I flew a .40 ~ .50 size Thunder Tiger Imagine 50 ARF with a Saito .72 last year in Sportsman. I wanted to move up in size, and had looked at the Focus Sport, the Northeast Aerodynamics Aquila, and the GP Venus II as all being affordable steps up. I started collecting my receiver (Airtronics 92104) and my servos (Airtronics 94842s with a 94702 for throttle) while I pondered my choice of engines and airframes.

Now as I'm looking around, all of these fine airframes are being closed out and/or discontinued. The Focus Sport ARFs and Venus II ARFs are already apparently gone, and the Aquila ARFs are on final clearance. Now it's a race to get $300 or so put together before they sell out, too. If I don't make it in time, I'm going to have to look at a World Models Spot On 120 or something.

Why are all of these great pattern ARFs disappearing at the same time? Are these airframes simply not suited for the overwhelming trend toward electric power for pattern?