Welcome back to the review section of Micro Plane Pilot. This week I will review the Palm-Z by Silverlit. Available for $20.85!! Please refer to our Price guide.I placed my wristwatch in the photo to give it scale. Do not confuse this airplane with the many knockoffs and clones that are sold on internet hobby sites! Air-Hogs sells the Aero-Soar for $30 and Megatech sells the Avion for $34.99. Plantranco sells a line of HIGH END indoor micro-planes, but they are in the $180 to $350 range and not very durable. I don’t recommended them unless you must be the guy with the most expensive airplane at the indoor fun-fly. . . I laugh at that guy as I fly circles around him with my $20 foamie!!
Sometimes the best item in its class isn’t the most expensive. This happens to be the case with respect to the Palm-Z. I have purchased (and returned) 2 Air-Hogs Aero-soar airplanes, both because the flight times were ridiculously short. 45 to 90 seconds on a full charge. That was unacceptable.
Although I have not flown a Megatech Avion, I have not been impressed by other similar products offered by this manufacturer, so I passed on the Avion. It was also priced much higher.
When I read about the Palm-Z on R.C.U. I wanted one right away, but if you read this column regularly, you know that I (try to) . . . . FLY SMART. . . BUY SMARTER. . . .So I did my research . . shopped around, and checked the MICRO PLANE PILOT WEBSITE FOR THE BEST PRICES!!!!!!!
I have nothing but praise for this little wonder. In my opinion this is THE LIVING ROOM FLYER TO OWN!! At least until they come out with a 4 channel indoor micro. The wingspan on the Palm-Z is 8 inches and it weighs only a few grams.The guidance system is a two channel infrared, so it can’t be used in direct sunlight, and range is relatively short, I estimate about 40 feet. . . but you don’t need 1000 yard range, or have much direct sunlight in your living room or in a gym do you?? So no worries there. this is one of the lightest planes I have ever flown and it handles beautifully. . but only IN ZERO WIND CONDITIONS . . INDOORS OR OUT.
Climbing and descending are controlled by throttle, the rudder controls both lefts and rights and they are as tight or sweeping as your area requires.The rudder is a magnetic actuator so you get full deflection every time you hit rudder. In order to make wider turns, just pulse the rudder. Flight times are in the 6 to 8 minute range. Who could ask for more?? The motor is a mid-fuselage top mounted pusher so you can’t damage the propeller in a hard landing. I have hit everything in my living room, lamps, windows, furniture, the cat. . . and have not damaged either plane or living room yet. Its kinda like throwing a feather against the wall . . . . ya know??
If you check in the forums you will find a few threads devoted to the Palm-Z. Many posts describe modifying the plane for better flight performance. I chose to leave it alone except to add a tiny bit of nose ballast. I coated the nose of the plane with thin epoxy, the epoxy added strength and the little bit of weight needed to bring the c.g forward a fraction. I also removed the spring on the throttle stick inside the transmitter. I’m more comfortable flying without the throttle stick pushing back at me constantly.
I am happy to recommend the Silverlit Palm-Z biplane!!! Go online, spend the $25 or so (shipping included) and start flying in your living room or front yard real soon!!!
Be sure to check back here next week for a review on the Cox Micro-Warbirds Line. Please feel free to leave me a comment, all are welcome.
And as always,. . . . FLY SMART. . . . SPEND SMARTER. . . .
