What is the deal of the jumping prices of Vectorflight planes? I visit their site every couple of weeks to see if there are new improvements made to the installation procedures, new planes added, etc.. And to my amazement/confusion, the prices are up, down, up, and down like a yo-yo. One week it's $149.95, the next it's 169.95, then the following it's 159.95, and now it is back to 149.95. I don't think the exchange rate between Canada/US changes that often. What is your guess at this?

On a side note, the 3-4 weeks shipping time as noted on their website isn't even close. If you really want a plane (ARF) right away, Vectorflight is DEFINITELY not the plane you want to get. A good product, but too many other good (I did not say better so all you Vectorflight fanatics can calm down) ARFs that arrives at my door within 2 weeks (I believe this is a reasonable time to wait for an ARF).

Still searching for that "holy grail" of the ARF world.

Fly NB

I believe their prices change with the numbers of orders they are currently processing. When they have alot of orders to build the price is 169.99, when they have caught up and do not have alot of orders the price is 149.99. So the 159.99 would imply somewhere in-between busy and slow order volumes. Basic supply and demand....

also....the site said 3 to 4 weeks shipping...mine took 3.5 weeks to be shipped......that is exactly what I was told...


and..as I am always looking for new planes just curious what other planes you recommend with the same quality and price....
I'm always looking!

What IShootSharpStix said above.. I suspect it's all part of keeping prices low... They could probably charge 250 or so for there ARF's and meet your two week critieria. Personnaly I think you have just bypassed that "holly grail" of ARF's you are looking for...
Good Luck

Yeah, or (also likely) he was just trolling, trying to stir up us VF fans. Did you notice his home town?

Cheers,
Dave Olson

Ex,

My order is going into the fifth - sixth weeks and still nothing at the front door. Contacted them and I got the same reply as before "we're backed up with orders and your order is the next batch". I don't mind waiting since I have other planes in the hangar, just wanting to let people know what to expect if they're expecting "on-time" delivery.

As for new planes that I've seen with "similiar" quality and price:

a) I just received a TDL model Extra 300L for $139.95 delivered (you guys may have seen the special on this website). It is basically a twin of the VectorFlight Extra. Since I haven't put it together yet, I can't comment on its flight characteristics but the parts, model, etc are very similiar (horrible instructions, balsa covered-foam wing, sturdy constructions). The only thing it lacks is that it doesn't come with fuel tank or engine mount.

b) The Chief Aircraft Extra 300S at $179.95. Don't know anything except the price is reasonable.

c) Graupner Extra 300S at $179.95. I don't own one but have seen it at my field. Excellent quality plane and flight characteristics.

I just call it like it is. I know this posting will probably won't change the VF fans thoughts on their beloved VF planes, but I don't think for $150-170 + $19 for shipping is that much of a "great deal" especially if I have to wait a "long" time for it. It is a fair and honest deal for a good plane, but nothing spectacular.

Fly NB

Ishoot,

If what you said is correct, since I ordered mine at $149 I should have received it weeks ago (not going on my 6th week).

If they charge $250, we wouldn't be talking much about them since they wouldn't be in business. I don't think I bypass what you refer to as the "holy grail", I just didn't take a sip of the cool-aid that was in it.[:-]

Seriously, most people who own VF planes are very happy with it. As for me, I wasn't all smile while building my Edge 540, wasn't all smile waiting 5 weeks for my next VF (and still waiting), wasn't all smile comparing the overall quality of it to other planes I've seen.

I just don't think it is that great of a deal as you guys put it to be. It is just another good ARF company with fair prices.

TDL 300 is $199 + $20 shipping


The Chief one looks interesting....Hmmmmm
The graupner looks interesting too...but they are both a bit smaller

Appreciate the heads up and sorry you are not pleased with your experience.....

Cheers

At my club we have a member who test flown a couple of their planes for the company and he told me the prices fluctuate becasue of their status of backlogged orders. If VF recieves a lot of orders and the list becomes too great they raise their prices higher to distract people from ordering. Once VF catches up with the backlogg of planes they lower the prices back to normal. If you wanted to buy the plane at the higher price they will take it but, you may wait a little longer for your order.
I think good things happen to people who wait. VF has an ARF that is of surpreme quality and id wait a little longer when i know im getting a quality product. When i ordered my edge 540 from them, it was right before Christmas so they were allready getting filled with orders. But i recieved my plane in about 2 1/2 weeks. Once i placed the order VF emailed me a couple days later saying my plane is being built as he was writing the email. I think that is awsome.

Ex,

I think maybe TDL got too many orders so they're raising the prices back to $199... like Vectorflight. Yeah right.

