Good Company - Good Employees
Jamie, I recently researched and ordered a power solution for my Trex 450SE from FMA Direct. I spoke to engineering, support and Elena in Sales. I received professional, timely and complete responses and people actually answered the phone and were patient, well-versed on the products and helpful. Because of the confidence this inspired, I placed my order online. I received a confirmation and the next day UPS tracking information from UPS and an email indicating I had one item on backorder. The backordered item had a projected ship date of April 1st, 2007. I set a reminder in Outlook as I figured that I would have to follow-up. Imagine my suprise when I received a notification from UPS that the item shipped on time! Thank you for hiring smart, well spoken people, treating them correctly (the employees I spoke with had great attitudes and that comes from treating people right), and investing in the technology in your supply chain to execute flawlessly. As a former CEO of a 175 person software company and ex-PepsiCo executive, I understand hiring good people and execution. Great job and count me as a satisfied customer who will share my satisfaction with others in the hobby. Regards, Ed Diamond, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Cellpro Charger Rocks!
Hi, I just used the Cellpro charger for the first time. I charged two brand new ThunderPower 3-cell 1320mah lipo's and I was totally amazed! I am new to electric flight and was unsure on what charger to buy. I wanted the biggest bang for my budget. Every one made claims, very few did all in one, that's where Cellpro came in. This seems to be one heck of a charger/balancer that you have. It was so interesting to monitor individual cells, total volts, percentage charge, and amp top up and draw. Just wanted to let you know, let the big boys up top know too. Thanks, Dave Ferrari.

Co-pilot Stabilizes Heli for Videos
Greetings,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your fine products and support that allowed me to create this video: Logo Demo with Co-pilot

Presented in glorious H264 codec... QuickTime format.

Crank up the volume and play it full screen if you can. I used your co-pilot system to stabilize my Logo 14 while shooting these outstanding video sequences.

Thank You,

Ted Chavalas
Panoscan Inc.

Customers Love FMA's Cellpro 4s Charger

Photo Caption: Hello FMA Tech Dept: I have received and tested my 4S charger. This thing is the most foolproof charger I have seen. Somebody at FMA really deserves a pat on the back for this design, beautiful job.

Regards,
John Meyer
Pensacola, FL

FMA FS8 and Customer Service Provide Strong Performance
I bought a couple FMA FS8 systems several months ago and when I installed them I had huge range problems with the recievers. I used them with a JR PCM10X and the range was horrible compared to my JR reciever. I tried everything to no avail.... I finally posted my problems on the FMA website and they said the problem was that the FMA receiver is more selective than my JR receiver (which is good ), but that it required that the transmitter be exactly on frequency for it to work properly. Where the JR reciever will accept off frequency signals, the FMA will not. Greg Covey said that FMA would tune my transmitter for free with the purchase of an FMA reciever and that I should send it in. I live close to FMA so I went to their facility and Howard Matos started measuring and tuning my transmitter right away. It turned out that both of my JR modules were significantly off frequency and modulation. Howard had them tuned in no time. After the tuning, the recievers now work flawlessly and the interference rejection and range is much better than my top of the line JR receiver. I fly these on a large UAV and at some pretty extreme ranges and with a strong video transmitter onboard, and the FMA FS8 setup has been the most reliable and trouble free system on the this plane. The video transmission is so strong on this plane (5 watts) that my JR receiver is basically unusable with the video on, but the FS8 works just fine. The performance of the FS8 reciever is great and the failsave, voltage measurement, and other computerized features of this receiver are far more advanced than anything else available. The incredible support that FMA has given me with these units is just icing on the cake Im a pretty die hard JR fan, but I recommend FMA to all my friends now. Thanks, FMA...Mike...

Thank you Col. Harvey for all that you have done for the kids
Dear Sir: I just found your website from a message on Eflight and want to compliment you and your staff on it. It is outstanding in my opinion. I have not had any contact with you since several years back when I bought your Razor kit and the power pack for it from you. That entire system, plus the radio equipment, which includes the transmitter, is now being used in a local middle school's science class to teach the youngsters how radio control works with model airplanes. I donated the system to the school after having a great time flying the Razor over a period of about two years. I have been told that it has been a great teaching aid. I did this anonymously through a flying buddy that sets up demonstrations of RC flight for all the local schools here in Jacksonville, FL. I join him, and several other RC enthusiasts, in flying demonstrations for the schools. My apology. I did not mean to get wrapped up in this like this in my message to you. We never know how far our efforts reach, do we? Your Razor has touched many young people. Again, my compliments on your website. Thanks for all the information that you provide there. Sincerely, Aaron C. Harvey Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired

