Having seen the Fighterbird articles, I have become intrigued by the possibilities of park-flyer combat. But I don't think that I want to be limited to the unrealistic flying attributes of the Fighterbird. The video I've seen shows that they have next to no acrobatic ability. Does anyone know where I can get a combat module, e.g. infra red or sonic like the Fighterbird, that I can add to a more up-market park flyer?

Cheers

Tim

No such product exists. Something like that may be in development, but there isn't anything out there now. I'd be a little leary of a more aerobatic plane getting its motor turned off in an unrecoverable attitude. Since the Fighterbird can only fly in a fairly stable manner, there's little chance of a "hit" sending the plane dangerously out of control.

The truth of the matter is, the Fighterbird flies more realistically than most pilots fly their sport planes. The throttle is supposed to control altitude, not the elevator. Full scale dogfighters didn't have unlimited vertical either. Energy management and piloting skill won the battles. You can really develop some mad skills learning to compensate for the lack of an elevator.

If you'd like to try combat, why not try it the old-fashioned way, with streamers?

it all depends on:
Money available?
How serious you wan to get (refer to money)
How many people involved? 1 or more (refer to money)
Indestructibilty
ease of flying
combat fun with the ECM

Purists may sneer at the fighterbirds but as a father of 2 boys, a fighterbird each was the best money i spent for the fun that these flyers have generated.

Sure, it is not a scale model with all the bells and whistles, but spare a thought for us who just want to have some fun but cannot invest large sums of time or money into the sport.

Actually, there is a company that is selling electronic modules for combat. They appear to be IR related. I don't have the url handy, but I saw them mentioned on another forum, I think it was the RCCA forum at www.rccombat.com. If I recally, it was about $50 to outfit an airplane with the parts needed. I have no idea how well it works.

Just to give some input on the fighterbird, let me tell you It is really a total BLAST!!!!! I have just returned from my first combat mission VICTORIOUS!!!! The flying conditions were less than perfect. The wind was gusting sending the birds on a crazy down-wind rocket ride!. It was the first successful combat mission. The previous attemps succumbed to such problems as... forgotten combat modual... too windy conditions... and basic cowardness!!! But today I was in the groove. My friend Jamie and I have found a great site to fly. That is half the battle right there. We were flying in strong wind gusts, so we decided to lay off the combat and just focus on flying in heavy wind. Man what a rush! The thought of the fighterbird not being aerobatic wasn't in my mind! Talk about loops, it seems if there is some wind one can use it to push the fighterbird to do some totally white-nuckling flying! now it's not 3D but being new to rc it is a total blast! plus the durability factor is there as well these little planes are really tuff! I had a few less than perfect landings. And the touch and goes can be tricky in the short grass field, but when you nail one... wow!!! On one attempt I had mine rolling along for 15-20ft before she began to get lift again!!! i could go on and on... but i would really suggest paying the $200cdn for the fun factor that these birds will provide. the set-up is minimal, which means more time flying and less time tinkering. the durability fator is also a huge plus!!!!

I just finished making a sonic combat module which can be used on all electric planes, and glow planes (if they are not too loud). It is designed by Mr. RC-Cam. I don't think the design is public yet. It uses a sonic combat module from the Figther bird. It takes about 10 small electronic parts to complete. It also requires some computer programing. But, he provides that. If you hurry, he may have some pre-programed chips available. Otherwise, you will have to find a way to program a PIC chip.

The system is awsome. It does not completely cut the throttle on a hit. It stutters the motor as if it were having motor problems. It can use the throttle channel or any extra channel to activate. It has an LED which counts hits. It can also act as a lost plane locator. Each unit costs under $30 complete.

Here is the link from Ezone.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...5&pagenumber=1

I am actually going to use this to do combat with my son. He has a Firebird XL. It has a hidden module jack in the same location as the Fighterbird. Just cut a small hole in the fuselage. You will find it.

you should check out this thread. it has a very low tech way to modify those fighterbird sonic combat modules. also has some pictures


http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...452&forumid=74]

could someone post a pic of their fighterbird? does it look anything like the firebird or the aerobird?

a close-up of the plane would be nice if you can get it.

I don't have any pictures of a Fighterbird. They are the same as the Firebird XL's. Just a different color, and the combat module header is exsposed.