NINE EAGLES HELICOPTERS
Jennifer Orebaugh jennifer@modelaircraft.org
Nine Eagles has designed and manufactured RC models (helicopters, airplanes, and accessories) for more than 20 years. Keeping up with innovation and technology, the company has ventured into micros and electrics in recent years, making it easy and affordable for beginning pilots to learn how to fly.
The Draco CX EP coaxial and the Solo Pro V2 fixed-pitch helicopters are two of the newest helis in the Nine Eagles line. Although recommended for intermediate pilots (14 years of age or older), younger hobbyists can learn to fly with these two ultramicro, electric, flybarred helicopters with the help of a responsible adult.
Draco CX EP (coaxial)
- Full-body fuselage without a tail rotor; contra-rotating blades provide stability.
- Not recommended for outdoor flight.
- Two sets of main blades and a flybar add stability; hovering is effortless.
- Battery compartment: battery leads go in first (common on bind-and-fly models).
- Caution: tailboom is hollow hard plastic and can break on hard impacts.
Solo Pro V2 (fixed-pitch)
- Designed with a canopy and tailboom, including tail rotors.
- Can be flown outdoors in mild or calm conditions when switched to advanced mode.
- Battery compartment is unique: battery fits backward and hides inside the canopy, reducing the chance of it being knocked loose.
- Glow-in-the-dark main blades, tail blades, and skids (limited glow duration).
- Better suited for intermediate fliers; may be too advanced for absolute beginners.
Modes, binding and charging
- Both helicopters have two flight modes: Primary (lower rate, smoother throttle curve) and Advanced (higher responsiveness).
- Binding the receiver is simple:
- Turn on the transmitter.
- Plug in the helicopter battery.
- Hold down the throttle stick until it clicks.
- Wait for the bottom light to flash (blue on the Solo Pro, red on the Draco).
- The LiPo battery charges in a slot on the back of the transmitter. A green light flashes when fully charged.
- Charging time: roughly 20–30 minutes. Plan for downtime between flights unless you have extra batteries.
Packaging and included items
Both helicopters arrive securely packaged in Styrofoam within handled boxes that double as carrying cases. Each box includes:
- 2.4 GHz transmitter
- Four AA batteries (for the transmitter)
- One LiPo battery (for the helicopter)
- Small screwdriver (to change the antenna if Mode 1 is preferred)
- The helicopter
- Instruction manual
Flight characteristics and tips
- Takeoff: Both models can be slightly "squirrely" on ground takeoff, especially the Solo Pro. For a slow, controlled takeoff, place the model on a table or stand rather than the floor.
- Outdoor flight: The Solo Pro is sensitive to wind; dead calm is required for stable outdoor flight.
- Trimming: The Solo Pro initially wanted to drift right and needed left trim. After trimming, it performed pirouettes and Figure Eights well.
- Flybar: The flybar on both helicopters can pop out of place if bumped or tumbled, but it snaps back into position easily.
- Battery life: Both helicopters last roughly 8 minutes per charge. As charge decreases, flight becomes less responsive and climb performance drops—good indicators the battery is nearly dead.
Durability, repairs and parts
- Skids on the Solo Pro are fragile; small bumps or drops (even under 2 feet) can break them. Stronger or more flexible plastic skids would be a significant improvement.
- Replacement glow-in-the-dark skid sets (including the battery holder with wire lead) are available through hobby suppliers and are easy to install.
- Plenty of spare parts and "crash kits" are available for Nine Eagles helicopters at hobby shops and online.
Night flying and glow-in-the-dark features
- The Solo Pro’s blades and skids glow in the dark, but modern energy-saving bulbs (and some CFLs/LEDs) don’t charge the phosphorescent material as well as incandescent bulbs. A flashlight often works better.
- Glow effect did not last the full 8-minute flight in testing.
Manuals and translation
- The Nine Eagles instruction manual is generally good, though some translation inconsistencies occur in places.
Summary
Overall, both helicopters are fun to fly. The Draco CX EP is well suited as a first model for a beginner who wants a stable coaxial trainer, while the Solo Pro V2 is better for an intermediate pilot seeking a small indoor (or very calm outdoor) flyable model. Expect about 8 minutes of flight time per battery, easy binding with the transmitter, and accessible spare parts — but be prepared for fragile skids and a delicate tailboom.
—Jennifer Orebaugh jennifer@modelaircraft.org
MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR
Shanghai Nine Eagles Electronic Technology Co. sales@nineeagle.com www.nineeagle.com/index.html
Tower Hobbies (800) 637-6050 www.towerhobbies.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