Fast Service makes a customer happy
Mr. Marks; I just received my order three days after I ordered it. WOW!, very quick service. I am very pleased with the packing of the DC Power Supply. I have been looking for some time locally for a power supply of this quality. This was just in time to power up my park flyer chargers. Thank you for the monthly special pricing, it was a "no brainer". It's down to the shop to start charging battery packs. Professionally, Bill Crosscup AMA #2447

Thanks FMA
Subject: Repair Good morning Fred, Just a quick note of thanks to Rob for the nice repair to my 250 charger. It's been miserable around here without it. I guess we all find that we take so many things for granted 'til they're gone. I was very surprised at the lack of a labor charge. I don't know what I did to deserve that but I certainly thank you. Thanks again and I hope to deal with FMA again in the future. Dick Brundidge Longville, MN

Sometimes it doesn't always go right
Subject: new Kokam batteries Hello Fred, Just a quick not to tell you how much I enjoy your products and the superior service of your company. The new lithium-polymer batteries are just incredible. But I did have a problem that I`d like to address, and perhaps bringing it up will prevent others from having the same situation happen to them. Once I received my last battery order, I soldered them up into two-cell packs. The 640HC`s were one of these packs, and once made up, I put them on my RPI LiPoly charger. For some reason, this pack swelled up a little, indicating an overcharged condition. I`ve treated my other packs the same way, with excellent results. I called your technical person, and he confirmed the overcharged scenario with the 640`s. He said I should have checked them first, that I should never put them on charge without first checking the voltage. We had a rather long discussion, but the end result is the same...I ruined a good set of batteries that I had to wait quite a while for. Imagine my disappointment. I will continue to order batteries from you, but I am thinking that perhaps a very visable warning should be included with the batteries to alert customers of this potential problem. I hope my comments are of some value to your company. Very best regards, John Cole AMA 97082 contest director US Scalemasters Charter member and competitor ArizonaModels design and testing

Kokam cells used in European F3A competiton
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 10:40 AM Now the three rounds to the german championships in f3a are finished. I reached 9th place with my e-factor and your lipos. Now I have done with my two packs (SLPB396495H: 2000mAh) 10s2p about 200 flights, means 100 cycles to each pack without any problem. I charge only with 1C (with the schulze charger isl 6-636+ the whole pack)and discharge during one pattern flight about 2200 mAh. In training I stop after max. 11 min which is 3000mAh. In training I can do 6 pattern flights within 2,5 hours. I couldn´t measure Amps during flight, but I assume I need about 20A in horizontal and up to 40A for a short burst 3-5 seconds in vertical manueuvres. The very important thing is, that e-factor´s weight only is 3300 gramms ready for takeoff. Models with 4000 gramms or more would need 50-60A in vertical. All pilots were impressed by the performance of the lipos. I don´t need more power, even not with strong wind. A few f3a-pilots want to change to electric power next year. This year has been the really break through for electric power. The days of the fuel engines will be counted. Many thanks for your development in lipo cells. Best regards Peter Holzapfel

Another satisfied Co Pilot customer
I have been a good customer for FMA for the past two years and have most of my models now on your receivers and three with the auto pilot. Two fixed wings and a 12 year old heli I always crashed but have finally put together to see if the co pilot saves my butt this time. I am sure it will. I built a trainer for friend of mine to introduce him to the sport. He is 61 years old and has never been off the ground other than as a passenger in commercial planes. He had no experience at all. It took me two hours and he never again used a trainer cord or any assistance. The Co Pilot just made it so exiting for him as there was no stress once he learned to let go when things got too hot. I had his radio set up so he could turn the co on and off and in a few weeks he was doing everything except landing with the co pilot off. The point I am trying to make is that it made a enormous difference to his enjoyment and got him into the sport. He would never have done it with out the co pilot as he felt he was abusing my time in being trained the hard way. I do not know which one of you designed that thing but thanks to you all for a fantastic tool. I now have my H9 cub on the bench and that is getting the full blown five channel DPS and co pilot fitted. Hell I fly 3D and am in no way worried about my ability to fly these models but I have lost a few and they could have all been saved with the co pilot. Next project is a yellow aircraft TEXAN and built to a very fine scale detail. That I do not want to bend, scratch or even bounce if possible. Thus I want to be first on the list for your 8 channel receiver and co pilot that you have advertised in the latest model airplane news. Can you please put me on the list (beta model or not) for one please. I can pay up front or when you are ready to ship. Your choice, but I want and need one of these tomorrow please. Many thanks for your fantastic products. Hope your Dad Fred is fit and well. A fine gent to talk to as he gave me a lot of information regarding interference issues a year or so back. Regards, Allan J Main, Antofagasta, Chile. Thank you Allan!

