112 Grams. Unlimited Vertical. Real Warbird DNA. The E-flite UMX “Detroit Miss” Reviewed

A 112-gram brushless Mustang with AS3X and SAFE Select looks like the perfect next step. It isn’t for low-time pilots, and the radio, packs, and charger cost extra. Here’s what you’re really buying.

1. Quick Verdict

The E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” (EFLU7350) earns a spot on the shortlist of pilots who already fly comparable higher-performance models and can supply the right transmitter, batteries, and charger. It is not a first RC plane, and E-flite’s own detailed copy rules it out as the immediate next airplane for a low-time pilot coming off a trainer.

The case for it is convenience: a factory-assembled foam Mustang with brushless 2S/3S power, AS3X stabilization with switchable SAFE Select, and removable landing gear. The headline’s 112 grams is E-flite’s listed weight with the recommended 3S 300mAh pack, and unlimited vertical performance is E-flite’s own 3S claim; as of October 2026, we found no independent climb test that confirms it.

Three caveats decide the purchase:

• It’s a Bind-N-Fly Basic: transmitter, flight battery, and charger are sold separately.
• The radio must match: Horizon Hobby specifies a full-range, five-or-more-channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2-compatible transmitter.
• The wheels want smooth ground: over grass, the documented approach is gear off, hand launch, and belly landing.

Wondering where a micro warbird fits among proven options? Our guide to the best RC planes maps the field. Below: the real cost of entry, and where E-flite’s promises end and documented evidence begins.

2. Brief Overview

What It Is

The UMX P-51D Mustang “Detroit Miss” BNF Basic is E-flite’s warbird-livery version of its UMX P-51D, distributed by Horizon Hobby. It arrives factory-assembled in expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, with a Spektrum 1208–2150Kv 12-pole brushless outrunner, four Spektrum linear servos, and a combined receiver/electronic speed controller (ESC) installed.

The idea is a grab-and-go scale Mustang you can fly without a club runway, provided your site is suitable and permitted. As a Bind-N-Fly (BNF) Basic package, it pairs with your own radio; the box holds the airplane and its manual.

Who It’s For

It suits pilots who already handle comparable higher-performance airplanes. E-flite’s detailed copy excludes first-time pilots and low-time pilots shopping for their next model right after a trainer. If you’ve never flown, start with our roundup of the best RC planes for beginners instead.

Cool Features

1. AS3X with SAFE Select. AS3X (Artificial Stabilization–3-aXis) stays active even with SAFE switched off; SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) Select, on by default via a channel 5 switch, adds attitude limits and self-leveling.
2. 2S or 3S brushless power from 280–300mAh LiPo packs, swinging a four-blade propeller.
3. Voltage telemetry in real time on compatible Spektrum AirWare transmitters, which matters on packs this small.
4. Gear on or gear off: removable fixed gear with a steerable tailwheel for smooth surfaces, or no gear for hand launches and grass landings.

Already own a compatible Spektrum radio, packs, and charger? Check today’s price and availability for the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” BNF Basic on Amazon. Just remember: the transmitter, battery, and charger are not in the box.

3. Pros & Cons

PROS

• Zero build. The airframe ships factory-assembled, so your time goes into setup and preflight checks.
• Assistance you control. AS3X stays on; SAFE Select adds attitude limits and self-leveling only when you switch it in.
• Two power setups. One 280–300mAh pack class, two supported cell counts (2S or 3S).
• Flexible operation. Gear on for smooth surfaces, gear off for hand launches and grass landings.

CONS

• Experience required. Not a first airplane, nor an automatic next step after a trainer, by E-flite’s own guidance.
• Completion costs. Transmitter, packs, and charger are extra.
• Smooth-surface gear. Ground takeoffs are documented for smooth surfaces only.
• Uncertain availability. Backordered at Horizon Hobby in mid-October 2026, with no featured offer on the matching Amazon listing.

4. Before You Buy: The Real Cost of Entry

Your existing equipment, not the airplane’s sticker, sets the real budget. Work through this list before you buy:

1. Transmitter. A full-range, 5+ channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2-compatible radio. The manual recommends the Spektrum DX6e (SPMR6655) and also lists the DXS (SPMR1010). A radio bundled with another airplane isn’t automatically compatible just because it says Spektrum.
2. Flight batteries. 2S 7.4V or 3S 11.1V, 280–300mAh LiPo with a JST-RCY plug. The manual recommends the Spektrum 3S 300mAh 30C (SPMX3003SJ30) and lists a 2S 300mAh 50C pack (SPMX3002S50); JST-PH packs need an adapter such as the Spektrum SPMXCA327.
3. Charger and leads. The manual lists the Spektrum S155 55W AC G2 Smart Charger (SPMXC2050; 1S–4S, IC3/IC5 ports), but the 3S pack’s listing calls for a separate JST-RCY charge lead. Confirm the exact lead and balance connection with Horizon before you buy.
4. Spares. Budget for a spare four-blade propeller (EFL-1091) and landing gear set (EFL-1090).

