Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

Hey, I've been looking around on this forum for a couple of days. I've seen lots of dedication! Well I've had my eye on a Fighterbird. I have tried to fly an model airplanes before. One was a syrafoam wing with and electric motor, real cheap. I also have a Megatech electric airstrike in my closet that I could never get up in the air. http://www.megatech.com/airstrike_electric.html It acked like it was two heavy and always I could never get past the toss to get it in the air. I did see it fly once though but I wasn't flying it. It climbed nicly the it turned right when a gust hit it droped like a rock. That was along time ago, about two years and I'm ready to try again with a new plane. What do you think of the Fighterbird? I read a review of someone first trying RC planes that if you could breath you could fly it. I have RC experiance, over $1000 invested in my HPI nitros. Any comments on the plane?

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

Hobbyzone Fighterbird



I bought one last June thought it would be fun. :mad:

IMO It is Junk. Turns poorly, realies on throtle for climbing. Teaches you to fly in a manner that is completly different from main stream RC Planes forcing you to "unlearn" what you have learned!!!

components are not easily resuable in other projects.

Find an instructor!! Planes are different from cars and boats one mistake can and will total your plane.

As far as electrics go I'm assuming you are intrested in park/slowflyers if so GWS Makes several inexpensive easy to fly planes the Tigermoth is very popular. Do some research in the parkflyers forums here and on ezonemag.com

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

The wing is only 16 bucks to replace. For 150 bucks I could buy 4 alumminum shocks and a set of 4 rims and tires for my truck. There is a radio for my truck that costs 150 bucks that I was looking at. I'm hoping to impress my friend into getting one also for we can fight. I really want to get up in the air with an airplane that I can crash then dust it off and go back up. I don't really intend on getting expensive airplane like the kind you guys are into. They are just overwelming.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/reviews.ph...ew&reviewid=33

http://trilordy.com/Fbirdreview.html

watch some of this videos, they look so fun.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I Did. I also read the reviews and spoke to the clerk at the store who told me how great they fly...

AGAIN THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION!!!!!

They did not fly like other RC planes!! Also they fly faster then other park flyers and need more space 1 soccer field isn't enough for a begginer.

I was so unhappy with it that I only used it for 5 minutes one flight then I gave it away!!!! My conscience wouldn't allow me to resell such a lemon of a plane.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I dunno, I still really like this plane. They have a 8.4V 1050mah NiMH battery for it to replace the stock 7.2V 900mah NiMH battery to make it go faster and climb higher. Do you think you would of had more fun fighting with a friend?

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I don't think they fly well enough to be able to dog fight with them. By the way I bought mine specifically for that purpose.

But hey maybe you'll have better luck..

If you want to get a plane that is easy and fun to fly look at the GWS line of planes. You could probably get flying for about 225-250 I realize thats more then a fighterbird but in the long run you'll have a plane and gear that is Fun to fly. when you get better if you want a new plane you can reuse your electronics in the next plane saving you 85 -100 with the fighterbird everything is disposable.

You might want to ask your initial question in the parkflyers forum and see what type of reponse you get..

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

Thank you, I'll ask there and I'll check out the planes you suggested.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I've seen a couple out at the field. The first seemed to fly alright. Relatively fast for its size, and it didn't appear to turn very well. To be honest, it didn't grab my attention enough for me to really have a look.

The second was a guy that came out one evening with his kids. Very friendly guy, and very enthusiastic about learning. He'd had some problems with the Fighterbird previously, and when he tossed it it just dove down. The guys and I offered to help, and made quite a few adjustments. It doesn't have a very sturdy tail, and I wasn't too impressed with it. We got it to the point where it'd barely climb, and we spent most of our time turning to avoid the trees on three sides of the field. I can't imagine flying that in a soccer or football field. The fellow needed some new parts for the tail, and the wing was a bit beat up.

If I wanted an electric for combat, I'd pick up a Zagi. Durable, fast, and relatively cheap. You can manage to fly one of those in a park.

That said, if you can bring yourself to get some hands-on help you'll enjoy things quite a bit more. Who wants to suffer the indignity and frustration of not being able to fly their plane or continually having accidents? Things are more fun and progress much faster with some experienced hands helping.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

i have a megatech skyvector quite similar to the fighter bird,it flies well,its really strong and flies quite high,and glides fairly well
i also managed some tail slides and a loop on it.I think its the cheapest way to fly .

My last flight lasted 14 mins ,

One important thing is that u cant fly em in small fields as they dont have elevators ,u have to rely on the throttle and plan your landings.

If you want to learn rc flying then,you should buy something like a skyskooter. or invest in a glow powered trainer like sig seniorita,or a telemaster.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I have something similar to the Fighterbird.

I also fly a Zagi and 40 size glow planes.

The Fighterbird will need very little wind, large area with no obstacles, it flys in large circles and sometimes only to the left or right but not both, if there are trees etc... you will not be able to turn fast enough to avoid them-I know, patience - if it ever get out of whack it is hard to adjust for flight after that, a lot of trial and error.

If that is what you want and understand that it will not loop or roll or turn fast, then it could be a fun flyer. My son likes flying it but he even gets frustrated that it does not turn.

Personally I like the Hitec Sky Scooter.
Sky Scooter (Beginner Version)

$139.95 at ServoCity.com

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I have a fighter bird, and have flown for over thirty years, and am an instructor. In my opinion, it's not really a trainer. It's fun to fly, but is pretty fragile and doesn't fly like any other plane, it's not really that responsive, but parts are cheap.

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

I started flying this fall. Got a Fighterbird tinking I could learn a few things before I put my Eagle II in the air. I couldn'y have been more wrong! Seeminglu unexplainable changes in flying behaviour, poor manouverability and less durability than you would think!

Save your money!

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

IMHO, I really liked the Fighterbirds. As far as a trainer goes...no, not a wise choice.

My son and I have flown 'against' each other quite a few times and had a ball. Others have flown them (ours) and once they got the hang of it, enjoyed flying 'em.

But like I said, a trainer...no....

Jerry

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

Thats really what I wanted in the first place, just to get in the air and fly, now I'm spending $200 to get a Kyosho EP Cessna 180 Trainer ARF 51.2" to fly. I'm just waiting on some reply on the battery. If you would like to help please reply on the battery here. http://rcuniverse.com/showthread.php...did=81700Thank you for all the replys :D

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

The Fighterbird is a toy, not a real RC airplane. It will teach you as much about flying a "real" RC airplane as Monopoly will teach you about real estate investment. If you want a toy, get one. If you want to get into this hobby, get a trainer.

Frank

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

lol! I've decided on the Kyosho EP Cessna 180. lol, thanks for that reply

Hobbyzone Fighterbird
 

dont overlook the zagi (or its clones)

you can get a complete zagi setup (radio battery charger) for $250 off zagi.com

I got one used and the thing is a blast to fly.

I have also put mine in at full throttle straight down. total damage. one prop(replaced), one broken aileron (ca glued), and a few cracks in the canopy (CAed), was back flying in 5 minutes.

there is also other flying wings out there that are similar to the zagi.

one of them is the "Bee" from windrider.com.hk

this one can be powered and is cheaper then the zagi (dont know the durability as I dont have one ... yet.) and you get "glow sticks" for night flying :)

as for ease of flying I think that if you really dont want to "jump" into full time RC planes they are great to play around with. and if you then get interested later you wont get laughed off the field when you join a club :p J/K

also you mentioned combat. well zagis and Bees are designed for slope combat which is full contact. no "ultrasonic beams", no streamers, the idea is to knock the other guy out of the sky. (its harder than it looks).

just something to think about.