thinking of ordering me a avonds rafale real soon..just wondering if anyone has 1 that they are flying or have flown? how does it fly,rock solid/stable ,how fast does it get up too approx.? I love the looks of the rafale,its sweet......how would a os 77 do in it(according to phillips site its pretty light-10-11lbs) i would plan to install a turbine down the road when i'm ready....any input would be greatly appreciated...


Steve

I'm curious to...

There are 3 Ducted Fan Rafales i know of

Avonds, Aviation Desgin, Christen Diffusion.

Which one is the best flier, light and easy to assemble and will take a BVM 91 without major mods done.

Thanks

Robert

I've had 2. Both Avonds. One DF with Ramtec and OS 91. Other currently flying with Ram 500. Absolutely a great airplane. The DF one was clocked at 170 and 12 mph on the same flight. The Turbine one is about the same top end but cannot fly as slowly due to a little more weight. Both can really turn and burn and are a blast to fly. I tell people I can fly it in the living room as it turns on a dime. The kits are really easy to build and the deluxe version has all the stuff you need to complete it hardware wise. You could easily build one in a week. Avonds planes are very easy to build and maintain. He uses a lot of washout in the wing to allow very slow flight and easy landing. Use springair retracts and robostruts on the nose for simple landing gear. The DF version had a mechanical gear door with a wire to spring them open and then the strut pulled the door closed. The turbine uses air cylinders to open and close. Botton line I cant say enough about the Rafale or the other Avonds kits I have built. I also have a 104 with a Ram 750. Avonds is very easy to work with and his kits are the best for the money on the market. I'm not a rep - just a normal hobbiest.

Tom Perry

I have had one for several years. It started out with an OS 91 and now has a RAM 500. I find it harder to fly with the turbine, probably because it weighs more. It is quite fast with the turbine, not in Bandit territory, but fast enough. Philip is a good guy, responds quickly to e mail and requests for spare parts (dont ask).

Since it is a delta, it loses a LOT of speed in turns, so keep the power up. Landing is somewhat tricky also because if you bring it in nose high, you will be in a high drag regime, and must add power. One thing I dont like all that well is that it is very sensitive to aileron movement. You only need a tiny bit of throw to roll like crazy. So you need to make sure you are in trim before you take off. Bottom line, I like the plane quite well even if I have other planes that are more relaxing to fly.

Hi,

The Aviation Designs Rafale is a little bit smaller than the Avonds, and is a little bit more scale. It also costs a little less. The molding is excellent on it, and it has nice panel details whereas the Avonds is smooth (if memory serves). I bought the AD version, and was very impressed with it. I got to fly the Avonds version, and was amazed at how it flew. You'll do great with either.

Whatever you do, just don't pronounce it "Raf-ee-el"! ARGHHHH! That's gotta be in the top ten peeves of all time; to be at an event and hear, "Here comes that RAPHAEL" over the loudspeaker. If you hear some jerk yelling back to the announcer, "Which RAPHAEL's coming--the painter, the angel or the Ninja Turtle??", it's probably me.

Dear Shaun,

in another Post, maybe 1 or already 2 weeks ago you told me to mail me some information concerning the yellow F14. Nothing until today! Is that the way dealers work in the us?

TO

Steve,
I sent you an email about my PA Rafale for sale.
Chris

Torsten, et al...

The Tomcat won't be out until late next year. The kit is a total rework, making it suitable for turbine power. This includes beefing up of the landing gear, the fuse structure, the spar system, and carbon reinforcement of both fuse and flight surfaces. Also, the hardware is being redesigned as well. Main reason for delay: When the update of this kit began, it was being updated to make it easier to build. Halfway through that process, the 'turbine thing' happened, and Yellow realized that they'd be wasting their time (and about $100,000) if they didn't produce the kit for turbine power. As far as the price goes, they really don't have any idea, but, as usual, it will be low for what you'll get. As the show date approaches, I'll have more info. Thanks, and best regards



Ageless,

Vor zwei Woche? Sind Sie sicher? Ich denke dass, es nur vor ein Woch (am dreizigste Juli) war. Es tut mir Leid dass, Ich so spaett bin....aber, Ich bin fast vertig! Mann braucht Zeit fur Fragen zu antworten. Bitte, seid nicht mir so Unhoefflich, so schnell.

p.s. Ich weiss es schon, dass mein Deutsch nicht ganz-perfekt ist.

