Wind_of_Change
Posts: 14
Joined: 9/8/2003
From: Pleasant Grove,
UT, USA
Status: offline
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To be clear, I haven't owned E-Flite planes or Fliton, though I've seen them both up close at the field. I've been flying the Katana Mini (great plane going strong for 2 years with several hundred flights), and am looking to add a pattern plane. As I have pilots I fly with weekly who have experience with both E-Flite & Fliton, I'm only passing on concerns and praise as I have received them and based on observations of those planes, which I see weekly. Fliton is two thumbs down at this point for construction strength and cowl weakness.
The reason I brought this up in the group is not to bash on the planes, but rather to find out whether this new Element, which I'm highly interested in, has the same issues those planes did.
One of them was the inspire mini. On this plane I personally watched the gear collapse several times on what I would consider decent landings. That's not unusual in these planes though, I had to reinforce my Katana, and I know the E-flite guys have had to reinforce the gear on their Edges & Funtanas. But the Fliton cowls, which I've seen up close, were both flimsy plastic that cracks and breaks very easily. The Katana cowls are fiberglass and can stand up to regular wear and hangar rash just fine.
The one that exploded and was replaced by the Diamante was the Quiet Storm. Extremely thin plastic cowl. And he just took the gear off of it and grass landed so he wouldn't have to deal with the weak gear.
Both pilots vowed to never buy Fliton products again simply based on flimsy construction. Both pilots loved the flying characteristics of their planes, but a plane that's always in the shop getting reinforced, or one that has visual flaws like cracked cowls lose it's appeal quickly regardless of how well it flies. Additionally, the price is always 20-40 dollars more than competing products. And sudden mid-air explosions obviously don't help the thumb rating much.  I mean, cowls pop off, no big deal, but to have the plane self-destruct because of it. . . that's weak construction IMHO.
So my question is, does the Element have a fiberglass cowl or the thin plastic? And if it's plastic as usual, then has anybody ever tried glassing one from the inside to strengthen it? And can the Fliton planes be reinforced adequately simply by adding some glue to the joints?
Also, what is it about the Diamante that you feel so strongly against? The pilot in my group who built it said it was one of the best constructed planes he's ever built, and he's been flying and building for some 15 years. Have you owned one and what would you say are it's weaknesses? Any information is much appreciated, since I'd like to make my decision and get a pattern plane on order soon.
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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Electric Pattern Aircraft >> RE: New Fliton Element 30 F3A plane! 
RE: New Fliton Element 30 F3A plane! - 
). If you want 10 min of strong flying, then 3000-3300 mah packs is the way to go. It'll be a bit heavier on the 4S 3850 (even though if you set it up this way, you can double up the