Overview
The E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m PNP is a remarkable evolution of an already legendary RC aircraft, designed for intermediate to experienced pilots who demand versatility, performance, and the unique capability to fly from dawn until well after dusk. This 1206mm wingspan beauty combines Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) prowess with genuine 3D aerobatic capability, making it one of the most capable and entertaining brushless RC aircraft available in the UK market today. Whether you're seeking a high-visibility training platform, a sport flying machine, or an aircraft that can handle aggressive 3D manoeuvres, the Night Timber X Evolution delivers on all fronts with style and sophistication.
What sets this particular model apart from other RC aeroplanes is its comprehensive refresh based on real-world pilot feedback. E-flite has engineered substantial improvements including a larger top-mounted hatch for rapid battery swaps, reinforced landing gear with heavy-duty springs designed to absorb the rigours of rough-field operations, and combined electrical connectors that simplify wing installation and removal for convenient transport and storage. The integrated high-visibility LED lighting system throughout the airframe means you can confidently fly all day and all night, making this an ideal choice for those who want maximum flight time without worrying about visibility constraints. For anyone serious about RC aeroplane flying in the UK, this is a ready-to-fly platform that genuinely offers something different.
The Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m PNP (Plug and Play) comes almost completely assembled with all the critical components already installed—the motor, Electronic Speed Controller (ESC), servos, and lighting systems. This means you'll be ready to fly in less than one hour with just the addition of a compatible radio system, receiver, LiPo battery, and charger. It's the perfect choice if you already have a 5+ channel transmitter and want a high-performance, feature-rich aerobatic aircraft without building from scratch.
Key Features
- Top-Mounted Hatch Design — The redesigned larger hatch provides much faster and more convenient battery access than traditional belly hatches, allowing you to swap between 3S 2200mAh and 4S 3200mAh LiPo packs in seconds without disassembling the fuselage, which is essential when you want to maximise flight time at the field.
- Incredible STOL and Aerobatic Capability — This aircraft uniquely combines exceptional Short Takeoff and Landing performance with genuine 3D aerobatic capabilities, meaning you can launch from tiny grass strips yet still perform aggressive manoeuvres, inverted flight, and dynamic stunts that most general-purpose aeroplanes simply cannot achieve.
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC with Telemetry — The onboard Electronic Speed Controller provides real-time telemetry data including battery voltage, current draw, RPM, and other critical flight parameters transmitted to compatible Spektrum receivers and transmitters, giving you essential information about your aircraft's health and performance during flight.
- High-Power 3S/4S Compatible Brushless Motor — The Spektrum 2815-900Kv 14-pole brushless outrunner motor features reinforced mounting specifically designed to handle the demands of aggressive flying whilst maintaining reliability through countless flights, and accepts both 3S (11.1V) and 4S (14.8V) LiPo battery packs for variable power options.
- Six Metal-Geared Servos for Precise Control — All six control servos feature durable metal gearing and are pre-installed, delivering the precise, responsive control authority needed for sport flying and demanding 3D aerobatics with absolutely no play or slop in the control surfaces.
- Oversized Control Surfaces with Double-Bevelled Hinge Lines — The larger-than-typical control surfaces combined with double-bevelled hinge line geometry provide exceptional control authority and responsiveness, essential for performing advanced aerobatic manoeuvres and maintaining control during high-speed sport flying.
- Functional Flaps with Full-Span Aileron Option — The flaps travel in both directions, offering conventional flap function for improved slow-flight and landing characteristics, or alternatively they can be rigged for use as full-span ailerons to expand your aerobatic envelope and control options.
- Combined Electrical Connectors for Simplified Assembly — Unlike traditional aircraft designs with separate connectors for each wing, the combined wing electrical connectors mean wing installation and removal is faster and simpler, making transport, storage, and maintenance considerably more convenient.