Vielen Dank, und Gruesse von Kalifornien!

Here is a picture of Rafale flying in Thailand with PST J600 turbine. This baby belongs to Mr. Preecha.

B777

B777,
if you go to http://www.geocities.com/rafale442/R...l?989324091416

You can look at my Ram 500 install/Rafale.
It is a great fun fly jet!
Chris

very nice site and good looking Rafale. The Rafale here can take 2 liters of kerosene with 4oz header tank with total flying weight of about 7kg. Split bifurcated pipe is used here with less than 0.5kg thrust loss.

Cheers,
B777

Just sold Avonds Rafale. I put a Mercury in it first and that was very very fast, but landing it was a pig. Then I put a Wren in it and it flew very well. The only trouble with it is that the inlet ducts are underneath and suck everything in, including loss grass.

You can make an FOD screen from a tea strainer ala Jetcat and save your little gem from nasty little pieces of gravel. You can probably find good stainless steel ones of various sizes at "John Lewis"

BRG
Chris

TO

Your guys in Germany have the NON-RESPONSE record.
Hans-Deiter of Airworld has yet to respond to my Email for information. It was sent in April 2002.

You know, that everywhere in the world it is told, that the USA are the best in customer service! Compared to the USA, Germany would be a service dessert! I learned a lot in this forum about the truth! If someone asks me something, and I know that the answer takes longer, then I answer him: Listen this info takes some time, I will come back to you asap. But to do nothing until the answer is there is VERY unsatisfieing (sorry do not know how to write this correctly) for the one who is waiting!


@ Yellow Aircraft sorry, I did not wanted to sound to negative. Concerning your german I am quiet impressed, have you ever been longer here?

TO

TO:

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I did spend a semester as an exchange student in your country while I was in college. I've been back a couple of times to visit since then, too.

Again, sorry for the late response.

Hey Shaun, where have you benn in Germany?
It is a pitty that the F 14 takes so long until it is ready.

TO

Hi,

I went to school at the University of Saarland in Saarbruecken, but I've also spent a little time in Tuebingen, Neunkirchen and Muenchen. Where do you live?

I was there in April, had a great time.

Saarbrücken is onla 45 minutes by car from where I live. The name of the city is Trier, maybe you have heard about it. The oldest City in Germany, founded by the romans.
When you come over here again, let me know.

TO

TO,

Ja, Ich kenne Trier! Aber, Ich habbe nicht da gewesen. Wann Sie wurden Zeit haben, kann Ich bitte Ihre Flugmodellen sehen, wann Ich bin nach Deutschland zurueck kommen?

I think that'd be cool!

Ageless,
Hope you can make the Hermersberg Meeting 31 Aug.
It's about 10 km south of Ramstein AB. I'm stationed at Ramstein and will be working the show.


http://www.mfsv-hermersberg.de/

@Shaun, yes that ´ll be cool. Just tell me when you plan to visit germany some time in advance

@ I-Nav, I would like to, but it is not 100% sure. Are there many Jet pilots?

TO

I-Nav, I would like to, but it is not 100% sure. Are there many Jet pilots?

In the club or the meet?

In the club there are 4 or five. Gunter Bachert the big A-10/
Euro-Firebird designer is a member.

The meet had over 60 Pilots last year. Stephan Volker will be there with his L-39.

Are you looking at the Yellow F-18? I'm considering building one this winter.

Mike, how can I recognize you? Are you member in this club?

Are you building the twin, or the smaller one?

Torsten

I'm a member. I'll be the American guy with the F-22. Just ask any member.

I'm considering building the twin. JetTec sells the basic kit for $2100 Euros. I beleive they sell for $1400 in the US, but not sure what shipping and duty would be to import into Germany.