Hey,
Well, first I was planning on getting a Funtana 40. Then I read a couple posts about how much better the 90 size was. So I did some more research there. I was 99% ready to bite the bullet and fork up the $850 for a Funtana 90 setup with a YS 1.10 FZ. But now I'm reading about tail flutter at higher speeds. So I guess I'll ask for a little help in my decision. I want a plane that will meet the following specifications:

Wingspan - no greater than 70 inches
Can do every 3D move in the book
Pull out of a hover with authority with a YS 1.10 or Saito 120
Can stand up to normal sport flying without breaking apart
Looks like a real airplane (I want something that is aesthetic like the Funtana, that doesn't look like a fun-fly plane, like the UCD)
Can be bought for less than 300 dollars as an ARF

So far as I have found, the Funtana is the only plane out there that fits this description. So maybe someone could also explain the conditions and severity of the flutter in the Funtana tail, and if there are any reasonable ways to keep it from happening.

Thanks again,
Mike

buy the funtana ive got 20+ flights on mine and no problems i think the reason the stabs are coming off is because people are over stressing the air frame



hope this helps,
mark

I vote for the Funtana, I have many flights on it, it does allot of 3D stuff and it flies very good.
But remember its not a pylon racer, this plane is not made to go fast.

With the combo that you picked you should have plenty of fun.



anyways just my toughts!

Thanks, maybe you could clarify a little. So when I don't feel like doing 3D, can I relax with this plane and just fly around the pattern at normal speeds? By normal I mean the same throttle as you would use to hover.

Absolutly! I have a blast every weekend at the field. I do some 3 D stuff, touch and go, a little pattern, it works for me.

I have owned many planes and I can tell that up until the F90 came out I really did not have a favorite plane, I do now!


good luck with whatever you chosse!

Thanks guys, that really helped with the decision. I know that Horizon is out of stock right now for the F90s. Are there any other good places to get it?

check out

chief aircraft.com

the have them in stock

Thanks! Thats cool, they even have an F90/YS 1.10 combo that will chop off shipping costs. Very nice.

http://www.extremeflightrc.com/produ...k/68_yak54.wmv

Mike
... Is this worth a look... ...The one on the left..

Yeah I've seen that Yak video with the YS. Simply amazing. I most likely wont change my mind on the Funtana (haven't ordered yet) but maybe you give me some more info on that plane in the pictures.

chekc out the extreme flight rc yak 54. it fits all your requirements and it looks IDENTICAL to the real model. the only thing is it is $330 but it is the best arf you can buy. it will do any 3d in the book and i have not been able to get it to tipstall. i have 45 degrees of elevator throw and it will wall in 2 feet but it simply will not drop a wing! i think your problem is that 3d planes are not designed to go fast. you have giant control surfaces and when you fly fast with large control surfaces, you get fluter. there is not really any way of avoiding it. i would not fly any faster than 60 mph on any 90 size 3d plane. the yak 54 is built a lot better than the funtana 90 (i have inspected the funtana and i own the yak) and it will never cease to amaze you. it fits the 110 like a glove, but i would reccomend digital servos for this plane as would i with any other 3d plane of this size. check out the picture. you will see what i mean. i have a ys 110, 5925s on aileron, 5625 on rudder and elevator.

I am thinking I would go with Chips CAP X (Sell that YS and get an OS 160 and a fuel pump and a pitts muffler and a couple servos for the dough that YS cost)..... LOL

The FUNTANA is very light structure... I am thinking about biting the bullet and adding maybe 4 ounces to mass balance the elevators and ailerons.... The rails the aileron servos are bonded to looks a bit cheesey... not finished yet... I will let you know how well it survives... ciao

Another vote here for the Funtana.... It's got to be the best bang for the buck out there right now. I've had no problems on mine with over a gallon thru the 180 that's up front, and a half gallon on a YS 91 that I put on it originally. Also, Chief is a great company to order from, no sales tax, quick to ship (same day), and sometimes no shipping charges.

check out the yak though.

I haver just a little time on a Funtana with the YS 1.10, and was not overly impressed. It flew OK, but not great. I have even less time flying an Extreme flight Yak, but I know several serious 3d'ers that were impressed with the Yak. I've also heard the Yak will do good precision as well. From what I know I would get the Yak, and I think Extreme Flight has a combo with the YS 1.10 also. Tom

I've done a little research on the Yak from ExtremeFlight. It is seeming more and more like the Yak is what I really want for the kind of flying I like to do. I haven't done the money calculations on a good Yak setup, but I'm thinking it is going to put a significantly larger dent in my wallet than the Funtana. However, I'm not so much looking for overall bang for the buck; I just want a really good 3D plane that can handle everything I might throw at it, and that I could grow with. I guess I will go figure out what all this is gonna cost me.

I am in the process of tallying up the costs for the Yak 54. I've got a couple of questions: #1 What size spinner fits best on this plane? I see that the cowl does not taper down to the spinner like most planes, so I guess it doesn't really matter. #2 What size fuel tank is appropriate for this plane and the YS 1.10? I was thinking somewhere between 12 and 16 ounces.

Thanks again,
Mike

I also think I might like to do without the hassles of the YS engine. How would the Yak perform on a Saito 120?

YS engines don't have hassels! there just a high performance engine that requires a little more maintenence than others. Bottom line the YS on that power range will have more torque than the saito.

I'm sure you will get more post here and decide wich way to go.

anyways just my opinion

Mike, I thought the same thing about the ys 1.10. Truth is, I havent even touched the needles since break in. Thats 2 gallons of fuel!!! The spinner wont matter much, get a 3 inch so you can accomadate a big prop. I had a funtana40 and I hated flying it. I love the yak. this is no doubt the best airplane money can buy. If you want a saito, go 1.50. THE 1.20 has less hp than the ys 1.10. The 1.50 with a 17x6 prop should be money on the yak!! I use a 17x6 on cool power 30% nitro and my yak will hover at 1/3 throttle!! Go with the yak, you will not be dissapointed. One more thing, if you look at the funtana closely or for a minute, it really doesnt look like a real plane. I mean, it has "fun flyer" written all over it!!! The yak comes with a 16oz fuel tank and is good for 12 minute flights on my yak. mike

Anything thought on the Seagull "Harrier"?

The Harrier looks like a winner, but there is very little info available on it. Happily, it is now in stock at Horizon, and I'm looking forward to some first hand reports soon. It looks like the perfect platform for my Saito 100, but I want to hear what some others think befpre I buy it. It does have come-apart wings which are already hinged, something they don't tell you on the Horizon web page. They also don't list the hardware it comes with. [sm=confused.gif]

harrier 3d looks great just got it..