Kinda a noob question but here goes: If i have a edf that produces 7.9 0z of thrust and my jet weighs 21oz then it won't even try flying. For it to fly it would need the thrust to meet or exceed the weight of the jet correct?

As a general observation it does seem that almost every electric RTF plane whether jet or otherwise is generally underpowered. And if not underpowered most Parkflyers still want to soup up their bird to go faster. It comes down to market competition which means keeping the price as low/competitive ... enticing to buy as possible.

It would be nice if every speedy RTF electric plane was setup to have almost as much thrust in ounces as the planes weight, but that could increase the RTF price by at least another $50. Besides the biggest problem/hurdle in RTF electric planes is designing a power plant (more thrust and battery duration) that is almost as light as most RTF stock setups, yet gives at least 50% more thrust and the same amount of flying time.

IMO, there's the thinking by RTF manufacturers to sell Parkflyers a plane that will at least get them airborne with basic performance for a competitive price; while knowing that many Parkflyers always get the personal satisfaction of making modifications, like going faster ... even if its not always necessary. So a RTF manufacturer is going to supply just enough power plant (which may not be enough) so they have a sufficient profit margin; while enticing you to buy their plane at what seems like the best deal for the money.

Let's look in the mirror and face the fact that the majority of Parkflyers buy on impulse without first doing their due diligence. LHS staff know this all too well ... they risk being fired if they told most Parkflyers(general rule) what they really need to know, but more likely than not, don't want to hear/know.

I've been told that commercial airliners fly with a thrust:weight ratio of 1:3, so I guess it can be done. For model planes, you typically want 1:2 or higher. If you can get 1:1 or higher, then the plane can climb vertically on it's own thrust, and it will be much more aerobatic. With less that 1:1, you need to fly "on the wing", that is you need some forward speed to keep it in the air. With greater than 1:1, you can keep it in the air with prop/edf thrust alone.

Did you really do your homework before buying the F-4 Phantom ... like googling ... http://www.hobby-bench-buddy.ca/Bett...signs_EDF.htm#

Minifan 480 Power Setups
The Performer
Wemotec Minifan 480 69mm ducted fan, HET-RC 2W Brushless Motor, 45-70 amp Brushless ESC and a single Kokam 3S 3200 Lipo Pack. With this setup, you can have fun flying all day and not spend a fortune. You will have a power plant that runs 400-450 watts and run times around 6 minutes on the pack I mentioned.

Cost as follows:

Wemotec Minifan 480 Fan $40 (68mm)
HET-RC 2W Motor $55 (Typhoon-EDF 2W-20) $75
45 amp 12 cell ESC $80 to $129
Kokam 3S 3200 Lipo $120
Total - $294 - $350

That is the cost of a good power system for the Minifan jets and it even includes the battery. Note that you can use different brands of Lipos, but the cost goes up as Tower Hobbies carries the FMA/Kokam brand and a killer price and they are fantastic batteries. Other good batteries would be the Polyquest 3700 or the newer Thunder Power Pro-Lites in a 3S or any others that can continuously handle 50 amps. Your choice may also depend on which jet you buy, as some packs may more readily fit in a specific aircraft; we can discuss that more once you have made a choice.

You can make some substitutions, using a Kontronik 480-42, Mega 16-15-2 or Hacker B40-7L for the motor. They all perform well with the above setup on 3S Lipos and give you some options for motor selection. I also recommend the following ESC’s in the following order from best to midrange performance:

Hacker Master 70-B Flight
Kontronik Smile 45-6-12
Castle Creations Phoenix 60

or The Bullet

Wemotec Minifan 480 69mm ducted fan, HET-RC 2W 20 Brushless Motor, 70 amp Brushless ESC, Ultimate BEC (required for 4S or higher batteries) and a Kokam 4S 3200 Lipo Pack (2 of the Kokam 2S 3200’s in series). With this setup, you will smoke the skies. You will have a power plant that runs 650 - 700 watts and run times around 5 minutes on the pack I mentioned. Speeds just over 100mph are pretty much guaranteed.

Cost as follows:

Wemotec Minifan 480 Fan- $40
HET-RC 2W 20 Motor $65
60-70 amp 16 cell Opto ESC $119 to $159
Ultimate BEC $30
Two Kokam 2S 3200 Lipo at $82 each, Total $164
Total - $418 - $458

As you can see, you need to pay for the power increase, about another $120 or so, however the packs, ESC and U-BEC can be used in future Minifan models or even Midifan models. It’s your choice on where you want to start. This setup will give you excellent performance, with underhand launches possible followed by endless verticals.

You can also make some substitutions, using a Kontronik 480-33 or Hacker B40-9L for the motor. They all perform well with the above setup on 4S Lipos and give you some options for motor selection. I also recommend the following ESC’s in the following order from best to midrange performance:

Hacker Master 70-O Flight
Kontronik Jazz 55-10-32
Castle Creations Phoenix 80