Copilot Can Tame A Wild Airplane:
A REPORT FROM GLENN GRESENS: I read the article on your auto pilot in "Highflight " last week and, the next day, saw an example in action at our field. The demonsration was a revelation. The autopilot was intalled on a "Hog Bipe" with an OS 90 Surpass. The combination was heavy, fast, and twitchy. The autopilot completely tamed it - recovering smoothly from high speed vertical dives and knife edge situations - then, helping the beginner pilot to land the heavy bipe in a strong crosswind.

Chuck Gaudette wants more Copilots!
Well, I removed the copilot from the helicopter and put it on my trainer. I took it out to the field and did my first flight. I want to tell you that it worked spectacularly. The fellow from the Hobby Shop, an experienced pilot, flew it and tried every way to cause the airplane to go into a dive but it just wouldn't. He was so impressed that he wants to stock the product in his shop. It works as advertised and was a very big hit at the field. About 6 or 7 people who saw it today want one. Now when I get it to work on the helicopter. I'd like to buy a couple more so I have one on each of my two planes on one on the helicopter. Thanks for a great product. Chuck

Hands-Off Hover
Long-time and valued employee, Howard Matos demonstrates a hands-off hover with the Co Pilot installed on his Nexus helicopter. Thanks for the pic Howard.
Photo Caption: Try this without a Co Pilot!

Another Cool Razor Pic
Looks like Ronald got a good bit of flying in on his trip!
Photo Caption: Just Like A Bird - photo © Ronald Schmidt - (World of Models)

Jerry Smith, Assoc. Editor RC Modeler Magazine writes...
Jamie, I was recently required to do a product review on a 9-1/2 oz park flyer called the Micro-Lite. This will appear in a future Product Review for RC Modeler Magazine. The initial test flights on this model were flown with a Hitec Feather receiver. When it came time to fly for more testing I took it to the local flying field where others were flying. It didn’t take long to realize that it was impossible to fly with others, which a majority of park flyer owners will normally do. Noting the size of your sub-micro Quantum 6, I mocked up a piece of wood to check out its compatibility with the limited space in the airplane. It fit perfectly and added only 7 grams to the overall weight. This brought the total weight up to 9-1/2 oz., which the Micro-Lite tolerated without hesitation. On a recent trip to R/C World in Florida, I flew the Micro-Lite many times with many other transmitters on. It was absolutely “bullet proof”, not one glitch. I intend to use the Quantum in other planes of larger size in the future. That’s the beauty of owning the Quantum 6. One receiver can be used with many sizes of models. I am extremely satisfied with it and the reliability I have come to respect. Jerry Smith, Assoc. Editor RC Modeler Magazine Thanks Jerry!

Comments on Supernova 250S
I just wanted to send my thanks for offering such a wonderful product. I have been using one of FMA's SuperNova 250S units for over a week now, and can't believe the quality and value of the unit. After use for over a week, I did notice a small discrepancy in the instructions regarding the automatic mode. However, your staff was very helpful and quickly clarified the questions I had regarding the unit. Thanks again for such a great contribution to modeling. Eric Wenger Thanks Eric!

Cub with FMA Equipment
Fred, this cub is being controlled with your products. It's a Hanger 9 ARF with Goldberg floats. Thanks again for your help. Ed Widman Thanks Ed!
Photo Caption: Floating Cub!

FW109 with FMA Equipment
Talking to your rep at this years Joe Nall meet in South Carolina, I told him about my FW190 model and he said to send some pics. So...here it is. Here is a picture of a HOB FW190 kit I built. I installed a FMA Tetra series receiver with 4 S80 servos. The engine is a Norvel AME .061. I have over 4 flights on the model and it performs like a miniature pattern plane. It takes from the runway (grass no less) just as scale as the big planes. Landings are rough due to the grass it tips over on its top (what the heck). I enjoy the micro systems you have in your line of products. It makes 1/2A flying fun and easy. I also have the same system in my Suhkoi. Neil Southerland, Johnson City, TN Thanks Neil!
Photo Caption: What a Beauty!