VOLANTEX P47 THUNDERBOLT 4CH 400MM BRUSHED WITH GYRO EPP RTF V761-16

Overview

The VOLANTEX P47 Thunderbolt 4CH 400mm Brushed with Gyro EPP RTF is an exceptional ready-to-fly RC aeroplane that brings World War II heritage and modern flight technology together in one impressive package. This ultralight aircraft combines ease of use with genuine aerobatic capability, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking to enter the world of RC aviation or expand their collection of ready to run RC planes. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced pilot looking for a compact, portable flyer, this brushed electric RC plane delivers reliable performance, intuitive controls, and the durability needed for extended outdoor flying sessions.

At just 400mm wingspan and weighing only 50 grams, the P47 Thunderbolt is remarkably portable yet substantial enough to handle real flying conditions. The aircraft features the acclaimed Xpilot gyro stabilisation system that automatically helps maintain level flight, transforming what could be a challenging learning curve into a genuinely enjoyable experience. The three-level flight control assist system is a game-changer for UK RC enthusiasts of all abilities: beginners benefit from full flight assistance that keeps the aircraft stable and predictable, whilst intermediate and expert pilots can progressively dial back the assistance until they're flying entirely manually. This graduated approach to pilot skill development means you'll grow with the aircraft rather than outgrowing it quickly, making it exceptional value for money as a ready-to-fly RC plane investment.

The P47 Thunderbolt represents authentic WWII styling with modern engineering—the powerful motor and gearbox system deliver impressive thrust and speed for an aircraft of this size, whilst the EPP foam construction ensures the airframe can withstand the inevitable bumps and minor crashes that come with learning to fly RC aeroplanes. With a control range of 656 feet and a 2.4GHz radio system featuring full 4-channel control, you'll have plenty of space to explore different flight techniques. The automatic take-off feature is particularly valuable for beginners: simply press a button, hold the throttle, and throw the aircraft—it will automatically climb to a safe altitude and hover waiting for your commands, eliminating the stress of hand-launching whilst developing your piloting skills.

Key Features

• Xpilot Gyro Stabilisation System — The integrated gyro system automatically corrects unwanted rolling and maintains level flight, providing crucial stability assistance that makes the aircraft forgiving enough for beginners whilst remaining fully manual-controllable for experienced pilots who want the challenge.
• Three-Level Flight Control Assist — Beginner mode offers complete flight stabilisation, intermediate mode provides partial assistance allowing you to build confidence gradually, and expert mode disables all assistance for full manual aerobatic control, ensuring the aircraft grows with your skills rather than limiting your progression.
• Powerful Brushed Motor with Gearbox System — The 10mm coreless brushed motor is paired with an efficient gearbox transmission that significantly increases available thrust and power output, delivering improved speed and extended flight time compared to direct-drive alternatives, enabling flights of approximately 20 minutes on a single battery charge.
• Automatic Take-Off and Aerobatic Features — Press a button, throttle up and gently throw the aircraft—it automatically climbs and hovers awaiting your input, eliminating hand-launch anxiety for beginners; similarly, another button press enables full aerobatic capability with inverted flight, loops and barrel rolls.
• Durable EPP Foam Construction — The entire airframe is built from expanded polypropylene foam which is incredibly damage-resistant and impact-absorbent, allowing the aircraft to survive crashes and rough landings that would destroy traditional balsa or composite aircraft, making it perfect for outdoor adventure flying.
• 2.4GHz Four-Channel Radio System with Exceptional Range — The 2.4GHz frequency provides robust anti-interference capability with a control range of 656 feet, allowing you to hold informal flying sessions with friends or find plenty of airspace for exploring different manoeuvres without worrying about signal dropouts or frequency conflicts.
• Fully Assembled Ready-to-Fly Configuration — This is a genuinely ready to run RC plane requiring no assembly whatsoever; it arrives in a flight-ready state straight from the box, with only batteries for the transmitter needed before you can begin flying—you can be airborne within one minute of opening the packaging.
• Lightweight and Portable Design — At just 50 grams flying weight with a compact 320mm length, the P47 Thunderbolt is genuinely portable and can accompany you wherever you go, making it perfect for lunch-hour flying sessions, weekend trips or travelling with your hobby collection.
• Ailerons for Full Aerobatic Capability — The aircraft features moving ailerons mounted on both wings, providing the roll control authority needed for aerobatic manoeuvres including barrel rolls, knife-edge flight and inverted passes once you progress beyond basic flight training.
• Two Gram Servos — The ultra-lightweight servo package contributes to the aircraft's impressive power-to-weight ratio, ensuring snappy control response and smooth, precise handling across the entire flight envelope from gentle turns to aggressive aerobatic sequences.

