Overview
The E-flite Timber 1.5m 10th Anniversary Special Edition BNF Basic celebrates one of the most iconic and best-selling RC aircraft of all time. Originally released a decade ago, the Timber has earned its place as the perfect "next step after a trainer" for RC pilots looking to progress beyond their initial flight training. This special anniversary edition honours that legacy whilst incorporating all the modern conveniences, features, and technologies found in current Timber models, making it better than ever before. Whether you're searching for a STOL-capable RC plane UK, a reliable brushless aircraft, or simply the best all-around fun-to-fly model for sport and aerobatic flying, the Timber 1.5m delivers exceptional performance across all disciplines.
This particular model comes as Bind-N-Fly (BNF) Basic, meaning it arrives almost ready to fly with all essential components factory-installed. You'll need a compatible Spektrum transmitter, a LiPo battery, and a charger to get airborne, but the receiver, motor, ESC, and servos are all pre-installed and tested. The aircraft features the classic short-nosed look and distinctive trim scheme of the original Timber, preserving the iconic aesthetic that made the series so beloved by RC enthusiasts across the UK and beyond. However, this isn't merely nostalgia—it's a genuine upgrade that combines vintage styling with cutting-edge avionics and performance technology.
Suitable for RC pilots with some flying experience (Skill Level 2), the Timber 1.5m is an excellent choice for those who have successfully mastered a trainer aircraft and are ready to explore Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capabilities, sport flying, and gentle aerobatics. Its friendly handling characteristics, impressive manoeuvrability, and ability to operate from unconventional surfaces—including grass, gravel, dirt, and even water—make it an incredibly versatile platform for a wide range of flying scenarios and pilot preferences.
Key Features
- 10th Anniversary Special Edition Design — This commemorative edition celebrates the original Timber's decade-long success story whilst incorporating modern upgrades, combining retro aesthetic appeal with contemporary technology and performance enhancements that reflect the evolution of RC aircraft design.
- Top-Mounted Battery Hatch — The convenient top-mounted hatch with larger battery compartment enables quick and easy battery changes without disassembling the aircraft, accommodating batteries from 3S 2200mAh to 4S 5000mAh, saving time between flights and improving your overall flying experience.
- Spektrum AR631+ Receiver with Enhanced AS3X+ Technology — This advanced receiver features enhanced AS3X+ smoothing that automatically compensates for wind and turbulence, delivering a locked-in feel that makes the aircraft seem larger and more stable than its size would suggest, ideal for challenging flying conditions.
- Optional SAFE Select Flight Envelope Protection — When enabled, SAFE Select provides automatic self-levelling and pitch and bank angle limits that can be toggled on and off with a transmitter switch, offering an extra safety layer without limiting your flying capabilities when you want full control.
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC with Real-Time Telemetry — This high-capacity electronic speed controller provides comprehensive real-time data including motor RPM, current draw, battery voltage, and more via compatible Spektrum transmitters, allowing you to monitor your power system performance whilst flying.
- High-Power 3S and 4S Compatible Brushless System — The motor, ESC, and receiver are all optimised for both 3S 11.1V and 4S 14.8V LiPo batteries with EC3 or IC3 connectors, giving you flexibility in battery selection and performance tuning based on your flying style and available equipment.
- Six Durable Metal-Geared Servos — Premium metal-geared servos deliver precise and reliable control across all flight surfaces, providing the durability needed for repeated STOL operations, sport manoeuvres, and rough-field landings without fatigue or performance degradation.
- Reinforced Landing Gear with Heavy-Duty Springs — The stronger, reinforced landing gear mounts combined with heavy-duty springs provide superior shock absorption, enabling confident operations from rough terrain, grass strips, and challenging landing surfaces that would challenge conventional models.
- Oversized Tundra-Style Wheels and Tyres — The shock-absorbing landing gear features large, grippy tundra-style wheels and tyres that provide excellent traction on grass, gravel, and dirt surfaces whilst offering superior propeller clearance to prevent prop strikes during rough-field operations.
- STOL Capability with Functional Slotted Flaps — Drooped wingtips and functional slotted flaps work together to dramatically reduce takeoff distance and increase landing precision, enabling operation from extremely short strips and contributing to the aircraft's legendary STOL reputation.
- Optional-Use Leading Edge Slats — These included slats mount to the wing's leading edge to further improve slow-flight performance and reduce stall speed, enabling even more impressive Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities for advanced pilots seeking ultimate STOL prowess.
