I've been surfing the internet for the past week searching for the a good entry level ducted fan Jet which is reasonably priced.

I have ample experience in pattern planes and I believe I'm ready for a Jet.

My choices are narrowed down to five:

1 Bob Parkinson's Regal Eagle (I'm just worried about the skill levek required for building)

2 Bob Parkinson's Jaguar (Seems easy to build)

3 Jet Hangar's A4 (Looks great but will a beginner jet pilot be able to fly it?)

4 Jet Hangar's F86

5 JD enterprices' F15 (Looks good)

I'm open other kits.. any other suggestions?

It needs to be able to take off from grass... our paved runway is only 200 feet.

Should the subject be delicate, please send me a PM.

I highly recommend the Yellow Aircraft Starfire. It may be a little more expensive than the ones you have listed but is, in my opinion, a far nicer kit to build than any of the ones you have listed. Easy to build, easy to fly and very fast with an OS .91VRDF fan engine.

Starfire would do nicely but the #1 DF trainer for ease of assembly and best flight performance would have to be the Top Gun F-15!
Check it out here: www.tgajets.com

I agree with Todd, the F-15 is the route I and four others went down here in Austin. TGA is best bang for buck in my opinion.

TGA Ultra Eagle III with the scale wing option is the way to go. It has more detail than the standard TGA F-15 and flys the same. (It can be upgraded to turbine later if you so choose, also.)

the starfire is a great plane all around I loved mine.

I had several A-4's they are ok but maybe not what your looking for in a beginner jet.

Just about the easiest fun fly jet I ever owned was a Byron F-86

I don't want to take away a sale from anyone as the Parkinson Regal Eagal is a good trainer. I had a Regal Eagle...BUT, do a search on here to find out about the current availability of these planes. There have been several guys that have paid their money and have not received anything in return.

I have also owned the Top Gun Ultra eagle and LOVED it. Much better looking than the Regal Eagle.

Kevin

weird..TGA's website's menu is all discombobulated. wow, is that a word?

Jet Hanger F86 - lots of building, great flyer with an OS46vx

Starfire II - don't know about the Yellow kit, but the older kit is a little bit more work and really should be a good airplane.

Since one of your critera is grass, then the Starfire might be off the list...the F86 should be able to take off in grass, if mowed short.

Michael

TGA F-15

One of the most popular entry level jets ever-

BOB PARKINSON REGAL EAGLE F15 IS A GREAT STARTING JET IM SELLING F15 S IN TO STAGES ONE BUILT PRIMED READY TO INSTALL YOUR EQP OR READY TO FLY PANITED YOUSEND ME ALLTHE EQP WINGS ARE REMOVEABLE $600.00 PRIMED $800.00 READY TO FLY WITH YOUR EQP PLUS SHIPING IF INTERRESTED NOTIFY ME VIA E MAIL LOU

The JHH F86 is a great flying jet but there is a lot of building. The TGA F15 is a nice jet as well but not as fast as the JHH F86. I wish Larry would offer the F86 as a ARF! I would like to have another one but don't have the time to build.....

Hi,

Actually, the Starfire is probably gonna get off grass better than most of the others on the list. I've flown it (with stock O.S. .91/Dynamax) not only off of trimmed 'flying field' grass, but off of 'public park' grass that was so tall it touched the bottom of the fuselage. No joke.

Hi,
Ditto what Shaun said about the starfire.My local field is grass,and it always launched in about 200 ft.Also,it is wicked fast WFO.It was the best d/f aircraft I ever owned.I used it to get my turbine waiver,and now a friend has it,and he'll use it to get his.And no,I'm not a rep or anything.Good luck![8D]
Erik

well the F-86 looks good and ive heard good stuff about it...

I was very successful with a TGA F-15 as my first ducted fan aircraft so I have to agree with most of the pilots that responded. From my experience I believe that the TGA F-15 would be the best choice for your first Ducted fan aircraft. Not only is it a great flying beginner jet model but the support that the company gives you can't be beat either. I always tried to gather as much information about the kits and their Mfgs support before I purchased. If you would like to do the same, call each Mfg and talk to them. I do not have all the other Mfgs toll free numbers but TGA's is 1 (800) 380-JETS. FYI, Out of the two F-15 versions TGA offers, I liked the F-15 Pro best and they are having a Christmas sale on them.
Good Luck with which ever model you choose. With all the help that is available on this site you can't go wrong.

Paul

I have owned 2 TGA Eagle III's & they fly awesome!!very very easy to fly & land.It also has a very solid feel in flight ,and very beefy landing gear mounts-I have tested these thoroughly on a few very hard landings on the paved runwayIt's also a very easy jet to land in the event of a deadstick due to the very airworthy design-truly no worries with this bird

The F15 has no bad habits at all & can be built and ready for paint in 10-12 hours.As another alternative- the TGA Mig29 flies awesome too-I owned one of these as well.In my opinion it didnt have the authority & solid feel that the 15 had tho-and also took a little more runway to get airborne.The Mig is a much "draggier" & slightly larger than the F15 -still a very nice flier nonetheless.The TGA F15 gets my vote handsdown!! TGA has some very generous XMAS going right now on right now,check em out


Steve

Bit far fetched there Steve.....
I know TG offered their kits with with pre-sheeted foam wings at a slightly added expense. Even with the pre-sheeted wings your still looking at 35 to 40 hours minimum to build any of the TGA kits. They are very easy kits to build however and the quailty is top notch.
Cant go wrong with the Starfire either and it may rotate a bit easier off grass fields....

Todd

Todd

Oops Sorry I meant ready for primer in 10-12 hours(Typo) And I am also saying this in regards to an exprienced builder-Joey has built 3 of them-the last 2 were done in this time frame.I certainly would take me the 30-40 hours

Joey is currently building his 4th one now


Steve