ejam

My Feedback: (1)

I want to see your craft air gliders. I have one so far, it is the Piece o cake that I converted to electric.

thermaler

My Feedback: (46)

I have a Leo kit, parts cut for both Vikings and a Golden Eagle.
Joe

soarhead-RCU

Here is my 25plus year old Craft Air Butterfly. Has went through three power plants, a Enya 19 (was used) K&B 20 (used auction special) and the current is a OS 15LA. Last year my son-inlaw was in Aphy so I borrowed his E-Flite 15 and used 4 cell A123packs, flew great that way also, need to get a cheap 15-20 size outrunner for myself, but the OS15 is so trustworthy and docile maybe not....Have had to replace the oil soaked nose a couple of times. It has taught many people to fly and still is a joy to see a couple of times a year, fly mostly small electric stuff now. I remember it was a terible kit trully die crunched parts. But has lasted well and well worth the effort. A great design for early morning or evening calm air flying. Everyone should have one!!!!!!!

Happy Flying
Bob

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Wow the memories!

I learned how to fly YEARS ago on a CA Drifter II and then an SD100

Long gone of course

ejam

My Feedback: (1)

Well the main reason I am asking is because a couple weeks ago, I made a trip to a mom&pop hobby shop. They had alot of kits that I have never heard of, and one that cought my eyes. It was a glider by Craft air and I cant remember that name on the box. I should have bought it, but there was soo many kits there. I was just in a daze, you know like a kid in a candy store.
I may have to make a trip this weekend and go get it, the weather is going to be bad here for flying.[:@]

ejam

My Feedback: (1)

well I made a trip to the hobby shop, and the craft air kit was still there. So I bought it. It is the craft air stepp two.

thailazer

Nothing captures the romance of RC Flying better than a Butterfly on a calm summer evening! Here's mine from a few decades ago in Transparent Green. OS .19 for power. I built mine with a solid one-piece wing because I could not see myself putting that heavy steel rod in my nice light airplane!

ejam

My Feedback: (1)

thailazer, Awesome butterfly! The butterfly was my first build. I have mine E-powered with an E-flite power 15 and a 11.1v 3200mah lipo. It will float forever.

As for the stepp two, I cant find any info or history about them. Did a google and bing search, and all I find is one post on rcgroups where someone had one for sale. If it was not very popular, I will build it, but if it was a nice glider, and really rare, I may just leave it in box.

ejam

My Feedback: (1)

Here is a picture of the kit.

CedarYopantz

Thanks for the thread ejam. Original version Drifter built from plans, copy of the Drifter I built when I was 14 (48 now!). Same colors, trim etc.. was feeling nostalgic. 16 oz. I use a very short hi-start and it gets up to maybe 100' then it's flown like a HLG. When there's no wind and light lift it's too much fun!

juggler-3310

I built a Craft-Air Drifter II as my very first RC airplane when I was 19. I flew it until the wings almost fell off. I missed flying this plane, sp I looked on Ebay and was able to locate another kit several years ago. I built it up. and you can see it in the attached a photograph of the plane in flight. Since this photograph was taken I've converted it to electric flight. It flies beautifully. It was meant for those gentle lift days when heavier aircraft might have difficulty gaining altitude.

juggler

newflyer2

does anyone know where i can find some instructions for a craft air butterfly. a freind of mine got it from his buddy and we were talking about it and he looked at me and said "im just gonna use it as fire wood". i said no you wont ill take it. i couldnt stand to know that they were gonna burn a perfectly good airplane from back in the day. i consider it an antique ( i may be wrong but thats how i look at it and its still in the original box) so if anyone has any idea where i can find some build instructions i would greatly greatly appreciate it

LovesToSail

How about a Craft Air Viking 2 (built in 1983), my first real sailplane... (Other than the drifter Istarted with )

Viking now has electric on the front as I am too old and lazy to set up a winch these days. No problem catching thermals now...

thailazer

Newflyer... You can get those instructions from Great Planes who still kit the Butterfly. Or.... buy a new kit and then you could build two!

Lovestosail..... Nice! Nothing like an electric thermal to get you up there!

LovesToSail

I do have to say that I really do appreciate electric power.. I used it in the late 80's but it was heavy, heavy, heavy.  This new stuff (I use 15$ motors from Hobby King) is just awesome.  I now have my Dodgson Windsong, Airtronics Sagitta 900, Gentle Lady, and the Viking converted.  Airtronics Legend is sitting there waiting to be flown (and modified).

Scott

juggler-3310

Newflyer2, I have an unbuilt Butterfly II kit complete with the building plans and instructions. It's for the 100" wingspan version of the plane. Do you need this version or the 2 meter wingspan version?

juggler

newflyer2

here are some pics of the box it came in. im completely new to rc planes so i dont know hardly anything about em so i hope this helps.

and juggler would be interested in getting rid of that kit you have

HIr/cer

My Feedback: (74)

For downloadable Butterfly instructions, check out the Dynaflite website, under 'manuals.' Dynaflite took over the production of the Craft Air Butterfly, among others, some years ago.

newflyer2

Thanks HIr/cer. i downloaded the inst. and it looks like im gonna have my hands full for a while. the only thing now that im missing is the plan sheet. any ideas where i can get one?

HIr/cer

My Feedback: (74)

Glad to have helped! The plans as well as spare parts for the Butterfly kit are avaiable from Dynaflite. Check their website under 'parts listing.'

Quigleywins

Just thought that this might help some one looking for a Craft Air Butterfly http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Craft-Ai...item43a892b5b7
Good luck and lets know if it a help Yours Paul T Lover of Butterflys

skylark-flier

Lotsa Butterflies still around, I see.

Mine - built by my brother many years ago and passed on to me just a month ago. Wonderful plane, should have had one decades ago. I love how it flies, truly majestic in the air.

This one's powered by an OS-.26 Surpass 4-stroke, has trike gear.

Dave

( haven't gotten pics yet of it in the air - too busy at the controls, having fun! )

ronwc

My Feedback: (404)

Does anyone know what this is, the closest guess is a Craft Aire Golden Eagle - has 120" wingspan, full flying stab and rudder, flaps -

LovesToSail

Looks like a Viking (Craft Air)

jquid

Looks like a Sailaire?