Overview
The E-flite Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select is an updated and upgraded version of the extremely popular Extra 300, designed for intermediate to experienced RC pilots who demand precision, agility and unlimited 3D aerobatic capability. This is a replica of Jim Bourke's iconic full-scale Extra 330SC aircraft, finished in his distinctive trim scheme that has made him a recognised aerobatic champion in airshows and competitions worldwide. For three decades, full-scale Extra aircraft have delivered incredible aerobatic performance, and variants have been flown to first place finishes in numerous prestigious competitions, including recent world championships. The E-flite Extra 330 SC 3D captures that same legendary performance in an accessible, ready-to-fly package that brings world-class aerobatic engineering to UK RC enthusiasts.
This brushless electric RC aeroplane represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor, featuring an 85A Smart Lite ESC, a larger hatch and opening with plastic edges, a stronger motor mount and landing gear, and more. The combination of digital metal-geared servos, composite-reinforced EPO construction, and advanced Spektrum avionics makes this a capable, convenient Bind-N-Fly package that delivers locked-in sport flying, precision aerobatics and confident 3D performance. Whether you're looking for a ready-to-run RC plane for sport flying or pushing into unlimited 3D manoeuvres, the Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m offers the perfect balance of capability and user-friendliness.
As a BNF Basic model, this aeroplane comes almost completely assembled with all major components installed and pre-configured. You simply need to bind it to your compatible Spektrum transmitter, install a suitable LiPo battery, and you're ready to take to the skies. This makes it an ideal choice for pilots who want to get flying quickly without spending hours on assembly, yet still benefit from professional-grade performance and stability features that rival much more expensive models.
Key Features
- Jim Bourke's Iconic Trim Scheme — This aeroplane is finished in the distinctive, vivid paint scheme and bold graphics of Jim Bourke's real-world Extra 330SC, making it instantly recognisable and visually striking at the flying field or on your workbench.
- 3S and 4S Battery Compatibility — The aircraft flies on popular 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V 2200–3200mAh LiPo batteries, giving you flexibility in choosing the power setup that matches your flying style and performance preferences, with no need for modifications or upgrades.
- Spektrum Avian 85-Amp Smart Lite ESC with Telemetry — The brushless electronic speed controller provides real-time battery voltage, current, RPM and other critical flight data via compatible Spektrum receivers and transmitters, helping you monitor your aircraft's health throughout every flight.
- AS3X Stabilisation Technology — The exclusive AS3X (Attitude Stabilisation and Advanced 3-Axis Gyro) system delivers unmatched stability and a locked-in feel, making the aircraft more predictable and easier to control even in challenging flight conditions or during aggressive aerobatic manoeuvres.
- SAFE Select Flight Envelope Protection — Optional-use SAFE Select provides flight envelope protection, allowing you to set virtual boundaries and prevent over-banking or other manoeuvres that could lead to loss of control, with the option to disable it for experienced pilots seeking maximum freedom.
- Spektrum AR631 6-Channel Receiver — The included receiver offers full-range telemetry and industry-leading DSMX technology, ensuring reliable, interference-free communication between your transmitter and aircraft across the full range of your flying field.
- Four Factory-Installed Digital Metal-Geared Servos — High-quality digital servos come pre-installed with ball-link-equipped linkages, delivering precise, responsive control with the robustness needed for aggressive 3D flying and aerobatic manoeuvres.
- Oversized Control Surfaces — The Extra 330 SC 3D features oversized control surfaces that provide maximum 3D aerobatic capability, allowing you to perform rolls, inverted flight, knife-edge manoeuvres and other advanced tricks with confidence and control.
- Composite-Reinforced EPO Airframe — Lightweight yet durable construction using EPO material reinforced with composites ensures the aircraft is strong enough to handle aggressive flying whilst remaining light enough for excellent performance on modest battery packs.
- Larger Hatch with Plastic Edges — The redesigned battery hatch is larger and features plastic edges to eliminate paint chipping, making it easier and more convenient to install and remove batteries between flights.
- Stronger Motor Mount and Landing Gear — Upgraded motor mount and specially reinforced landing gear provide greater durability and robustness, standing up to repeated takeoffs, landings and the stresses of aggressive 3D flying.
