The SonicModell AR Wing Pro has been a successful FPV wing, and the maker decided to release a new “White Falcon” edition. In this review we will assemble it, put it through its paces and explore the new improvements and features it offers.
If you’re fresh on the FPV Wings scene, I recommend checking out this list of tools that you might need for building and repairing: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-tools/#Tools-for-FPV-Fixed-Wings
Table of Contents
Where to Buy?
You can purchase the AR Wing Pro White Falcon from:
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-psv7 (Coupon, UK: BG9c6703; US: BG40d757; exp: 8/31)
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-xmrr
I highly recommend opting for the PNP (Plug-N-Play) version. This version comes with all the essential components, except the receiver and FPV setup. The PNP version includes:
- 1x SonicModell AR Wing Pro White Falcon
- 1x 8×5 2 Blades Propeller
- 1x 40A w/5V 3A BEC ESC
- 2x 9g Metal Gear Servo
- 1x 2216-1400KV Motor
- 1x Hardware Kit
Recommended Battery, Li-ion 4S2P or LiPo 4S 3000mah-3500mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-br8r
Specifications
PNP Version:
- Wingspan: 1000mm (39.37”)
- Material: High-Quality EPP
- Length: 450mm (17.71”)
- Motor: 2216 1400KV
- ESC: 40A w/5V 3A BEC
- Propeller: 8×5 2-Blade
- Servos: 9g metal gear servo (2 pieces)
- Weight (PNP kit assembled, excluding FC/FPV): 540g
A Close Look at the ‘White Falcon’ – Design Features
The AR Wing Pro has consistently been a fan favorite among FPV wing models in recent years, a testament to its excellent design, high performance, and superior quality. The ‘White Falcon’ is essentially identical to the original black version of the AR Wing Pro, except for the fact that it’s, well, white!
Since the design and mold of the White Falcon are identical to the original black AR Wing Pro, the parts are interchangeable – a feature that existing AR Wing Pro owners will certainly appreciate.
What sets this one apart from the black version, is the PNP kit option (Plug-n-Play), which includes most of the electronics needed to fly. Inside the PNP kit, you’ll find two metal-geared servos, a 2216 1400KV brushless motor, an 8-inch 2-blade propeller, and a 40A ESC.
The AR Wing Pro’s design is centered around being a large, stable, and long range fixed wing. It’s significantly larger than the Baby AR Wing Pro I recently reviewed. While it’s much heavier and less portable, the White Falcon is more capable of dealing with harsher wind conditions and offer more space for components.
Left: AR Wing Pro; Right: Baby AR Wing Pro
The canopy is held firmly in place by strong magnets.
The battery compartment in the nose can accommodate a 4S2P battery for long range missions. There’s plenty of space for most of the flight controllers available in the market.
The white falcon features numerous compartments and bays in both the fuselage and wings for your components, with built-in tunnels within all the compartments, allowing wires to pass through between bays seamlessly and making wire management a breeze.
Two nose options and a side camera bay are compatible with most FPV and AIO cameras on the market. With multiple options to install your FPV setup, such as the DJI FPV Air Unit (there are tunnels for hiding and securing the camera wire which I didn’t use in the images below).
A unique “servo arm built-in” structure effectively protects your servo arm from impacts in crashes.
The wings and wing tips are removable. Thanks to a glue-free assembly using screws, it’s highly portable for outdoor flying.
A dedicated rear bay for the ESC isolates potential interference from FPV equipment.
Assembling the White Falcon
While the White Falcon arrives unassembled, fear not. Assembling it is a fairly straightforward process similar to the original AR Wing Pro. It took me around 30 minutes to put it all together. Let me show you the process.
First things first, insert the control horn into the control surface of the wings.
Then, on the other side, feed the spar (the square carbon rod) through the hole in the control horn, and glue the spar underneath the control surface. Apply some good pressing, and then allow the glue to cure. The spars should now be securely in place. I used E6000 glue for this task.
Next up, install the wing tips.
Before you proceed to install the servos, remember to center them first using a servo tester (with a 1500 PWM signal), and position the servo horns at a 90-degree angle.
Next, glue the servos into their designated positions.
Install the control rod, connecting the servo horn and control surface.