About 2 weeks ago, TDL had a special that was posted on this website for their Extra 300L at $119 + $20 shipping. I bought it since it looked too good to be true and wanted to compare it to my VF Edge 540. I should have taken a picture of it, but the TDL fuselage, wings, parts, hardware are clones of VF. To be exact, TDL doesn't make their plane but import it from a company overseas called HET-RC. I guess it is a company that is based somewhere in Europe? Anyway, for $139, IMO the TDL 300L is a definite contender to VF.

Here are some good points I've noticed of the TDL plane: Pull-pull hardware and a much better and tougher landing gear.

If you're comparing the Chief and/or Graupner to the VF, I believe they may be smaller by a couple of inches here and there. Which may correspond to better performance?

I've never said that I wasn't pleased with VF, I just don't think it is that great of a deal. Since you guys are so enamored by it, I've not read anything negative about VF. I wanted to post some "shortcomings" of VF so it let people see the whole picture. More information makes better consumers... because we all work hard for our money.

exeter,

IMO, some other great deals.... World Models Groovy 3d (u can use a 91 saito) $149.00 shipped to your door.
Great Planes UCando 46 (u can use a 91 or 100 saito) $142.00 shipped to your door.
Giant Scale Planes Lark 70 (most use a 91 or 100 saito) $149.00 shipped to your door.


I have owned all three Vector Flight models... and they are great, and fun to fly.... I still have the Extra.. Sold the Edge, and Sukhoi to fund a giant scale project.

RCF,

I'm such a good person so that is why I'm waiting 5+ weeks?

VF = supreme quality, who are you trying to kid? I have their Edge and it doesn't quite add up to supreme, maybe "good", but far from supreme. Their instruction is supreme? What a joke. Their belly pan supreme? The TDL came with a real balsa belly pan. Their tail gear is supreme? Maybe for my SPAD. Their fuel tank supreme? Once again, maybe for my SPAD.

Maybe you missed it the first time: The TRUTH is VF = good product at a fair price. Nothing more and nothing less than any other good ARF company (SIG, World Models, Great Planes, and many, many, many more).

Come on guys, why don't you call it like it is. Maybe you guys like being Beta-testers for VF, but I rather complete a plane with the included hardware.

I'm not anti-VF, just an average satisfied customer with them.... just like all my other ARFS. But then at least I can get these other planes within 2 weeks of order.

Fly,
If you have not found anything 'negative' maybe you missed the posts relative to the shipping delays similiar to what you are encountering, and posts made concerning the number of 'mods' necessary to correct minor flaws and make these ships 'right'. I know in my case, I spent significantly more time on the Extra ARF than others I have done. If memory serves there are several others noting a wing warp and another with a warped fuse, and several discussions relative to the landing gear and the reported weakness of the landing gear mounting plate.
Lets be honest, no one can produce a 100% perfect product 100% of the time.
I agree that VF, at least in the case of the Extra, markets a very nice product, not perfect, but very nice for the price. Is there room for improvement? Certainly.
Where I feel they do stand head and shoulders above much of the competition is in their dedication to customer service and willingness to incorporate design changes identified by their customers.
Just my .02

I would rank the 60-90 Class ARF Extras like this: (I have owned or flown each... there are others, but I have no experience with them)..

1) Kangke Extra with Saito 100 (nice build, easy, good fitting pieces, etc... Cowling and wheel pants a little cheesy).
2) Yellow Aircraft Extra with Saito 100 (awesome flying machine, light, beautiful.. the Kangke flew better... expensive)
3) Vector Flight Extra with Saito 91 (awesome flyer, tough to build... cheesy plastic parts)
4) Seagull Extra with a tiger shark 75 (POS) covering was coming off as I was building it, didn't fly well, my wing might have warped.. just tossed it in the trash.
5) Graupner Extra with a Magnum 91 (supreme POS) weak landing gear (grass field was a no go), firewall needed a rebuild before mounting the engine... covering material, and cowling didn't match... Flew like a brick... It would have been a good pylon racer, but not scale aerobatics..

I am begining to susprect Troll here... If you actually had a VF you would realize that it does not have a "balsa" covered foam wing ... It is far from a clone of the TDL...

Iron,

No trolling here, just putting out the facts (that some of you are having a hard time accepting).

The TDL have balsa covered foam wings, the VF have covered foam wings. My mistake for assuming they're the same since they both look so similiar. Either way I guess I'll just have to post some pictures of the VF parts vs TDL parts and let the jury decide. I think you'll be surprise (ok, maybe a little surprise since you are such a VF fanatic).

Here are the pictures of the TDL next to the VF.

The first picture is of the wing (top VF, bottom TDL)

The second picture is of the fuselage (top VF, bottom TDL)

The third picture is another view of the TDL fuselage. Note the real balsa belly pan.