- Two-Piece Plug-In Wings with Carbon Fibre Tube — The wings feature a carbon fibre wing tube for strength and stiffness, and plug in simply without needing to disassemble the fuselage, making transport and storage convenient whilst maintaining excellent aerodynamic rigidity.
- Durable Aluminium Landing Gear with Wheel Pants — The rugged aluminium landing gear features wheel pants that reduce drag and enhance the aircraft's appearance whilst providing the durability needed for grass and rough field operations.
- Less Than One Hour Assembly — As a Bind-N-Fly Basic model, the Extra 330 SC 3D requires minimal assembly time of less than one hour, meaning you can get from unboxing to first flight very quickly.
- Transmitter Compatibility — The aircraft is suggested for compatibility with the Spektrum DXS transmitter included with many popular E-flite and HobbyZone trainer models, making it an excellent upgrade path for existing E-flite pilots.
Technical Performance
The E-flite Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m is engineered for serious aerobatic performance from a platform that balances agility with stability. The brushless outrunner motor is specially tuned to deliver strong thrust across the board, optimised for popular 3S and 4S 2200–3200mAh LiPo packs without requiring any modifications or upgrades. The Spektrum Avian 85-Amp Smart Lite ESC is a modern, efficient speed controller that manages power delivery intelligently whilst providing real-time telemetry data including battery voltage, current draw and motor RPM. The aircraft measures 1260mm in length with a 1308mm wingspan, giving it compact dimensions suitable for transport and storage yet sufficient wing area for excellent lift characteristics across a wide speed range. Without battery, the aircraft weighs 1696 grams (59.8 ounces), and with a recommended battery installed it reaches approximately 2131 grams (75 ounces), resulting in a power-to-weight ratio that supports both efficient cruising and explosive 3D aerobatic performance. The composite-reinforced EPO airframe construction provides an excellent balance between durability and weight, resisting impact damage from crashes whilst remaining light enough to deliver responsive handling and practical flight times. Digital metal-geared servos handle all control inputs with precision, equipped with ball-link linkages that transmit control inputs directly and cleanly without slop or delay. The oversized control surfaces provide the authority needed for tight loops, rolls, knife-edge flight and other advanced 3D manoeuvres, whilst the robust motor mount and reinforced landing gear ensure the airframe can handle the stresses of aggressive flying session after session. IC3 connector compatibility ensures standardisation with modern Spektrum battery systems, and the two-piece plug-in wing design with carbon fibre tube provides excellent structural rigidity whilst remaining convenient to assemble and disassemble.
What's in the Box
- E-flite Extra 330SC 3D 1.3m airframe
- Four digital, metal-geared servos (factory-installed)
- Spektrum brushless outrunner motor (factory-installed)
- Spektrum Avian 85-Amp Smart Lite brushless ESC (factory-installed)
- Spektrum AR631 6-channel receiver with AS3X and SAFE Select (factory-installed)
- Product manual with assembly and flying instructions
What You Need to Complete
- Full-range 4–5+ channel Spektrum DSMX® or DSM2® compatible transmitter (suggested compatibility with Spektrum DXS)
- 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V 2200–3200mAh LiPo battery with EC3™ or IC3® connector (sold separately)
- Compatible LiPo battery charger (sold separately)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the E-flite Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m suitable for intermediate RC pilots? — Yes, this aircraft is specifically designed for intermediate to experienced RC pilots who have some flying experience and are ready to progress beyond basic trainer aircraft. The SAFE Select system can provide optional flight envelope protection, making it more forgiving for less experienced pilots, whilst experienced flyers can disable SAFE Select for unlimited 3D aerobatic capability. If you're completely new to RC flying, you may benefit from starting with a dedicated trainer aircraft first.
- What battery does the Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m need and how long will it fly? — The aircraft requires a 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V 2200–3200mAh LiPo battery with an EC3 or IC3 connector. The 3S option provides lighter weight and lower cost, whilst the 4S offers more power and performance. With a 3200mAh battery, you can expect practical flight times of around 8–12 minutes depending on your flying style, with more aggressive 3D flying consuming more energy than gentle sport flying.
