E-flite Pulse XT 25e

What do you do on a perfect spring day with just the merest hint of a breeze?
Take full advantage of the weather and head off to the flying field to test fly the latest version on the Pulse XT 25e from E-flite.
This super model with its 52inch wingspan sits nicely in the middle between the original 42inch Mini-PulseXT and Hangar 9s larger 70inch Pulse XT60 and retains all of the classic lines of these great flying planes. Our expectations were high that the Pulse XT25 would perform as well as the original version and at the end of the day we were not disappointed!
Before you can get to grips with the flying there was a few very enjoyable hours spent assembling the model and installing the Power25 electric motor and servos. Thanks to the extensive prefabrication and complete hardware pack synonymous with E-flite models the Pulse was completed the evening before, leaving only the flight battery to be charged and a range check to be performed at the flying field.

With the battery installed and the range check completed it was time to fly and it was in this area that the model excelled, but even before take off it drew many admiring comments from fellow modellers, the general consensus being that this was a great looking plane with its white and yellow colour scheme and classic lines.
As there was no breeze to speak off the model was lined up so that the take off could be performed away from the sun and with a gentle application of throttle and a hint of right rudder the model tracked straight and true across the runway and climbed smoothly away without any drama, and it has to be said with minimal input from the pilot; great stuff!
In the air the model looked just right with the colour scheme standing out nicely (for a change) against the blue sky, and after a few circuits it was apparent that this was a great flying model with no nasty surprises for the pilot. Time to see what else the model could do and yet again the flight performance was very rewarding, nice gentle loops, stall turns and slow rolls were all performed with ease and the model also performed well during inverted flight needing just a hint of elevator input to keep the model level.

Halfway through the flight the model was brought round for a few throttled back fly-by’s and it was in this area that the model excelled, it virtually flew itself needing very little input (or interference) from the pilot.
With dependable flight characteristics like this there was only one manoeuvre that this model needed to perform that would mark it out as an all time relaxing model to fly, and that was touch and go. The next few circuits the model was kept slow and low with left and right touch and go’s being the order of the day, fantastic stuff! Just the right sort of model and the right sort of weather to make aero modelling such a great hobby.

To sum up then, if you want a model to perform 3D aerobatics, fly at high speed and keep your hands busy all time, then give this one a miss. If on the other hand you are looking for an easy building, good looking model that will give you hours and hours of relaxing flying, try the Pulse XT25e. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how much fun you can have without tearing up the sky, not that there is anything wrong with that mind you, it’s just really nice now and then to fly a model without any undue dramas or hassles, and you know, a model that is just plain nice to fly! And the Pulse XT25e is quite simply that, a really nice model to fly.
TG