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DataSheet

Miss Hyperion Hydro

The Miss Hyperion Hydro is tough, and fast!  During the Miss HP design process, we tested a number of similar products on the market.  We found that other hydro tend to follow the motto: "lightest weight, no matter the cost!"  As a result, other Hydro are typically powered by a small motor of about 30 grams, which is pushed two (or even three!) times past its efficient operating amperage range.  Also, these "light" Hydro we tested made extensive use of non-reinforced 3.0mm depron sheets.

These other Hydro end up with "all up" weight savings of 20g~60g compared to the Miss Hyperion Hydro.  But (and this is a BIG but!) the average pilot will destroy the models within a few flights, and even the best "3D" pilots find the model falling apart within the first 15 flights or so.  The little motors, highly overstressed, also tend to "cook" if you aren't very careful.

And most importantly, these "light at all costs" Hydro simply can't go very fast, on grass or on the water. Even small obstacles on the ground or chop on the water will break the sponsons and tear up the depron.  What good is a Hydro that can't go fast, we thought!  Who wants a model that is falling apart from the beginning!



Instead, we chose 5.0mm depron, with hard-shell plastic coating on one side.  The shell coating faces the areas which suffer impact damage most, such as the bottom of the sponsons.  Then we added a thin, yet tough, full color decal on the opposite sides, and TWIN 3.0mm Carbon tubes for lateral support of the sponsons.  The result is the most rigid, toughest, fastest, baddest Hydro on the market - at a very resonable weight increase.

To make the Miss Hyperion Hydro not only the toughest on the market, but also the fastest and most powerful, we choose the Hyperion Z2209-26 motor and Hyperion Titan 20A brushless controller.  We suggest the Hyperion LVX-0800-3S battery pack for most users, or the LVX1200-3S for those who want mainly high-speed water and air performance. This motor and controller weigh a bit more than other "minimal" Hydro powerplants, but provide more power at any current level, more efficiency, and are RELIABLE.

Now, about weight...  Is it necessary to sacrifice everything for lightest possible weight?  NO!  Let's look at the specs:  With all-up flying weight of 12oz (340g) max, and flying area of 256 square inches, the Miss Hyperion has a wingloading of only 6.75oz/sq ft!  If you can't "3D" with that, its time for new 3D thumbs!

And for those of you who want speed performance on land, water, and in the air there is clearly no better choice than the Miss Hyperion.  It is really something to watch when it goes screaming by on the water (whap, whap, whap on the waves), then whips around the end-pylon turn for another lap! A few laps to get onlooker's interest is recommended, then a graceful lift off to high-speed flight.  Blows em' away, every time!

We'll have video posted in early March...

The Miss Hyperion Hydro is set up with 3 degrees up-thrust in the motor mount by default.  This is ideal for running on grass, as it keeps the sponson tips up and avoids "plowing".  Flight attitude in this case is regulated using the throttle, and flight speeds are low with nose-high "3D" attitude.

For high-speed flight or water running, the bottom slots for the motor mount plate are just opened a bit, to allow re-postioning for "0" thrust line (no up, no down thrust). This is covered in the assembly guide.

Another discovery we made while flying Miss Hyperion prototypes is that most Hydro have the motor mount too far back.  A rearward "CG" balance point makes the model difficult to control, and limits perfomance on the water as well.  The Miss Hyperion Hydro "cockpit" which holds the motor mount is far enough forward that the motor can mount inside the model for park/grass/3D fliers (or even water), or the motor can be backmounted outside the model (as pictured above) for additional stability on the water or during traditional high-speed flight.

The Miss HP motor mount is also placed high enough that you can use 8" props even on the water. The final advantage of the Miss Hyperion cockpit design is that its large volume and high/forward position act as a float if the Hydro flips on the water, and thereby keeps the electronics inside the boat free from water damage.  Carry a can of light oil spray to flush the motor in case it should get wet.