- What makes the AS3X and SAFE Select features valuable? — AS3X (Attitude Stabilisation and Advanced 3-Axis Gyro) uses gyro stabilisation to provide unmatched stability and a locked-in feel, automatically correcting unwanted roll, pitch and yaw inputs to keep your aircraft pointed where you want it. SAFE Select is an optional flight envelope protection system that prevents manoeuvres outside safe limits such as excessive bank angles or inverted flight, which can be enabled or disabled at the transmitter. Together, these technologies make the aircraft easier and safer to fly whilst still allowing experienced pilots complete freedom when needed.
- How does the E-flite Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m compare to other 3D aerobatic aircraft? — This aircraft represents an upgraded evolution of the popular Extra 300 3D 1.3m, featuring a more powerful 85A Smart Lite ESC (compared to standard ESCs in older models), a larger battery hatch with plastic edges to prevent paint chipping, a stronger motor mount and reinforced landing gear for greater durability. The inclusion of telemetry-capable receiver and modern Spektrum avionics also sets it apart from earlier-generation 3D aircraft. If you've flown an Extra 300 before, you'll immediately notice the improvements in build quality and reliability.
- What is the difference between Bind-N-Fly Basic and other completion levels? — Bind-N-Fly Basic means the aircraft comes almost completely assembled with all major electronics installed and pre-configured. You simply bind it to your transmitter, install a battery, and fly. This is different from ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) kits which require more assembly of the airframe, or RTR (Ready to Run) kits which include a transmitter. BNF Basic saves significant assembly time whilst still allowing you to choose your own transmitter from the compatible Spektrum range.
- Can I use my existing Spektrum transmitter with this aircraft? — Yes, provided your transmitter is a full-range 4–5+ channel Spektrum DSMX or DSM2 compatible radio. The aircraft is suggested for compatibility with the Spektrum DXS transmitter, which comes with many E-flite and HobbyZone trainer models. If you already own an E-flite or HobbyZone trainer with a Spektrum transmitter, this aeroplane should work with your existing radio setup.
- How durable is the EPO airframe, and what happens if I crash? — EPO (expanded polypropylene) is a durable foam material that resists impact damage better than traditional balsa or fibreglass. However, it can still be damaged in hard crashes. The composite-reinforced construction adds extra strength in key areas like the wing roots and fuselage. Crashes often result in bent landing gear or minor foam damage rather than catastrophic failures. E-flite offers a range of replacement parts including fuselage sections, wings and landing gear, so repairs are usually quick and affordable.
- What is the suggested battery specification and how do I charge it? — The aircraft is suggested to fly on 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V batteries in the 2200–3200mAh capacity range with either EC3 or IC3 connectors. You'll need a compatible LiPo battery charger sold separately. Spektrum Smart chargers are recommended as they automatically detect battery cell count and voltage, providing safe, optimised charging. Never use a standard charger on LiPo batteries as they require specialised charging profiles.
- How long does the assembly take and what tools do I need? — Assembly takes approximately less than one hour as a Bind-N-Fly Basic model. You'll need basic tools including a soldering iron if you need to solder the battery connector (though many modern systems use plug connectors), a small screwdriver set, and possibly some clear dope or paint for any assembly areas. Most major assembly is already complete, so you're mainly binding the receiver and installing the battery.
- Is this aircraft suitable for flying in windy conditions? — The Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m is a reasonably robust aircraft, but like all sport and 3D flyers, it's designed for relatively calm to moderate wind conditions. Excessive wind can make precise control difficult and may exceed the aircraft's design limits. The AS3X gyro system helps stabilise the aircraft in light turbulence, but very windy days are best avoided.
- What transmitter should I buy for the Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m? — You need a full-range 4–5+ channel Spektrum DSMX or DSM2 compatible transmitter. The Spektrum DXS is suggested for compatibility with this aircraft. Other Spektrum transmitters such as the DX6 or higher-end models will also work. If you're new to Spektrum, the DXS offers a good balance of price and features for the money.
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 Extra 330 SC 3D 1.3m BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select A-EFL05050 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.
