Overview
The E-flite Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m Smart PNP with Floats represents the latest evolution of one of the most iconic and beloved RC aircraft in the hobby. Many RC pilots got their first taste of flying a Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) capable aeroplane with the original E-flite Timber 1.5m model, and its friendly handling, nimble sport performance, and takeoff-and-land-almost-anywhere abilities made it one of the most popular RC aircraft of all time. Now, with this Evolution variant, you get a model that is smarter, stronger, and more capable than ever before. Whether you're searching for a beginner-friendly brushless RC plane in the UK or an experienced pilot looking for a versatile everyday flyer, this aircraft delivers exceptional value and performance.
This Plug-and-Play (PNP) configuration means the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m arrives with the power system, servos, and electronic speed controller already factory-installed and ready to go. The airframe itself is constructed from lightweight yet durable composite-reinforced EPO foam, featuring a bolt-on, two-piece wing design with a carbon fibre joiner that requires no glue and assembles in less than one hour. The model comes equipped with optional-use floats featuring steerable rudders, making it equally at home on water as it is on grass or rough terrain strips. This makes it an incredibly versatile RC aircraft for the UK market, capable of operating from unconventional surfaces that would challenge most other models.
The Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m is truly the best 'next step' aircraft after a trainer, the perfect first STOL-capable model, and one of the finest all-around fun-to-fly aircraft for a wide range of pilots seeking sport flying, aerobatic capability, and genuine short takeoff and landing performance. With intelligent 'Smart' electronics featuring real-time telemetry data, enhanced durability with reinforced landing gear, and a fresh modern appearance, this is a model that has genuinely evolved to meet the demands of today's RC enthusiasts.
Key Features
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC with Real-Time Telemetry — New for 2024, this intelligent speed controller provides live data including overall battery voltage, current draw, motor RPM and more. This telemetry capability allows you to monitor your aircraft's performance in real-time through compatible Spektrum receivers and transmitters, helping you understand your flying envelope and battery consumption patterns. The ESC also features motor and thrust reversing capabilities, opening up advanced ground handling options and special flying techniques.
- 3S and 4S LiPo Battery Compatibility — The high-power brushless outrunner motor system works with both 3S 11.1V and 4S 14.8V LiPo batteries in the 2200mAh to 5000mAh capacity range, giving you tremendous flexibility in choosing your power source. This dual-voltage compatibility means you can prioritise flight time with larger batteries or raw performance with higher voltage packs, and switch between them to suit different flying sessions.
- Heavier-Duty Landing Gear with Reinforced Mounts — The shock-absorbing landing gear now features heavier duty springs and oversized, tundra-style wheels and tyres that are stronger and more capable than previous versions. The reinforced mounts, sourced from the Twin Timber 1.6m model, significantly improve durability and STOL capability when operating from rough terrain, gravel strips, or challenging surfaces. This enhancement means your aircraft can handle more demanding landing conditions without damage.
- Includes Optional-Use Floats with Steerable Rudders — Unlike some competitors' models, this package includes a complete float set with steerable rudders for water operation. This transforms your Timber into an amphibious aircraft capable of operating from rivers, lakes, and ponds, vastly expanding the environments where you can fly. The floats are optional, so you can switch between wheeled and water operation as desired.
- 10-Size 800Kv Brushless Outrunner Motor with 3-Blade Propeller — The proven Spektrum brushless motor paired with an 11 x 7.5 three-blade propeller delivers excellent sport and aerobatic performance. The brushless design provides reliability, efficiency, and consistent power delivery without the maintenance requirements of brushed motors. The 3-blade propeller configuration provides better static thrust than traditional 2-blade designs, enhancing takeoff performance and hovering stability.
- Six Metal-Geared Spektrum Servos for Precise Control — Factory-installed and pre-configured, these metal-geared servos offer durability and accuracy superior to plastic-geared alternatives. Six servos provide complete control of ailerons, elevator, rudder, throttle, flaps, and slat deployment, giving you full authority over all control surfaces. The metal gears ensure these servos maintain their precision through countless flights.