Technical Performance

The VOLANTEX P47 Thunderbolt delivers impressive performance for its diminutive size, thanks to a carefully engineered combination of power plant, control surface authority, and construction materials. The 10mm coreless brushed motor is paired with a gearbox transmission that multiplies available thrust significantly compared to direct-drive arrangements, making the power-to-weight ratio excellent and enabling sustained climbs and aerobatic manoeuvres that would tax simpler designs. The motor operates on a 3.7V lithium polymer battery (360mAh recommended), which is controlled by an integrated receiver/speed control combination that manages power delivery smoothly and efficiently. Flight performance is enhanced by the two-gram servo actuation system—these incredibly lightweight control surfaces achieve crisp, responsive deflection without introducing lag or sluggishness, critical for the precise inputs required during manual aerobatic flying. The EPP foam airframe is both incredibly durable and optimally light-weight, with a flying weight of just 50 grams—this keeps the wing loading low, improving slow-speed handling and enabling longer flight times by reducing the power draw required to stay airborne. The four-channel 2.4GHz radio system provides aileron, elevator, throttle and rudder control through discrete channels, offering full three-dimensional flight capability including inverted manoeuvres, loops and coordinated turns. The Xpilot gyro system continuously monitors aircraft attitude and automatically applies corrective inputs to maintain stability, a technology borrowed from drone flight controllers that makes the aircraft exceptionally forgiving during the learning phase whilst remaining completely defeatable once you've developed your piloting skills. With a 656-foot control range, the 2.4GHz system provides excellent coverage with genuine anti-interference technology that has become the standard in modern RC systems, making it suitable for group flying sessions and minimising the risk of frequency conflicts at UK flying clubs.

What's in the Box

• VOLANTEX P47 Thunderbolt aircraft (fully assembled and ready-to-fly)
• 2.4GHz four-channel remote control transmitter
• Integrated receiver/speed controller in airframe
• USB charging cable for battery
• 3.7V 360mAh lithium polymer battery
• Instruction manual with flight guidance

What You Need to Complete

• Transmitter batteries (AA or AAA depending on transmitter design—typically two or four cells)
• Open flying space outdoors with at least 100 metres clearance from people, vehicles and obstacles

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the VOLANTEX P47 Thunderbolt suitable for complete beginners with no RC flying experience? — Absolutely yes. The three-level flight assistance system is specifically designed for progressive skill development; you can enable full stabilisation assistance which makes the aircraft virtually impossible to crash through normal input, then gradually reduce assistance as confidence builds. The automatic take-off feature eliminates hand-launch anxiety, a common barrier for beginners starting with RC aeroplanes. Many first-time RC pilots have successfully learned on this exact aircraft thanks to its forgiving flight characteristics and beginner-focused control modes.
• What battery does the P47 Thunderbolt require and how long will it fly? — The aircraft uses a 3.7V 360mAh lithium polymer battery, which is included in the box. A fully charged battery provides approximately 20 minutes of continuous flight time under typical conditions, though this will vary based on flight style—aggressive aerobatic flying will reduce flight time slightly whilst gentle, fuel-efficient flying can extend it. The battery charges via the included USB cable, typically requiring 30-40 minutes for a complete charge from an empty state.
• Can experienced pilots enjoy this aircraft or is it only for beginners? — The P47 Thunderbolt is genuinely enjoyable for pilots across the entire skill spectrum. Whilst beginners benefit enormously from the flight assistance modes, expert pilots can completely disable the gyro system and fly the aircraft manually, unlocking full aerobatic capability including inverted flight, loops, barrel rolls and knife-edge manoeuvres. The aircraft's responsive controls and high power-to-weight ratio make it sufficiently challenging for experienced aviators to enjoy whilst remaining accessible to learners.
• How durable is the EPP foam construction and will it survive crashes? — EPP foam is exceptionally impact-resistant and energy-absorbing, meaning the P47 Thunderbolt will survive crashes that would destroy traditional balsa or composite aircraft. Minor impacts typically result in no visible damage whatsoever, whilst even substantial crashes usually cause only cosmetic foam compression or minor denting. The foam's flexibility also means the airframe can absorb shock loads without cracking or breaking, making repairs simple (foam can be glued back together if ever necessary) or often unnecessary. This durability is a major advantage for beginners who are still developing their landing technique.
• What is the flight range and will I lose signal in crowded UK flying areas? — The 2.4GHz radio system provides a control range of 656 feet with robust anti-interference technology that has become the modern standard. The 2.4GHz frequency band is specifically managed for RC equipment in the UK with frequency coordination protocols, meaning you're unlikely to experience interference even in areas with multiple RC enthusiasts flying simultaneously. Group flying sessions and club activities are entirely feasible with this aircraft.
• How does this aircraft compare to other beginner RC planes? — The P47 Thunderbolt combines several advantages: the integrated gyro system provides automatic stabilisation without requiring separate equipment, the three-level assistance system offers graduated learning progression unavailable on many competitors, the powerful brushed motor with gearbox provides surprising performance for the size, the EPP foam construction is more durable than traditional balsa designs, and the fully assembled ready-to-fly configuration means you can literally fly within a minute of unboxing. The only completed drawback compared to some alternatives is the slightly shorter flight time (20 minutes) compared to larger designs, though for a 400mm aircraft this is entirely competitive and the extended battery life means more total flying enjoyment throughout a flying session.
• Is assembly required and how quickly can I start flying? — Zero assembly is required; the aircraft arrives completely ready to fly in the box. The only preparation necessary is charging the included battery (30-40 minutes via USB) and installing batteries in the transmitter. You can literally be airborne within one minute of finishing these charging tasks, making this one of the quickest-to-flying-readiness options available in ready-to-fly RC aeroplanes.
• What experience level does this aircraft target? — The official recommendation is ages 14 and above, suitable for beginners through expert pilots. The progressive flight assistance system makes it specifically tailored for learners whilst retaining full manual aerobatic capability for experienced flyers, representing exceptional versatility across the skill spectrum.

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 VOLANTEX P47 Thunderbolt 4CH 400MM Brushed with Gyro EPP RTF V761-16 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.