Rafale

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I know you guys fly the big expesive nitro DF or turbine Rafale', but I need some help with a smaller, foam ARF Rafale (EDF) that I just bought on eBay. It is an extremely

good-looking, very-near scale foam plane (tightly closed foam cells), alot of detail and a good deal for the price.

I'm not sure about the electronics, but overall the fan, motor and lipo are decent. I got mine at the intro price (couple weeks ago) of $189 delivered.

I took it to the field yesterday, taxied up and down the tarmac and finally dumped the throttle. The darned thing won't fly!

It's a beautiful rendition of the full scale plane, but without flying/controllable canards, it may be doomed. Just checking on eBay this morning, there are no more available. Maybe the Chinese factory/designer discovered a little late that they don't fly.

Let me take that back...it does fly (somewhat), but only after agressive runway maneuvers to get it airborne.

As I pushed it down the tarmac at full speed (which by the way, is fast...more than enough ground speed to take flight) and gave up elevator, nothing happened...still continued on the tarmac for at least 200 feet. As I was nearing the end of the runway in an attempt to abort, I cut the throttle and immediately it shot vertically skyward. I tried to fly it on out, but after I regained composure, it settled in on the apron upright with no damage.

After bringing it back to the pit and talking with the other pilots, I tried it again and again the same thing. At the very end of the runway, throttled back and again the Rafale shot up...this time I was able to control it somewhat (saw that it was tail heavy with the stock lipo). So, again after no damage and adding 1/4 nose weight and a fresh 1300 mah lipo, I got it airborne.....only after chopping the throttle after a 200 foot tarmac run then giving it up and adding throttle again after getting up. It flies good, has moderate speed for an EDF, has a great roll/loop rate and a great glide rate.

This not being able to takeoff at speed has me (and other pilots) puzzled.

Anybody got any ideas?

At first, we re-set the AOA of the wings by adjusting the nose gear higher...didn't do a thing for it. I'm almost convinced that either the huge fan intakes are forming some sort of a suction with the tarmac and cuts it when I cut the throttle, or that the factory installed canards are keeping the nose down.

I'm an RC pilot with 30+ years of experience. This is my 4th EDF and all have done much better than this. I'm at a loss...please give me some ideas on what to do.