- Optional-Use Leading Edge Slats for Enhanced STOL Performance — Included with your model but selectable for deployment, these slats increase wing camber at slow speeds, dramatically reducing stall speed and enabling even shorter takeoffs and landings. Engaging the slats essentially transforms the wing's aerodynamic profile, providing a practical upgrade for ultra-short-field operations when needed, whilst remaining optional when flying from conventional airfields.
- Functional Slotted Flaps for Shorter Takeoffs and Landings — Beyond simple cosmetics, these flaps are fully functional and directly control landing distance and climb performance. The slotted design maintains smooth airflow across the wing, allowing you to deploy significant flap angles without inducing a stall. Combined with the optional slats, these flaps give you genuine STOL capability rarely seen in sub-£400 ready-to-fly brushless RC aircraft in the UK market.
- Factory-Installed LED Landing, Navigation and Strobe Lights — Your model arrives with a complete lighting system including landing lights, navigation lights, and strobe lights. These lights make your aircraft visible in lower light conditions and enable you to identify its orientation during evening flying sessions. The LEDs are already installed and wired, requiring no additional setup or soldering.
- Top Battery Hatch with Larger Battery Compartment — The new top-opening hatch design makes battery changes faster and more convenient than accessing batteries from the side or bottom. The enlarged battery bay accommodates the full range of 2200mAh to 5000mAh packs in both 3S and 4S configurations, so you can carry multiple battery options without changing the airframe. This is a genuine quality-of-life improvement for active pilots.
- Combined Wing Connectors for Simpler Installation — Rather than multiple separate connectors for each wing half and control surfaces, the consolidated connector system reduces connection points and makes wing installation and removal faster. This simplification is particularly beneficial when transporting your aircraft or swapping wings, and reduces the likelihood of incorrect connector seating.
- Stiffened Wing Design with Improved Aileron Authority — The reinforced wing structure improves roll rates and handling precision compared to earlier Timber variants. This stiffer wing maintains its shape under load, providing more consistent control input response. The improvement is subtle but noticeable, particularly during aggressive manoeuvres or high-speed passes.
- Semi-Symmetrical Aerofoil with 559.5 Square Inch Wing Area — The wing design provides a balance between STOL capability and aerobatic performance. The semi-symmetrical profile generates lift even at zero angle of attack, improving climb performance whilst maintaining stable slow-speed handling. The relatively large wing area for the 1.5m wingspan provides ample lift for slow, stable flights.
- RealFlight Evolution RC Flight Simulator Compatibility — You can practice flying this exact model in the RealFlight Evolution simulator before taking it to the field. This allows you to develop muscle memory for the control inputs and learn the model's handling characteristics without risking physical damage, making it an ideal complement to your real-world flying experience.
Technical Performance
The Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m is engineered as a mid-sized STOL specialist combining genuine short takeoff and landing capability with sport and aerobatic versatility. The airframe weighs between 1.53 and 1.7 kilogrammes depending on battery configuration, with a 1,549mm wingspan and 1,039mm fuselage length, giving it a compact profile ideal for transport and storage whilst maintaining the wing area necessary for low-speed flight. The semi-symmetrical aerofoil section and 559.5 square inch wing area work together to produce excellent lift at slow speeds without inducing excessive drag at cruise velocities. The centre of gravity is adjustable to within plus or minus 5 millimetres of the 60mm point measured from the wing leading edge at the fuselage, allowing you to fine-tune handling balance to your preferences. Construction utilises composite-reinforced EPO foam, which balances durability with lightweight characteristics; this material is significantly more impact-resistant than standard foam whilst remaining light enough for electric flight without excessive power demands. The bolt-on two-piece wing design with carbon fibre joiner requires no adhesives and assembles without glue, yet provides a rigid structure through mechanical fastening and the wing connector system.