- Included Float Set with Dual Water Rudders — The supplied floats transform the aircraft into a capable amphibian, and the dual water rudders provide precise steering control during water operations, opening up entirely new flying environments like lakes, ponds, and rivers.
- Factory LED Lighting System — Pre-installed landing, navigation, and strobe lights provide authentic aircraft lighting for scale operations and enhanced visibility during dawn, dusk, or evening flights, adding realism and improving flight safety.
- Combined Servo and LED Connectors — Simplified connector architecture reduces complexity during wing installation and removal, streamlining assembly, transport, and storage whilst minimising the risk of connection errors.
- Lightweight Composite-Reinforced EPO Construction — The hollow-core EPO airframe features composite reinforcement for exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, enabling impressive aerobatic capability whilst maintaining the low wing loading essential for STOL and slow-flight performance.
- Bolt-On Two-Piece Wing with Composite Joiner — The wing attaches via simple bolt connections with a composite joiner, requiring no glue or complex assembly, allowing quick wing removal for convenient transport and storage whilst maintaining structural integrity and alignment.
- Stiffened Wing for Enhanced Aileron Authority — The reinforced wing structure delivers improved aileron authority and faster roll rates, providing the crisp, responsive handling expected in sport flying applications whilst maintaining stability during slow-speed STOL operations.
- Smart Transmitter File for NX and iX Series Radios — The receiver is pre-loaded with a Smart Transmitter File that automatically imports all settings during binding with compatible Spektrum NX or iX series transmitters, eliminating tedious programming and getting you flying faster.
- Fly-by-Range Telemetry — The AR631+ receiver provides telemetry data across the full operating range, meaning you receive real-time system information throughout your entire flight, not just close to the transmitter.
- Industry-Leading DSMX Technology — Spektrum's DSMX protocol provides enhanced interference immunity and range compared to older systems, ensuring reliable control in environments with Wi-Fi, 2.4GHz devices, and other RF sources common in the UK.
Technical Performance
The E-flite Timber 1.5m 10th Anniversary Special Edition represents the pinnacle of STOL aircraft design and engineering. At 1500mm wingspan and 1054mm length with an operating weight of 1590g, the airframe strikes an excellent balance between manoeuvrability and stability. The composite-reinforced EPO construction provides both durability and low wing loading, critical factors for achieving the Timber's legendary STOL performance and slow-flight characteristics. The high-power brushless system, comprising a Spektrum brushless outrunner motor paired with a Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC, delivers responsive performance whether flying from tarmac, grass, or water. Battery flexibility is built-in: the system accommodates both 3S 11.1V (2200-5000mAh) and 4S 14.8V (2200-5000mAh) LiPo batteries with either EC3 or IC3 connectors, allowing you to optimise performance based on available equipment and desired flight characteristics. The six metal-geared servos ensure precise, durable control throughout the aircraft's entire control envelope. Spektrum's advanced avionics—comprising the AR631+ receiver with enhanced AS3X+ and optional SAFE Select—deliver industry-leading stability and controllability. The AS3X+ technology automatically compensates for wind and turbulence by adjusting control inputs thousands of times per second, whilst optional SAFE Select can be enabled for self-levelling and envelope protection, making this aircraft accessible to pilots of varying experience levels. The 70-amp ESC is rated for the system's power requirements whilst maintaining conservative thermal characteristics, and it features real-time telemetry capability allowing you to monitor battery voltage, current, motor RPM, and other critical parameters throughout your flight. Whether you're attempting ultra-short takeoffs from a rough field, performing gentle loops and rolls, or exploring water operations with the included floats, the Timber 1.5m delivers the performance and reliability expected from a purpose-designed, modern RC aircraft platform.
What's in the Box
- E-flite Timber 1.5m 10th Anniversary Special Edition aircraft
- 6 × Spektrum metal-geared servos (factory-installed)
- Spektrum brushless outrunner motor (factory-installed)
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite brushless ESC (factory-installed)
- Spektrum AR631+ receiver with AS3X+ and SAFE Select (factory-installed)
- Set of optional-use leading edge slats
- Set of optional-use floats
- Product manual and documentation
What You Need to Complete
- Full-range 5–7+ channel Spektrum DSMX or DSM2 compatible transmitter (such as DX6e, DX8e, DX9, NX6, NX7, iX12, or higher)
- 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V 2200–5000mAh LiPo battery with EC3 or IC3 connector
- Compatible LiPo battery charger (such as Spektrum S120 or S1200 Smart Charger)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the E-flite Timber 1.5m suitable for beginners? — The Timber is classified as Skill Level 2, meaning it is not suitable as a first RC aircraft. You should have successfully flown a trainer aircraft like the HobbyZone AeroScout 1.1m, Carbon Cub 1.3m, or Apprentice STS 1.5m before attempting to fly this model. However, the included SAFE Select feature can assist newer pilots by providing optional automatic self-levelling and envelope protection, making it more forgiving than earlier Timber versions.
