CHRONOS CX 100. Heli Pilot Review. Lights, Camera and Action! Plus three channels of Ultra-micro fun! ARES

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1 Heli Pilot Review ARES by MATT MAZIARZ CHRONOS CX 100 Lights, Camera and Action! Plus three channels of Ultra-micro fun! Ares, while relatively new to the RC helicopter scene, is looking to carve out a spot for themselves with their lineup of budget-minded, beginner-oriented machines. Distributed exclusively by HobbyTown USA, the Chronos CX 100 looks great, flies very well and does it all with a camera strapped to its belly. The 2GB microsd card that is included will store up to 90 minutes of video or hundreds of still shots. Ares includes a USB adapter to plug the camera directly into a PC or the card can be removed to use with a full-sized SD card reader which has to be purchased separately. The heli itself has some sporty lines to the canopy and comes in either blue/white or red/white color schemes. Each canopy also features a bright white LED in the nose of the machine. I initially scoffed at the idea of the horizontally opposed tail rotor, but this is, after all, a three-channel machine. Forward and backward cyclic motion is achieved by way of the tail rotor either raising or lowering the tail boom while in flight. This design does away with the need for a swashplate which should only augment the durability of an already stout airframe. The transmitter is a nofrills model that is a bit on the small side, but lets face it, this machine is aimed at younger folks who generally have smaller mitts. The radio s control sticks are assigned with the same functions as any popular mode 2 unit, so the transition into larger and more complex aircraft should be a breeze once flight is mastered with the three-channel Chronos. A brightly backlit LCD screen shows all the info that a pilot needs and lets you know when NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Ares DISTRIBUTOR: Sold exclusively at HobbyTown USA TYPE: Ultra-micro coaxial electric heli with camera FOR: Beginner PRICE: $ HELI PILOT

2 Far Left: Integrated video camera. Middle: Horizontal tail rotor to control for/aft movement. Right: The Chronos 100CX comes complete with everything you need to start flying right away. Author s Opinion It seems like just about anywhere you look these days, there s another new coaxial heli coming out. They are sold far and wide and while some of them aren t quite hobby grade, Ares looks to combine both the big box store price point with a quality machine. Three channel control gives this little chopper almost unlimited maneuverability and serves it all up with a digital camera that s capable of producing both still shots as well as videos. SPECS FLYING WEIGHT: 1.9 oz. (55 grams) LENGTH: 10 in. HEIGHT: 4.5 in. ROTOR SPAN: 8.9 in. ROTOR DISK AREA: 63.6 sq. in. ROTOR DISK LOADING: 4.3 oz./sq. ft. RADIO: Four-channel 2.4GHz transmitter (included) PROS Everything you need in one box Larger in size than most micro coaxials 2.4GHz radio system with ergonomically placed camera function buttons FLIGHT BATTERY: 15C 250mAh 1S 3.7V LiPo (included) MINIMAL FLYING AREA: Living room DURATION: 6-8 minutes. NEEDED TO COMPLETE: Nothing everything is included CONS Three channels only video capturing could have benefited greatly from left/right cyclic control PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS HELI PILOT APRIL/MAY

3 HELI PILOT review ARES CHRONOS CX 100 IN THE AIR The Chronos CX 100 is most definitely a stable machine in flight and while the tendency with coaxials is to mat the throttle on takeoff in order to evade the turbulence created by the rotor blades in such close proximity to the ground, I was actually surprised at how powerful this little bird was. Once I got used to the throttle and the lack of normal cyclic controls, I instantly started snapping pics and video alike. The lens of the camera is able to be tilted downward or in a straightforward orientation, so bear that in mind when you re ready to start using the camera. While the control for the elevator seemed a bit touchy, even in low rates, it quickly became a non-issue once I hit a wall or two. Whether it was from my spastic thumbs or the part of my brain that won t allow me to remember that the Chronos has no ailerons, the little heli took some hard hits and shrugged em off in style, showing absolutely no damage. Fear not, should you treat your Chronos a tad rougher than I did, Ares offers a full complement of replacement parts. the camera has been activated. There is also a button for dual rates, which basically only speeds up the cyclic motion. THE LAST WORD Micro helicopters these days are far beyond pervasive in the RC industry, and while they might be a dime a dozen for a cheap toy at the mall, finding something hobbygrade with full replacement parts available is key. Very few manufacturers offer such a capable and durable machine that is as much fun to fly for under a hundred bucks. Ares manages to accomplish all of those goals and even adds a camera to the mix and all for under seventy bucks. While the camera isn t HD, it does capture some great images and video. The Chronos CX 100 with the camera looks to create a few new heli addicts and perhaps even some amateur photo buffs! CONTACTS Ares ares-rc.com, (866) HobbyTown USA hobbytown.com For more information, please see our source guide on page HELI PILOT

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