ORIGINAL: jigeye
I'd like to get a super fast plane that is an ARF. Never delved into your world, but love speed. a simple plane with stock motor in the 40-60 size range. Nothing expensive. no tuned pipes, etc.
I heard the bobcat is a good one.
If you are looking mainly for speed and cheap........ with good all-around performance....
Lanier Predator II or GP Viper (both Q-500 racing planes). Both fly great, built straight and strong - very complete kits.
Thunder Tiger .46 Pro engine - use the stock muffler (or TT.40 Pro if you think you might want to try racing at some time...)
APC 9x7 prop.
Break in the engine and the first few flights using a 9x6.
Level flight speed somewhere around 110-120 mph
Plane $110
Engine $80
Does not get a bunch less expensive than that for something that flys well over 100 mph.
Also worth considering is the Lanier Shrike ARF, Sportsman Aviation F-20 if you want jet-looks.
The Magnum .52 is a possible alternative to the TT.46 in this case as well.
Some other well-qualified planes out there, but the Q-500 planes are very hard to beat for an introduction to speed. They fly fast - and more importantly they fly well going slow.
Bob