HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ BNF Basic Electric Airplane (1300mm) w/SAFE Auto Land

Read Reviews
Write a Review
HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ BNF Basic Electric Airplane (1300mm) w/SAFE Auto Land
Price: $249.99
Discontinued Online
This item is discontinued and no longer available for purchase. You may want to search our site for a similar item.
The HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ 1.3m Bind-N-Fly Basic Electric Airplane is a great aircraft. Whether you’ve never flown RC before or you got your first taste of flying with a multirotor drone, the revolutionary Carbon Cub S+ is the most versatile, capable and easiest to fly RC airplane yet. Based on the Carbon Cub by Cub Crafters, an upgraded and thoroughly modern iteration of the classic Super Cub, and equipped with Horizon Hobby's exclusive and innovative SAFE® Plus GPS-enabled drone technology, this scale reproduction makes it easier to learn to fly in less time than ever before. Advanced features including AutoLand, Holding Pattern and Virtual Fence make it easy for almost anyone to fly successfully from their very first flight, while additional features including oversized tundra tires and optional flaps and floats offer the capability and versatility to fly from almost any surface, anywhere.

SAFE Plus features and functions include:
  • AutoLand: When activated after holding down a button, the advanced AutoLand function puts the Carbon Cub S+ on a stabilized approach to autonomously land near the GPS initialization point. You can even provide some directional guidance to avoid obstacles or to adjust the approach while letting the system do the rest to execute a safe landing. As your skills progress and you gain more confidence you can take over more of the control inputs, eventually learning to land without any assistance from the automated system at all.
  • Holding Pattern: This handy SAFE Plus exclusive feature lets you essentially "pause" a flight by putting the airplane into a GPS-guided holding pattern. When activated after the quick press of a button, the airplane will automatically return to a position above the GPS initialization point and circle until the command is cancelled. It's a great way to safely hand the controls to a friend or to regain visual contact if you ever lose sight of the model.
  • Virtual Fence: It's easy to accidentally let an RC airplane fly too far away, but with Virtual Fence worry no more because it creates an invisible boundary the airplane won't fly past. When the airplane reaches this boundary it will automatically turn around and fly back toward the GPS initialization point, then it will wag the wings to let you know when you have control again.
  • Panic Recovery: If you ever lose control of the airplane in the more advanced control modes simply switch to Beginner Mode and release the control sticks. SAFE® Plus technology will automatically return the airplane to level flight.
  • Beginner Mode: Pitch and bank angle limits prevent over-control that can result in a loss of orientation and crashes. When the control sticks are released the airplane returns to level flight on its own. Best of all takeoffs are as simple as giving full throttle and letting the airplane fly off the ground or by giving it a quick hand launch.
  • Intermediate Mode: More freedom in pitch and bank, but still prevents over-control and does not return to level flight on its own. This mode allows you to make tighter turns and to climb and descend faster as your skills advance. Beginner mode automatically activates and returns the airplane to level flight when the airplane descends below approximately 30 feet above ground level and the sticks are released.
  • Experienced Mode: No pitch or bank angle limits so you have complete control! You can even fly inverted (upside down) and perform aerobatic maneuvers including loops, rolls, stall turns and more. Panic Recovery Mode can be activated by switching to Beginner Mode and releasing the sticks.

Features:

  • Exclusive SAFE® Plus GPS-Enabled Drone Technology
  • AutoLand, Holding Pattern and Virtual Fence functions
  • Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced flight modes
  • Durable EPO airframe with fully painted scale trim scheme
  • Oversized tundra tires for flying from smooth or rough surfaces
  • Optional flaps for shorter takeoffs and landings (requires a 7+ channel programmable transmitter)
  • Optional floats for flying from water (HBZ7390, sold separately)
Specifications:
Wingspan: 1300mm (51.0 inches)
Overall Length: 865mm (34.0 inches)
Flying Weight: 36.1 - 37.9 oz (1023 - 1075 grams)
Motor Size: 480 Brushless Motor 960kV
Radio: 4-channel (6-channel to use SAFE technology)
CG (center of gravity): 62-68mm back from leading edge of wing @ root
Prop Size: 9 x 6
Speed Control : 18 amp brushless ESC
Recommended Battery: 1300mAh 3 cell lipo
Flaps: Optional with 7+ channel programmable radio
Approx. Assembly Time: 5-7 min
Recommended Environment: Outdoor
Assembly Time: Less than 1 Hour
Is Assembly Required: Yes

Needed To Complete:

  • 6+ channel full-range transmitter with Spektrum™ DSMX®/DSM2® technology
  • 1300-2200mAh 3S 11.1V 20C LiPo flight battery
  • Suitable charger