When the servo is centered, the control surface should be level with the wingtip. By twisting the control rod, you can adjust the length.
Now, you’re ready to install the motor. Begin by installing the bracket to the motor.
Then, thread the motor wires through the tunnel located at the back, just above the motor mount.
Secure the motor in place using screws.
Connect the motor to the ESC. Verify the motor’s direction using the servo tester – with the wing facing away from you, it should spin clockwise. If necessary, you can reverse the motor direction by switching any two of the three motor wires.
Insert the large spar through the fuselage, and assemble the main wings.
Secure the wings with thumb screws on the underside.
Lastly, feel free to apply the decals if you wish, or leave them out. The choice is yours.
Installing DJI FPV Air Unit – You need to disconnect the camera module from the vtx so you can push the cable through the tunnel.
You also need to make a couple of cutouts in the lid for the VTX antennas to go through when the lid is closed.
I needed to put quite a bit of dead weight in the front to get the CG right. I have to put 170g of dead weight in the nose to get CG right while having two 4S 1500mah LiPo in the bay. If you are using a GoPro, you will need less dead weight.
With battery, FPV setup (DJI FPV Air Unit), and all the dead weight for CG balancing, the whole wing weighs about 1130g.
How To Setup
I am not using a flight controller, just a radio receiver for simplicity. I will be connecting the two servos and ESC to the receiver, and that’s all for my first flight. I will consider using a iNAV flight controller in the future with GPS capability.
I am using the Radiomaster ExpressLRS ER5C receiver. You can also use the newer Radiomaster ER4 which is cheaper and lighter.
Here are the steps:
- Connecting Receiver: I typically connect the ESC/Motor (throttle) to Channel 1, the left servo (with the wing facing away) to Channel 2, and the right servo to Channel 3. If you have a self-powered buzzer, you can attach it to Channel 4. While it’s not necessary, a buzzer can be quite helpful in locating the wing after a crash.
- Configure OpenTX or EdgeTX: Head to the Mixes and Inputs pages on your OpenTX or EdgeTX radio and configure the settings as per your preference.
- Perform a ‘High Five’ test: plug in a battery and conduct a ‘High Five’ test to ensure the control surfaces are responding correctly to your controls, and that the motor is spinning (DO NOT install propeller yet for safety).
- Setting up Failsafe: If you’re using ExpressLRS, it’s crucial to set up failsafe, which determines the channels’ output when the signal is lost. This setup is vital for the safety. In the event of failsafe, you’d want your wing aileron to return to a neutral position while the motor stops spinning. Incorrect setup might result in the motor continuing to spin while the aircraft going out of control. You can do this in the WiFi config page.
- Installing the Propeller: For safety reasons, I recommend installing the propeller last. Make sure the “shiny side” of the propeller faces forward and the “matte side” faces the back. When the motor is spinning, the airflow should push the wing forward. If you purchased the PNP version, the motor should already be spinning in the correct direction right out of the box. However, if you find the need to reverse the motor direction, simply swap any two of the three motor wires soldered to the ESC. Always remember, safety first when handling your aircraft, especially around the spinning propeller.
- For ideal balance and center of gravity, it’s advisable to have a hefty weight, such as an action camera, up front. If you aren’t using a big battery, you probably need to place some weight in the HD camera bay to get the CG correctly. There are “CG” bumpers on the bottom to help you verify if the CG is right.
Inputs order doesn’t matter. This is where you set Expo for Aileron and Elevon (E25 = 25%).
High Five test.
Optionally, You can also use a switch as the arm switch for extra safety: https://oscarliang.com/setup-arm-switch-for-wing-no-fc/
And voila! You’re ready to take your AR Wing Pro for its maiden flight. If you’re unsure about take-off or landing of a fixed wing, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Check out my quick tutorial video for some easy-to-follow tips and tricks.
Wrapping Up
In essence, the SonicModell AR Wing Pro ‘White Falcon’ edition is essentially the same as the original black version, with a refreshing change in color and a PNP option being the only major differences. For pilots who have been longing for the AR Wing Pro in white, complete with SonicModell’s official components, this is a dream come true.
You can purchase the AR Wing Pro White Falcon from:
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-psv7
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-xmrr
1 comment
Thank you for your review!
Do you have one for the original black version?
Thanks!