Exclusive sneak Peek: Futaba T18MZ

Exclusive sneak Peek: Futaba T18MZ

Whether young of old, most of us have something exotic that we yearn after, even though we know perfectly well that it isn’t a necessity or even attainable. For some, it may be a Porsche GT, while for other it’s a blood red Ducati Desmosedici that gets the pulse racing. For us RC guys, you can add the new Futaba T18MZ to the list, and unlike the aforementioned examples, this exotic is actually attainable to more than the ultra-wealthy. Dual processors, Windows CE, HVGA LCD screen, USB ports, SD card slots, music player and digital camera are not things normally associated with a radio  control system, but the T18MZ is far from normal.

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Exclusive sneak Peek: Futaba T18MZ 

I’ve had the fortune to try out one of these fantastic new radios and have been absolutely blown away with not only its tremendous capability, but also with the relative ease of use. There are simply too many features to mention in this article, so I will try my best at pointing out some of the standouts. What makes it tick The T18MZ uses the new FASSTest 2.4GHz bi-directional communication system that gives it the ability to use real-time telemetry. The compact, high-voltage capable R7008SB 8-channel S.Bus2 receiver that comes with the radio system allows for multiple telemetry sensors to be used via the second S.Bus port, so things like  temperature, battery voltages, and altitude can be displayed on screen.

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Exclusive sneak Peek: Futaba T18MZ

To achieve the 18 channels, two receivers are bound to the transmitter in either the FASSTest 18ch or FASST Multi mode, type of switch at that location; say for example, a momentary instead of a multiposition. On either side, there are two sliders, one at the ends, and one just inside the ends that is accessible from both the front and rear of the case. Lastly, here are three dial knobs near the top center of the transmitter, two of which can be pressed flush. Everything has a very positive engagement and the center points are easily detectible, be it detent or audio tone. Silky-smooth gimbals have adjustable tension and even the side angle can be adjusted to the users liking. On the throttle, the ratchet can be adjusted or even eliminated without the need to disassemble the case, great for helis. Trimming is done via six digital trims that are assignable to whatever channel you like. I did say that this radio is customizable, didn’t I? To prevent accidental tip-over when vertical, the base of the transmitter has a large, flat surface, while the typical carrying handle at the top keeps the back clear of debris when horizontal.

DON’T MISS MICHAEL YORK’S FULL EXCLUSIVE REVIEW IN THE JUNE ISSUE OF MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS!

Updated: July 16, 2015 — 3:47 PM

7 Comments

  1. Wow!! Absoutley awesome radio.I have always been a Futaba fan for many many years.They did it again.Thank You “Futaba”

  2. Yes, very nice. I too am a Futaba fan. However, at $3,000 it is not a question of whether you can afford it, it’s really a question of whether you have $3,000 to throw out the window.

    I can’t think of any application, even for a very advanced world class aerobatics pilot–who probably would get it for free, being sponsored by Futaba anyway–that this radio would justify such a price.

    Hopefully, the next release will also make espresso and and have 4G connectivity and a video cam so I can broadcast my flight real time to my twitter followers.

    Let’s be reasonable.

  3. Now if they’d add a quality single stick version, I’d be happy and impressed

  4. The really interesting aspect is the ability to control in detail the “Audio voice – text to speech – of all the telemetry data” it’s a shame none of the reviewers have pushed Futaba to really explain the user setting of these feature and the voice interval – ie Voice warnings for deviations set by user for those item they want spoken by the Radio and when – how often – JR Mx20 Hott has a similar feature and is EURO450 – so surely Futaba can use the real power of this OS to give the PIC full control over the AUV’s data spoken – incoming into the display – obviously the 2nd pilot can just read it on the display – but the primary pilot is eye-on-the-aircraft – I have read 10 or more press release level reviews like this – but nobody is asking Futaba the important telemetry questions regarding text-to-speech. Also the camera should be at the level of the GoProHeroHD2 full HD and 11Mp – the so called camera/thing inside it is a joke.

  5. Amazing but is it too much. I have been an exclusive Futaba user since the early 1980s and flown their top end systems. I am an old pattern flier who has enjoyed the programmable capabilities of the newer radios, but even with my newer 12 channel radios I use little more than my old 9ZAP systems offered. It is truly a very advanced radio system and time will tell if it is practical even for the competitive fliers like myself.

