Good day everyone,
Im looking for an ARF kit to pair up with a brand new Super Tigre 40 I got from a friend... Right now I am flying an Alpha 40 trainer, and looking to get into some basic aerobatics and just some more fun agressive flying before moving up to a Warbird later on...

My local hobby store gave me 3 recommendations:
1) H9 Pulse XT
2) GP Escpade
3) GP Super Sportster

I read alot on the Escapade and was leaning towards it due to the much lower cost... I am aware of the tail wheel issue (Sullivan upgrade)
One thing that concerned me was the tail flutter issue... is this a common problem, or is it from full power dive maneuvers.. this would stress any airframe.

The Pulse looks/seems like a very nice plane but 2X the cost of the Escapade... I have not done any research on the Super Sportster yet...

I am not limited to these options... feel free to comment on other ARFS I can use with that engine.. other options I have looked into are the GP Big Stik 40 and the H9 Super Stick 40...

Im looking to do something by the weekend..

By the way my elevation here is 800 feet for the engine...

Thanks!

Of those three, in my opinion, I think the escapade would be the best match for the engine although all of them would work.

You might also want to look at the World Models Skyraider Mach-2. It is a simple, inexpensive low-wing airplane that flys great with a .40.

I just picked one of these up to get my feet wet in club 40 racing and it makes an excellent low wing sport aerobat! It is a total blast to fly and is inexpensive and very straightforward to put together.

How about a Kaos? They are a proven performer with a .40.
http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/towa2052_ib.html
The Super Sportster is my favorite of the three on your list.

This would be a good match for that engine.

Flutter is not a big issue if you are careful when putting together the plane and you are flying it as per it's design specs...


If you want to make it really move however, then pay attention to potential flutter...

One of the most important things needed to combat flutter is making sure that your horns are solid and the linkages are set up for maximum mechanical advantage.

Sealing the hinge line, though often touted as a fix for flutter, offers little benefit, as there are other far more effective things you can do.

One thing that I've taken to do is to epoxy in CF rods as elevator and rudder supports, much like older planes had flying wires.
This is almost trivial to do, only takes a few minutes, and makes the tail rock solid. It prevents harmonic vibrations in multiple orientations.

In the following image you can see CF rods installed under the elevator to provide added strength and combat flutter....

Check out the Great Planes EasySport 40 , I have one that I converted to a tail dragger and its just fun to fly.

C.L. Baker