Crash_N_Burn

Looking at the Great Planes Ryan STA ARF but I can't find out much about it.

Does anyone have one or have seen one fly?

Would like to use a YS120 in it, but am open to suggestions.

I'm switching to large scale as these old eyes just can't see the 58" winged stuff. LOL

Jeff396

My Feedback: (1)

The man at the tent next to us at Joe Nall had one. He said it flew like a trainer.

Jeff

Crash_N_Burn

Thanks, Jeff!

Those are the words I love to hear!

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Dave:

Go to RCU site named "Scale Aircraft and Giant Scale Aircraft".....look for Great Planes Ryan STA...plenty of info there in regards to this aircraft...................

Crash_N_Burn

Thanks, Jimmy!

Somehow I didn't think of the Ryan as giant scale, so I didn't look there, but I will now!

Thanks again for the help.

Cuda

Lots of good reviews in RC Report ,MAN and RCM, as well as the IMAA periodical.
Cuda

Crash_N_Burn

Thanks, too, Cuda......

I guess the info is always there, one just has to know where to find it!

Thanks for the tips!

pmmartin

I thought this was one of the nicest looking models at Toledo this year. I would love to have one but I have too many other projects going on right now.

Flying Scotsman

It's a great looking plane however if you get one then becareful. I went to my club for the first time and saw one being flown. It was flying beautifully until the pilot carried out a steep turn only for the wings to collapse on themselves and the plane crashed to the ground. The pilot was not too happy! I wonder why?

Happy Flying!

Roby

Check out the other forums,much has been written,some good
some not so good.

I'm just completing mine ,should fly next week if I get a break
with the weather.

A good looking airplane but in my opinion it's only skin deep.

Be prepared to do some extra work in the tail wheel area,
that's because the wire tail wheel assembly is mounted in and
screwed to "balsa wood ".

If you plan to run a non-pump engine, be prepared to relocate
the fuel tank.

"Obytheway" the kit box indicates that you need six standard
servos. WRONG, one must be reversed but you find that out
until it's too late. (after you own the kit, talk about sly)

YES...check out the other forums and read all you can on the STA
before you shell out the money for a new item that requires
repairs and updating right out of the box.

The funny thing I noticed is that in all the other threads I've read
on this kit, for the most part "no one" mentions anything about
the issues I just listed above. "why ? "

Why this kit continues to get good reviews,(other than flying)
I'll never know.

Roby

TLH101

My Feedback: (90)

I have been flying one for over a year and it is one of the best flying planes I own. As for the noted problems, I put inner nyrod in the tailwheel mount screw holes, and a piece if brass tubing in the wire hole. It has never come loose. You dont need a reversed servo, you can buy a reverser for $10-$20, or use 2 channels on a computer radio. I am running a YS 120 ac on mine. It does need skids on the wing tips, if you fly on asphalt, and it does the nicest touch & goes you ever saw on grass. Really nice at large lazy aerobatics, good knife edge and inverted flight. You will really like it w/ a YS.

Crash_N_Burn

Thanks, guys for your input.

Flying Scotsman, sorry to hear about the wing-folding incident. Depressing, yes?

Roby, I hear you.

The ARF business is a funny one. Even when you spend US$350, it isn't always the way you want it. I remember reading about the one reversed servo that could be configured with a computer radio but I'm sure it'll take me a number of hours to figure it out.

The tail wheel into balsa sucks, however. I usually cut the covering and put in some lite ply and a Klett tail wheel instead of a supplied tail wheel, but wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about this?


I just finished a 79" Spacewalker that could have been done in 1/2 the time if I hadn't modified it so. I just didn't feel comfortable with the provided design. Tail wheel, wing hold-down blocks, push rods, etc.

I don' have the time anymore for kits and ARFs always in need of SOMETHING...guess the best of both worlds would be an ARC so you could still bash it easily.

I hope your Ryan flys well and I'd really appreciate a report after you get it finished if you thought it was worth all the extra effort.

Thanks and good luck, my friend.

ChinookPilot

Yeah, but with an ARC it would take me 20 hours just to cover the darn thing and then it probably wouldn't look worth a toot. There just doesn't seem to be any easy way out!

Mr_Scale

My Feedback: (7)

I have been flying one of the GP Ryan STA arf's since last July. I love this plane. It is without a doubt the best arf I have ever had. Those low, slow fly by's are something to behold. The only thing I changed from the kit were the wheels and axles, other than that the intial flights were as shipped.

Crash_N_Burn

Ah, Geez, Mr_Scale, you just had to say that, didn't you! LOL

I was just looking at the Tower website and they have a US$15 off coupon for anything over US100 or US$150 and it made the Ryan look a little better at US$335 (Big Deal, huh!)

My engine came yesterday, a YS 91FZ and another JR 8103 radio, but I'm still working on another plane kit....sigh.

What engine do you have in your Ryan? Do you think the 91YS will be ample? It sure pulls my 79" Spacewalker with authority, but weighs a few pounds less.

There is no doubt I will own this plane, it is just too pretty not to have.

I'm a sucker for the '30's-style planes, the Gee Bee Z is my favorite but I am not a good enough pilot nor builder to own one, yet.

Let me know what you're using and if you think the YS I have will be too small.

Thanks, my friend.

TLH101

My Feedback: (90)

Shop around before you jump on the "Good Deal" at Tower. I got mine from National Hobbies for $ 299, and I belive Chief has it for about that. Chief's deals often include frieght. Towers prices can almost always be beat by a lot.

Crash_N_Burn

Good tip, TLH101, thanks!

I checked Chief and it was listed for $349 and it wasn't listed on the National Hobbies site, but that doesn't mean they don't have it.

Funny, I just found out about Chief a week ago and they are only a 22 minute drive from me. Think I'll give them a call Monday....National Hobby, too.

Yes, Tower doesn't really impress me too much....What I find strange is their catalog prices are US$10-15 dollars higher on an item than the same item on their web page (?). They always offer the US$10-15 discount, but if one bought from the catalog, they'd be paying the same as the everyday web prices. Notable, yes?

This hobby of ours is a long-term learning experience and it's thanks to people like you that the purchasing curve is shortened.

Thanks!

Mr_Scale

My Feedback: (7)

Your YS 91 will be plenty of power to fly the Ryan. I have two friends flying theirs on 91's now. One is an O.S. and I don't recall the other. I am using an O.S. 1.08 2 stroke in mine, because that is what I had available at the time. With that motor it flies along at about 1/4 throttle most of the time. As the guys say, it pays to shop. I was looking to purchasing something from National a few months ago that was not on their web site. After phoning them, they were glad to order it for me and I did save quite a lot over some of the others. Good luck. Keep us posted on what you do.

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Last week ..NHS..was going for $319.95 + shipping.....

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Last week ..NHS..was going for $319.95 + shipping.....not listed on website.....you have to call them........

Crash_N_Burn

Thanks, Mr_Scale and Jimmy!

I'm going and try to check out prices/availability tomorrow. Thanks for the leads!

Also, good to know the YS91 will be sufficient....Don't need 3-D at my age, just a good, stable flier.

The things I really need are more time, more money and more ROOM! LOL

Thanks again to all, I'll let you know how I did!