Hello Guys,

I am am experienced IMAC?Pattern flyer, but would like to try a FF machine for a change of pace.

Cost IS an issue, so I wanted to take advantage of a $20 coupon I got from tower and use it towards the "Fun 51" kit they sell for about 45 bucks.

Any opinions on this plane? Any recommended mods?
Also I am leaning towards the GMS 47, because it got a good review from Clarence Lee in RCM recently and the price is right!

Thanks in advance.

Your question can better be addressed if you let us know what you are looking for out of this FF. If you are looking to practice hovering, TRs. You want flat spins, climbing and otherwise, etc. The Fun 51 is a basic entry level type FF. Since you are a pattern flier, I wouldn't think that you would enjoy this FF for very long before you wanted more out of it.
I would keep looking (My 2 cents for what it is worth).
Kevin

Kevin, thanks for the reply. I was brousing your site and the Aeron looks interesting. I am mainly interested in good knife edge performance and hovering abilities. Would that be a good airframe for that type of flying?

Also, do you have an opinion regarding the GMS 47 as a FF engine? If not, what engine would you recommend for the Aeron? I happen to have a Saito 91 lying around (20 ozs. with muffler). How would that balance out on the Aeron?

Ivo.

LuvBipes,

I had the brother of the fun 51. I had a tower extra special. I was easy to knife edge. Also w/ the fun 51 you really can't beat a 44.95 kit.

I will only talk about planes, that I known and have flown.

As you know being a pattern flyer. All planes can't do everything well. Some planes do thing better and easier than others. I don't know much about pattern but I know fun flys.

I could consider a fun 51 to be an entry level funfly. As you move up the latter. As stated before some planes do things very well and lack at other.

The fun 51 will knife edge, all day long, flat spin, tumble easy, but is hard to hover (but can be done) because the fuselage is so short. It hard to keep up w/ it in a T-Roll.

Morris's THE KNIFE, it will knife edge, Hover, T-roll. But is hard to snap because of the thick constant cord wing.

Morris's TOP CAP will do all the stuff knife will do. But will snap. IMO it doesn't hover as easy. Because of the tapered wing.

WASP, is basicly a hover and T-roll trainer. With the CG in the right spot it will hover almost by it self. But thats all. It doesn't tumble at all, you have to muscle a knife edge.

I would assume you fly at a club with funflyers. I would start watching them fly. Talk to them about what they like and don't like about their particular plane.

I would suggest buying KIT or ARF that will fit your flying style and attitude.

m.gramling, thanks for detailed reply. Hum, I guess this might require more research than I initially though.

I do not have any experience with the GMS 47 - Sorry. I run a Webra 50 with a Mac Header and tuned pipe on all of my 40-size FFs. The Webra 50 with the header and pipe is really too much for the Aeron . My Aeron is unlimited vertical at 1/4 throttle or less . I had to program in expo on the throttle so that I could hover it, otherwise it would climb out or tail slide with 1 click of the throttle difference. I have a few clients flying the Aeron with Webra 32s or the TT36 with moose can set-ups that love them. When I find time, I am going to set one up with a 32. My Aeron weighs in at just over 4lbs with the Webra 50, dbl BB coreless servos all the way around, and 1400 mA 4.8V batt. pack. Currently I do not have an aircraft to accommodate a Saito 91, except maybe the Ecstasy that is in development. I would not recommend the 91 Saito on the Ecstasy. It would fly it, though if you are wanting FF, I would think that you would want a 120 4C on it.
The best knife edge performers of the HSRCM kits is the Wacky-Bee III, due to its fuse side area, though the Aeron has a stiff fuse which offers excellent knife edge performance. The Aeron is probably the best in the HSRCM's line for hovering though all are very good. The Aeron definately tail slides the easiest.
Since you are a pattern flier, I would think that you would prefer the Hard Bet MkIII out of the HSRCM kits. If you put the CG on the spar of the HB MkIII, it tracks like a pattern ship, though still tumbles like a FF. It will perform climb flat spins and climbing tornados. The Aeron loves climbing tornados over the HB MkIII.
I am not sure that I have answered your questions. Please let me know if I need to qualify, or explain further.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Kevin

I only have one plane right now and it's a Fun51. It was (is) my first plane up from my trainer and I'm having a blast with it. I've got an OS 46 FX on mine and it does pretty well. It won't come anywhere close to hovering though. Everyone says I drive it around too fast and that it was meant to fly a lot slower. Honestly I don't have much to compare it to as I've only been flying for 6 months. All I know is it will roll like crazy with the rates on high.

The only real complant I have is with where the gear attaches to the fuse. It's not the strongest connection in the world and the plywood fuse tends to weaken/crack after not too many hard landings.