Looking for some input on a first ARF pattern plane using a .90-1.20 engine, keeping the cost down to under $250. Any thoughts about the Tsubame 60??

This reply will probably generate a lot "raised eyebrows" and snickers from some pattern pilots, but for the price you quote, get one of the new World Models Intruder-90 models. I just got back from an SPA pattern meet, and have seen these planes perform, (if everything is built straight and set up properly--send parts back if they are not--quality is generally good), it will do whatever you need.

I have a friend that entered one of these "little" Intruders, (original first generation, with certain modifications he made THAT WERE ACTUALLY ENGINEERED INTO THE NEW AND IMPROVED SECOND VERSION), and he won his AMA pattern event against some wide-body competitors. Be sure to balance just forward, (1/4 inch), of the main gear. The new Intruder makes a great introductory pattern trainer or backup/practice plane. At $199, you can't do better for the price.

A .60-.90 2-stroke or .91-120 FS is more than enough power. The Intruder has just been re-released by World, and will be discussed in the July issue of Model Aviation, and likely the September pattern column by Eric Henderson.

Duane

Here are some of the lowest priced pattern arfs I've ever seen. The Groovy 90 is pretty decent, I think. You can search for it in the regular pattern forum.

http://www.peakmodel.com/index.php?m...8f7fd283dd9552

You can still pick up the G2 Quest 3D on Ebay for about 180.00, but make sure you reinforce the nose from the wing to the firewall! It's also a very nice flying pattern aircraft.

I agree with Duane that the Intruder is a great buy for the money and it's being used on SPA and is competitive! My neighbor flew mine into the ground trying to do a low level inverted 3 turn spin.... Ouch! I am now looking for another Spa pattern ship. And Duane, when do you think the King Altair kit will be available and at what price (( if you know )) as I have seen the advertisement for it, looks great!

Jon W

And don't overlook the Great Planes VENUS II. Easy flying pattern plane with servos in the tail.

Interesting you should ask. I just received word today that the first laser cuttings came in for the new kit, and they look great . Jeff and I will both be building a prototype, and based on how the new kit comes together, it should be ready shortly thereafter, (see attachment photo).

Price needs to be determined, but it should be under $200.00---reasonable for a 2-meter size plane.

BTW--Both the Intruder, and the 80" wingspan "King" will be featured as part of a major article to appear in the July issue of Model Aviation magazine, (available around mid to late June). I hope everyone enjoys it.

Duane

Here is the "press release" picture of the new Intruder

Hi Dave:


http://www.peakmodel.com/index.php?

Is this a company in the U.S.A ? seems to me they are not, cause shipping prices are out of this world.

Take care.

Rafa

I got a Magnum .91 4 stroke, is this engine enough power for the Intruder in pattern flying?

Yes. The Intruder was redesigned around the .91 4-stroke. The tail was lengthened, the rudder
modified. Look at airborne-models.com for specs, or rcu under world models. If you get one , you can mount the engine horizontal position.

Wait a minute-
My calculator says 80" is bigger than 2M. Does this mean the "King" isn't legal for regular pattern?


[/quote]

Price needs to be determined, but it should be under $200.00---reasonable for a 2-meter size plane.

BTW--Both the Intruder, and the 80" wingspan "King" will be featured as part of a major article to appear in the July issue of Model Aviation magazine, (available around mid to late June). I hope everyone enjoys it.

Duane
[/quote]

Yes---I suppose the King would be 2 inches over regulation for AMA pattern, but the wingspan can be modified. The plane pictured above actually is a slightly "clipped-wing" version with one rib removed on rach side, giving it a 74" wingspan. The idea behind the "clipping" is to keep the weight slightly lower, and the roll rate might be a bit better, (maybe yes, maybe no).

My first "King" was purchased from someone getting out of the hobby, it is "clip-winged", with a 70" wingspan--and this plane has no wingtips. I liked the way it flew so much that I wanted to build two more. "Scratch building " was the only way to get ne ones. When I built my new King, I kept the clipped-wing, but added wingtips. Now that the kit is going to be available, the building time will come down by quite a bit.

I just saw the CAD plans and first laser-cut pieces for Jeff's new kit over Memorial Day weekend at the Mid-South Fly-In, and they look real nice. The plane has been re-engineered to reduce weight whereever possible. We will be building prototypes soon, then the kit will be released------so I'm excited about the prospect.

Unfortunately, over this past weekend, the dark red/orange/while plane pictured above was "lost" when it ran out of fuel at the worst possible time, at the worst possible location. I couldn't extend the glide enough to get back to the field, and the plane was 'swallowed-up" in a no-man's-land of trees and brambles that drops off 200ft below the level of the field. It didnt land in an area where it is visible,and despite my best efforts of searching this wilderness, the vegetation is too think, and the terrain too rough---it's still "missing". It may be late fall, (or never), before I find it. I've been grieving, and reliving those last 30 seconds---- what I could have done differently etc etc that might have saved it---I just feel "sick" about the whole thing.

Only 26 flights-------and the final flights were the best as most of the "trim tweaking" had been completed.

I have another, (Altair #2), covered in the same color scheme that is almost ready to install the radio. My hope was to have two exactly the same, and to take a picture of both together---but that doesn't look very likely now.

Duane

Duane-

Sorry for your loss. Hope it turns up soon.

Am I seeing this correctly: #1 has a side mount engine and the one you picture here has an inverted engine?

-Ron

Kingaltair, It is to bad your club doesn't have the lost airplane search tool available to the Bay City Flyers here Florida. So far, we have a 75% recovery rate.

Duane;

We have also had good results using a "picket line" of 5 to 10 flyers spaced 10 feet apart and in constant commuication. We have bursh and swamp with trees on three sides of our flying field and we also limit 4 flyers airborn at one time. If you had good visual reference where it went down a good search team could find it! And yes it pays to have a friend with a full scale Cub to look around the area as well.

Jon W
SPA 261

The engine is mounted on a radial mount, so any position is possible. Yes, Altair 1 had a side mount which is generally considered to be better for fuel draw in all attitudes in non-pumped engines. They are also a little easier to get at, and don't require a remote start adapter for the glo-plug, no chance of "hydrolock" etc. The inverted engine gives a nice clean line, and probably looks best. The original King Altair had the inverted engine.

Actually, I've had minimal problems with the inverted engine set-up, and "Altair #2", the one I'm about to finish up, has the inverted engine with accessibility hatch, and the full 80" wingspan, (as per the plans). In all other respects, it looks exactly like the one pictured above that I lost.

The plane is very easy to fly, very graceful in the air, and due to the relatively thicker wing, flys at a more constant speed in the downlines with an overall speed a little less than most 60s-70s pattern planes----it looks more like a first generation 2-meter plane in the air.

I am hoping people will give the new kit a try:

www.homeandhobbysolutions.com

Duane