Samba Prestige 3PK Pro 4m

The Samba Prestige 3PK Pro represents the latest advancement in competitive F5J design, building on the outstanding reputation of its predecessor. The Prestige 2PK earned high praise for its exceptional thermal performance and impressive ability to return to the launch point from deep downwind. The new 3PK model retains the proven wing design while refining the tail surfaces for even better handling. Additionally, the structural layout has been redesigned to enhance both strength and portability—making the 3PK an even more capable and travel-friendly competition glider.

Designed for Travel, Built to Win
To address the challenges of airline travel and home storage, the Prestige 3PK is engineered with modularity in mind. The wing is split into four parts and the fuselage into three sections, dramatically reducing the overall packing size. A new detachable tailboom system enables this modularity while retaining Samba’s hallmark aerodynamic efficiency.

Unlike many F5J models that use a bulkier boom to house servos at the tail, Samba preserved the exceptionally slim boom diameter from the Prestige 2PK. Instead, the servos are mounted beneath the wing in a 3D-printed servo tray, allowing for precise control without increasing drag. A custom pushrod attachment mechanism ensures a strong, reliable connection to the tail.

Enhanced Fuselage Design
A unique octagonal slide-on connector links the fuselage center section to the tailboom, providing a secure and simple solution that’s easy to disassemble for transport. The servo tray is attached using just four screws and is easily modifiable for different servo types. This layout also enables the use of short servo arms, maximizing throw resolution—particularly valuable for the V-tail configuration. Ball-pin linkages at the V-tail further enhance precision and ease of assembly.

For the cross-tail version, Samba uses an L-shaped pushrod linkage that slots into a lever arm mounted in the rudder, making rudder installation faster and more convenient. This setup also improves throw resolution, benefiting responsiveness, especially during crow braking on landing.

Nosecone, Canopy & Motor Mount
The redesigned front and center fuselage sections maintain Samba’s popular slide-on nosecone system, with a more circular cross-section to improve folding prop clearance and reduce drag. The nosecone can be shortened by 90mm to better accommodate different CG setups. A larger canopy hatch makes installing large battery packs easier than ever.

The motor bulkhead has a 30mm diameter but still supports leading F5J motor options such as the XPower and Dualsky series.

Improved Ballast System & Flight Characteristics
The wing centre panel now features integrated ballast tubes within each root section, simplifying the ballasting process and freeing up space in the fuselage. Dihedral has been increased from the previous version, now using a 6° joiner to enhance spiral stability and reduce tip-stall risk when circling.

The V-tail fuselage includes a 92mm extension to the tailboom, improving pitch, yaw, and spiral stability. This brings the V-tail's performance in line with the cross-tail version, offering refined handling in all flight regimes.

Conclusion
The Samba Prestige 3PK Pro is a masterclass in aerodynamic refinement, practical engineering, and competition-ready performance. With its compact modular build and thoughtful enhancements, it is ideal for pilots looking to travel light without sacrificing capability. Early testing confirms that this model is not only more convenient but also more stable, responsive, and precise in the air.

HyperFlight is proud to offer the Prestige 3PK Pro - a big step forward in the world of competition and sport electric thermal soaring.

For more info see this RCGroups Prestige 3PK thread.