hey guys,
my friends and i are looking to buy a few hobbyzone fighterbirds with the combat modules. do any of you guys have any experince with them or just some comments? any info would help.........we don't want to waste our $$$ if it isn't worth it, ya know. thanks

I had a fire bird that was ok, flew good after setting it correct. Have not used a combat system one thought but i'm shure an air wars system would be much better.

I had the first version Firebird, because I wanted something I could fly in the snow, cheap, that I wouldn't have to wipe oil off, afterward. It had very short flight times, marginal power to fly level, ineffective turning controls and no aerobatic capability, whatsoeever. I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't solo'd before I bought it, the plane would have been left buried in a snowbank, due to being unable to maintain my interest. I now, in winter, fly a couple other electrics, with more power and capable of loops & rolls.

The Fighterbird, I understand, has more power and better control. If that's all you want, or if you want the combat module, and money's an issue, you're on the right track.

However, if you're looking at the guys at a club do aerobatics or 3D, and thinking you're going to use the Fighterbird as an intro to get into the same kind of aerobatics or 3D... I think your money would be better spent on an introductory plane of the 4 channel type.

Your call. Good luck!
Dave Olson

Unless you know and understand in advance that these are a cheap kid's toy, don't waste your money expecting something more. All of those "bird" planes are pitiful, cheap garbage. I fell for it buying the higher end aerobird - expecting a low-end park flyer - something I could throw in my car and fly anywere but not worry about spending $400 on... What I got was a frustrating POS that was underpowered and harder to fly than my 40% Carden!

I have seen people try these as their first r/c experience and after they have destroyed them, say that r/c is not for them. Believe me, these are harder to fly than a good trainer, and not nearly as fun! If you want a good e-flyer out of the box, spend the extra $$ and get a Sig Rascal, GWS Tiger Moth, or other real plane!

Your money is better spent on a real plane IMO!
DP

well thank you for the advice........the thing is that i bought the outlaw for my girlfriend and my freinds and i toke her to fly it. i personally didn't enjoy the planr like she did, but for $40 bucks and her being happy it was worth it.
my friends have no experience with rc planes and just wanted something to kinda get everyone together with. so i think for them it should be ok......all they want to do is shoot each other down. what i wanted to know is do you think that they will get bored with it easily and is using the combat module fun.

Triggerdawg.

You seem to have the right idea. Personally, I thought it sucked, but a kid or someone who takes it as it is - a cheapo toy that is easily broken, and treats it as such, then it at least won't be a disappointment.

Bottom line, if they are having fun doing it, then who cares! The combat module on the surface seems like it could be fun, but that would assume one gets control and can fly the plane precisely enough to shoot someone down. I couldn't see this thing being accurate enough myself...

DP

ok...........well it sounds to me like we should try something else. what is out there for under $200 bucks that they will be happy with. and maybe something else that you could possible add to simulate a combat type setup.........or is that it?

Don't waste your money. Get the Aerobird. You get a lot more plane but learn to fly on low wind days since pointing it at the ground is possible now. Keep battery warm prior to flight and you will get more power and longer battery life during flight. Wait for the Aerobird Xtreme.. for a few bucks more you get the corvette of Aerobirds!

mw

You know, I think you posted to the wrong forum. There's a whole Electric forum category, and within it I believe there's a park flyer forum. The readers there might be more friendly to the Fighterbird than we are. I don't see that any of us have claimed actual combat module Fighterbird experience.

Not to speak for the others, but I sort of doubt that the Fighterbird planes are maneuverable enough for any kind of "dogfighting". just my humble opinion. I think the other guys who have responded may be thinking the same thing.

If you ever see a combat event, where the little glow or electric planes are trailing streamers, and capturing the other guys streamers on the glue-painted leading edge of their wings... you might want to try that!

Good luck,
Dave Olson

ok, then i try the other forum.......but thank you for the input. i'll keep checking this one as well, all advice is still welcome........thanks

Try a zaggi. More power with longer run times. No combat module but knocking each other out of the sky is a lot more fun. At least you can manuver these things. Joe

My mate bought the figther bird and trashed it.

We've now moved on to zagi's with the Air Wars combat system. They arrive this weekend.

I'll let you know how they work with the Air wars system onboard