- What is Bind-N-Fly and why does it matter? — Bind-N-Fly (BNF) means the aircraft arrives with the receiver, motor, ESC, servos, and all essential electronics already factory-installed and tested. You simply bind the receiver to your compatible transmitter and fly—no soldering, motor installation, or receiver configuration needed. This saves considerable time and cost if you already own a Spektrum transmitter, making it an excellent choice for pilots upgrading from a trainer to their next aircraft.
- What battery does the Timber 1.5m need, and what are the differences between 3S and 4S? — The aircraft accepts either 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V LiPo batteries ranging from 2200mAh to 5000mAh capacity with EC3 or IC3 connectors. A 3S battery (11.1V) provides a good balance of performance and flight time at a lower cost, whilst a 4S battery (14.8V) delivers increased power and performance at the expense of slightly increased current draw and reduced flight time. Choose based on your flying style, available budget, and desired performance characteristics.
- Can I use the Timber 1.5m for water flying, and what's included? — Yes, the aircraft comes with an optional-use float set featuring dual water rudders for precise steering during water operations. Simply swap the landing gear for the floats to transform it into an amphibian capable of operating from lakes, ponds, rivers, and other water surfaces. The floats can be swapped out in minutes, allowing you to fly from water or land depending on your flying location and preferences.
- What makes the AS3X+ and SAFE Select technologies valuable for STOL flying? — AS3X+ automatically compensates for wind, turbulence, and gusts by making thousands of correction adjustments per second, delivering a locked-in, stable feel that makes controlling STOL operations in windy conditions significantly easier. SAFE Select adds optional automatic self-levelling and pitch/bank angle limits that can be toggled with a transmitter switch, providing additional safety margins during STOL approaches and landings whilst remaining completely optional if you prefer full manual control.
- Why is the top-mounted battery hatch important for RC flying? — Traditional side or rear-mounted hatches require the aircraft to be held or placed carefully during battery changes. The top-mounted hatch on this Timber allows quick, convenient battery swaps whilst the aircraft sits normally on its landing gear, saving time between flights and reducing the risk of accidentally damaging the airframe during battery access.
- What is the advantage of the Smart Transmitter File feature? — The receiver comes pre-loaded with a Smart Transmitter File for NX and iX series Spektrum transmitters. When you bind, all settings automatically download from the receiver—switch assignments, rates, expo, telemetry configuration, and voice callouts—eliminating manual programming and getting you flying immediately.
- How does the Timber's STOL capability compare to conventional RC aeroplanes? — The Timber achieves exceptional STOL performance through multiple integrated features: drooped wingtips and functional slotted flaps reduce stall speed and landing distance, whilst the optional leading edge slats further improve slow-flight characteristics; oversized tundra-style wheels and reinforced gear mounts enable operation from rough, unimproved surfaces; low wing loading from lightweight construction maintains control authority at minimal airspeeds. Together, these features enable takeoff and landing distances measured in tens of metres rather than hundreds.
- What transmitter systems are compatible with the Timber 1.5m BNF Basic? — The AR631+ receiver is compatible with any full-range 5–7+ channel Spektrum DSMX or DSM2 transmitter, including entry-level models like the DX6e and DX8e, mid-range options like the DX9 and NX7, and professional systems like the iX20. If you don't already own a compatible transmitter, various completion packages are available that bundle an appropriate radio with the aircraft.
- Is the Timber 1.5m capable of aerobatic flying? — Yes, the lightweight composite construction, powerful brushless system, and precise servo control enable a wide range of aerobatic manoeuvres including loops, rolls, stalls, and gentle inverted flight. Whilst not a dedicated aerobatic aircraft, it delivers surprising performance for sport flying within the capabilities of most pilots.
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 Timber 1.5m 10th Anniversary Special Edition BNF Basic A-EFL-3352 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.