Do you think if I got a Hanger 9 mustang and a WM Mustang there might be a lot of simularitys there too ? Both nice looking, but that TDL fusalage looks awful flimsy to me... Looks like a good size 4 stroke would shake it apart...

IC,

You crack me up. I guess there is no convincing you that there are other ARF companies out there that makes good airplane that are comparable to VF and even cheaper. I'm glad you see VF in such a favorable light.

As for me, I'm satisfied with their products but I wouldn't say it is any better.

VF Holy Grail! I'll second that or is it third....!!

Fly, that TDL comparison is rather flimsy. Based on your assessment most planes are clones of each other!

I happened to check out a TDL up close. Its totally different, and even your pictures show it has flat ply sides with holes, while the VFs have all solid balsa sides with no light coming thru, much better in my opinion. And wait till you fly them! Yeeehawww!!

Cal,

Oh no, you too drank the Cool-aid from that VF holy grail.

My assessment is that most planes within the same range (size, make, style) are comparable in performance and price. Just because the VF is built like a tank, does not make it that great of an airplane. If an airplane can perform with less materials, why keep it heavy? It has quite a few shortcomings and that is what I'm trying to say. I never said TDL is better than VF, but it is my opinion that TDL is comparable at a cheaper price. VF isn't that great, it is good, but not great by a long shot.

This is almost like arguing religion. You all continue to fully support VF, while I continue to preach alternatives to VF because in the end, competition makes everyone better.... even VF has plenty of room for improvements.

Fly
I am looking at the whole package... The customer service, the well built/flying product, the price etc... Hard to find another company that has all that in one package... Sure there are other nice looking Extra's out there.. I have had WM and GP Extra's.. Both nice looking ARF's, and not quite as well built as VF but more then adequate... Both of these were smaller, cost 50 percent more and did not fly as well as the VF. When you can show me a 66 inch Extra that has the quality, customer service, price etc of the VF I will take you serious... Don't think you can do it. Id be scared to drop a .91 4s in that TDL let alone a 120.
Enjoy

BTW Fly, dont know what your complaining about!! Are you upset that the VF prices have been fluctuating downwards rather than upwards. If you haven’t noticed prices of many ARFs have dropped, some are even advertising “no reasonable offer will be refused” !! right here. Seen those ads!! A year ago I bought a Phoenix Sukhoi as a gift for a kid for around 130 bucks and a few months later it dropped to 119. I think it even went down to maybe 99 bucks for a few days and then back up again to 119 or so. Did I get upset with Tower, of course not, I love it when the prices go down! I think its just a very competitive business and when you are dealing with so many chinese ARF suppliers you are bound to see major price competition.

I have 3 VF airplanes and love them all. Perfect? no, (havent seen one just yet), even have some quirky design features.. but dang great values, honest quality and awesome flying airplanes. All original designs, you can tell if you have made a few ARFs. I have made more than 10 similar ARfs in recent years, all from major manufacturers, some were much much more pricey than the VFs, came in fancy boxes and better intructions but not any better as far as actual quality was concerned and didnt even become my favorite planes to fly!! I think VF is providing a terrific product at an exceptionally good price and they have a policy of using your money on the plane, not in advertising or fancy packaging, and thats why I think I really gets my moneys worth with them.[8D] Plus they are made locally in USA/Canada and my hats off to them for doing the seemingly impossible thing and still provide a great value.

Fly I agree that most "good" planes fly comparably. I have flown the aeroworks 90 edge and the Yellow 60 Edge and can honestly say that that there is not much difference, and all have some strong points and some weaknesses, and there is no clear winner, although I think the VF flies best overall for IMAC, and the Aeroworks has better 3d design but jumpy. On the other hand there are also many dogs and in the interest of diplomacy I wont mention any names here!! But the good ones you can tell almost immediately. The VF compares in performance to planes priced much higher and thats all there is to it. Some of the other $150 range planes I have bought were pure junk or broke apart in mid air. Some lasted pretty good! My first VFs covering after 2 plus years looks as good as new and it is my one and only plane which has never had a wrinkle or a bubble in its covering. To me that is a real plus. I have always used the entire hardware pack that came with them, none of my other planes had a sullivan tank or sturdy US made engine mount and wheels. Its nice not to have to upgrade the hardware out of sheer necessity. Now if this is not supreme value in a 149 bucks airplane tell me what is! Bet your TDL didnt have a sullivan 14 oz tank or as you mentioned not even any tank.. My only complaint with VF is their slow delivery and I can understand that they are a small company and easily get more orders than they can make in any given time. And they dont seem to rush thru orders.
All in all it is obviously yours to call. I am just happy there are so many more choices now and better prices than even 5 or 6 years ago.[8D]