  6. whats up everybody how you doing this is speed fresh yall listen up i got some good news 20 people got a 18mz like mine and im still first one with the 18mz in houston in the hole right world, now guest what theres another problem, i need the gps speed the one tells how fast my plane travel. i need the atmospheric the altitude the one tells how high is your plane travels, i need the rpms. temperature and fuel lever the one tells you how much fuel you got on your airplane. and im good to go, i been talking about it for a year now. now every body remember i told you about my 18mz. it will make all my suped up racing planes go even faster the anycars all over the country. now ima tell you again speed fresh is ready to take all of you out. im calling somebody out today. we are gonna race car for plane. and we are gonna bike for plane. if the number 5 wins. that 6 team futaba shirts is mine all mine i want all large and black and orange. and that $ 12,800 dollars caaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh is all mine. but guest what remember i told you. and im not gonna tell you again im with the team futaba now yes sir and im one of them. now. heres what im going to do for you, ima ride in a new 2012 bugatti veron. ill be in a passenger seat controlling my jet model products fire bird with the 18mz. now lets say a bugatti veryon going 268mph, and my fire bird will go 345mph and it will beat it and it will leave it in a dust. nobody in the hole right world cant beat the fire bird. is the fastest rc turbine het in the world. the futaba 18mz have in built in nos in it and launch control and speed fresh will use it. car vs rc plane and bike vs rc plane we are gonna take it to the country at the long straight road. no turns no nothing just long straight road thats what i want. and i will have somebody to film this for me when chasing the a Bugatti veryon with the $ 15,000 dollar jmp fire bird. and i will put that shit on youtube watch me. this is gonna the best video i ever had. now this is gonna my first movie i made and is gonna way different and better then angelina jolies movies. and ima watch it over and over again and it will gonna be on a news. if i see the news talking about it speed fresh will report it. you cant beat me anymore and you cant win nomore speed fresh always win and i will never lose. nobody cant the bvm king cat eather. the king cat travels 300mph faster then a bugatti veron. and it can travel 256mph on a dive above have throttle. i am the futaba, the team futaba king. i got of skills more everybody. all my videos on youtube is gonna totally different then all of yours. SPEED FRESH THE NUMBER 5 BABY BLUE POWER will beat you anyday. you can put twin super chargers on it if you want you, but still wont keep up with me and still wont beat me. i flew my jackal 50 i got it up to 135-140mph with launch control on my 18mz. oh yeah guest what, my 12th year anniversary already pass on jan 31st 2012. i been flying plane for over 12 years now 12 years. and this is it and i will do it again you understand me i will defeat the bugatti veron and they will 30,000 turbine jets out there and 30,000 RC PILOTS waiting for me ill be having 6 futaba 18mzs 3 airplane radios and helicopter radios and i will be the only one to collect them all in houston in the hole right world. 2011 jackal 50 vs 2012 SUZUKI GSX-R 1000 baby blue white and red baby blue power same color is my 14mz and 18mz. i got both radios remember all touch screen all computer raise and JR RADIO XXX SPECTRUM RADIO XXXX FUTABA 18mz is better for me and is perfect for me speed fresh will be in the country at the long straight road and i will show you and i will prove it to all of you. i dont give it dam what you say about the 18mz too much channels and why do you need 18 channels all of that and shit. but you know what speed fresh getting tired hearing that shit. i dont care. the 18mz already won the jr and spectrum lost futaba rules. team futabas lets roll. 14mz and 18mz is way better then JR RADIOS, BETTER THE SPECTRUM RADIOS AND BETTER THEN THEN FUTABA 8FG. aint nobody in the hole right world cant beat the beat the futaba 18mz you got a problem with that sucka. remeber i know everything more then all of you. now i need that camera on a screen on my 18mz because i keep going up in a clouds and i still do that. if i lose my plane you can see on a 18mz screen thats what i need and you can see it what is doing. thats what is messing. alright gotta go everybody. if yall having any question about the 18mz fine me on facebook.com/speedfresh.

  7. yep like i said im the one with the 18mz i am the futaba king around here yall gotta problem with that. i will be racing with my $ 15,000 dollar jmp fire bird. 2012 jet model products fire bird vs 2012 bugatti veron i will take my plane to the country and they will be 30,000 turbine jets and 30,000 rc pilots out there cheering me up and i will have somebody to film me when chasing the bugatti veron, ill be in the passenger seat controlling my fire bird in a car going 200mph, lets say the bugatti veron going 268mph, and the fire bird and the king cat going 345mph and it will beat it. no one cant beat the futaba 18mz this is gonna be my first movie right here and i will put that shit on youtube. all my videos is gonna be totally different and better then angelina jolies movie ha ha yall dont know about that. my 18mz got launch control and i will use it. now you what color i want on my fire bird same color is my 14mz and 18mz baby blue white and red with stars all over it. now i called my self baby blue power speed fresh with the 18mz

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