wild wing or a boomer or what… but it was AWESOME. Just floated there in 10mph wind awaiting my command.
Upside down, inside out, loops, anything. Light as a feather.
$20 kit (totally bashed)
$10 24g Hextronic 1300kv outrunner
$10 9g 12A TowerPro ESC
$4 5g servos
WOW!
I own a lightFlite bug and it is a flying brick compared to this thing. The bug is also expensive, ugly, and a long build. The bug was my favorite plane up until today.
I also now believe (even though Dave already tried to convince me last week) that the UH electronics are the hot ticket. Usually I am an elitist about gear but the value in this stuff from United Hobbies is just unbeatable.
A must for any flier… Even makes the easystar suck.
(and that is a bold statement for me)
Performance, looks, price, overall value
-Patrick