Flaps were not part of the original Contender's design. It would be nice if the present owners/distributors of the Top Flite Contender specified which version they are selling.

Oddly, flaps are not really needed on the Contender. The ultra thick airfoil can be flown at extremely high AoA numbers that slow the model far quicker than conventional flaps. This doesn't mean that they shouldn't be added to the model just for the sheer joy of using them.

I always said (to myself), self, that if I were to build another Top Flite Contender (.60 size) again, I would build it using a two-stroke .60 to .91 (same physical size and about the same power output) that was mounted sideways, in the sidewinder position, and using a power boosting muffler. That would look really great and would go like stink.

Also, use a computer radio so that the left roll upon right rudder input tendency can be dialed out via the Tx's computer.


Ed Cregger