- Reinforced Landing Gear with Heavy-Duty Springs — The strengthened main landing gear mounts combined with shock-absorbing design and oversized wheels and tyres are specifically engineered to handle rough-field operations, permitting comfortable landings on grass, gravel, and unprepared surfaces that would stress lighter aircraft.
- Optional Leading-Edge Slats for Enhanced STOL Performance — Integrated leading-edge slats can be deployed to further improve slow-flight characteristics and STOL performance, making incredibly short takeoff distances possible and allowing operation from the most restrictive flying venues.
- Integrated High-Visibility LED Lighting System — Factory-installed LED landing lights, navigation lights, and strobe lights throughout the airframe ensure excellent visibility during dawn, dusk, and night flying sessions, allowing you to fly confidently whenever conditions permit rather than being restricted to daylight hours only.
- Lightweight EPO Foam Construction — The airframe combines durable composite-reinforced EPO foam construction with excellent strength-to-weight characteristics, meaning the aircraft is both robust enough for aggressive flying and aerobatics yet light enough to achieve exceptional short-field performance and fuel efficiency.
- Two-Piece Bolt-On Wing with Composite Joiner — The wing design features simple bolt-on connections with a composite joiner, eliminating the need for complex glue-ups or epoxy work whilst maintaining structural integrity and alignment, making assembly, disassembly, and transport straightforward and hassle-free.
- Fast Glue-Free Assembly — Requiring less than one hour of assembly time with absolutely no glue required, the PNP configuration means you can have this aircraft ready for its maiden flight within an afternoon, compared to months of building time required by traditional kit aircraft.
- Optional Water Landing Capability — Dedicated floats are available separately, opening up the possibility of flying from lakes, ponds, and coastal waters, massively expanding the flying locations available to you and adding another dimension to your RC flying experience.
Technical Performance
The E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m represents genuinely serious engineering for the intermediate to advanced RC pilot. The Spektrum 2815-900Kv 14-pole brushless outrunner motor is a purpose-designed unit selected specifically for this airframe, offering exceptional power delivery and efficiency across the entire throttle range. This motor is compatible with both 3S (11.1 volts) and 4S (14.8 volts) LiPo battery configurations in the 2200–3200mAh capacity range, giving you the flexibility to choose between extended flight time with 3S packs or enhanced power and performance with 4S packs depending on your flying style and available field time. The Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite Electronic Speed Controller is intelligently designed to handle the current draw of this motor whilst providing real-time telemetry feedback—a feature that separates this aircraft from basic trainers and demonstrates the engineering philosophy behind every component choice.
The airframe measures 1206mm across the wings and 1054mm in length, creating an aircraft that is substantial enough to handle genuine aerobatic loads yet remains manageable and portable for UK club flying. The airframe weighs 1550 grams without battery, rising to approximately 1810 grams with a recommended battery pack installed, resulting in a wing loading that permits both efficient slow-speed flight and energetic sport performance. The centre of gravity is set at 93mm ± 9mm, providing the correct balance point for stable yet responsive handling characteristics. The 13x4 inch propeller is optimally sized for this motor and airframe combination, delivering appropriate thrust for the intended flight envelope without excessive noise or vibration.
Construction utilises composite-reinforced EPO foam, which combines the light weight and impact absorption of foam with the structural integrity and durability of composite reinforcement. This material selection means the airframe can absorb the inevitable mishaps of learning advanced aerobatics whilst remaining light enough for the exceptional STOL performance this aircraft is renowned for. The double-bevelled hinge lines on all control surfaces reduce friction and backlash, contributing to the precise, responsive handling that both sport flyers and 3D aerobatic pilots demand. The oversized wheels and tyres combined with reinforced landing gear and shock-absorbing springs mean that launching from unprepared fields—a core strength of the Timber family of aircraft—is genuinely comfortable rather than punishing on the airframe or requiring specialist rough-field techniques.