This product was added to our catalog on October 27, 2017

Timothy Young
Friday, Jun 10 2022 (about a year ago)
HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ BNF Basic Electric Airplane (1300mm) w/SAFE Auto Land
After doing my due diligence and research, I purchased this plane in MAY. The first time I flew it, after trimming all control surfaces in static state (on ground) rudder needed 2-3 complete turns on clevis adjustment to taxi straight and not ground loop and doing range test per standard new plane preflight procedures, the takeoff was uneventful until I got to about 50 feet of altitude. The plane began a hard right turn, rolled onto its back and nosed into the ground. The result was a broken fuselage in front of the tail and a cracked pushed in nose section. thinking I may have done something wrong; the damage was repaired, and the plane left alone for a few days. I flew my other plane, an Aero Scout with the same transmitter and everything worked as designed. When the weather got better, the Carbon Cub was taken back out and everything checked and reset. take off was fine and the plane flew ok for about 3-4 minutes. I landed it, checked everything and took off again. After 2-3 minutes in flight, it began a hard right hand turn once again and I was able to get it within 40 feet of the ground before it once again rolled right and nosed into the ground. This time, it went down into a 3-foot-tall hay field and no damage was done. I immediately put the Aero Scout into the air, and everything was good, telling me the transmitter was not at fault. A few days later, the Carbon Cub was put to the test again. This time, at less than 10 feet of altitude, on a full power take off resulted in an immediate hard right turn, roll right, right wingtip drag/hit the ground, cartwheel onto nose breaking nose completely off, tearing elevator off, breaking rudder, breaking fuselage in half near tail, pulling right rear wing mounting out of wing. Horizon hobbies was contacted and verified that they think the flight controller was/is defective and have offered to replace it as well as other damaged parts. my contention is the defective flight controller caused all the damage and the plane should be replaced. We, Horizon and I, are at an impasse on what should be done. I can get the parts to do the repair myself or send the plane back for repair or replacement (shipping $50-$75 my responsibility) and wait for the decision. At this point in time, the BNF version is out of stock/backordered so if a replacement is warranted there is no way of knowing when I will get it. Customer service has been responding to my inquiries, but at times getting an answer to a simple question has been terribly difficult.
To anyone else considering this airframe, whether BNF or RTF, I would caution you against it. As another reviewer has stated, there was an uncontrolled loss of control resulting in the apparent loss of the plane. Based on my experience with Horizon, I would not recommend them or this plane.
Update to this review..........I should note that this poor review is a result of my direct dealing with Horizon Hobbies support/customer service and in NO WAY reflects on Hobbytown Knoxville, whose staff and management have been completely forthcoming and helpful in dealing with this issue.
UPDATE ON UPDATE.......sent the plane back 3 days ago after finally getting a prepaid shipping label from Horizon. Just got an email saying that after a complete test of the plane and all components, nothing was found to be defective or not working as designed. As a good will gesture, a NEW Carbon Cub was being sent to me and it was supposedly shipped out today 16JUN22, but there was no tracking or shipping info. I was also informed that once the plane is taken out of the box, it is out of warranty, so I hope this one works. It was also pointed out that I may be dealing with a TX issue although other planes fly perfectly fine when bound to my TX.
ONE FINAL POINT TO NOTE>>>>>>>>>although this review is attached to the Carbon Club S2+, the plane in question was a Carbon Cub S2 basic without the GPS and upgraded electronics. I attached it to the wrong item so my apologies for possibly misleading anyone.

UPDATE>>>>>>>>The new plane got here, was built, set up and batteries charged. After a 40-minute ground taxi and trim episode, the plane was put in the air and after 3-4 minutes of flight time landed safely. There was only a tiny bit of trim needed for smooth level flight at 1/2 throttle. Flight was uneventful and only for a few minutes since I had not checked the remaining charge on the battery. When I finished the flight, I had 50% still remaining on a 2200ma battery.
I need to thank the folks at Horizon Hobbies for replacing the plane and hope that I just had a bad one. I would like to change my rating to at least 3 stars, due only to the hoops I had to jump through to get some action regarding this issue. I look forward to having many hours of uneventful relaxing flight time with this airplane.

UPDATE>>>>>>>>>>>After having flown this plane several times, and after numerous takeoffs and landings, mild loops and rolls at high altitude all issues are over and this is a great flying plane! I still believe I got a bad one the first time, but this one is very easy and relaxing to fly, whether in beginner, intermediate or experienced mode. Upgrade review to 5 stars!
Herbert Marshall
Wednesday, Jun 24 2020 (about 3 years ago)
HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ BNF Basic Electric Airplane (1300mm) w/SAFE Auto Land
The product is good, but the plane which we got had some wing damage.We call and emailed and no new wing.Also we believe someone else had returned it.The windshield had already been cut out.And some build had already started. We started building it it a first class Carbon Cub.Just Amain Hobbies service is NO GOOD