WARNING: Staying under 250 grams can exempt a recreational flyer from FAA registration, but not from the rest of the rulebook. The FAA’s registration page explains the exception, and its rules for recreational flyers still require you to pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof.

TIP: Horizon Hobby’s RealFlight Evolution add-on for this exact airplane (released August 28, 2024) lets you practice in a simulator first; it requires the RealFlight Evolution base software.

5. Expected Experience with E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss”

Expect a setup job, not a build. As of October 2026, we found no independent flight test we could verify that measures this model’s endurance, speed, climb, stall behavior, or wind handling, so your best guide is E-flite’s instruction manual.

Out of the Box and Setup

Factory assembly removes the construction, not the checklist. The manual calls for binding, a control-direction check, an AS3X response test (raise the throttle above 25% to activate the system, then lower it, and keep clear of the propeller), and a range check, with the airplane held motionless for five seconds while it initializes.

Set the center of gravity 8mm forward of the panel line shown in the manual’s diagram, checked with the airplane inverted. That datum is the illustrated panel line, not the leading edge.

For Spektrum DX, NX, and iX radios, the English setup table calls for 100% high rate, 70% low rate, and 10% expo on aileron, elevator, and rudder, plus a 5:00 starting timer.

Radio and Flight Modes

SAFE Select is on by default via channel 5; switch it off and AS3X keeps working alone. Neither mode makes the airplane crash-proof.

Voltage telemetry needs a compatible Spektrum AirWare transmitter, so confirm telemetry as well as control before counting on a radio you already own. When the low-voltage cutoff reduces power, land immediately; the manual warns that repeatedly hitting the cutoff damages packs.

Takeoff and Landing

With the gear on, ground takeoffs belong on smooth surfaces: the manual calls for low rates, a takeoff into the wind, ¾ to full throttle, and rudder steering. If you’re new to taildraggers, get qualified help first.

For hand launches, the manual calls for SAFE mode, high rates, full power, and a launch into the wind, recommends removing the gear, and warns against AS3X-only launches. Over grass, gear-off launches and landings are the documented alternative, on a safe, unobstructed, permitted field. Wind guidance is qualitative only: moderate wind, with no numeric limit.

In the Air (2S vs. 3S)

Both 2S and 3S packs are supported. E-flite claims unlimited vertical performance on a 3S 300mAh pack, but we found no independent climb measurement as of October 2026. To see the setups in motion, Model AV8R’s video review (Episode 129, published February 29, 2024) includes segments on 3S with gear and on 2S and 3S without gear.

A wing stalls when it exceeds its critical angle of attack, so treat low-speed turns with care. We found no independent record of the Detroit Miss’s own stall behavior, and SAFE Select is no stall-proof guarantee. Pick the supported setup that matches your experience, not an unmeasured speed or duration promise.

Durability and Repair

The EPS airframe calls for foam-compatible repairs, with the flight pack disconnected during service. In mid-October 2026, Horizon listed the EFL-1091 propeller as in stock, and its recall index showed no EFLU7350 entry; recheck both when you order. We found no long-term durability or crash-repair study of this model.

Where Sources Disagree

• Skill level: Horizon’s current badge says Level 3, while its embedded detailed copy and the Small Addictions RC listing say Level 2. Both describe an experienced pilot’s airplane, and we’d plan for Level 3.
• Receiver/ESC part number: The manual lists SPMA3190 in English and SPMA3193 in German and French, while its replacement-parts table and Horizon’s parts listing use SPM-1005. Confirm the fitted unit with Horizon before ordering electronics.

6. Value Check: How It Stacks Up Against Rivals

Value depends on your pilot role and what’s already in your flight box. We found no head-to-head flight test ranking these four airplanes, so compare packages and purpose.

The Voodoo is the related racer version with the same advertised power and control architecture, now discontinued. Identical parts and identical handling remain unconfirmed, so don’t treat it as a parts donor.

The VOLANTEXRC 761-5 bundles radio, packs, and charger, but its 400mm coreless-motor airframe sits in a different power class.

The Apprentice STOL S is built for learning to fly, and its bundled SLT6 radio is not established as compatible with the Detroit Miss.

7. Where the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” Really Shines

The Detroit Miss shines as a finished, pocket-size Mustang that asks for setup time, not shop time. For a pilot already comfortable with small, fast models, it delivers a recognizable P-51 in a livery with real combat history, ready once it’s bound, balanced, and checked.