What's in the Box
- E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m complete airframe
- Six Spektrum metal-geared servos (pre-installed)
- Spektrum 2815-900Kv 14-pole brushless outrunner motor (installed)
- Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite brushless ESC (installed)
- Product manual with assembly and flight instructions
What You Need to Complete
- Full-range 5+ channel transmitter and receiver system (sold separately)
- One 3S 11.1V or 4S 14.8V 2200–3200mAh LiPo battery with IC3 or EC3 connector (sold separately)
- Compatible LiPo battery charger (sold separately)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m suitable for intermediate RC pilots? — Absolutely. This aircraft is designated as Skill Level 4 (Intermediate to Advanced), meaning it requires a pilot with solid RC flying experience, good understanding of aerobatic control inputs, and comfortable handling of both 3D manoeuvres and precise landings. If you have experience flying sport aeroplanes or trainers, you possess the foundational skills needed to enjoy this model safely and progress to more advanced flying techniques.
- What battery does the Night Timber X Evolution require? — The aircraft is compatible with either a 3S (11.1V) or 4S (14.8V) LiPo battery in the 2200–3200mAh capacity range with IC3 or EC3 connector types. The 3S option provides extended flight time ideal for relaxed flying, whilst the 4S option delivers enhanced power and performance suitable for sport and 3D aerobatic flying.
- What is the assembly time for this PNP aircraft? — The E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m requires less than one hour of assembly time. Because it arrives as a Plug and Play (PNP) configuration with the motor, ESC, servos, and all control systems pre-installed, you need only attach the wings, connect your receiver, install your battery, and you're ready for your first flight—assuming you already have a compatible radio system, battery, and charger.
- How is this different from the original Night Timber X 1.2m? — The Evolution version incorporates multiple upgrades based on customer feedback: a significantly larger top-mounted hatch for easier battery access (rather than a belly-mounted hatch), stronger and reinforced main landing gear mounts with heavier-duty springs for rougher field operations, combined electrical connectors on the wings for simpler and faster installation/removal, and improved servo reliability through the use of updated metal-geared units. These enhancements make the Evolution version more durable, more convenient, and more capable than the original whilst maintaining the same exceptional STOL and aerobatic performance.
- Can I fly this aircraft at night? — Yes, absolutely. The integrated high-visibility LED lighting system throughout the airframe, including factory-installed LED landing lights, navigation lights, and strobe lights, enables confident flying during dawn, dusk, and night operations. This is one of the unique selling points of the Night Timber family and makes it ideal for maximising your flying time during British seasons when daylight hours are limited.
- What radio system do I need for the Night Timber X Evolution? — You require a full-range 5+ channel transmitter and receiver system. Most modern Spektrum transmitters (including the DX6e, DX8, and DX9) will work perfectly. Ensure your chosen system offers a minimum of 5 channels and has adequate range for your flying location; a full-range system is essential rather than short-range park flyer equipment.
- Can I use optional floats for water flying? — Yes, E-flite manufactures dedicated float packages available separately that enable the Night Timber X Evolution to operate from water surfaces including lakes, ponds, and shallow coastal areas. This opens up significantly more flying opportunities and adds another dimension to your flying repertoire beyond traditional grass and dirt strips.
- What propeller does this aircraft use? — The Night Timber X Evolution is equipped with a 13x4 inch propeller that is specifically matched to the Spektrum 2815-900Kv motor. This size provides optimal thrust and efficiency for the airframe and is pre-installed on your aircraft.
- How does the Smart Lite ESC telemetry system work? — The Spektrum Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite ESC continuously monitors and transmits real-time data including battery voltage, current draw, RPM, and other performance metrics to compatible Spektrum receivers and transmitters. This telemetry data appears on your transmitter display, allowing you to monitor your aircraft's battery health and performance throughout your flight, helping you manage power and avoid over-discharging your LiPo battery.
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 E-flite Night Timber X Evolution 1.2m PNP A-EFL013875 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.