The power system consists of a 10-size brushless outrunner motor with an 800Kv rating paired with an 11 x 7.5 three-blade propeller. The brushless design means no brushes or commutator maintenance, no carbon dust accumulation, and superior efficiency compared to brushed alternatives. The 800Kv constant means the motor spins at 800 revolutions per minute per volt of applied battery voltage; on a 3S pack (11.1V), this produces approximately 8,880 RPM at full throttle, whilst a 4S pack (14.8V) yields approximately 11,840 RPM. The Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite electronic speed controller handles current draw up to 70 amperes continuous, providing ample headroom for the motor's power output. The ESC features programming options accessible through Spektrum receivers, allowing you to adjust parameters including throttle exponential, servo reversing, and failsafe behaviour. Battery compatibility spans from 3S 2200mAh through 4S 5000mAh capacity, supporting both 30C and higher discharge rate packs for sport flying or 100C+ packs for maximum performance. Flight time varies with battery capacity and flying style, but typically ranges from 12 to 25 minutes depending on whether you prioritise manoeuvres or gentle cruising flight.
The landing gear represents perhaps the most practical enhancement for rough-field operations. The shock-absorbing springs dampen impact loads during landing, whilst the heavier-duty design sourced from the larger Twin Timber 1.6m provides greater robustness than the original Timber architecture. The oversized tundra-style wheels and tyres have a larger diameter and wider contact patch than standard RC aircraft gear, distributing weight across unprepared surfaces and preventing sinking into soft ground. The steerable float system, when deployed, replaces the wheeled gear and features individual rudder controls for each float, allowing you to steer the aircraft whilst in water—a feature rarely seen on sub-£400 RC aircraft. The six factory-installed metal-geared servos operate across full control authority, with each servo featuring a metal gear train rather than plastic alternatives. Metal gears resist stripping under load and maintain consistent torque output across thousands of flight cycles, making them far superior to plastic-geared servos for demanding aerobatic flying.
What's in the Box
- E-flite Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m airframe
- Six Spektrum metal-geared servos (factory-installed)
- Spektrum 10-size 800Kv brushless outrunner motor (factory-installed)
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite brushless ESC (factory-installed)
- Set of optional-use leading edge slats
- Set of optional-use floats with steerable rudders
- 11 x 7.5 three-blade propeller (installed)
- LED lighting system with landing, navigation and strobe lights (factory-installed)
What You Need to Complete
- Full-range 5+ channel Spektrum transmitter and compatible receiver (sold separately)
- 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V LiPo battery in 2200mAh to 5000mAh capacity with EC3 or IC3 connector (sold separately)
- Compatible LiPo battery charger (sold separately)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m suitable for beginners in the RC flying hobby? — The Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m is rated as Skill Level 3, which represents intermediate-advanced operation rather than true beginner territory. However, it serves as an excellent 'next step' aircraft after completing trainer-level flying. If you have experience with a basic trainer like the UMX Apprentice or similar, you possess sufficient skills for this model. The friendly, stable handling and forgiving flight characteristics make it more accessible than pure aerobatic aircraft, though you should have confidence in basic flight control before attempting this model. Many UK pilots use it as the natural progression after their first trainer.
- What battery does the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m require, and how long will it fly? — This model requires a 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V LiPo battery in the 2200mAh to 5000mAh capacity range with either an EC3 or IC3 connector. A 3S 2200mAh battery provides approximately 12-15 minutes of sport flying or 18-20 minutes of gentle cruising. Upgrading to a 4S 2200mAh provides increased performance but similar flight duration. A 3S 4000mAh or 4S 5000mAh battery extends flight time to 20-25 minutes, though the increased weight may slightly reduce aerobatic performance. The larger battery bay introduced in this Evolution version accommodates the full capacity range without modification.
