I'm looking for a good, fast jet. I'm a fairly proficient pilot with quite a bit of time under my belt, but I've never flown electric before. I'm looking for something small and fast, but I realize I'm not going to break 200mph with a $300 plane . I was looking at a total investment of around $400 for an RTF EDF with one battery and no charger. I'll buy a charger seperately. I'm looking at an Accu-Cycle Elite, if that's okay. If I don't like the plane, I'll move the equipment over into a self-designed plane I've been designing for a while...but I want to get into it via an ARF before spending the time required to build a plane. I'm pretty against flying ugly planes, but y'know if it flies well it flies well. Thanks for everyone's help in advance. Also, any opinions will be GLADLY welcome.

Victor,

Look at www.warbirds-rc.com , as Markos has the largest selection around for EDF jets. I recommend a Minifan sized model as you can then move the power plant from model to model, of which there are many to choose from as you will see. You can also use the same battery between jets. Moreover, there are online instructions in the "Research Center" section for many of the models and you can get a good idea of how it goes together. The quickest ARF's assemble in a few hours, while others can take longer.

You can get a model, fan, motor and ESC for as little as $300, depending on the model. Another key note is that all his prices include free shipping. Good luck with your shopping and keep us posted.

Carl

Check out the L-39 that Great Planes is offering... Tower has them.... sorry no link, lazy.

Andy

Try the Electric Jet Factory www.ejf.com the Sport Jet 70 is a great EDJ. Fast or slow it is very stable, uses only 3 cell lipo which helps keep cost down.

I found a couple of videos of my son flying the EJF Sport Jet 70

This was at the Best in the West Jet Rally
http://home.dc.rr.com/maurie

Then choose bitw9.wmv

This was at Speedworld Jet Rally

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...t=ryan+sherrow

Sometimes video says it all.

Any other help please let me know.

Clay

Thanks for all of your responses. I really do like the L-39, since I've always like L-39's...and it's readily available on TowerHobbies. I've seen the Sport Jet 70 pop up in a lot of other forums, so I'll definitely be considering it but so many people have said such good things about the Warbird-RC.com Mini-fan series that I've kind of fallen for them. CTulanko, it hadn't even registered that all the parts are interchangeable. The only thing that's putting me off is the fact that several of them say that they require a bungee with the 2W set-up and give no alternative set-up. Is there another engine I could possibly use? Remember, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to burning electrons (but I'm pretty proficient at brain-cells) so do not be afraid to talk stupid to me. I'm thinking that $400 isn't going to be very realistic with one battery, since the battery is about $150 and the plane is $150. That's $100 for the ESC, fan, flight pack and motor. CTulanko, or anyone else that has experience with the HET ARF's....please, give me an idea of a good set-up. Or the set-up that y'all run. I really appreciate everyone's help and quick response, and I'm dying to get into EDF's. If the difference between the HET series and the L-39 gets huge, I might have to decide between the L-39 and a prop-jet...but can anyone give me the basic pro's and con's of EDF vs Propjet??

Thanks all!!!!

With EDF's, the size of the plane determines the size of the fan unit that will propel it. There are no real "standard" sizes, but most "micro" planes use around a 50mm fan. The L-39 uses the hyperflow fan, which is about 55mm, if memory serves. Kyosho makes a few small EDF planes that use a 54mm fan. The down side is that they're small planes. The up side is that you can get them flying for very little. ESC's in the 25 amp range, batteries usually smaller than 1500 3s, 4s if you really want a hot setup. I had my Illusion flying for about $300, not including the price of the airplane.

The Sportjet is a great flying airplane, but it's a 70mm fan. I went fairly cheap and low power with my setup, HET 2w 20 motor and a Phoenix 56 speed controller, with a 3200 3s battery. That set me back about $260 or so, but I already had servos, receiver and some other bits and pieces. I got a plane that could be handlaunched and landed on grass, but had a decent turn of speed. I've seen these planes set up with 80 amp speed controllers flying off 5s, a hot setup puts 700+ watts out the tailpipe.

Propjet versus EDF.... you'll get more instantenous acceleration and thrust out of the prop, and they're usually cheaper to set up. But it's still a prop. You've got a prop on your jet.

Hope this helps...

Andy

I was hoping to be able to get an EDF to save money versus a propjet and glow-powered Ducted Fan model. Smaller ones do tend to be cheaper than Glow DF planes, but propjets do appear to be cheaper...but they've got a prop[:@]. a65l (and anyone else who can help) what's a good way to set-up the Kyosho Illusion? I can land a hot plane, and learned to fly on a trainer that out-rolled Ultra Sticks hands-down...so instability isn't really too big of a deal for me. And, I'd really only fly it on wind-free days since I have a couple GP planes. What's a nice hot set-up for the Illusion that'll let me bore holes in the sky?

A hot setup involves replacing the stock fan and motor with a Micro fan and little screamers motor. YOu fly it on a 4s 1320. I forget what my bud used for a speed control, probablly around a 35 amp or less. Futaba S3110's on all surfaces.


Andy

there are plenty of good first edf's to buy,the l-39 is my next choice,but towwer wont have it in stock till late sept,if even that.kyoshos df45 illusion is a good choice i love mine but its kinda pricey for the size,they also have a great f-16 avaliable which is plug and play.phase 3 has a f-16 they just released.great flyer and it probably the fastest out of all these begginer jets,and it comes wit motor and esc.youve got lots of choices it just depends on personal preference