Configuration flexibility is the other strength: wheels on smooth ground, or gear off over clean grass. SAFE Select gives you a self-leveling mode while you learn the airplane, and AirWare voltage telemetry helps you bring tiny packs home before the cutoff.

E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” BNF Basic (EFLU7350)

• 19.4-in. wingspan; 112 g listed with a 3S 300mAh pack
• 2S or 3S 280–300mAh LiPo, JST-RCY plug
• AS3X stabilization with SAFE Select
• Transmitter, battery, and charger not included

Check price and availability on Amazon

8. Who Should Buy It (and Who Should Skip It)

Buy on skill, equipment, and flying site, not on love of the P-51 alone.

Buy It If You Are…

• Already confident on comparable higher-performance models.
• Equipped with, or ready to buy, a compatible Spektrum transmitter, matching packs, and a charger setup.
• Flying a permitted site with smooth ground for wheels or clean grass for gear-off flying.
• A warbird fan who wants a historic livery.

Skip It If You Are…

• A first-time pilot (we’d point you to the Apprentice STOL S instead) or a fresh trainer graduate who hasn’t yet flown comparable higher-performance models.
• Unwilling to buy the transmitter, batteries, and charging gear.
• Stuck with rough or tall grass and set on wheeled takeoffs.
• After retracts and flaps. Research a larger, suitably equipped Mustang.

9. Sidebar: The Real “Detroit Miss”

On October 7, 1944, Urban L. Drew, known as Ben, destroyed two Me 262 jets while flying his P-51 Mustang “Detroit Miss,” according to a 127th Wing history article. Recognition came slowly: Drew received the Air Force Cross for the action in 1983, nearly four decades later. The Detroit native also helped organize the Michigan Air National Guard.

10. FAQ

Q: Is the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” a good first RC plane if I’ve never flown before?

A: No, the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” is not a good first RC plane.

• E-flite’s detailed copy excludes first-time pilots and low-time pilots moving straight up from a trainer.
• A trainer such as the HobbyZone Apprentice STOL S 700mm RTF includes its radio, pack, and charger.
• The RealFlight Evolution add-on allows simulator practice, but sim time alone doesn’t qualify you.

Q: What transmitter, battery, and charger do I need to buy before I can fly the UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss”?

A: You need a compatible Spektrum transmitter, 2S or 3S 280–300mAh JST-RCY LiPo packs, and a LiPo charger with the right leads.

• Transmitter: full-range, 5+ channel, Spektrum DSMX/DSM2-compatible.
• Batteries: 2S 7.4V or 3S 11.1V; JST-PH packs need an adapter.
• Charger: confirm the charge lead and balance connection with Horizon (part numbers in Section 4).

Q: How long will one battery last when I fly the UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” on 2S versus 3S?

A: We found no independent test of UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” battery life on 2S versus 3S as of October 2026.

• The manual’s 5:00 timer is a starting setting, not a measured flight time.
• Land immediately when the low-voltage cutoff reduces power.
• Voltage telemetry on a compatible AirWare transmitter helps you watch the pack in flight.

Q: Do I need to register the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” with the FAA before flying it at my local park?

A: You normally don’t need to register the E-flite UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” if your ready-to-fly setup weighs under 250 grams and you fly under the FAA’s limited recreational exception.

• E-flite lists 112 g with a 3S 300mAh pack; weigh your own setup.
• Remote ID applies to aircraft that must be, or are, registered.
• You still need to pass TRUST and carry proof, follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized community-based organization (CBO), keep the aircraft within visual line of sight, give way to other aircraft, get authorization in controlled airspace, and stay at or below 400 feet in Class G airspace.
• The park’s own rules and permission are a separate question. E-flite’s manual also warns against flying in busy parks, schoolyards, or soccer fields.

Q: Should I take off from the ground or hand launch the UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” if my field is grass?

A: On grass, the UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” is documented to fly gear off, with a hand launch and a belly landing.

• Launch in SAFE mode, on high rates, at full power, into the wind, and never in AS3X-only mode.
• Use safe, unobstructed grass where you’re allowed to fly.

Q: What’s the difference between the UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” and the UMX P-51D Voodoo, and which one should I buy?

A: The UMX P-51D “Detroit Miss” is the warbird-livery version of the UMX P-51D Voodoo racer, and Horizon Hobby now lists the Voodoo as discontinued.

• Both are advertised with brushless 2S/3S power and AS3X with SAFE Select.
• Identical parts and handling are unconfirmed, so compare the offers you can actually buy and pick the scheme you prefer.