- Can I fly the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m from water, and what's required? — Yes, the model includes optional-use floats with steerable rudders specifically designed for water operation. The floats replace the wheeled landing gear and feature individual rudder controls, allowing you to steer whilst in water. The floats provide excellent buoyancy for the aircraft's weight range and feature a relatively high keel design for stability. Water operations require no modifications or additional purchases beyond what's included. Simply remove the wheeled gear, attach the floats, and you're ready for lake or river flying. The floats are optional, so you can switch between water and land operations as desired.
- What is the difference between the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m and the standard Turbo Timber 1.5m? — The Evolution variant represents the latest generation with multiple improvements over the standard Turbo Timber. Key upgrades include the new Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC (2024) featuring real-time telemetry data and thrust reversing capability, heavier-duty landing gear springs and reinforced mounts for improved durability on rough surfaces, a larger top-opening battery hatch with expanded battery compartment, combined wing connectors for simpler installation and removal, a stiffened wing design with improved aileron authority, and a fresh modern paint scheme. These enhancements focus on durability, convenience, and capability, making the Evolution variant superior for active pilots operating from challenging surfaces.
- What transmitter and receiver do I need for the Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m? — The model requires a full-range 5+ channel Spektrum transmitter paired with a Spektrum receiver. The Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC provides real-time telemetry capabilities when paired with Spektrum receivers that support telemetry (such as the AR637TA or similar). Spektrum receivers are not included and must be purchased separately. Most modern Spektrum transmitters in the £80-£300 range provide sufficient range and features for this aircraft. Ensure your chosen receiver supports the telemetry and thrust-reversing features if you wish to utilise the ESC's advanced capabilities.
- How long does assembly take, and what tools do I need? — Assembly takes approximately one hour and requires only basic tools: a screwdriver, servo linkage tools, and a connector tester. The model arrives with servos, motor, ESC, and lights pre-installed. Your primary assembly tasks involve attaching the wings using the carbon fibre joiner, configuring control linkages, installing the battery, and performing pre-flight checks. No soldering is required. The bolt-on wing design requires no glue, making assembly genuinely quick and straightforward for pilots familiar with RC aircraft assembly fundamentals.
- What makes the Turbo Timber Evolution suitable for STOL flying from rough terrain? — The STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) capability derives from several integrated features. The semi-symmetrical aerofoil and large wing area produce lift at very low airspeeds. The optional leading edge slats further reduce stall speed when deployed. The functional slotted flaps provide additional lift and control authority at low speeds. The oversized tundra-style wheels and shock-absorbing gear distribute weight across soft surfaces, preventing sinking. The heavier-duty reinforced gear mounts and springs sourced from the Twin Timber 1.6m handle the rough impacts of unprepared surfaces. Combined, these features enable genuine 30-50 metre takeoff distances from rough grass, gravel strips, or soft ground where conventional aircraft require 200+ metres.
- Does the model include everything needed to fly from the box? — The Turbo Timber Evolution arrives as a Plug-and-Play (PNP) aircraft with power system, servos, ESC, lights, and propeller pre-installed. However, you still require a transmitter, receiver, and LiPo battery—items not typically included in PNP kits. These are sold separately because pilots often already own compatible equipment. If you're new to Spektrum and require everything, budget an additional £80-150 for a basic transmitter, receiver, and battery charger beyond the aircraft's cost.
- What's the real-world flight performance like in sport flying versus STOL operations? — The Turbo Timber Evolution performs genuinely well in both flight modes. For sport flying, the stiffened wing, powerful brushless motor, and responsive metal-geared servos deliver snappy roll rates, quick pitch response, and excellent climb performance. Aerobatic capability includes loops, rolls, inverted flight, and hammerheads. For STOL operations, you activate the leading edge slats, deploy the flaps fully, and the aircraft transforms into a low-and-slow specialist capable of incredibly short-field performance. The versatility is remarkable—few aircraft handle both aggressive sport flying and gentle slow-speed cruising equally well.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the EFL Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m Smart PNP, w/Floats A-EFL105275B today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
