This is the first time I've heard the word composite used to describe the make-up of a ready-to-fly aerobat that's outwardly a moulded EPO foam creation. Sure enough, by announcing a new production technique called Carbon-Z, E-flite points to this Yak 54 as being the first of a new generation. However, could this just be marketing speak, or is it truly a significant technical innovation? Well, a bit of both, to be honest. Composite, by dictionary definition, is a blend of different materials, which is exactly what we have here. However, by incorporating this material blend E-flite has produced a larger EPO aeroplane that flies just as well as a similar size balsa / ply affair. EPO has become pretty much the standard material for moulded foam models these days, in the process kicking brittle EPS foam into touch.
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