RE: Mini F-16 vintage project consideration
I think the amazing thing about this model is when Bob Aberle designed it 30 years ago, there wasn't much data on small model turbine fan models. Inlet and outlet were not optimal, but for the available ducted fan unit(s) for the then hot Cox .049 Tee Dee, it was a feat of its own.
I marvel at the things modelers did then and earlier, how that carving stuff out of balsa (take for example, Nick Ziroli's and Walt Musciano's earlier CL and RC creations) was the norm. One had to have decent sculpturing skills to replicate a model.
Nowadays we take it for granted and the various ARF manufacturers have modeled jets to look as close to real as possible. electric in-runner and out-runner units on modern lightweight LiPo's are light and powerful by comparison. Then, to get the power to weight ratios took some ingenuity and imagination.
RickP has done an amazing job on recreating this historic piece of 1/2-A ducted fan history, kudos, Rick. [8D]